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Food For London Now faces: 'We need to use this Covid-19 crisis as a wake-up call to help those in need'

Christopher Evans-Gordon from Family Meals shares his story You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW




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Barack Obama describes Donald Trump's response to coronavirus as a 'chaotic disaster'

Former US president Barack Obama has criticised Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an "absolute chaotic disaster".




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UK coronavirus LIVE: Boris Johnson to address nation on lockdown plan as new 'stay alert' slogan set to be rolled out

It comes as trade union leaders warn that they will not tell their members to return to work unless safety standards are improved. Mr Johnson is expected to urge employees who cannot do their jobs from home to begin returning to their workplaces while following social-distancing rules.




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Artists donate free, uplifting images to the UN in pandemic response

The internet is a scary enough place as it is, and now with the added misinformation and panic surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, it's even scarier. Thanks to the United Nations and dozens of artists, however, the internet just got a little more beautiful.





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Syria reduces fuel subsidies as economic crisis deepens




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The week that was: A balance of economy and public health

As heads of state, local leaders, business owners and individual citizens weighed the costs of re-opening the global economy, fears of new outbreaks grew. A central question emerged: How much infection and loss of life will emerge amid the push to restart business? In Waterloo, Iowa, the virus is “devastating everything." The community is home to a meatpacking plant, and residents are worried it is becoming a vector for the virus.





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Do not allow 'biased' election watchdog power to prosecute, say MPs

The election watchdog has revealed that it is pressing ahead with plans to hand itself powers to prosecute campaigners and political parties, putting itself on a collision course with ministers. The Electoral Commission is planning to publish a consultation setting out proposals to hand itself a "prosecutions capability", despite senior Tories insisting that the body is "not trusted to be impartial". The disclosure comes after the Metropolitan Police confirmed that it had ended investigations into Darren Grimes and Alan Halsall, two pro-Brexit campaign figures, two years after a referral by the commission for alleged breaches of spending rules. The move prompted calls for the commission to be "overhauled", with Mr Grimes describing the body as a "kangaroo court" that was not "fit for purpose". Separately, the National Crime Agency found no evidence that any criminal offences were committed by Arron Banks, another prominent Brexiteer, after another referral by the watchdog. Last night Matthew Elliott, who was chief executive of the official Vote Leave campaign, claimed that the commission's record showed that if it acquired the new powers, "there will be countless travesties of justice, and democracy will be undermined.” Sir Bernard Jenkin, the former chairman of the Commons public administration committee, said: "These proposals appear to be doubling down on a failed system. Parliament should change it." Another Conservative MP said: "I can't think of any public body that is less deserving of prosecuting powers than the Electoral Commission, who have shown themselves to be biased and, frankly, vindictive." Last year Jacob Rees-Mogg, now the leader of the Commons, and Brandon Lewis, who has also been appointed to Boris Johnson's cabinet, both expressed alarm at the watchdog's plans to hand itself powers currently exercised by the police and Crown Prosecution Service - after the move was revealed by this newspaper. The watchdog has faced repeated accusations of bias against bodies that campaigned for Brexit in 2016, which it strongly denies. The commission claims it could hand itself the powers without ministers bringing forward legislation, by altering its enforcement policy following a public consultation - due to open in the coming weeks. But MPs warned that some groups could be unfairly targeted. Speaking last year, while Tory chairman, Mr Lewis pointed out that one senior figure at the commission - the same official spearheading the proposals - had previously said that she would "not want to live under a Tory government". He suggested the body was not seen as a "fair" arbiter. As a backbencher, Mr Rees-Mogg called for the Conservatives to formally oppose the move, saying: "The Electoral Commission is not trusted to be impartial and a number of its leading figures have said very prejudicial things about Brexit." The commission's corporate plan for the period from 2020 to 2025 states: "To deter people from committing offences, and to make sure we can respond proportionally if they do, we will continue to build the capacity to prosecute suspected offences. We will consult on the way we approach the use of prosecutions." An Electoral Commission spokesman said: “Later this year we will be consulting with political parties, the police and the CPS on changes to our enforcement policy, which includes a prosecutions capability, and will bring our regulatory work in line with a wide range of other regulators. “Extending our work in this direction would enable us to bring lower order offences before the courts in a way which is swift and proportionate, freeing up the resources of the police and prosecutors and delivering more effective regulation of political finance to support public confidence.” Mr Elliott said: “The Electoral Commission’s track record at conducting investigations is woeful. "In the case of Leave campaigners ... they assumed that we were guilty until proven innocent ... Thankfully, the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service looked at the evidence thoroughly, and saw through the conspiracy theories that the Electoral Commission had believed without question." The commission insisted it was "right that potential electoral offences are properly investigated by the appropriate authority". A spokesman said there was "no substance to allegations that the Commission is biased", saying the organisation had investigated campaigners and parties across the political spectrum.





