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Rachel Gemara - A corona hero


Rachel Gemara reflects on her work at a Jerusalem hospital




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New coronavirus strain more contagious than original - study


The strain was originally seen spreading in Europe, after which it spread to the rest of the world and is currently the most common strain.




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WHO denies report that China asked org to cover-up coronavirus severity


The WHO noted that China confirmed human-to-human transmision on Janurary 20, a day before the purported conversation between Jingping and Ghebreyesus




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Is the coronavirus a blessing for Hezbollah? – opinion


In the midst of this coronavirus, Lebanon defaulted its $1.2 billion loan this past March, setting up the stage for Hezbollah to take over the government’s role in providing civil services.




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Coronavirus crisis improved Jewish-Arab relations - new survey


However, relations between the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community and the rest of Israeli society appear to have been damaged.




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Health Ministry deputy chief: Second coronavirus wave in summer expected


Deputy Director-General of the Health Ministry Itamar Grotto insisted that despite improvements in coronavirus conditions around the country, we must be prepared for a second wave in summer.




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Coronavirus: Africa’s debt problems must not be used as a political football, experts say

China and its rivals in the West are using Africa’s debt problems, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, as a political football in their struggle for power on the continent, experts say.Seifudein Adem, a professor of global studies at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, said that ballooning national debt had been a major concern for many African countries even before Covid-19, but had now been brought front and centre.While it was encouraging that major creditors were seriously considering…




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Coronavirus: Chinese students share the love and the PPE around the world

A Chinese social media group set up to provide personal protective equipment to hospitals in Wuhan has switched focus in line with the spread of the deadly coronavirus and is now reaching out to those in need around the world.FightforWuhan was the idea of 17-year-old high school student Yihe Chang and 19 other young people. It was launched on January 23, the same day the central China city at the epicentre of the health crisis was plunged into total lockdown.“That day was also my birthday and I…




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Intel: Amid US funding gap, UN Palestinian refugee agency seeks $93M in coronavirus aid




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In Israel, coronavirus crisis improves Jewish-Arab relations

Contrary to past emergency situations, the COVID-19 crisis seems to have helped improve the relationship between the Jewish and Arab communities.




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China admits coronavirus exposed 'shortcomings' in healthcare

Beijing says reforms are underway to improve disease prevention and control mechanisms.




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Seoul closes bars, clubs over fears of second coronavirus wave

Health authorities have warned of a further spike in infections.




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Iranians fearful as coronavirus infections rise again

People rarely observe basic anti-contagion protocols.




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Hidden ‘talents’ emerge courtesy of coronavirus

We all need some cheering up and need something to do with all the time we find ourselves with.




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Coronavirus: left out of Hong Kong relief packages, asylum seekers struggle with higher food prices, lack of masks

When Zima did her weekly grocery shopping in March, she was shocked by the prices.“A package of chicken that used to cost HK$39 (US$5) was HK$50,” she recalled. A litre of milk went up from HK$35 to HK$49, and the tomatoes she used to pay HK$8 for were now HK$12.She worried her family of three might not have enough to eat for the month, because they would run out of money.The 32-year-old fled Pakistan in 2015 together with her husband and son, claiming religious persecution as members of the…




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Coronavirus: Hong Kong records at least one new imported Covid-19 case on Sunday

Hong Kong recorded at least one new imported coronavirus case on Sunday, ending a string of three days with no reported infections. The tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases now moves to at least 1,045. The last time the city recorded new infections was on Thursday, when four imported cases were revealed. At least eight new infections have been recorded so far this month, all imported – cases involving people with recent travel history. Health authorities have previously said the deadly…




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Coronavirus: US starts distributing Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug to states most in need

The US government began distributing remdesivir, an experimental drug recently approved for emergency use against Covid-19, to areas of the country struggling the most with the disease.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) arranged for some 600,000 vials of Gilead Sciences’ antiviral medication, shown to reduce recovery times for some patients, to be shipped to health authorities in New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan and three other states, to treat an estimated 78,000 hospitalised…




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Coronavirus latest: European countries prepare reopening as infections pass 4 million worldwide

France and Spain, two of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, were preparing on Sunday for an easing of lockdown rules as the global number of infections passed 4 million.In the US, the country with the world’s highest death toll, President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from his predecessor Barack Obama who said on a leaked tape that Trump’s handling of the crisis was an “absolute chaotic disaster”.The virus has claimed more than 78,000 lives in the United States, which…




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Coronavirus: US approves new antigen test with fast results

US regulators have approved a new type of coronavirus test that administration officials have promoted as a key to opening up the country.The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday announced emergency authorisation for antigen tests developed by Quidel Corporation of San Diego. The test can rapidly detect fragments of virus proteins in samples collected from swabs swiped inside the nasal cavity, the FDA said in a statement.The antigen test is the third type of test to be authorised by the FDA…




