ise Africa: Commemorating Smallpox Eradication – A Legacy of Hope, for COVID-19 and Other Diseases By allafrica.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:16:46 GMT [WHO] Geneva -On 8 May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared: 'The world and all its peoples have won freedom from smallpox.' Full Article
ise COVID-19 Cases in Somalia Rises to 756 As 34 People Test Positive By allafrica.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 16:53:35 GMT [Shabelle] The Somali health ministry on Monday confirmed 34 new cases of a novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 756. Full Article
ise HSA authorised to close non-compliant firms under plan By www.rte.ie Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 13:16:21 +0000 The government plan to re-open workplaces will be mandatory, and the Health and Safety Authority will be allowed to shut down businesses that do not comply. Full Article Coronavirus
ise Sperm containing virus raises small risk of COVID-19 spread via sex By www.jpost.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 21:30:33 GMT A study by doctors at China's Shangqiu Municipal Hospital of 38 men hospitalized with the disease found that six of them, or 16%, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in their semen. Full Article Coronavirus research COVID-19
ise Guterres: Antisemitic conspiracies increased due to COVID-19 By www.jpost.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:12:17 GMT 'The pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering' Full Article United Nations antisemitism Coronavirus COVID-19
ise German monitor: antisemitic incidents have increased since Halle shooting By www.jpost.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 05:04:47 GMT In the Halle attack, two people were killed near the synagogue when the alleged gunman could not enter the building. Full Article synagogue diaspora antisemitism Halle
ise UN human rights commissioner calls for disembarkation of migrants held on ships By www.maltatoday.com.mt Published On :: Fri,08 May 2020 17:39:07 +0200 The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses ‘deep concern’ over reports of failure to assist and coordinate pushbacks of migrant boats in the central Mediterranean Full Article
ise Did God Promise You Prosperity? By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:00:00 PST In the lead-up to the Truth Matters conference in October, we will be focusing our attention on the sufficiency, authority, and clarity of Scripture. Of our previous blog series, none better embodies that emphasis than Frequently Abused Verses. The following entry from that series originally appeared on September 25, 2015. -ed. What does this verse mean to you? Most of us have heard that question before—it lurks inside countless Bible studies and Sunday-school classes. It is a postmodern mindset that has become pervasive in the church. When reading a book, an article, or a blog post, we implicitly understand that its meaning is bound to the author’s intent. The same ought to be true for Scripture—God alone is the arbiter of what He means through what He has revealed in His Word. Yet Scripture is now subject to the whims of the reader, who is prone to read personal experience into the text instead of discovering—and coming under—its objective truth. The worst forms of this are when people think they’re helping God—improving upon His perfection, sanitizing His story, and smoothing out the sharp edges of His truth. Life is not as subjective as we might like to think. We don’t get to decide what a red light means when we approach a traffic signal. Bank managers can’t arbitrarily determine your account balance. And, thankfully, airlines don’t hire pilots who take the liberty to decide what “runway” means to them. It is absurd to think that we can approach God’s Word with lower standards. God says what He means and means what He says, always speaks without error, and has been kind enough to speak to us with simplicity and clarity. The tsunami of topical preaching we see today has scarred the evangelical landscape. A topical message is not wrong in and of itself, but problems are inevitable when that becomes the main diet of a congregation. Pastors who preach texts divorced from their context invariably beget congregations who interpret texts divorced from the Author’s intent. The result is that too many believers today have a propensity to treat God’s Word as their own private smorgasbord of theology. Another place you see this trend—interpreting verses out of context—in action is in choosing of a “life verse.” Many Christians like to pick a verse that speaks to them and try to make it the theme for their lives. It’s no surprise that none of the passages concerning God’s judgment make the cut. Instead, the spectacular promises of blessing and success reign supreme. And sitting on top of the mountain of verses evangelicals frequently misappropriate and misapply is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” It’s All About You Unsurprisingly, Jeremiah 29:11 is a go-to verse for celebrity pastor, Joel Osteen. His takeaway is that “God desires to see you flourish in this life. He wants to see you come out of setbacks stronger, wiser, increased and promoted. He wants to give you hope in your final outcome and see you come to a flourishing finish.” [1] Joel Osteen, Today’s Word with Joel Osteen—May 29, 2012 (Devotional). Andy Stanley, pastor of America’s largest congregation, says “We may not know for certain everything our future holds, but we know that God thinks good thoughts toward us, to give us a future and a hope.” [2] https://thekingdomcorner.