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National parks visitors should plan for 'new normal'

After closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Park Service is testing public access at several parks across the nation, including two in Utah, with limited offerings and services. Visitor centers and campgrounds remain largely shuttered at Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, but visitors are welcome at some of the sites. Sullivan was on a day visit to hike the park’s Rim Trail and Bryce Amphitheater, two of the few hiking destinations currently open at Bryce.





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Libyan officials: Shelling at Tripoli's only working airport




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NY priest on virus front lines with embattled congregation

Raul Luis López never had the chance to say goodbye. The 39-year-old native of Oaxaca, Mexico, suffered from diabetes which worsened his illness. The day he left for treatment was the last time his wife, Sara Cruz, saw him.





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Cameroon's deadly mix of war and coronavirus

Fighting continues to rage in English-speaking parts of Cameroon after most armed groups reject a truce.





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Iranians fearful as virus infections rise anew

While many residents in Iran's capital are taking advantage of loosened COVID-19 controls, some worry about a new spike in infections in what remains the Middle East's deadliest virus epicentre. The government began paring back coronavirus controls outside Tehran on April 11, arguing that the economy -- already sagging under punitive US sanctions -- needed to get back to bare bones operations. It allowed small businesses to reopen in the capital a week later, before permitting malls to welcome customers on April 21 and barbers on Wednesday.





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Virus prevents diaspora Venezuelans from sending money home

After fleeing Venezuela along with millions of others amid the country's grueling humanitarian crisis, Misael Cocho made his way by bus to Peru — where he got odd jobs and sent money home monthly to support his mother and his 5-year-old son. The pandemic's economic fallout left many Venezuelans abroad and the relatives back home who rely on them in dire straits.





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Taliban say they don't have missing US contractor

Taliban leaders searched their ranks, including in the much-feared Haqqani network, and on Sunday told The Associated Press they are not holding Mark R. Frerichs, a Navy veteran turned contractor who disappeared in Afghanistan in late January. “We don't have any information about the missing American,” Sohail Shaheen, the Taliban's political spokesman, told the AP. A second Taliban official familiar with the talks with the United States said “formally and informally” the Taliban have notified U.S. officials they are not holding Frerichs.





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Virus delay, early ice melt challenge Arctic science mission

Now dozens of scientists are waiting in quarantine for the all-clear to join a year-long Arctic research mission aimed at improving the models used for forecasting climate change, just as the expedition reaches a crucial phase. News of the pandemic caused jitters among those already on board, said Matthew Shupe, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado and co-leader of the MOSAiC expedition. The rest of the crew will be exchanged with the help of two other German research ships that will meet the Polarstern on the sea ice edge.







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South Florida prepares for unique hurricane season...


South Florida prepares for unique hurricane season...


(Third column, 7th story, link)





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Sex and Dating to Get Even More Complicated Once Lockdown Lifts...


Sex and Dating to Get Even More Complicated Once Lockdown Lifts...


(Second column, 17th story, link)





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Investigators reviewing additional video footage in Ahmaud Arbery case...


Investigators reviewing additional video footage in Ahmaud Arbery case...


(Second column, 1st story, link)





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Real Lord of the Flies: What happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months...


