Queensland researchers announce promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-researchers-announce-promising-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-20200327-p54epc.html Researchers at Griffith University in Brisbane have joined the race to create a vaccine for the coronavirus using a method that could see a vaccine rolled out in weeks once it’s approved. Scientists at the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) are about to start mouse model trials of four vaccine candidates they have developed. Professor Bernd Rehm, the principal research leader at GRIDD, said the technology used to develop the vaccine candidates used a synthetic version of the virus, which meant it could be replicated easily and quickly. Professor Bernd Rehm from Griffith University says they have developed four vaccine candidates ready for animal testing Professor Bernd Rehm from Griffith University says they have developed four vaccine candidates ready for animal testing "We essentially have these microscopic factories assembling these virus-like particles presenting the virus components," Professor Rehm said. Advertisement "It’s all synthetic, there’s no live virus included, it’s considered to be very safe, but the interesting part is we can precision-engineer those particles, and link it to a very high-yielding manufacturing process." GRIDD has spent the past few years developing a process of that sort that could be ported across to a proper facility for use in other vaccine trials. They have now partnered with Brisbane-based biomanufacturing company Luina Bio to deliver the vaccine candidates. "In around one month we will have the immune responses for the vaccine, and we should then be able to produce a vaccine for human testing," he said. "So our timelines are extremely short and our materials are very manufacturable at a large scale." Professor Rehm said the method they were using was different to the method being used by researchers at the University of Queensland, who have also announced they are working on a viable vaccine against COIVD-19. RELATED ARTICLE CV symptoms EXPLAINER CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC What does COVID-19 do to the body and what's it like to have the illness? Add to shortlist "Our technology is unique, all the other technologies are different, the UQ technology is very different to our technology, so it’s a unique approach," he said. "And I felt it was my responsibility to put the technology forward, because the uniqueness of the composition of the materials, linked to the high manufacturability, might provide the solution to contain this outbreak." Professor Rehm said because the process was able to scale up easily, once it had been approved they could conceivably create 16 million doses of the vaccine in one week, or enough for the entire population of Australia in a fortnight. Creating a viable vaccine for humans is usually a long process, however, and the vaccines would have to got through the same regulatory processes the other trails are having to navigate. "To move into humans always requires substantial funding. We could be in production very shortly, within two months, but then it is a regulatory pathway," he said. "There is a process, but given the urgency of the COVID-19 situation, there has been consideration given to fast-track approvals and shorten trials and assessment." The Queensland government recently announced a $17 million funding injection to fast-track the UQ vaccine for coronavirus by six months. Even on that timeline a vaccine would not be ready for widespread human inoculation against coronavirus before early next year. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send via Email License this article CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SCIENCE RESEARCH PHARMACEUTICALS VACCINATION BRISBANE Stuart Layt Stuart Layt Twitter Email Stuart Layt covers health, science and technology for the Brisbane Times. He was formerly the Queensland political reporter for AAP.

US Senate passes $2.0 trillion bill for 'strange and evil' coronavirus crisis

The US Senate on Wednesday unanimously backed a $2.0 trillion bill aimed at helping unemployed workers and industries hurt by the coronavirus epidemic, as well as providing billions of dollars to buy urgently needed medical equipment. After bitter negotiations, the deeply divided Senate came together and passed the bill by a 96-0 vote, which sent the massive stimulus package to the House of Representatives for a vote on Friday. President Donald Trump, whose top aides helped negotiate the bipartisan measure, promised to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk. “I will sign it immediately,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday. The rescue package - which would be the biggest ever passed by Congress - includes a $500 billion fund to help hard-hit industries and a comparable amount for direct payments of up to $3,000 apiece to millions of US families. The legislation will also provide $350 billion for small-business loans, $250 billion for expanded unemployment aid and at least $100 billion for hospitals and related health systems. The package is intended to flood the economy with cash in a bid to stem the impact of an intensifying epidemic that has killed more than 900 people in the United States and infected at least 60,000. Only two other nations, China and Italy, have more coronavirus cases and the World Health Organization has warned the United States looks set to become the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic. Top aides to Trump and senior senators from both parties announced that they had agreed on the unprecedented stimulus bill in the early hours of Wednesday after five days of talks. But it was delayed by criticism from both the right and left on Wednesday, pushing the final vote on passage almost another full day. Several Republican senators had insisted the bill needed to be changed to ensure that laid-off workers would not be paid more in unemployment benefits than they earned on the job. However, an amendment that would have changed the unemployment provision failed just before the Senate approved the measure. There had been criticism of the bill from the most progressive wing of the Democratic-led House. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it “a historic corporate giveaway” on Twitter. House voice vote on Friday However, House leaders hoped the bill would pass by voice vote on Friday, without representatives having to return to Washington. Bringing more than 400 lawmakers from as far away as Hawaii and Alaska would be difficult because a few are in self-quarantine and several states have issued stay-at-home orders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped the bill would pass quickly, and that Congress would pass further legislation if necessary to ease the crisis going forward. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had criticised the bill, saying the $3.8 billion allocated to his state would not cover tax revenue it will lose from reduced economic activity. New York accounts for roughly half of all US coronavirus cases. Pelosi expressed sympathy, but wanted the rescue package to move on. “We (Congress) do have to do more, but that would be no reason to stop this step that we are taking,” she told CNN. The stimulus package follows two others that became law earlier this month. The money at stake amounts to nearly half of the $4.7 trillion the US government spends annually. Investors were cheered by the news of the deal. On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 . SPX rallied for a second straight day, closing up 1.15 per cent. Senate leaders noted the historic nature of the challenge, as the country grapples with what the Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called “a strange and evil disease.” “Our nation obviously is going through a kind of crisis that is totally unprecedented in living memory,” Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said shortly before the vote on passage. McConnell also announced that, after passing the bill, the Senate would leave Washington and be in recess at least until April 20. He said he would give senators 24 hours notice if they needed to come back to Washington for another vote before then. Missing from Wednesday’s votes was No. 2 Senate Republican John Thune, who said in a statement he did not feel well when he woke up on Wednesday and decided to take a charter flight home to South Dakota “out of an abundance of caution.” Thune did not say whether he had coronavirus symptoms, although he said he was not advised to self-quarantine. Another Republican senator, Rand Paul, announced on Sunday he had tested positive for the illness, and a handful of others have self-quarantined after being exposed to Paul or others who have had it.

Coronavirus: Trump bans hoarding, price gouging President signs executive order, as attorney-general launches investigations

Washington: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to prevent hoarding and price gouging of crucial medical supplies needed to fight the deadly coronavirus, while Attorney General William Barr announced that the Justice Department has already launched hoarding investigations to carry out the order. “This sends a strong message we will not let those hoarding vital supplies & price gougers to harm the health of America in this hour of need,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham wrote on Twitter earlier in the evening. The executive order authorizes the US government to directly target hoarders who may threaten the supply of certain medical supplies that the government has designated as scarce or could be threatened by hoarding or price gauging. READ MORE Coronavirus: Iran rejects Trump ‘aid’ offer as toll jumps to 1,685 Army to deploy to New York after Trump declares major disaster, mayor views sites for more hospital beds US: Donald Trump writes to North Korea's Kim offering help in virus fight People who accumulate designated supplies beyond levels considered reasonable for personal or business use can be criminally prosecuted. Barr told reporters at the White House press briefing Monday night that no items have been designated by the government just yet, but investigations into hoarding and price gauging are already underway. ADVERTISING Ads by Teads “We have not waited for this order to be signed. We have received evidence recently. We have already initiated investigations of activities that are disrupting the supply chain and suggestive of hoarding,” Barr said, noting the probes are targeting people hoarding on an “industrial scale” or “manipulating the market” for profit. “If you have a big supply of toilet paper in your house, this is not something you have to worry about. But if you are sitting on a warehouse with...surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door,” he added.