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/andy-stanley-life-may-be-uncertain-but-god-isnt/ Rick Warren also typifies that me-centric approach in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life: If you have felt hopeless, hold on! Wonderful changes are going to happen in your life as you begin to live it on purpose. God says, “I know what I am planning for you. . . . I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.” [3] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012) 35. One has to wonder if Osteen, Stanley, or Warren understand how badly they have misconstrued and misapplied God’s Word—and how they’ve misled their followers. They give zero acknowledgement to the Author’s original intent or His original audience when they rip this verse from its biblical setting. Reading Jeremiah 29:11 in context paints a starkly different picture and delivers a far more profound truth. It’s Not About You The nation of Israel had been taken by the Babylonians into captivity. The Temple, as well as the entire city of Jerusalem, was in ruins. Their king was in chains with his eyes gouged out. The glory of Israel as a nation was finished. But in the midst of that terrible situation, God spoke through His prophet Jeremiah: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, “Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. For thus says the Lord, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.” Because you have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon”—for thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile—thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, because they have not listened to My words,” declares the Lord, “which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,” declares the Lord. You, therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:4–20) In context, verse 11 is clearly not meant as a love letter or a promise of blessing to individual believers in the twenty-first century. And here are a few other points to consider: How do Joel Osteen, Andy Stanley, and Rick Warren know that God is directly speaking to their congregants in verse 11 but not in Jeremiah 29:17–19, where God promises to send “the sword, famine and pestilence”? Have they considered that God’s soothing promises in verse 11 are delivered to Israel while He has His foot on their neck in judgment (Jeremiah 29:4)? What about the fact that those who received the promise in verse 11 would likely not live to experience its fulfillment seventy years later (Jeremiah 29:10). And in their egotistical exegesis, can they grasp the irony that Israel was in Babylonian slavery because they listened to prophets who tickled their ears (Jeremiah 29:8–9)? There is something far greater and eternally significant that we learn from this story in its true context. God does not abandon His people! In spite of their sin, God was relentlessly faithful to His covenants regarding Israel’s future and His promised Messiah. Not even Babylonian captivity could prevent His promises from coming to pass. Likewise His promises to us as New Testament believers concerning our calling and election are also unshakeable (John 10:27–29). And they provide far more lasting comfort than Old Testament verses plucked out of context and misappropriated for modern audiences. Full Article
ise Did Christ Promise Us Supernatural Power and Protection? By feeds.gty.org Published On :: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:00:00 PST In the lead-up to the Truth Matters conference in October, we will be focusing our attention on the sufficiency, authority, and clarity of Scripture. Of our previous blog series, none better embodies that emphasis than Frequently Abused Verses. The following entry from that series originally appeared on February 10, 2016. -ed. Next week will mark the second anniversary of Jamie Coots’s death. He was a father, pastor, and one of the stars of the National Geographic Channel’s reality series, Snake Salvation. The show followed Coots’s life and ministry as a prominent leader in a sect of Holiness Pentecostals who incorporate handling poisonous snakes into their worship in fulfilment of the promise of supernatural power and protection in Mark 16:17-18. Coots died from a snakebite. Snake handling—once popular throughout the Appalachian states—has dwindled to a tiny subculture of Pentecostals who believe in the practice of the extreme signs and wonders described in Mark 16:17-18. Specifically, they teach that they have the ability to cast out demons, speak in tongues, handle poisonous snakes, drink poison, and heal the sick (they also expose themselves to open flames, although that particular sign is not included in Mark’s gospel). And every couple years, the movement garners headlines because another pastor or congregant has died attempting to fulfill those supposed promises. Virtually all other charismatics would disavow such extreme behavior, while holding just as tightly to the promises conveyed in the closing verses of Mark’s gospel—albeit more selectively. For example, charismatic prosperity preacher Benny Hinn cites the passage in defense of his faith-healing ministry: “I knew the Lord had told me to pray for the sick as part of preaching the gospel, just as He told the disciples, in Mark 16:18: ‘They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’” [1] Benny Hinn, The Anointing (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997) 49. And in his book When Heaven Invades Earth, Bill Johnson—pastor of Bethel Redding, one of the most influential charismatic churches in the country—points to the end of Mark’s gospel as a promise of God’s ongoing miraculous work. As our ministry teams travel around the world, we have come to expect certain things. Healing, deliverance, and conversions are the fruits of our labors. While healing is seldom the subject we teach on, it is one of the most common results. As we proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God, people get well. The Father seems to say, Amen! To His own message by confirming the word with power (see Mark 16:20). [2] Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth (Shippensburg, PA: Treasure House, 2003) 89. We could go on with examples of how charismatics of various traditions lean heavily on the closing verses of Mark’s gospel, but you get the point. For many it’s a foundational passage—one that explicitly promises all believers the power to perform signs and wonders. But is that really the point of the passage? And more importantly, do those verses even belong in your Bible to begin with? Even a simple reading of the text raises some significant questions about its Scriptural authenticity. Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.] (Mark 16:9-20) As you can see, there are actually two endings to Mark’s gospel contained in the above quote. Verses 9-20 are referred to as the longer ending, while the portion in brackets at the end of verse 20 is called the shorter ending—on its own it would appear immediately after verse 8. Both have appeared individually in a variety of translations—the NASB includes both. But neither ending appears in the earliest and most reliable New Testament manuscripts. No ancient book has been more carefully preserved than the Bible—we have several thousand manuscripts, with some dating all the way back to mere decades after they were first written. And through the science of textual analysis, scholars have determined that the final verses of Mark were not in the original, inspired text. On top of that, as John MacArthur explains in his commentary on the passage, there are also several internal indications that Mark didn’t write either ending. First, the transition between verse 8 and verse 9 is awkward and disjointed. The conjunction now (from the Greek word de) implies continuity with the preceding narrative, but the focus of verse 9 abruptly shifts to Mary Magdalene rather than continuing a discussion of the women referred to in verse 8. Moreover, it would be strange for Mark to wait until the end of his narrative to introduce Mary Magdalene, as if for the first time . . . when she was already mentioned three times in the prior context (Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1). A similar discontinuity regards Peter, who is singled out in verse 7 yet not mentioned again in verses 9-20. The “shorter ending” . . . attempts to rectify those incongruities by highlighting both Peter and the other women. . . . But this shorter ending has even weaker manuscript evidence to support it than the longer ending. Second, the vocabulary, style, and structure of the longer ending is not consistent with the rest of Mark’s gospel. There are eighteen words in this section that are not used elsewhere in Mark. For example, the title “Lord Jesus” is used here (v. 19) but is never used anywhere else in Mark’s account. Third, the inclusion of apostolic signs does not fit the way the other three gospels conclude their accounts of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Though many signs mentioned in this section parallel portions of the book of Acts (cf. Acts 2:4; 9:17; 10:46; 28:8), some are clearly without biblical support, such as being able to “pick up” venomous “serpents” (though perhaps loosely based on Paul’s experience in Acts 28:3-5) or “drink any deadly poison.” [3] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mark 9-16 (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2015) 411-412. Summing up the case against the scriptural credentials of Mark 16:9-20, John MacArthur writes, The evidence, both external and internal, conclusively demonstrates that verses 9-20 were not originally part of Mark’s inspired record. While they generally summarize truths taught elsewhere in the New Testament, they should always be evaluated in light of the rest of Scripture. No doctrines or practices should be established solely on them. The snake-handling preachers of the Appalachians provide a prime example of the errors that can arise from accepting these verses as authoritative. Nonetheless, knowing that Mark 16:9-20 is not original should give believers more confidence in the accuracy of the New Testament, not less. As noted above, the science of textual analysis makes it possible for biblical scholars to identify the very few passages that were not part of the original. Such places are clearly marked in modern translations, making it easy for students of Scripture to identify them. Consequently, believers can approach the rest of the text with the settled assurance that the Bible they hold in their hands accurately reflects the original. [4] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mark 9-16, 412. That conclusion then begs the question: Where did these verses come from? Most likely, they were added