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Coronavirus: Obama calls Trump’s handling of pandemic a ‘chaotic disaster’

Former president Barack Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster”.In a leaked web call Friday night with former members of his administration, Obama also said the Justice Department’s decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia probe, endangers the rule of law in the US.In the audio, first obtained by…




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Elon Musk threatens to move Tesla from California over coronavirus restrictions

Tesla chief Elon Musk on Saturday threatened to pull his electric car headquarters and plant out of California after local authorities kept him from resuming production due to the coronavirus pandemic.“Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programmes to Texas/Nevada immediately,” Musk tweeted in a long diatribe, characteristic of past online rants which are not necessarily carried out.Referring to the California city where the cars are produced, Musk said that …




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Coronavirus lockdown means some US college students are paying US$70,000 for Zoom classes

The cost of a university education in the United States has long been eye-watering, with a year costing tens of thousands of dollars.But as the coronavirus crisis settles in, students – many of whom take out huge loans to finance their degrees – are wondering how to justify spending US$70,000 a year on … Zoom classes.They feel like they’re getting the raw end of the deal, and are demanding that their colleges be held to account.“We’re paying for other services that the campus offers that aren’t…




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Coronavirus: Dr Anthony Fauci self-quarantining along with two other White House task force members

Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr Anthony Fauci, placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, another stark reminder that not even one of the nation’s most secure buildings is immune from the virus.Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the task force, has become nationally known for his simple and direct explanations to the public about the…




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Asia’s next coronavirus flashpoint? Overcrowded, neglected prisons

All across Asia , and around the world, people have been urged to keep a safe distance and maintain good personal hygiene amid the coronavirus pandemic. But if your “home” is a prison dormitory that holds five times the 100 inmates it was designed to, doing either is almost impossible.Overcrowding is the norm in the prison systems of many developing nations, but the Philippines has long held the dubious distinction of having one of the most jam-packed in the world.In Manila City Jail, one of an…




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Coronavirus: how cash-mad Philippines learned to love digital money thanks to Covid-19

With her neighbourhood south of Manila locked down due to the coronavirus, Dolly Pelle had been planning to close her sari-sari convenience store – until customers convinced her they couldn’t do without her. Pelle’s store is one of a handful of similar shops all on the same street, but her’s has a crucial difference: it is the only one able to process local remittances. Lock down, start up: the digital firms cashing in on coronavirus in the Philippines In the past four years in the…




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Coronavirus cases in Japan drive surge in discrimination against medical workers

The coronavirus in Japan has brought not just an epidemic of infections, but also an onslaught of bullying and discrimination against the sick, their families and health workers.A government campaign to raise awareness seems to be helping, at least for medical workers. But it’s made only limited headway in countering the harassment and shunning that may be discouraging people from seeking testing and care and hindering the battle against the pandemic.When Arisa Kadono tested positive and was…




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India’s coronavirus lockdown is forcing women to do all the work

Every morning, marketing professional Sagari starts her day at 9am by sweeping the floors of her two-bedroom flat in suburban Mumbai. The 35-year-old then makes breakfast for her husband, father and three-year-old son, before preparing lunch and parking herself in front of her laptop to work, in between responding to calls for tea from her husband and demands from her toddler. At 9pm, she cooks dinner then washes up and listens in on international client calls that can last until 2am. How…






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South Korea sees spike of 34 new coronavirus cases after outbreak involving nightclubs

The outbreak came just as the country has eased some social distancing restrictions and is seeking to fully reopen schools and businesses.





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Chohan announces relief package for media workers hit by corona

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan Saturday said that Information Department would give Rs100,000 to media worker affected by COVID-19 while in case of an unfortunate...

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Dubai Expo will be blessing in corona aftermath: UAE envoy

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates Ambassador for Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Alzaabi has assured the world that Dubai Expo-2020’s new schedule would be a blessing for the world in the...

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PPP asks MPs to undergo corona test before coming to Parliament

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party has made mandatory for all senators, MNAs leaving for Parliament to be tested for COVID-19 for the upcoming sessions of National Assembly and Senate...

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India exploiting corona for unprecedented dimension in IOK

LONDON: British Kashmiri Organisations have shown deep concern over brutalities of the Indian army keeping up in occupied Kashmir.Both the Kashmir Youth Assembly and the Organisation of Kashmir...

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corona

'India exploiting corona for unprecedented dimension in IOK'

LONDON: British Kashmiri Organisations have shown deep concern over brutalities of the Indian army keeping up in occupied Kashmir.Both the Kashmir Youth Assembly and the Organisation of Kashmir...

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corona

India exploiting corona for unprecedented dimension in IOK

LONDON: British Kashmiri Organisations have shown deep concern over brutalities of the Indian army keeping up in occupied Kashmir.Both the Kashmir Youth Assembly and the Organisation of Kashmir...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]




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Easing lockdown will open the floodgates to coronavirus cases, warn medical associations

Strongly opposing federal and provincial governments’ decision to ease the lockdown, senior health experts and medical associations on Saturday warned that the number of COVID-19 cases was already on the rise and if restrictions were further lifted, the outbreak could get out of control in...