UK: Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Booking.Com And Expedia Strike Data Sharing Deal With The EU

UK: Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Booking.Com And Expedia Strike Data Sharing Deal With The EU 23 March 2020 by David Coulling , Miriam Everett and Jonathan Stephenson Herbert Smith Freehills 5 March 2020 saw the European Commission (EC) announce an unprecedented agreement with short-stay accommodation titans Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor to share and publish data (on the number of nights booked and the number of guests staying) with the EC via Eurostat (the EU's statistical office) (press release here). Eurostat will then aggregate the data by municipality and publish that data on a Member State and individual region level. This collaborative venture represents an initial step by the EC in tackling the absence of regular and reliable data in this area, and recognises the need to balance: (a) the opportunities for micro-entrepreneurs using these growing platforms; and (b) adverse societal effect on local communities of landlords using their properties for short term lets, e.g. increasing property prices. While this agreement has been universally welcomed, it is noted that there are other categories of information that could also be useful from a policy-making perspective, such as the number of listings, hosts, beds and types of accommodation. A number of cities including Paris, Barcelona, Berlin and Amsterdam have previously sought to place restrictions on the use of short-stay accommodation platforms, but this has not always been successful. For example, on 19 December 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the EU's most senior court) ruled that Airbnb did not have to meet particular regulatory requirements as it was correctly classified as an intermediation service rather than an estate agent (a stark contrast to their ruling on Uber with respect to the transportation services space). This new data sharing agreement does not tackle the limited regulatory restrictions that can be placed on online platforms. However, the EC hopes that this data collaboration will allow for more informed and balance policymaking. With a 2019 survey showing that 21% of EU citizens use a website or app to arrange accommodation, there have been numerous calls for a digital regulator to better police this space. It is thought that the much anticipated Digital Services Act will make some progress on this front, but the slow development of this legislation may struggle to match the evolving issues face by online platforms. That said, this remains an interesting example of big tech companies collaborating with supranational bodies on regulation, as well as regulators seeking to become better informed on the nature and effect of new technology platforms to ensure informed decision making in this space.