in by a scribe who felt Mark’s original ending was missing something. However, it does not appear that he was so audacious as to concoct an ending from his own imagination. Instead, Mark 16:9-20 is a patchwork quilt of other biblical passages concerning the life of Christ after His resurrection, His commissioning of the apostles, and stories from their ministry in the founding of the church. Time and space don’t permit me to break down the probable origin of each verse, but let me encourage you to listen to John MacArthur’s sermon on the passage, called “The Fitting End to Mark’s Gospel,” or consult his commentary on Mark 9-16 for more details on how this extrabiblical passage was likely assembled. And what of Mark’s original ending? Why was it deemed so deficient in the first place? True, it is abrupt and to the point: “They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). But as John MacArthur explains, that abrupt ending perfectly fits both Mark’s style and his purpose for writing at all. Mark’s ending is abrupt but it is not incomplete. The tomb was empty; the angelic announcement explained that Jesus had risen; and multiple eyewitnesses confirmed those events. The purpose of Mark’s gospel was to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Having amply made that point, no further proof was necessary. Throughout his gospel, Mark consistently punctuated key events in the life of the Lord Jesus by emphasizing the wonder He evoked in the hearts and minds of others. Mark simply moves from one point of amazement about Christ to the next. So the narrative ends where it ought to end. It climaxes with amazement and bewilderment at the resurrection of the crucified Savior (cf. John 20:31). In so doing, it leaves the reader in a place of wonder, awe, and worship, centered on its glorious subject: the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [5] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Mark 9-16, 417-418. So while Mark 16:9-20 may be a significant proof text for many charismatics, their interpretation is invalidated when we understand that those verses never belonged in Scripture to begin with. Full Article
ise Second wave a worry, warn advisers By www.bangkokpost.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 04:00:00 +0700 The nation must be ready to cope with a possible resurgence in Covid-19 cases if lockdown measures are eased, as expected, starting on May 17, the government's pandemic advisory committee warned on Friday. Full Article
ise Coronavirus: China’s exports in surprise jump in April, but imports tumble By www.scmp.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 11:16:00 +0800 China’s exports returned to growth in April, beating forecasts and suggesting that an expected demand shock from coronavirus containment efforts around the world will come further down the line.April exports rose by 3.5 per cent from a year earlier, reversing the 6.6 per cent fall in March and much better than the combined minus 17.2 per cent collapse in January and February. April’s return was much better than the expectations of a Bloomberg poll of analysts, which had predicted an 11 per cent… Full Article
ise China car sales set to rise 0.9 per cent in April, ending almost two years of declines, industry body predicts By www.scmp.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 15:28:57 +0800 Car sales in China likely rose in April from a year earlier, its top industry body said on Thursday, ending almost two years of declines and signalling that the world’s biggest market is recovering from the coronavirus shock.April’s sales of 2 million units likely pushed sales up 0.9 per cent from a year earlier, and 39.8 per cent from March, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said in a post on its official WeChat account.It added its forecast was based on sales data it… Full Article
ise Coronavirus: China’s medical supply boom, lockdown backlog sparked surprise April exports rise By www.scmp.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 20:36:11 +0800 A surprise jump in Chinese exports in April will be short-lived, analysts said, with the world’s second largest economy unable to stay sheltered from the demand shock to come from the global economic downturn.A 3.5 per cent rise in shipments last month caught economists by surprise and left them scrambling for explanations as the consensus forecast was for an 11 per cent contraction.The rise was, in part, due to factories coming back online in China in March and April to fulfil orders that had… Full Article
ise Sperm containing coronavirus raises possibility of sexually transmitted Covid-19, Chinese study shows By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 01:38:28 +0800 Chinese researchers have found Covid-19 in the sperm of a small number of men, raising the possibility that the virus could be spread via sex.The study by physicians at China’s Shangqiu Municipal Hospital looked at only 38 men at the hospital who had tested positive with disease, and of that already small group found that a minority – only six – were found to have SARS-CoV-2 in their semen.Eyes are ‘important route’ for coronavirus into body, Hong Kong experts find“The virus responsible for… Full Article
