SCIENTISTS believe the coronavirus pandemic could have started as early as October and participants at the Military World Games, held in Wuhan that month, could have unwittingly helped transmit the lethal virus around the world.

TWO of Germany's local authorities will bring back certain lockdown measures in some areas following an increase in infections after the government's easing of restrictions.

IS THERE any topic in the entire world that Britain is incapable of turning into a matter of class?

MY mother was born in 1928 and grew up in Kent.

THERE must be an upside to this, yes? Time to read War And Peace, learn a new language, or discover previously unknown aptitudes such as the ability to paint? Face it, you'll never have an opportunity like this again. But this, alas, is what a real day of self-betterment looks like. Leap out of bed at the crack of noon.

The Virtual Grand National replaces the real-life National this afternoon with ITV providing life coverage of a lifelike simulation to substitute for the cancelled regular race. Express Sport brings you live updates with an animated Tiger Roll the favourite for victory.

Potters Corner triumphed at the Virtual Grand National with an explosive finish in a boost to the NHS.

GEORGE SOROS made a chilling warning about the state of global markets in 2012 that has fresh relevance today as world leaders grapple with the unprecedented challenge of rebuilding the post-coronavirus economy.

Peter Whittingham is fighting for his life in hospital, the South Wales Police have confirmed.

Peter Whittingham has died following a head injury from an accidental fall.

LASH extensions may be a distant memory for some as the UK lockdown continues and salons remain closed. But there are ways to give yourself longer lashes at home if you're missing the fuller flutter.

KATE MIDDLETON, 38, wowed fans by appearing in a video with a new mother and midwives. The Duchess of Cambridge did so ahead of UK's Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

Storm Ciara is threatening to cause chaos with this week's sporting events including Premier League football, Six Nations rugby and eight horse racing meets.

Leeds United take on Hull City on Saturday and Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa faces an important decision after Kiko Casilla was issued an eight-match ban.

Leeds continues their Premier League promotion push with a dominant 4-0 win against Hull on Saturday.

Into mid-2011, the world’s worst food crisis is being felt in East Africa, in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Despite successive failed rains, the crisis has been criticized as avoidable and man-made. This is because the situation had been predicted many months before by an international early warning system. Both the international community and governments in the region have been accused of doing very little in the lead up to this crisis. In addition, high food prices have forced food out of the reach of many people, while local conflicts exacerbate the situation.

As the international organization Oxfam describes: 12 million people are in dire need of food, clean water, and basic sanitation. Loss of life on a massive scale is a very real risk, and the crisis is set to worsen over the coming months, particularly for pastoralist communities.

This page also presents news coverage from Inter Press Service on this crisis.

Read full article: East Africa Food Crisis 2011

A recent IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program was portrayed by most Western mainstream media and politicians as new proof Iran is close to building nuclear weapons. The US Senate passed sanctions on Iran targeting its central bank in response.

However, the report does not say what the mainstream media and politicians claim. It has been much more guarded and much of it is about the state of Iran’s program up to 2003. After that period, the report is much more uncertain. Furthermore, many experts contend that the speculations (not definitive proof) that are in the report are misguided, too, leaning on unreliable sources, for example.

This update to the page on Iran has more information about this. Although the page is long, look for the new section about half way down under the heading of Regurgitating old stories as new information to justify sanctions?

Read full article: Iran

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) monitors global surface temperatures on an ongoing basis. Their analysis shows temperatures around the globe in 2011 compared to the average global temperature from the mid-20th century. The comparison shows how Earth continues to experience warmer temperatures than several decades ago.

Global temperatures have warmed significantly since 1880, the beginning of what scientists call the “modern record.” At this time, the coverage provided by weather stations allowed for essentially global temperature data. As greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, industry and vehicles have increased, temperatures have climbed, most notably since the late 1970s. In this animation of temperature data from 1880-2011, reds indicate temperatures higher than the average during a baseline period of 1951-1980, while blues indicate lower temperatures than the baseline average.

Click on the image to see the video:

Read full article: Global Temperature Anomaly, 1880 - 2011

The latest data covering global arms sales shows that sale of arms in 2011 increased to around $85 billion, 84% of which went to developing countries. This was almost double the arms sales compared to 2010 which was the lowest since 2004.

One major factor for the increase was the US sales of arms to Saudi Arabia. Most other major arms sellers otherwise saw a decrease in sales and the trend in recent years had been declining sales.

The global financial crisis has affected many countries, and many developing countries started to see a decrease in purchases in the last few years. However, just 10 developing countries account for some 85% of all sales to developing countries in the period 2004 to 2011, which the data covers. Saudi Arabia tops that list followed by India and the United Arab Emirates. (As well as concerns about some of the regimes in the top buyers, some of this spending is also said to be due to modernizing efforts.)

Updated graphs and charts on arms sales data are provided here.

The arms trade is big business. The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China), together with Germany and Italy, account for approximately 85% of all arms sold between 2004 and 2011.

Some of the arms sold go to regimes where human rights violations will occur. Corruption often accompanies arms sales due to the large sums of money involved.

Read full article: The Arms Trade Is Big Business

It seems the world is awash with money, even though most governments are facing economic pressures. Trillions are being hidden away by a very few global super elite in offshore bank accounts, avoiding billions in taxes such that constrained governments turn to austerity and other measures, inflicting more hardship on people who are typically already victims of the global financial crisis. Furthermore, it turns out that many of the banks we have all bailed out help with these offshore practices in various ways.

Tax avoidance by the super rich results in lost revenues in the order of hundreds of billions a year, which would (in theory at least) benefit most of society. But if you can afford an army of ingenious lawyers and accountants, it seems you can play by a different set of rules.