Coronavirus Crash Reduces 18 Major Companies To Penny Stocks

[22:27, 19/03/2020] Whatsapp Law Enforcement: Coronavirus Crash Reduces 18 Major Companies To Penny Stocks https://finance.yahoo.com/m/be56c5c0-e425-3f13-9501-9ed316c531d4/coronavirus-crash-reduces-18.html [22:28, 19/03/2020] Whatsapp Law Enforcement: 117 comments or reactions: Actually, the pros keep saying "don't sell, ride it out" I have had arguments with fund managers over this, I listened to them and lost hundreds and thousands of dollars, and they are still saying "Now is not the time to sell" tell that to my wife! All told, 18 stocks in the broad S&P 1500, including consumer discretionary J.C. Penney (JCP), energy firms like Denbury Resources (DNR) and real estate firm CBL & Associates (CBL), are now trading for less than a buck. The S&P 1500 is a collection of small stocks in the S&P 600, midsize S&P 400 and large S&P 500 companies. All the S&P 1500 trading for less than $1 were admittedly damaged goods ahead of the coronavirus market crash. Even before the crash, the average share price of the 18 was just 2.87. But this coronavirus market crash is showing even weak stocks can get decimated further. These 18 S&P 1500 stocks are down another 80%, on average, this year. Makes cash look supreme. SPDR Sector ETFs: Intraday % Chg. Consumer StaplesXLP-2.57% Communication ServicesXLC-3.32% Health CareXLV-3.32% Information TechnologyXLK-3.77% UtilitiesXLU-4.35% Consumer DiscretionaryXLY-5.74% MaterialsXLB-6.39% Real EstateXLRE-7.02% IndustrialsXLI-7.37% FinancialsXLF-8.49% EnergyXLE-14.36% Provided by Nasdaq Last Sale. Real-time quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. Energy Stocks Get Pounded There's no question energy is the center of the coronavirus market crash. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is down 58%, just this year. That makes the S&P 500's energy sector the worst performer this year of the 11. Energy is hurt from all sides. Transportation is grinding to a halt. And the price of oil on the Nymex is down 55% this year and off 39% this month. Even if some energy stocks stay over a dollar, they might slash their dividends. Not surprisingly, energy companies are crashing through $1 like none others. Thirteen of the 18 S&P 1500 stocks trading for under a dollar are energy firms. Take Denbury Resources. The small-cap energy firm's stock collapsed to 27 cents. That's down 81% this year from the $1.41 a share it started at this year. And it's completely rational. Analysts think the company's earnings per share will fall 70% to 12 cents this year. And even that might prove optimistic. Small-Cap Debacle In Cornavirus Market Crash Much of the coronavirus market crash pain is with small stocks. The small-cap focused S&P 600 and ETFs tied to it are down 39% this year. That's significantly worse than the 21% drop in the large-stock S&P 500 and the linked SPY stock. And it's not surprising, all 18 of the S&P 1500 new penny stocks are small caps. That includes former large-cap J.C. Penney. The retailer is now trading for 42 cents a share, making it worth just $164 million. That's a 63% decline, just this year. If the coronavirus market crash continues, though, expect some midsize and large companies to drop below $1 next. Midsize energy firm Transocean (RIG) is the closest S&P 400 stock to $1. Shares are down 83% this year to 1.16. And among the S&P 500, Noble Energy (NBL) is down 87% this year to 3.23. So again, if you're holding individual stocks, you need to cut your losses. Things can get worse. S&P 1500 Stocks Now Trading For Pennies Company Ticker Index Constituents [Primary Listing] Stock Price On 3/18/2020 Sector YTD Ch. HighPoint Resources (HPR) S&P 600 0.23 Energy -86.2% Denbury Resources (DNR) S&P 600 0.27 Energy -80.7% Noble (NE) S&P 600 0.30 Energy -75.5% CBL & Associates Properties (CBL) S&P 600 0.31 Real Estate -70.7% Oasis Petroleum (OAS) S&P 600 0.37 Energy -88.7% TETRA Technologies (TTI) S&P 600 0.37 Energy -81.1% QEP Resources (QEP) S&P 600 0.38 Energy -91.5% Laredo Petroleum (LPI) S&P 600 0.39 Energy -86.4% Nabors Industries (NBR) S&P 600 0.40 Energy -86.1% J.C. Penney (JCP) S&P 600 0.42 Consumer Discretionary -62.5% Callon Petroleum (CPE) S&P 600 0.45 Energy -90.7% Valaris (VAL) S&P 600 0.53 Energy -91.9% Akorn (AKRX) S&P 600 0.55 Health Care -63.3% Gulfport Energy (GPOR) S&P 600 0.58 Energy -81.0% Ring Energy (REI) S&P 600 0.68 Energy -74.2% Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) S&P 600 0.75 Health Care -63.2% Cedar Realty Trust (CDR) S&P 600 0.86 Real Estate -70.8% U.S. Silica Holdings (SLCA) S&P 600 0.88 Energy -85.7% Source: IBD, S&P Global Market Intelligence Follow Matt Krantz on Twitter @mattkrantz YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Watch These 5 'Absolute Losers'; Futures Volatile Why You Should Hope This Coronavirus Bear Market Is Like 1987 How Much The Coronavirus Bear Market Is Costing Every American Thirteen Companies Drown On Debt In Coronavirus Crash Check Out IBD's New IBD Live Panel Discussion TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT IBD’s Getting Started Get started making money with IBD and make smarter investing decisions. Take a tour now! IBD Digital Spring Sale! We're celebrating a new season with a great deal: 5 weeks of IBD Digital for only $5. Get it now! Watch the Latest Podcast! Hear Scott O’Neil’s analysis of the market correction and learn how to protect your portfolio. SECTORS Coronavirus Stock Market Crash Plays Reveal What's Going On FacebookTwitterLinkedInShare Licensing MATT KRANTZ08:00 AM ET 03/18/2020 Getting out of the coronavirus stock market crash — and staying out — is prudent for traders. But daring ETF investors might still monitor how trends are working amid the volatility. Three main market themes with ETFs come to mind: plays on market volatility, consumer staples and medical breakthroughs. Not all funds tied to these themes are up since the S&P 500 peaked on Feb. 19. But each one illustrates important trends to watch as the coronavirus infects markets. Traders are looking for any clues for how long the volatility will continue. "Dow 20,000 will be an important number to watch both for support and resistance over the next few weeks," said Fane Lozman, trader at Scanshift.com. How can ETFs signal movements going on inside the topsy-turvy coronavirus stock market crash? Here are some signs to keep an eye on. SPDR Sector ETFs: Intraday % Chg. Consumer StaplesXLP-2.57% Communication ServicesXLC-3.32% Health CareXLV-3.32% Information TechnologyXLK-3.77% UtilitiesXLU-4.35% Consumer DiscretionaryXLY-5.74% MaterialsXLB-6.39% Real EstateXLRE-7.02% IndustrialsXLI-7.37% FinancialsXLF-8.49% EnergyXLE-14.36% Provided by Nasdaq Last Sale. Real-time quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. ETFs Tied To Coronavirus Stock Market Crash Fear Fear is off the charts. And that's given investors a way to profit. Just don't expect the extreme fright to continue. The CBOE Volatility S&P 500 Index, a measure of investors' fears, has spiked more than 400% this year. The volatility index surged to a rating of more than 82 on March 16, setting an all-time record of fear. The week's VIX reading, which is keyed to fear in the market, surpassed the 80.86 high at the peak of terror during the late 2008 financial crisis. Not surprisingly, investments that let investors profit from skyrocketing fear spiked, too. The largest of its kind, the $2.9 billion-in-assets, VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short-Term ETN (TVIX), surged more than 1,306% from the S&P 500's Feb. 19 peak. The fund uses leverage and VIX futures to amp up gains when volatility spikes. If you didn't catch the spike, though, Lozman says don't jump on it now. He says the historic jump in market fear in the coronavirus stock market crash is unlikely to return to the 82 level. Fear and volatility could actually trend lower even if markets sink further. "The longer we grind around (Dow 20,000) the more volatility will contract," he said. Dave Nadig, chief investment officer at ETFtrends.com, agrees. "VIX ETFs are day-trading tools. Period. Even owning one overnight seems like a pretty aggressive speculation right now," he said. "No normal investor should even consider them. Betting on VIX day to day is just like betting on coin flips." Consumer Staples Perk Up In Coronavirus Stock Market Crash Finding S&P 500 stocks that are up through all this is tough. But a number of S&P 500 Consumer Staples giants come to mind. Clorox (CLX), Kroger (KR) and Campbell Soup (CPB) are all up from the S&P 500's peak. Consumers are stockpiling food, turning these slow-growing stocks into a place for large investors to hide from the coronavirus stock market crash. Fearful investors "are looking to defensive health care and consumer staples ETFs" amid the coronavirus stock market crash, says Todd Rosenbluth, head of ETF and mutual fund research at CFRA. "When the going gets tough the tough get eating, drinking and smoking. Then they have to go to the doctor." The $426 million-in-assets Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RHS) owns the greatest weight of any ETF of top-performing Clorox stock, at 4.2% of its portfolio. But while Clorox is up 17% from the market's high, the Invesco ETF is down 14%. "I worry that people are coming way late to this," Nadig said. "I don't see a reason for (consumer staples) to continue to be valued higher ... than the market now that we're processing the impacts on the real economy." Spotting Medical Breakthroughs In S&P 500 Regeneron (REGN) and Gilead Sciences (GILD) are the biggest S&P 500 winners in this coronavirus stock market crash. Both companies are working on treatments for the outbreak. That showcases their other developments, too. Regeneron alone is up more than 20% from the February high. With so many companies rushing for a treatment, investors logically want to spread their bet. The $44.5 million-in-assets Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF (BOUT) holds a larger position in Regeneron, 7.7%, than any other ETF, says ETF.com. But Regeneron is also a significant holding, 7.2%, in the $313 million in assets VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF (BBH). The VanEck ETF also puts 8.9% of its portfolio in Gilead. Nadig has concerns with health care investments, too, though. "The entire global medical and pharma industry is going to face incredible scrutiny coming out of this," he said. "There's an increased chance for nationalization of many parts of the medical economy, around the world, once we come out of this and start rethinking our societal response." Select Plays On Coronavirus Stock Market Crash Symbol ETF Stock % Ch. From 2/19/2020 Market High Consumer Staples Own largest amounts of Clorox stock RHS Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF -13.2% JHMS John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Staples ETF -14.6% LVHD Legg Mason Low Volatility High Dividend ETF -23.7% Volatility TVIX VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short-Term ETN 1,398.2% VIIX VelocityShares Daily Long VIX Short-Term ETN 337.0% SH ProShares Short S&P500 27.5% Innovative Breakthroughs BBH VanEck Vectors Biotech ETF -16.7% CNCR Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF -17.5% IDNA ishares Genomics Immunology And Healthcare ETF -20.4% BOUT Innovator IBD Breakout Opportunities ETF -26.0% BIB ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology -37.4% SPY* SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust -25.6% Source: IBD, S&P Global Market Intelligence, SPY shown for comparison Follow Matt Krantz on Twitter @mattkrantz YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Why You Should Hope This Coronavirus Bear Market Is Like 1987 How Much The Coronavirus Bear Market Is Costing Every American Thirteen Companies Drown On Debt In Coronavirus Crash Check Out IBD's New IBD Live Panel Discussion

RBA rate cut 'was widely expected'