ise Beijing’s South China Sea fishing ban threatens to raise tensions with rival claimants By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 20:12:16 +0800 Tensions are expected to rise in the South China Sea after Beijing’s annual summer ban on fishing in the disputed waters drew protests from rival claimants.China said it would prohibit fishing activities in the waters Beijing has claimed above the 12th parallel – including areas near the Scarborough Shoal, the Paracel Islands, and the Gulf of Tonkin – to conserve stocks.The ban, which came into effect from noon on May 1 runs until August 16 and China’s coastguard has promised to take the … Full Article
ise Chinese city raises coronavirus threat level after recording new local case By www.scmp.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 18:30:17 +0800 A city in China’s northeastern province of Jilin has upgraded its Covid-19 risk level from low to medium following a new case of the disease, the provincial authorities announced on Saturday morning.It came just two days after China’s government declared the whole country was low-risk after the number of new cases dropped to almost zero and no deaths were recorded for more than three weeks.On Friday the State Council issued a notice allowing shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants… Full Article
ise To mask or not to mask? World leaders scrutinised over face coverings By www.scmp.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 02:17:57 +0800 Donald Trump has not donned one. Emmanuel Macron boasted a small French flag on his. Slovakia’s president made a fashion statement by sporting a fuchsia-coloured one to match her outfit.As the world starts emerging from coronavirus lockdowns, political leaders are being closely scrutinised over their choice to wear a mask – or not – with many people questioning the seemingly mixed messages about the value of face coverings as infection barriers.Many Western governments counselled against face… Full Article
ise Coronavirus latest: sombre Victory Day in Russia as cases rise; Seoul orders nightspots to close By www.scmp.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:45:22 +0800 President Vladimir Putin told Russians they are “invincible” when they stand together as the country on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of the end of second world war on lockdown from the coronavirus.With the number of virus cases surging and authorities urging Russians to stay in their homes, celebrations of this year’s Victory Day were muted after the Kremlin grudgingly agreed to postpone plans for a grand parade with world leaders.Instead of columns of military hardware and thousands of… Full Article
ise To serve, not steal time: promises of efficient government offices By praguemonitor.com Published On :: Prague Daily Monitor The Czech political parties are promising more efficient offices, mainly through digitalization. The proposed law for a faster and more effective state originally came from the Starostové a nezávislí party (STAN). Since then ANO and ČSSD have pledged to fulfill the goals of the Digital Česko plan. ODS and the Pirates also have digitalization as part of their platform. read more Full Article
ise Kiir criticised for lifting Covid-19 restrictions By www.nation.co.ke Published On :: 2020-05-09T08:45:04Z South Sudan Doctors’ Union say this may hurt millions of South Sudanese. Full Article
ise Pact between KNTC and OCP Kenya heralds new era in fertiliser supply By www.nation.co.ke Published On :: 2020-05-09T10:55:00Z The partnership will ensure farmers get the input not only at the correct price but also at the right time. Full Article
ise Covid-19: Kenya cases rise to 649 as 28 more test positive - VIDEO By www.nation.co.ke Published On :: 2020-05-09T13:40:00Z Kenya reports a total of 649 cases, 207 recoveries and 30 deaths. Full Article
ise Covid-19: Trans Nzoia police get masks, gloves and sanitiser By www.nation.co.ke Published On :: 2020-05-09T16:10:00Z Kenya Police Sacco distributes face masks, gloves and sanitisers in Trans Nzoia. Full Article
ise Charles Li moves on in surprise announcement to step down in 18 months as chief executive of Hong Kong’s stock exchange By www.scmp.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 12:56:41 +0800 Charles Li, one of the longest-serving chief executives of a global financial marketplace, has thrown in the towel after more than a decade as head of the Hong Kong stock exchange (HKEX), in a surprise announcement to let his contract lapse in October 2021.The former oilfield worker, journalist and banker, also known as Li Xiaojia, will not seek reappointment when his current term expires at the end of October next year, according to a statement. He will continue to lead Asia’s third-largest… Full Article
ise Muhammad Ali moots Iran fight and Macau ferry raised from the sea: headlines from 40 years ago By www.scmp.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 16:37:36 +0800 Muhammad Ali offering to help free Iran hostages, a contest pitting an abacus against a calculator and an Indian hospital using patients as guinea pigs made the headlines 40 years ago this week.May 4, 1980● The Macau ferry Fatshan, which capsized during Typhoon Rose in August 1971, was brought to the surface by a Chinese salvage team. Three skeletons, believed to be the remains of three of the victims trapped in the vessel when it sank near northeastern Lantau Island, were discovered inside the… Full Article
