The pandemic reminds me of a different invisible enemy. Once again, coordinated action is the only effective response

Deja vu. In recent days I’ve had that sense more than once. Every time I come home, remove my mask and wash my hands, I start thinking whether it is safe to keep on wearing the clothes that I had on outside. What if they are contaminated by the virus? Well, I can change clothes, but what if the particles have already jumped somewhere else, and are now in my home? Some would call it paranoia. I call it deja vu. I recognise those thoughts and remember the feelings.

That is because I first experienced them more than 30 years ago, in May 1986, on a trip to Kyiv, then the capital of Soviet Ukraine. It was a few weeks after the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, and I was in the city – about 100km from the disaster area – on a business trip. We already knew that there was radiation in the air. Water trucks were spraying the streets, foreign students were leaving the city, and overseas broadcasters like the BBC were telling us to stay inside. But our own government was sending confusing and distressing messages: there is absolutely no danger, but make sure you keep children inside, and pregnant women too. Oh, and close your windows when you are at home.

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“Returning these funds will allow truly small businesses ... to obtain the emergency loans they need to avoid layoffs," they write.

ITV News has seen correspondence from Debenhams’ administrator to Bangladeshi suppliers demanding a 90% discount on garments orders.

"We institutionalised WFH guidelines even before the commencement of the lockdown," said Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, director (HR), Indian Oil.

As the Senate reconvenes today, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is demanding that Congress use the next stimulus bill to protect corporations from liability for workers. "He wants to protect their right to engage in egregious misconduct," says Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen.

Anyone who has worked in retail or the service industry has had to deal with wildly entitled customers, like this Karen who lied to a restaurant owner's face. There are customers out there, who, out of some weird desire to bully people and get their way, will even demand a service that will potentially hurt them, like this Karen who demanded a "fresh" donut straight from the fryer oil.  When trying to understand how someone can be so ruthlessly rude to the people around them, it helps to get some insight from people who know Karens explaining what that's like.

A day after the plane crash at Ghatkopar, family members have now begun laying all five victims to rest, after identifying them with the help of their personal effects and teeth. On the other hand, their doubts and questions are yet to be put to rest, so they have now raised demands for a proper investigation of the mishap. Co-pilot Marya Zuberi was buried at the Shia Kabristan in Govandi's Rafi Nagar on Friday evening, while aircraft maintenance engineer Surabhi Gupta will be taken back to her native place for the last rites.

All five bodies were badly charred, so their DNA samples had been sent to the Kalina forensic laboratory for identification. However, the victims' kin did not want to wait too long, so they decided to go ahead with the last rites. Captain Pradip Rajput was identified by his bracelet, Gupta by her earrings, and Zuberi with the help of her engagement ring. Junior flight technician Manish Pandey's face was partially recognisable. Dr Hemlata Pandey, forensic odontologist from KEM hospital, reconfirmed the identity with the help of photographs where their teeth are visible. "In such cases, when everything turns to ashes, teeth remain intact," said Dr Pandey.

Prabhat and daughter Charvi. Pics/Suresh Karkera

'We want answers'
As Marya's husband and male family members lowered her body into the ground, her daughter Charvi as she wept outside the cemetery. Upon returning to their residence at Mira Road, her husband Prabhat Kathuriya told mid-day, "We are going to file an FIR." In a press statement titled 'Who Killed Marya?', Prabhat, a lawyer, said: "She left the house assuring me that she would return soon, as the weather conditions were clearly not right for a test flight of a small plane. She was sure that the commission to undertake such a flight would not be given."

We know that the aircraft was well beyond its prime. We know it was more than 20 years old. We know it had already had an accident in 2009 and that the UP government chose to sell it rather than spend on its repairs. Considering all the above stated facts we, the family of Marya Zuberi, want answers. We want to know who exactly was at fault and who will bear the responsibility?"