RBA rate cut 'was widely expected' 19/03/2020|4min The Australian’s Adam Creighton has provided an analysis of the latest historic RBA rate cut which was handed down on Thursday saying, "I don't think it is too significant". "It was widely expected," he told Sky News. The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates to a historic low of 0.25 per cent in a bid to help ease pressure on the economy amid the coronavirus crisis. The rare out-of-cycle meeting for the Reserve Bank saw rates drop by a quarter of a per cent on Thursday as part of the emergency measures. It is the second time rates have been cut in the March month. =============== #RBA conducting repo ops & ready to purchase bonds to support smooth functioning Expect further easing Thurs to include: * 25bp rate cut taking it to 0.25% * yield curve control backed up by QE (bond buying) * some sort of cheap funding deal for banks conditional on lending #ASX200 closed in the red with most of the sectors in negative territory! #ausbiz #markets #marketcrash #interestrates #ratecut #auspol2020 #RBA #RBANews #CentralBanks #StimulusPackage2020 #covid19australia RBA cuts rate 0.25% to 0.25% and ASX 200 Real Estate index plunged another -15% !! -40% from high in just 3 weeks to almost 8 years low. Lawdy, cutting 0.25% from 0.5% isn’t going to stimulate the economy. People aren’t spending, the market is volatile and banks probably won’t pass on all the rate cut. If anything, it will make people nervous about negative rates. Monetary policy is irrelevant. #auspol #rba Quote Tweet RBA: cuts cash rate to 0.25% - commitment not to raise till progress toward full emp & infl target to target a 3 yr yld of 0.25% backed by purchases of gov bonds cheap funding for banks for 3yrs at 0.25% partly conditional on lending to biz Should have targetted the 10yr yld! The US Federal Reserve has been attempting to stop investor panic with its emergency actions, but those moves are like firing “a water gun” when we need “a bazooka,” Tobin Smith, CEO of Transformity Research, believes. Speaking to RT’s Boom Bust, the analyst said that the real problem is in the US debt market, as there is four times as much debt than there was in 2008-2009. “This is as a financial disaster, as a health disaster as an economic disaster – is like we got three neutron bombs dropped on us,” Smith warned. “First we obviously have the coronavirus and the pandemic, then we’ve got the oil pandemic... and then the third bomb is the government sitting around doing sort of half measures when we’ve essentially had a virtual economic attack.” Those factors have equal ripple effects across all the financial system and have already plunged the country into a recession, he noted, adding that the S&P Index can drop to 1,600 points. And now Washington needs to deliver another “neutron bomb that offsets the neutron bomb that had been exploded into our system,” according to Smith

Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April to help the growing number of Americans who face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.

The Federal Reserve has taken emergency action and slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to nearly zero. It also announced it would purchase more Treasury securities to encourage lending to try to offset the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The central bank said the effects of the outbreak will weigh on economic activity in the near term and pose risks to the economic outlook. The central bank said it will keep rates at nearly zero until it feels confident the economy has weathered recent events. The Fed also said it will purchase 500 billion US dollars of Treasury securities and 200 billion dollars of mortgage-backed securities to smooth over market disruptions that have made it hard for banks and large investors to sell Treasuries. The disruptions bumped up the yield on the 10-year Treasury last week, an unusual move that threatens to push borrowing costs for mortgages and credit cards higher. The Fed also said it has dropped its requirements that banks hold cash reserves in another move to encourage lending. Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April to help the growing number of Americans who face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments. Meanwhile the administration pushed forward its broad economic rescue plan, which proposes $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6 if Congress approves. The government has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice." WASHINGTON — Describing himself as a “wartime president” fighting an invisible enemy, President Donald Trump invoked rarely used emergency powers to marshal critical medical supplies against the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also signed an aid package — which the Senate approved earlier Wednesday — that will guarantee sick leave to workers who fall ill. Trump on Wednesday tapped his authority under the 70-year-old Defense Production Act to give the government more power to steer production by private companies and try to overcome shortages in masks, ventilators and other supplies.Yet he seemed to minimize the urgency of the decision, later tweeting that he "only signed the Defense Production Act to combat the Chinese Virus should we need to invoke it in a worst case scenario in the future.""Hopefully there will be no need," he added, “but we are all in this TOGETHER!”The mixed messaging came as Trump took a series of other extraordinary steps to steady the nation, its day-to-day life suddenly and fundamentally altered.The Canada-U.S. border, the world's longest, was effectively closed, save for commerce and essential travel, while the administration pushed its plan to send relief checks to millions of Americans.Trump said he will expand the nation's diagnostic testing capacity and deploy a Navy hospital ship to New York City, which is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the pandemic, and another such ship to the West Coast. And the Housing and Urban Development Department will suspend foreclosures and evictions through April to help the growing number of Americans who face losing jobs and missing rent and mortgage payments.But as Trump laid out efforts to help the economy, markets plummeted. Gone were nearly all the gains that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had made since Trump took office. The administration announcements came on a fast-moving day of developments across the capital, its empty streets standing in contrast to the whirlwind of activity inside the grand spaces of the White House and the Capitol.The Senate overwhelmingly passed a second coronavirus response bill, which Trump signed Wednesday night. The vote was a lopsided 90-8 despite worries by many Republicans about a temporary new employer mandate to provide sick leave to workers who get COVID-19. The measure is also aimed at making tests for the virus free.Meanwhile the administration pushed forward its broad economic rescue plan, which proposes $500 billion in checks to millions of Americans, with the first checks to come April 6 if Congress approves.The White House urged hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries to reduce the risk of being overwhelmed by cases. The president was pressed on why a number of celebrities, like professional basketball players, seemed to have easier access to diagnostic tests than ordinary citizens.“Perhaps that's the story of life," Trump said. "I've heard that happens on occasion.”Trump dismissed a suggestion from his own treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, that the nation could face 20% unemployment at least in the short term.That's an "absolute total worst case scenario," Trump said. “We're no way near it."The government has told Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people and the elderly to stay home while a pointed reminder was given to millennials to follow the guidelines and avoid social gatherings. Trump likened the effort to the measures taken during World War II and said it would require national “sacrifice."“It's a war," he said. "I view it as a, in a sense, a wartime president. It's a very tough situation.”No longer able to run for reelection on a healthy economy, he was taking on the mantle of a wartime leader after played down the severity of the crisis for weeks.The president also employed more nativist, us-vs-them rhetoric at the briefing, continuing his recent habit of referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus,” which has been sharply criticized as racist. “It's not racist at all," Trump said. “It comes from China, that's all."He was asked about a report that a White House aide had referred to the virus as the “Kung flu" when talking to an Asian-American reporter and Trump did not signal disapproval of the offensive term.Trump later met nursing leaders and expressed “gratitude for those on the front lines in our war against the global pandemic" as he held out hope that the pandemic would be over soon.“It's been something, but we're winning and we will win,” he said. “It's a question of when and I think it's going to go quickly. We hope it's going to go quickly.”A limited number of people gathered around a large table, their chairs spread apart in a display of social distancing.The Defense Production Act gives the president broad authority to shape the domestic industrial base so that it is capable of providing essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis. The law allows the president to require businesses and corporations to give priority to and accept contracts for required materials and services.The executive order issued by Trump gives Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar the authority to determine “the proper nationwide priorities and allocation of all health and medical resources, including controlling the distribution of such materials ... in the civilian market, for responding to the spread of COVID-19 within the United States.” It also applies to certain health services.Trump also said he would soon invoke a rarely used federal statute that would enable the U.S. to tighten controls along the southwest border because of the new coronavirus, based on a recommendation of the U.S. surgeon general.The president said the law, intended to halt the spread of communicable diseases, would give authorities “great latitude" to help control the outbreak. Earlier, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the administration would invoke the law to immediately turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico and to refuse people the right to claim asylum there.More than eight weeks after the first U.S. case of the virus was detected, the federal government is still struggling to conduct widescale testing for the virus. Compounding the problem, laboratories are reporting shortages of supplies needed to run the tests, which officials urged to be given to those most likely to have COVID-19.Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White House response, cautioned that there has been a backlog of swabs waiting in labs to be tested, and as that backlog clears “we will see the number of people diagnosed dramatically increased” in the next few days.Asked about the administration's mixed messages when it comes to the threat posed by the virus, Birx said new studies about how long the virus can be transmissible on hard surfaces helped prompt the administration’s tightening of recommendations on social distancing. “None of us really understood" that, she said. “We’re still working out how much is by human transmission and how much is it by surface.” She added, "Don’t exposure yourself to surfaces outside the home.”For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.As it tries to get its message to the public, the White House said a series of ads, digital and on television, will feature the president and first lady Melania Trump urging Americans to follow the guidelines. Birx also renewed her call for younger people to follow federal guidelines and stop meeting in groups.She said there have been “concerning reports” from France and Italy about young people becoming seriously ill. The task force last week urged young generations to avoid going out to bars and restaurants and to avoid groups of more than 10 people.“We cannot have these large gatherings that continue throughout the country for people who are off work,” Birx said. She added that the federal pandemic task force so far has not seen any “significant mortality” in children.The White House has had several coronavirus-related health scares, with the president himself exposed to at least three people who later tested positive. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Wednesday that she had tested negative for the virus. McDaniel, who met last week with the president and Senate Republicans, had previously been exposed to someone who tested positive.___Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Matthew Perrone, Darlene Superville, Robert Burns, Deb Riechmann and Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.