Real Lord of the Flies: What happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months...


(First column, 11th story, link)


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Does 'distance shaming' help or hurt the coronavirus fight?

Since the coronavirus outbreak began in the U.S., the practice of publicly shaming those who aren't following public health guidelines has become something of a national pastime. Is it helpful or counterproductive?





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Author Alison Roman Apologizes to Chrissy Teigen After Receiving Major Backlash

Cookbook author and New York Times cooking columnist Alison Roman has publicly apologized to Chrissy Teigen after receiving backlash for comments she made about her fellow culinary...




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Why Emma Stone's Fans Are Convinced She's Already Married to Dave McCary

Wedding bells?! Here's a new celebrity theory making the internet rounds: fans are convinced that Emma Stone is already married to Saturday Night Live writer, Dave...




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Priyanka Chopra Adorably Crashes Nick Jonas' Virtual Happy Hour With The Voice Coaches

In the second installment of The Voice's virtual happy hour, the show's coaches shared their attempts at keeping busy and sane during quarantine, by sipping cocktails and sharing their...




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Reese Witherspoon's Party Planner Shares How to Host the Perfect Zoom Bash For Any Celebration

Continued social distancing doesn't have to mean the end of socializing. As the planet continues to stick close to home in the effort of slowing the global coronavirus pandemic, time...




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Andy Cohen Says His Son Benjamin and Anderson Cooper's Son Wyatt Will Be 'Best Friends'

A lifelong friendship awaits Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's sons. The 51-year-old TV host took some time while in quarantine to answer a few fan questions on his Instagram Story on...




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Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson Are Officially ''Moving On'' Following Their Recent Split

Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne don't seem to have plans for reconciliation. After almost two years since the two began dating and one year since they went public with their...




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Netflix's Too Hot to Handle Francesca Farago and Harry Jowsey Get Engaged During Zoom Reunion

Nothing is stopping these two lovebirds. The infamous Too Hot to Handle couple Harry Jowsey and Francesca Farago are officially engaged. During a recent Zoom reunion of the...




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Canadian Felicia Spencer’s title challenge against Amanda Nunes confirmed for UFC 250

Spencer, a native of Montreal who trains in Orlando, Fla., joins Canadians Alexis (Ally-Gator) Davis and Valerie (Trouble) Letourneau in challenging for UFC women's titles.




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What Governments In The Western Hemisphere Are Getting Right — And Wrong

We look at nations in our hemisphere, from Canada to Argentina, to see which governments are succeeding — and which are not — in keeping coronavirus infections down.














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Beyoncé And Jay Z Had The Whole Family Tested For Coronavirus

Beyoncé’s whole family, including her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, and sister, Solange Knowles, have tested negative for the coronavirus, meaning they may be able to spend Mother’s Day together as usual. On Friday, Mama Tina sat down for a virtual chat with Tamron Hall. During the interview, she revealed that her whole family, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z […]

The post Beyoncé And Jay Z Had The Whole Family Tested For Coronavirus appeared first on Chart Attack.




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Did Emma Stone And Dave McCary Tie The Knot?

Emma Stone (31) has left people convinced that she’s secretly married her beau, Dave McCary(34) after she was spotted wearing what appears to be a wedding band. The pair have been dating for three years and were reportedly forced to cancel their wedding date due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some are convinced the “La La […]

The post Did Emma Stone And Dave McCary Tie The Knot? appeared first on Chart Attack.




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SNL at Home: Season wraps up in typical kooky fashion with third remote episode

Watching 'Saturday Night Live' adapt to the lockdown era has been a fun and joyful respite. This third episode of 'SNL at Home' suggests the show will be missed even more than usual until its return in the fall




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Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin revives infamous Donald Trump impression, pretends to drink bleach

It's the first time Baldwin has impersonated the president in an episode of 'SNL at Home'




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Tesla to Texas? Elon Musk could be willing to move HQ, future programs over frustrations in California

The dynamic entrepreneur talked up the possibility of an immediate move to Texas or Nevada as he announced a lawsuit in connection to a plant in California.