Recent high profile cases of companies and individuals avoiding taxes in recent years has resulted in governments claiming they will address this issue thoroughly. But that is as far as it seems to go.

This update includes additional figures and examples of recent tax avoidance issues that have come to light.

Read full article: Tax Avoidance and Tax Havens; Undermining Democracy

A recent study found that coral reefs will face severe challenges even if average global warming temperature rise is restricted to 2 degrees Celsius. This is a rise that most countries are struggling to negotiate and meet. But reefs are very sensitive to temperature changes, experts fear the window of opportunity to prevent massive reef loss is very small.

Read full article: Nature and Animal Conservation

In recent years, global military expenditure has increased again and is now comparable to Cold War levels. Recent data shows global spending at over $1.7 trillion, despite the global economic conditions. It is still approximately 1% increase since 2008 when the financial crisis began, for example.

Not all nations have felt the impacts of the global financial crisis in the same way. Some have grown economically, including many Asian countries, which has allowed some of them to increase their military spending. There are geopolitical interests at stake for various powers, so economic troubles or not, military spending is seen as important to maintain, or at least to minimize possible reductions.

The highest military spender is the US accounting for 39% of the world’s spending, more than the next top 10 countries combined, and more than all its potential enemies, combined. But this represents a slight decline over previous years as other nations, especially China and Russia, increase their spending. At the same time, the US has reduced military spending for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while Western Europe’s austerity programs affect their military spending budgets.

This update includes new and updated figures, graphs and charts exploring this further.

Read full article: World Military Spending

Celtic legend Chris Sutton has bitten back Robbie Savage on Twitter, as the Hoops finished the week top of the Scottish Premiership table, after Rangers’ 1-1 draw against Hearts.

Steven Gerrard is very frustrated with Rangers’ poor performance against Hearts.

David Moyes came close to joining Celtic on two occasions and has opens up on his quest to return to management.

The FA Cup quarter-final draw takes place this evening but what ball number is your team? Express Sport has all the details.

Manchester City fans are fuming with manager Pep Guardiola over his team selection for the FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday, as both Phil Foden and Eric Garcia are left out of his starting line up for the clash at Hillsborough.

Sergio Aguero kept Manchester City on course to retain the FA Cup with the only goal in a disappointing fifth-round tie at Sheffield Wednesday. City will travel to Newcastle in the quarter finals.

Holders Manchester City were drawn away at Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Sheffield United will host Arsenal, while Chelsea travel to Leicester.

Manchester City beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the FA Cup clash at Hillsborough, as Pep Guardiola's side progress to the quarter-finals, just in time for the FA Cup draw. Express Sport is on hand to bring you all of the Citizens' player ratings after a tough evening against the Championship club.

TENCENT has confirmed that issues with the latest PUBG Mobile update process are being looked into this weekend, ahead of the Season 13 Royale Pass release.

JOHN LENNON revealed his least favourite Beatles song was one he "knocked off" from Elvis Presley.

BRIAN MAY is known for shredding it on his guitar for millions of Queen fans - but what has caused him to head to hospital?

The British Open has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tiger Woods was originally scheduled to defend his Masters jacket in Augusta this weekend.

The Masters is all about the roars that sweep around Augusta National on the back nine on a Sunday but sometimes it is a different noise that carries through golf's most evocative landscape. The collective gasps of thousands of patrons; the soundtrack to calamity.

The Masters was scheduled to take place this weekend until it was called off due to the coronavirus outbreak - but would Tiger Woods have defended his title?

EXCLUSIVE: Justin Rose opens up on applauding the NHS from afar, supporting online fundraising efforts with fellow celebrities and why the Ryder Cup should not take place behind closed doors.

Rory McIlroy is teaming up with Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff to help raise funds for COVID-19 relief in a skins match.

LYING flat out on a hot stone table, wearing nothing but the skimpiest of briefs, I suddenly felt incredibly uneasy. A Turkish man, topless and muscular, entered the room, threw freezing water over me then rubbed my stomach with abrasive mittens… and this was meant to be a holiday!

LET THE good times roll, the drinks flow and the music rock. It's party time on the edge of the world. By mid afternoon guests are knocking back cocktails as classic tunes and the thunderous crash of waves on unspoilt sands fill the air.

JOSH WINDASS silenced his Rangers hecklers – and won the backing of his boss.

COSTA RICA is a name to send a chill down any Scotsman’s spine. For me it’s up there with Peru when I think of football nightmares on a world stage.

PARTICK THISTLE were left baffled after a goal was disallowed despite hitting the net during their clash with Greenock Morton.

Chelsea have entered negotiations with Leicester over Ben Chilwell after the left-back reportedly told his agent he wants a transfer to London.

If you are considering planning a trip to Greece and are wondering which island to visit, you should definitely check out the majestic island of Corfu. There are infinite reasons to plan a trip to...

The post 5 Reasons to Plan a Trip to Corfu appeared first on Geeky Traveller.

If there’s something worth investing in, that would be ‘experiences’. Creating fun memories, especially when traveling, is priceless. If you are into experiencing only the best, check out the following ideas and enjoy: Go on...

The post 5 Experiences to Suit Every Taste appeared first on Geeky Traveller.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has a transfer plan for Rhian Brewster with Leeds United set to miss out on a loan deal for the youngster.

Liverpool ace Rhian Brewster has joined Swansea on loan until the end of the season.

Odion Ighalo scored twice as Manchester United beat Derby to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and leave their all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney on the losing side.