Redefining exclusions for future global crises like #CoronaVirusOutbreak

Authorities are taking no chances with the coronavirus outbreak. In fact, it seems that only thing spreading faster than coronavirus is the anxiety associated with it. Airlines are suspending flights and routes, #EmTech Asia 2020 has been postponed, Fashion Week Milan has gone online, the Louvre and Tokyo Disneyland have closed their doors and even the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan has been cancelled. It is inevitable that claims for travel plans disrupted by the outbreak will soar but how will the current policies and insurers cope with the influx? Legal Insight spoke with Jessica Tat, author of Motor Vehicle Law NSW and Elizabeth Esber, who are both Barristers prastising in commercial and insurance litigation, about travel insurance, exclusions and coronavirus (COVID-19). Challenges posed by the current terminology of exclusion clauses Exclusions are a standard and necessary part of any insurance policy, defining the limits of coverage for risks an insurer is unwilling to insure. However, exclusions are often phrased in vague terms with few warnings as to when or how the exclusion may be affected. As Jessica and Elizbeth note, these clauses “can be interpreted widely and in varying ways depending on the factual matrix of each claim”. With the status of COVID-19 in almost constant flux, “we are seeing not only new circumstances arising each day but an increase in the number of people affected; and different circumstances in which people might seek to rely on their travel insurance”. As a result, insurers will face significant challenges as: “[c]laims processes and procedures that may have been appropriate for responding to foreseeable circumstances/claim events may now be under stress because there is a large number of claims and, the facts of each may give rise to unanticipated circumstances such as mass cancellation of events in cities where there are no reported local outbreaks. Stretched resources may result in inconsistent assessment and decision making between claims.” RELATED: Coronavirus and Bushfires Rekindle Interest in ‘Force Majeure’ The application of pandemic exclusion clauses post-Hayne The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared COVID-19 to be a public health emergency of international concern and in the wake of the Hayne Royal Commission, “the application of exclusion clauses [needs to be] informed by a broader claims philosophy and procedure which facilitates efficient, honest and fair determination and claim outcomes” said Jessica and Elizabeth. “While the WHO declaration may form part of the context in which an insurer assesses a claim, the actual impact will depend on the wording of each policy and how that WHO declaration features in that particular policy, if at all. In addition to interpreting any exclusion terms specific to a pandemic/epidemic event, insurers should also consider whether their policy(ies) contain other general or specific exclusion terms that may impact or inform the construction of the pandemic/epidemic exclusion term that the insurer seeks to rely on”. Jessica and Elizabeth also point out that it is the consistency in how claims are determined that would “assist insurers with maintaining its level of service to policyholders, as well as in achieving efficiency, honesty and fairness”. Immediate solutions for determining claims for travel disrupted by COVID-19 Jessica and Elizabeth argue that priority should be given to the establishment of a Pandemic Claims Response Strategy (PCRS) to address: “how undefined terms in the policy are to be defined, including when and how the pandemic exclusion is triggered, ie by travel warnings, an outbreak in the country, a combination of both or some other event; how the policy will apply to those travelling in countries where travel warnings have been issued; how the policy should apply to those travelling in countries that are not the subject of any travel warnings, and how the policy should respond to those that have not yet departed but had taken out the policy before any travel warnings had been issued.” They suggest that policy terminology and claims handling procedures must be considered in light of the Hayne Royal Commission to prevent travel insurance products being characterised as ‘junk’ insurance. If you liked this, try reading: Corporate Social Responsibility from the Progressive Era to the Banking Royal Commission Redefining exclusions for future global crises There is a distinct possibility that virus events such as COVID-19 and SARS could become more common as international travel proliferates and globalisation intensifies. Jessica and Elizabeth contend that insurers must implement “long-term strategies including, the thorough consideration of travel insurance policies as a whole and the re-drafting of relevant terms to reflect the status quo in global travel and the complexity of global events such as COVID-19”. They also stress that the policies “should aim to be transparent on how the exclusions would apply”. They also advocate for technology to have “a part to play in improving communication between insurers and policyholders … with updates of any travel warnings or WHO declarations that may affect a policyholder’s cover and/or cause any claims to be excluded” to be sent prior to departure. Ultimately though, Jessica and Elizabeth agree that the decision regarding how exclusions ought to be re-evaluated to prepare for global crises: “…[Exclusions] should be based on advice from a range of experts, including actuary, legal, risk and compliance, re-insurance managers, claims, and marketing. A multidisciplinary discussion(s) chaired by either the CEO or CFO is necessary to ensure that commercial decisions are as commercially and legally sound as they can be at the time the decision is made given the emerging risks that [outbreaks such as COVID-19 present], to minimise the probability of ramifications later on.” Both Barristers have published joint papers on the Edmund Barton Chambers website. They include: COVID-19 & Travel Insurance and This event has been cancelled – COVID-19 is in town. Wyn Diong By: Wyn Diong Senior Product Editor , Analytical Law Team Wyn is an experienced Senior Product Editor in the Analytical Law Team at Thomson Reuters with a long history of working in the information services industry. She holds a Bachelor of Media and a Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL from Macquarie University. In her years with Thomson Reuters, she has worked on numerous publications in both Primary Law and Secondary Sources and is at present, nurturing multiple subscription services including Motor Vehicle Law NSW, Indictable Offences Queensland, Victorian Courts and McPherson’s Law of Company Liquidation. Prior to joining Thomson Reuters, she worked for Pan Macmillan Australia at the Macquarie Dictionary and taught English as a Second Language and Academic English at Macquarie University.