ise Coronavirus: Hong Kong exams body to develop alternative student grading system for crises, education chief reveals By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:30:11 +0800 Exam authorities will carry out citywide research to develop an alternative student grading system in the event university entrance tests are cancelled because of future pandemics, Hong Kong’s education minister told the Post on Thursday.In an exclusive interview, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung also said his bureau would review with schools how to better prepare for class suspensions, including teacher training and resources for non-traditional instruction methods.Hong Kong… Full Article
ise Two Hong Kong men get eight months’ jail for carrying weapons at unauthorised Yuen Long protest in July By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 19:09:37 +0800 Two Hong Kong men found carrying weapons at an unauthorised protest last year were jailed for eight months on Friday.Fanling Court sentenced sales consultant Yung Wai-shing, 26, and clerk Chu Tsz-wan, 24, to jail for possessing an extendable baton, a laser pointer, a catapult and a packet of metal pellets at a march in Yuen Long on the night of July 27.The court sentenced co-defendant Vincent Chu Chun-hoi, a 19-year-old cook, to correctional training for carrying an air pistol at the same event… Full Article
ise Hong Kong police sergeant may have stolen 25kg in crystal meth from scene of record-breaking bust he supervised, sources say By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 20:42:55 +0800 A Hong Kong police officer arrested in connection with the seizure of 25kg of drugs worth HK$12 million is believed to have orchestrated its theft from the scene of a bust he was personally in charge of last week, according to police sources.If true, it would mean the announced record seizure of 296kg of Ice, a form of methamphetamine, actually involved 321kg.Sources said the station sergeant, who was arrested along with a constable in connection with the missing drugs, was in charge of the… Full Article
ise Hong Kong civil servant in charge of reusable mask giveaway admits transparency shortcomings, promises replacement filter production will go out to tender By www.scmp.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 23:17:06 +0800 A senior civil servant overseeing the distribution of reusable masks to all Hongkongers has promised to put the production of their replacement filters out to tender after admitting to shortcomings in the transparency of the original contract awarded by the government.Annie Choi Suk-han, permanent secretary of the Innovation and Technology Bureau, on Friday rejected suggestions the government had intentionally hidden the identity of the manufacturer chosen for the HK$320 million (US$41 million)… Full Article
ise Coronavirus: Hong Kong records no new cases, as government adviser suggests easing border restrictions with Macau By www.scmp.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 13:58:08 +0800 Hong Kong recorded zero new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, as a government adviser suggested that border control measures between the city and Macau could be the first to be lifted.It was also the 20th day in a row without any local infections, although a handful of imported cases over the past week had taken Hong Kong’s tally to 1,044 with four related deaths.Health experts earlier raised the prospect of Hong Kong being declared free of local transmission if there were no such cases after 28 days… Full Article
ise Hong Kong government to propose revised bailout plan for Ocean Park soon By www.scmp.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:00:17 +0800 A revised bailout plan will be proposed by the Hong Kong government very soon to save Ocean Park from running out of cash as early as in June, the Post has learned.Two sources said that a HK$10.6 billion (US$1.35 billion) proposal tabled in January would not go ahead with officials unveiling an alternative on Monday at the earliest, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the theme park on Southern district to shut down temporarily.On Friday night, the legislature’s Finance Committee announced that… Full Article
ise Financial Scams Rise as Coronavirus Hits Developing Countries By www.ipsnews.net Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 06:56:43 +0000 David Medine is Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). He is also CGAP’s lead on data protection and security and works to develop novel, consumer-oriented approaches to data protection and to encourage the creation of cyber security resource centers for developing countries. The post Financial Scams Rise as Coronavirus Hits Developing Countries appeared first on Inter Press Service. Full Article Civil Society Economy & Trade Featured Global Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies Inequity TerraViva United Nations
ise Black Americans are Bearing the Brunt of Coronavirus Recession – This Should Come as no Surprise By www.ipsnews.net Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 21:13:25 +0000 As the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in April, many Americans were shocked by the extent that black Americans were being disproportionately impacted: higher infection rates, more deaths and greater job loss. But many black Americans were not surprised. This is not new. The same dynamic has been going on at times of crisis for decades and […] The post Black Americans are Bearing the Brunt of Coronavirus Recession – This Should Come as no Surprise appeared first on Inter Press Service. Full Article Economy & Trade Headlines Health North America Poverty & SDGs TerraViva United Nations