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Sindh's coronavirus death toll hits 180 as 691 more test positive in Karachi

Four more COVID-19 patients in Sindh lost their lives on Saturday, raising the novel coronavirus death toll in the province to 180, which is around 1.7 per cent of the total number of cases of the virus.Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said in a video message released by the CM House that 8,571...




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Three key U.S. coronavirus officials in self-quarantine after COVID-19 exposure

Three senior officials guiding the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic were in self-quarantine on Saturday after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for the disease, their agencies and spokesmen said.




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China admits coronavirus exposed 'shortcomings' in healthcare system

BEIJING: The coronavirus outbreak exposed “shortcomings” in China’s public healthcare system, a top health official admitted Saturday, saying that reforms are underway to improve the country’s disease prevention and control mechanisms.China has faced criticism both at home...




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Indian pharmacist dies after drinking botched coronavirus treatment

NEW DELHI: An Indian pharmacist died and his boss was left hospitalised after the pair drank a chemical concoction they had developed in an effort to treat coronavirus, police said Saturday. The men worked for a herbal medicine company and were testing their treatment — a mix of nitric oxide...




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Ivanka Trump's personal assistant tests positive for coronavirus

WASHINGTON: Ivanka Trump’s personal assistant has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, making her the third White House staff member to be infected from COVID-19, a media report said on Saturday.The assistant, who works in a personal capacity for US President Donald Trump’s...




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Vaccine orders plummet amid coronavirus outbreak: CDC

Washington: Orders for vaccines against diseases such as measles have declined since a national emergency was declared in the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.The number of vaccine doses ordered around the country has...




corona

China admits coronavirus exposed 'shortcomings' in healthcare system

BEIJING: The coronavirus outbreak exposed "shortcomings" in China’s public healthcare system, a top health official admitted Saturday, saying that reforms are underway to improve the country’s disease prevention and control mechanisms.China has faced criticism both at home and abroad...




corona

Indian pharmacist dies after drinking botched coronavirus treatment

NEW DELHI: An Indian pharmacist died and his boss was left hospitalised after the pair drank a chemical concoction they had developed in an effort to treat coronavirus, police said on Saturday.The men worked for a herbal medicine company and were testing their treatment -- a mix of nitric oxide...




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STL delays Hariri case verdict due to coronavirus

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has delayed announcing its verdict in the case of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, previously set for mid-May, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the court said.




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Pakistanis crowd markets as provinces ease coronavirus lockdown

People across Pakistan crowded markets on Saturday after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown was eased, despite the country recording its second-highest daily infection toll.

The government has allowed businesses to reopen in phases from the weekend, citing the economic havoc the virus restrictions have wreaked on citizens.

In Rawalpindi, thousands of shoppers were preparing for Eidul Fitr, with many flouting social distancing rules and advice to wear masks.

In Karachi, shopkeepers set out their wares of shoes, clothes, bangles and fabrics, while in the capital Islamabad shoppers stood in tightly-packed queues as they waited for stores to open.

Customers shop for bangles at a market in Islamabad on May 9. — AFP

Similar scenes were played out in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.

Omar Shirazi, a banker shopping for clothes with his daughter in Rawalpindi, welcomed the move.

“Eid is approaching,” he said. “We have to buy new garments for our children. It's the responsibility of people to comply with rules and wear safety gear.”

Tehmina Sattar, who was shopping with her sister and sons, was more cautious.

“We are happy with this decision but at the same time I have a fear in my heart that if this disease spreads it could be devastating. People here are not taking preventative measures.”

People gather as they wait for the reopening of shops in Lahore on Saturday. — AFP

Information Minister Shibli Faraz warned earlier in the day that the lockdown on businesses would be reimposed if safety guidelines were not followed, after authorities reported more than 1,700 new cases in the past 24 hours.

Infections have been rising steadily as testing has increased, with more than 28,000 cases and more than 600 deaths recorded.

The easing comes as many across the country have openly ignored restrictions on gatherings in public during the past month, especially during the evenings as people observe Ramazan.

Schools will remain closed until mid-July however, while there are no immediate plans to restart public transportation or domestic flights.




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China 'shocked' by U.S. reversal on U.N. coronavirus action: diplomat 

China and the United States both supported a draft United Nations Security Council resolution confronting the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday and it was "shocking and regretful" that Washington changed its mind on Friday, a Chinese diplomat said.




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Japan looks to lift coronavirus emergency in some areas ahead of May 31 deadline

Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Sunday the government is looking to lift the state of emergency in "many of 34 prefectures" that are not among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic before the nationwide deadline of May 31.