IRS to delay the April 15 tax payment deadline by 90 days

Most Americans can get a three-month reprieve to pay their income taxes for 2019, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday in a press conference. The IRS will postpone the April 15 tax deadline by 90 days for millions of individuals who owe $1 million or less and corporations that owe $10 million or less, he said. To be sure, Americans still have to meet the April 15 deadline if they are expecting a refund or are requesting a six-month extension, but they can defer payment for up to 90 days beyond that. "We encourage those Americans who can file their taxes to continue to file their taxes on April 15 because for many Americans, you will get tax refunds and we don't want you to lose out on those tax refunds," Mnuchin said. "We want you to make sure you get them." "All you have to do is file your taxes," Mnuchin said. "You'll automatically not get charged interest and penalties." How long should I keep my tax returns?: Answer: It depends What will my tax refund be?:What will my tax refund be? So far, they're smaller by an average of $18

امام خمینی(ره):"آنقدر که اسلام از این مقدسین روحانی نما ضربه خورده است،

امام خمینی(ره):"آنقدر که اسلام از این مقدسین روحانی نما ضربه خورده است، از هیچ قشر دیگر نخورده است؛ روحانیون وابسته و مقدس نما و تحجرگرا کم نبودند و نیستند خطر تحجرگرایان و مقدس نمایان احمق در حوزه هاى علمیه کم نیست" گوینده این اراجیف یکی از مقدسین روحانی‌نماست #شیعه_انگلیسی شراب خانه و میز قمار می‌خواهد بنی امیّه حمار و خمار می‌خواهد بنی امیه فقط مردمان بی طرفی به بی تفاوتی روزگار می‌خواهد بنی امیّه فقط شیعیان نادانی فریب خورده و بی‌اختیار می‌خواهد! #شيعه_انگليسي تا کی باید از فرقه شیرازی‌ها ضربه بخوریم؟ برخورد کردن با اینها کار سختیه واقعاً؟ از ملکه می‌ترسیم یا توان و استراتژی برخورد با این خناسان رو نداریم؟ رو به ضریح نماز می‌خواند. گفتم: باطل و شرکه. گفت: قبله من همینه. گفتم صاحب قبر خودش رو به کعبه می‌ایستاد. گفت: این فضولیا به تو نیومده من از تو بهتر می‌فهمم. خلاصه "اینجوریه که اینجور می‌شه". فردا میان میگن اینا از عربستان پول گرفتن اگر فکر میکنی بی‌برنامه بوده ماجرای هتک حرمت درب‌هاب حرم باید بهت بگم که "... خیلی خری ..." - آیه‌ی قرآن میگه درمقابل درب خانه‌ی پیامبرتون صداتونو بالا نبرید بعد رفتین درب حرم امام رضا رو با لگد میخواین بشکونین و فحشای ناموسی میدین؟! از امام رضا شرم نکردین؟! حرم امام رضا (ع) خیلی مهم فوری این شخص همون طور که میبینید از عوامل این هتک حرمت هست ارتباط آشکارش با جریان شیعه انگلیسی رو میبینید هر چقدر میتونید این پیام رو ریتوییت کنید کسی شک نداشته باشه کار این جریان بوده هر دو هتک حرمت بسم الله #شیعه_انگلیسی #صادق_شیرازی #هتك_حرمت -- وقتی میگیم پای فرقه شیرازی وسطه از باب توهم نمیگیم، دلیل داریم برای حرفهامون، رفتار این فرقه خیلی واضحه کافیه یکم صبر کنید تا ردپای کثیف انگلیسیشون توی اتفاقات افراطی برنامه ریزی شده مشخص بشه! این هم استوری یکی از نوچه های معلوم الحال ملعون شیرازی. - حیدرگویان محب صادق شیرازی که بخاطر بسته شدن در حرم، رگ غیرتشان ورم کرده و در حرم را می‌شکنند، آن زمان که داعش، حرم حضرت سکینه(س) در سوریه را به خاک و خون کشید و پشت دیوارهای حرم حضرت زینب(س) و حضرت رقیه(س) رسید، توی کدام سوراخ موش بودند؟ دیروز در حرم را می‌لیسیدند، امروز در حرم را می‌شکنند؛ از قدیم گفته‌اند: جاهل را نمی‌بینی مگر در حال افراط و تفریط!

Amazon has announced that it is seeking to hire 100,000 people across the US to keep up with a surge in orders due to the global spread of coronavirus.

Amazon has announced that it is seeking to hire 100,000 people across the US to keep up with a surge in orders due to the global spread of coronavirus. The retail giant has seen online shopping soar as more people have started to self-isolate at home and rely on online deliveries. The company will also temporarily raise pay by $2 an hour through to the end of April for hourly employees. This includes workers at its warehouses, delivery centres and Whole Foods grocery stores, all of whom make at least $15 an hour. Empty Europe during Coronavirus - In pictures 34 show all Employees in the UK and other European countries will get a similar raise. TOP ARTICLES 2/5 READ MORE Celebrities on TikTok including J.Lo, Will Smith, Miley Cyrus and Doja Cat "We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labour needs are unprecedented for this time of year," said Dave Clark, who oversees Amazon's warehouse and delivery network. Amazon said this weekend that a surge of orders is putting its operations under pressure. READ MORE Theatres across UK close as West End goes dark over coronavirus It warned shoppers that it could take longer than the usual two days to get packages. In the UK, Amazon Prime deliveries on Monday said they would arrive by Thursday. Amazon also said it was sold out of many household cleaning supplies and is working to get more in stock. The Seattle-based company said the job openings are for a mix of full-time and part-time positions and include delivery drivers and warehouse workers, who pack and ship orders to shoppers. Amazon is already the second-largest U.S.-based employer behind Walmart, with nearly 800,000 workers worldwide.

US: Immigrants can seek coronavirus care without fear

https://twitter.com/RealEstateSA_PK/status/1219793225185022014?s=20 PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. government says a new rule disqualifying more people from green cards if they use government benefits will not apply to immigrants with coronavirus or virus symptoms if they seek care. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said late Friday that seeking treatment or preventive services won’t affect someone’s immigration status under the new, highly criticized public charge rule, which took effect last month and which punishes immigrants who need public assistance. The announcement came after lawmakers and advocacy groups urged the government to suspend the rule during the coronavirus outbreak. Advocates say they have been fielding panicked calls from immigrants who are worried about the impact on their status if they seek health care. Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, said her group and others held a news conference urging immigrants to seek care if needed and reminding them that their health, and the health of their families, is most important. “People are wondering about their vulnerability both in terms of disease but their vulnerability in terms of immigration status, in terms of being discovered,” she said. Salas said she doesn’t fully trust the Trump administration but feels confident that state, county and local authorities will support immigrants who come forward to seek the health care they need, regardless of their immigration status. Advocates have long derided the public charge rule, which punishes immigrants who came to the country legally and who are allowed to access some benefits, such as food stamps, for their American-born children. As the coronavirus began to spread more widely in the U.S., supporters and lawmakers cautioned it could be detrimental to public health if some immigrants were too afraid to seek care. Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, said his organization got a request for legal support from a woman who worked in hospitality industry in Chelsea, Massachusetts. The woman said her work schedule is in flux, and she doesn't have a steady income. She wanted to apply for food stamps for her 9-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, but was too afraid. Now, with her son's school closing down indefinitely, she was even more concerned. “There is a tremendous reluctance, even among immigrant parents raising U.S. citizen children. There is a lot of fear surrounding the public charge rule, especially because immigration courts have remained open, creating a strong impression that removal proceedings trumps public health concerns," Espinoza-Madrigal said. On Thursday, Democratic lawmakers pressured Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, to suspend or disregard the rule during the virus outbreak. Cuccinelli said the public health exemptions written into the rule already addressed that issue. U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, said the rule scares away people from seeking care, posing a public health risk for everyone. She tweeted after the new statement on Friday: “This is a huge win for immigrants, public health AND everyone!” ——— Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed to this report By ASTRID GALVAN and NOMAAN MERCHANT The Associated Press Mar 13, 2020 Updated 1 hr ago 0