ise EU apologises to Italy for being slow to offer help By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 04:02:01 GMT No other EU country has suffered as greatly as Italy from the pandemic, with more than 21,600 dead and 105,000 people still infected. Full Article
ise Virus epicentre Wuhan raises number of dead by 50 per cent By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 12:51:01 GMT An official said the new figures were "due to the insufficiency in admission and treatment capability" at the early stages of the outbreak. Full Article
ise Trump, at war with states over lockdowns, calls on people to rise up By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Sat, 18 Apr 2020 04:11:05 GMT US President Donald Trump has urged his supporters in three states to "liberate" themselves from stay-at-home orders aimed at containing COVID-19. Full Article
ise 'A stroke of luck': Passenger glad to be on global cruise during pandemic By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 03:31:01 GMT The virus-free bubble that the Costa Deliziosa cruise ship became on its 15-week odyssey is coming to an end. Full Article
ise Death toll from Canada's mass shooting rises, Trudeau pledges action on guns By www.smh.com.au Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 06:09:04 GMT Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday his government would move ahead on the gun control legislation he promised during last year's election campaign after the shooting. Full Article
ise Putin presides over slimmed down Victory Day as virus cases rise By cyprus-mail.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 09:25:38 +0000 Russia marked 75 years since the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Saturday, but the coronavirus outbreak forced it to scale back celebrations seen as boosting support for President Vladimir Putin. With coronavirus infections rising, Putin last month postponed the highlight of annual Victory Day celebrations,... The post Putin presides over slimmed down Victory Day as virus cases rise appeared first on Cyprus Mail. Full Article Russia World coronavirus
ise Richa Chadha speaks out against the rise in domestic violence cases amid lockdown By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 13:33:37 +0500 Richa Chadha releases a domestic violence awareness campaign to curtail its growing impact Full Article
ise European stockpiles, better coordination: how would Josep Borrell federalise future health policy? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 14:57:51 +0200 1 Full Article
ise Are the COVID-19 lockdowns sparking a rise in eco-fascism? | Culture Clash By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 19:47:41 +0200 1 Full Article
ise Adviser, FPCCI discuss business issues through video link By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said the government is actively resolving the liquidity related issues of the business community by clearing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] Full Article
ise Adviser, FPCCI discuss business issues through video link By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said the government is actively resolving the liquidity related issues of the business community by clearing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] Full Article
ise Adviser, FPCCI discuss business issues through video link By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said the government is actively resolving the liquidity related issues of the business community by clearing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] Full Article
ise Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez drop bid to buy baseball franchise New York Mets By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 06:09:00 +0500 Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez eyed a deal to work with biotech billionaire Wayne Rothbaum to mount the bid for the Mets Full Article
ise Elon Musk and Grimes to raise their child X Æ A-12 in gender-neutral way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 12:03:00 +0500 Elon Musk and Grimes said they will be adopting a gender-neutral parenting style Full Article
ise To mask or not to mask? World leaders scrutinised over face coverings By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 PARIS: Donald Trump has not donned one. Emmanuel Macron boasted a small French flag on his. Slovakia´s president made a fashion statement by sporting a fuchsia-coloured one to match her outfit.As the world starts emerging from coronavirus lockdowns, political leaders are being closely... Full Article
ise Oceans may rise over a metre by 2100, five metres by 2300 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 PARIS: Oceans are likely to rise as much as 1.3 metres by 2100 if Earth´s surface warms another 3.5 degrees Celsius, scientists warned Friday. By 2300, when ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland will have shed trillions of tonnes in mass, sea levels could go up by more than five... Full Article
ise Oceans may rise over a metre by 2100, five metres by 2300 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 06:00:00 +0500 PARIS: Oceans are likely to rise as much as 1.3 metres by 2100 if Earth’s surface warms another 3.5 degrees Celsius, scientists warned on Friday.By 2300, when ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland will have shed trillions of tonnes in mass, sea levels could go up by more than... Full Article