He told this paper, "I am startled that the police haven't enquired about the crew's cell phones. A colleague told me that when she tried Marya's number at 2.30 pm (after the crash), it was ringing, but there was no response. That could reveal something." First pilot in family The family will remember Marya as a trailblazer. She was the first among them to become a pilot, after battling the stigma and restrictions often imposed on women in conservative society. "She was our brave child," said uncle Gauhar Raza.

Also Read: Ghatkopar plane crash: Neighbours of Mira Road co-pilot unable to believe she is no more

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday demanded the Central government to bring back Indian workers stranded in the Middle East due to the COVID-19 crisis.

"The #Covid19 crisis & shutting of businesses in the Middle East have left thousands of Indian workers in deep distress & desperate to return home. The Govt must organise flights to bring home our brothers & sisters most in need of assistance, with quarantine plans in place," Gandhi tweeted.

The #Covid19 crisis & shutting of businesses in the Middle East have left thousands of Indian workers in deep distress & desperate to return home. The Govt must organise flights to bring home our brothers & sisters most in need of assistance, with quarantine plans in place.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 15, 2020

In India, a total of 11,439 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported, including 1,305 cured/discharged and 377 deaths.

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A day after the protest by hearing-and speech-impaired people turned violent in Pune, the government has assured them that their demands would be met. On Monday, thousands of deaf-mute protesters were badly thrashed by the police as they stood outside the social welfare department office in Pune. They wanted 16 demands to be fulfilled by the government.

On Tuesday, Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble met the protesters and assured help. Social Justice and Special Assistance Minister Rajkumar Badoley, while addressing the Vidhan Sabha, has also assured that their grievances would be heard.

State Level Association for the Deaf (SLAD) president Pradeep More said, "The government has partially agreed to our demands, of which they have given priority to our secondary and higher secondary schooling for deaf children and also to recruit sign language teachers in such schools and colleges."

Minister Kamble said, "We were working on it and have assured them that their issues will be addressed before the session gets over. A meeting will be organised with members of SLAD and other NGOs under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis." The Pune police administration issued a press release on the lathi-charge on Monday saying they "had to take action to maintain law and order".

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The European Union Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) has warned the Government of Belize that the jurisdiction will be placed on the EU's blacklist of non-cooperative territories unless it commits to amend or abolish certain tax rules considered "harmful."

Ukraine has achieved remarkable progress on anti-corruption reforms since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. Despite these major achievements, there is a serious risk of backsliding on reforms, according to a new OECD report.

City investor will back ailing groups looking to raise capital but warns of difficult decisions

Dispute erupts in public as AT&T boss says he will not put news channel up for sale

UK officials urge Brussels to move on three key areas ahead of crucial June meeting or risk breakdown

Elite university comes under fire for taking $9m in assistance while having a huge endowment

It is simply another policy tool, neither the royal road to hyperinflation nor a cure-all

Amazon is in hot water with a powerful congressional committee interested in the company’s potentially anticompetitive business practices. In a bipartisan letter sent Friday to Jeff Bezos, the House Judiciary committee demanded that the Amazon CEO explain discrepancies between his own prior statements and recent reporting from The Wall Street Journal. Specifically, the letter addressed […]

The La Liga champions, who came from behind to beat Real Betis at the weekend, are in the market for an emergency deal following the long-term injuries to Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez.

While fixtures in most professional sports in the UK have been postponed because of the crisis, rugby league is yet to follow suit. A meeting of Super League clubs is planned for Monday.

Everton have emerged as a front-runner in the race to bring Philippe Coutinho back to England, capitalising on strong links between Merseyside and Catalonia forged in recent transfer windows.

The goalkeeper's current deal is set to expire in 2021 but he and the club have not seen eye to eye over discussions on an extension.

The German goalkeeper's contract at the Allianz Arena expires next summer and Neuer is looking to sign a new deal with the club he joined back in 2011 from Schalke.

Everton have emerged as a front-runner in the race to bring Philippe Coutinho back to England, capitalising on strong links between Merseyside and Catalonia forged in recent transfer windows.

MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: The 30-year-old Gabon striker is in talks over a new contract and his demands represent more than a 30 per cent increase on his existing deal.

Ian Blackford said today the SNP will draw up a 'wish list' of demands ahead of potential post-election cooperation talks with Labour as he hinted scrapping Trident could be one of the party's red lines.

Nicola Sturgeon today demanded £4 billion in extra funding for the NHS in Scotland as her latest price for supporting a minority Labour government.

The North Korean dictator cut the ribbon at the Yangdok County Hot Spring Cultural Recreation Centre in South Pyongan Province. It came as Hwang In-cheol demanded his father be released.

President Trump is demanding his Justice Department examine whether his 2016 presidential campaign was 'infiltrated or surveilled' by the FBI, he announced on Sunday.

The former King of Malaysia and his ex-wife Oksana Voevodina are locked in a bitter divorce. Sources of the sultan rounded on the Russian beauty queen's 'excessive' demands in their divorce.

Donald Trump urged Americans to stop stocking up on food and supplies and instead 'band together' as coronavirus cases in the U.S. surpassed 70 on Monday.

Environment Secretary George Eustice told people to 'calm down' and claimed there is 'more than enough food to go around'. But he said that many Britons, including frontline NHS staff, were being deprived.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon insisted it is vital that immigration from the EU is allowed to carry on after Brexit, saying the economy needs workers.

Sanders called on Biden to apologize not only to Nina Turner but also to all 'people of color supporting our campaign' after comments Hilary Rosen made on a Thursday ep. of Cuomo Prime Time.

Billie Faiers' husband Greg Shepherd was not wholly impressed with the first draft of her gown for her Great Gatsby-themed 30th birthday

'Im so f***ing tired of y'all commenting on every damn thing i do since i was a f***ing kid,' the sister of Miley Cyrus e said on Twitter.

Diane Douglas 'completely broke down' when she discovered a massive metal container had been dumped on the grave of her son Allan, who was shot dead in Iraq, at Dyce Cemetery in Aberdeen.

LIZ BYRNES IN GWANGJU: Peaty has hit out at swimming's governing body for refusing to respect freedom of speech after his Scott was warned for protesting against Yang.

American sprinter Christian Coleman has accused the United States Anti-Doping Agency of "going after a big fish" and demanded a "public apology" after a case against him was dropped.

Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of interfering in the 2016 election. 'There was a lot of corruption. Maybe it goes right up to President Obama. I happen to think it does,' he said

Former President Barack Obama is sending a cease and desist letter to South Carolina TV stations asking that a Joe Biden attack ad come down because it quotes his 1995 book in a misleading way.

Sadiq Khan has begged the EU to grant pro-Remain Britons 'associate citizenship' of the bloc so they can continue to enjoy the benefits of free movement despite Brexit.

In stormy exchanges at the European Parliament, Nigel Farage condemned the behaviour of Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel and warned that the UK must go for a 'clean break' from the bloc.

The Hunger Games actress demanded that Americas to be able to vote from home during the upcoming election as it is likely the stay-at-home orders due to coronavirus will only intensify.

IRS demanded lists of all donors, in Q&As that would have been made 'open to public inspection'; Florida senator wants heads to roll; Obama calls it 'outrageous'

The athlete's sister Aimee, brother Carl, uncle Arnold and aunt Lois have been in court for almost every day of the seven-month trial in Pretoria.

Leading lawyer William Booth claims Oscar Pistorius (right) faces a clash of legal battles which means he ‘could sit in jail for a very long time’. He is in Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria, South Africa.

The five-time All-Star has told the Pelicans that he wants to be traded to a championship-contending team and will not sign an extension with New Orleans, his agent Rich Paul said on Monday.

Donald Trump thrust his foot on the gas in a Wednesday attack on Barack Obama, arguing that his predecessor's mammoth book and movie deals be reviewed by Congress.