The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques are washing and sterilizing the courtyard and entrances 3 times between the Isha prayers and Fajr prayers

The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques are washing and sterilizing the courtyard and entrances 3 times between the Isha prayers and Fajr prayers in a focused manner in order to ensure the safety of the visitors of Masjid Al Haram, and to ensure the elimination of all viruses and microbes scattered on the ground and the surfaces of the tools used Inside the Mataaf. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9g7j3WHifg/ The General Administration for Technical and Service Affairs of the General Presidency for Technical and Service Affairs represented by the Department of Purification and Carpet works by washing, sterilizing and perfuming the Mataaf seven times daily, 3 times of which are during the period between the Isha prayer and the Fajr prayer, where the first washing process begins immediately after the completion of the Isha prayer. It is carried out by 140 employees and cleaners distributed among many tasks, which start by raising the carpets from the places designated for prayer, and the plastic mats designated for times to be cleaned and sterilized, then the Mataaf entrances and floors are washed and sterilized and perfumed in a focused manner, as is the process of washing and sterilizing. The second and third washing operations are carried out to ensure the cleanliness and sterilization of the entire Mataaf for the safety of the pilgrims and visitors of Masjid Al Haram. Washing and sterilization operations are carried out with special care, and it focuses on spray sterilization operations because there are no visitors inside the Mataaf during the period so the number of washing and sterilization operations reaches seven times distributed throughout the day, there are about 330 employees and workers, and 10 machines for each shift.

Xi makes 1st visit since outbreak to China's epicenter Wuhan - 3/10/2020

Asian stocks steady after 'Black Monday' as oil prices gain 7pc - 3/10/2020 High Court to hear Pell appeal this week - 3/10/2020 Spotty sick leave policies limit options for avoiding virus - 3/10/2020 'Odd' quirk raises delegate stakes in Tuesday's elections - 3/10/2020

حکمت ۴۴۳

وقتي خبر شهادت مالك اشتر كه رحمت خدا بر او باد، به امام رسيد فرمود: مالك! چه مالكي؟ به خدا اگر كوه بود، كوهي كه در سرفرازي يگانه بود، و اگر سنگ بود، سنگي سخت و محكم بود، كه هيچ رونده اي به اوج قله او نمي رسيد، هيچ پرنده اي بر فراز آن پرواز نمي كرد حکمت ۴۴۳ 443. When the news of the death of (Malik) al-Ashtar (may Allah have mercy on him), reached Amir al-mu'minin, peace be upon him, he said: Malik, what a man Malik was! By Allah, if he had been a mountain he would have been a great one (find), and if he had been a stone he would have been hard; no horseman could have reached it and no bird could have flown over it. 443. وقال عليه السلام : وقد جاءه نعي الاْشتر رحمه الله: مَالكٌ وَمَا مَالِكٌ! وَاللهِ لَوْ كَانَ جَبَلاً لَكَانَ فِنْداً، وَلَوْ كَانَ حَجَراً لَكَانَ صَلْداً، لاَ يَرْتَقِيهِ الْحَافِرُ، وَلاَ يُوفِي عَلَيْهِ الطَّائِرُ. Sayyid ar-Razi says: “Find” means a lonely mountain (rising in height above the others in the range). قال الرضي: الفند: المنفرد من الجبال

Italy's PM imposes nationwide travel restrictions to contain Coronavirus External link

Italy's PM imposes nationwide travel restrictions to contain Coronavirus External link Source country business-standard Tuesday, March 10, 2020 1:14:00 AM CET | info [other] Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte says travel restrictions are being imposed nationwide to try to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Conte said Monday night that a new government decree will require all people in Italy to demonstrate a need to work, health conditions or other limited reasons to travel outside the areas where they live.... Mr Conte said: “Our habits must be changed, changed now. We all have to give up something for the good of Italy. When I speak of Italy, I speak of our dear ones, of our grandparents and of our parents,” “We will succeed only if we all collaborate and we adapt right away to these more stringent norms” External link impartialreporterTuesday, March 10, 2020 1:00:00 AM CET Giuseppe Conte : "There won't be just a red zone - there will be Italy" External link smhMonday, March 9, 2020 10:41:00 PM CET Massimo Galli said: “Unfortunately we’re only at the beginning,” External link brownsvilleheraldTuesday, March 10, 2020 12:03:00 AM CET Giuseppe Conte says: "Our habits must change , must change now, we must all give up something for the good of Italy," External link newsnow-co-ukMonday, March 9, 2020 10:56:00 PM CET Giuseppe Conte said: "This night life...we can't allow this anymore," External link theherald-auMonday, March 9, 2020 11:13:00 PM CET Mr Conte told: "There won't be just a red zone," External link theherald-auMonday, March 9, 2020 11:13:00 PM CET Giuseppe Conte said: "I'm about to take a measure that we can summarize with 'I'm staying home,'" External link nzheraldMonday, March 9, 2020 11:22:00 PM CET Giuseppe Conte told: "There won't be just a red zone," External link theherald-auMonday, March 9, 2020 11:13:00 PM CET Michele Emiliano said: “Get off at the first railway station. Don’t take planes,” External link heraldscotlandMonday, March 9, 2020 10:18:00 PM CET Maria Cheng said: “Our business is one-fifth of what it was before,” External link brownsvilleheraldTuesday, March 10, 2020 12:03:00 AM CET Mr Conte said: "This night life...we can't allow this anymore," External link yorkpressMonday, March 9, 2020 10:53:00 PM CET Giuseppe Conte said: “Our habits must be changed, changed now. We all have to give up something for the good of Italy. When I speak of Italy, I speak of our dear ones, of our grandparents and of our parents,” “We will succeed only if we all collaborate and we adapt right away to these more stringent norms” External link

#ذكر_علي_عبادة قسيم الجنة والنار #عقائدنا

About 30 people remained trapped early on Sunday after a five-storey hotel being used for coronavirus quarantine collapsed in the southeast Chinese port city of Quanzhou, state media said. About four hours after the collapse, the Quanzhou municipality said 38 of the 70 or so people who had been in the Quanzhou Xinjia Hotel had been rescued. A video stream posted by the government-backed Beijing News site showed rescue workers in orange overalls clambering over rubble and twisted steelwork carrying people towards ambulances. The hotel collapsed at about 7:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday evening. "I was at a gas station and heard a loud noise. I looked up and the whole building collapsed. Dust was everywhere, and glass fragments were flying around," a witness said in a video posted on the Miaopai streaming app. "I was so terrified that my hands and legs were shivering." Rescuers carry an injured man out of the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Quanzhou. AP Rescuers carry an injured man out of the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Quanzhou. A woman named only by her surname, Chen, told the Beijing News website that relatives including her sister had been under quarantine at the hotel as prescribed by local regulations after returning from Hubei province, where the coronavirus emerged. She said they had been scheduled to leave soon after completing their 14 days of isolation. "I can't contact them, they're not answering their phones, she said. "I'm under quarantine too (at another hotel) and I'm very worried, I don't know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal." The municipality said 36 emergency rescue vehicles such as cranes and excavators, 67 firefighting vehicles, 15 ambulances, and more than 700 firefighters, medical and other rescue workers were at the scene as the operation stretched into the night. Quanzhou is a port city on the Taiwan Strait in the province of Fujian with a population of more than 8 million. The official People's Daily said the hotel had opened in June 2018 with 80 rooms. Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Quanzhou.© AP Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed hotel in Quanzhou. Beijing News' video stream was viewed by more than 2 million Weibo users on Saturday evening, and the hotel's collapse was the top trending topic on the Weibo site, China's close equivalent to Twitter. Some users demanded an investigation into how the hotel could have collapsed. Anger has been building up against the authorities in China over their early handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 3,300 people globally, most of them in China. The Fujian provincial government said that as of Friday, the province had 296 cases of coronavirus and 10,819 people had been placed under observation after being classified as suspected close contacts. The official Xinhua News Agency said the committee responsible for working safety under the State Council, China's cabinet, had sent an emergency working team to the site. At Microsoft News Australia we've partnered with the giving platform Benevity to raise funds for UNICEF: Donate now and help health workers in the battle against the novel coronavirus. Coronavirus Health Information Line: Call 1800 020 080 if you are seeking information on novel coronavirus. The line operates Monday–Friday from 8am to 8pm, Saturdays from 8am to 5pm, and Sundays from 9am to 5pm.

تشييع جنازة معمم إيراني بمدينة قم توفى بفيروس كورونا .. انتظروا إلى الإجراءات الوقائية ؟! صفر .. لهذا ينتشر فيروس كورونا بشكل واسع جدا بإيران .

تشييع جنازة معمم إيراني بمدينة قم توفى بفيروس كورونا .. انتظروا إلى الإجراءات الوقائية ؟! صفر .. لهذا ينتشر فيروس كورونا بشكل واسع جدا بإيران . https://twitter.com/MohamadAhwaze/status/1236396813072072704?s=20

Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman is trying to consolidate power - AP

Three senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family, including King Salman's brother, have been arrested and accused of plotting to overthrow the secretive kingdom's leadership. According to the Wall Street Journal, guards from the royal court detained Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, at their homes before charging them with treason. Saudi officials are yet to respond to the reports, which appear to be part of a wider attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's favourite son and de facto Saudi ruler, to consolidate power. A source told the Wall Street Journal that the arrests took place on Friday morning. The Crown Prince also arrested nearly a dozen senior royals in 2017, supposedly in a crackdown on corruption, after ousting Mohammed bin Nayef, who at that time was heir to the throne. Prince Mohammed is said to have alienated swathes of the ruling family since taking power, and some have questioned whether he is fit to rule after he was accused of ordering the murder of a respected journalist in Turkey who had publicly criticised him, something that he strenuously denied. Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman is trying to consolidate power - AP The murder sparked an international outcry and furious condemnation of the Saudi state and Prince Mohammed, who has otherwise attempted to present himself as a progressive, reformist leader. Though reports of a coup attempt were not confirmed, a handful of Saudi royals are reportedly trying to change the line of succession, with some regarding Prince Ahmed, King Salman's only surviving full brother, as one option. However, Saudi insiders and western diplomats told Reuters news agency it was unlikely the Crown Prince would be deposed while King Salman, 84, is still alive. Prince Ahmed has largely kept a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 after two years abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence calling for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling Al Saud family's senior members, who opposed Mohammed bin Salman becoming crown prince in 2017. The latest detentions come at a time of heightened tension with regional rival Iran and as Crown Prince Mohammed pushes for ambitious social and economic reforms. Prince Mohammed has been lauded at home for easing social restrictions in the Muslim kingdom and opening up the economy. But he has come under international criticism over the Saudis' devastating war in Yemen, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate and the detention of women's rights activists as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

Ahmed bin Abdelaziz said: “What does this have to do with the Saud?”

In a fresh episode of Saudi palace intrigue, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has detained three members of the royal family, including a brother of the king and a former crown prince who had been potential obstacles to his power. The detentions were the latest demonstration of the crown prince’s willingness to take extraordinary measures to quash any perceived rival. Crown Prince Mohammed first demonstrated his iron grip on the kingdom in 2017 by locking up hundreds of royal relatives and wealthy Saudi businessmen in a Ritz-Carlton hotel. The next year he gained international notoriety by presiding over the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul — an assassination that American intelligence agencies believe the prince ordered. Continue reading the main story And he has refused to back down from a five-year-long military intervention in Yemen that has mired the Saudis in a bloody stalemate and produced a humanitarian disaster. The detentions come at a time when fears about the impact of the coronavirus have slashed the price of oil, the main source of the kingdom’s revenue, and the crown prince’s celebrated plans to diversify the Saudi economy have fallen behind his promises. Unlock more free articles. Create an account or log in The detentions were not announced by the Saudi government, and it remains unclear what prompted them. An official at the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment. They were disclosed Friday by a member of the royal family and a person close to the clan. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the danger of speaking out publicly about the crown prince. A former senior American official also confirmed the detentions. The most senior royal detained was Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, who for a time had been the great hope of family members and other critics who wished to block Crown Prince Mohammed, 34, from taking the throne. Editors’ Picks The Neighborhood Name Game How to Make Money in Your Sleep The Handshake Is on Hold Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story The former crown prince who was arrested, Mohammed bin Nayef, is also a former interior minister and longtime American favorite. He had developed close ties to American intelligence agencies during years of work together while he was interior minister. He was ousted from both of those roles by the current crown prince in 2017 and he has effectively been under house arrest since then. His younger brother, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, was also detained. The crown prince, who acts as the kingdom’s de facto ruler on behalf of his aging father, King Salman, has recently faced grumbling within the kingdom and the broader Muslim world over his unilateral decision to halt visits to Mecca in response to the coronavirus — a move with few, if any, precedents in Islamic history. Conservatives griped that even as he halted pilgrimages, modern entertainment venues the crown prince brought into the kingdom, like movie theaters, remained open. One possible motive for the detentions may have to do with the aging of Prince Mohammed’s father, King Salman, 84. The crown prince could be seeking to lock down potential challengers to his own succession before his father dies or abdicates the throne. None of the princes he detained, however, had given any indication that they intended to challenge Crown Prince Mohammed. Prince Ahmed is a figure of special gravitas in the family because he is King Salman’s only surviving full brother. Both are sons of the kingdom’s modern founder, and succession had previously passed from brother to brother, until King Salman elevated his own son to crown prince in 2017. Critics of Crown Prince Mohammed adopted Prince Ahmed as a hero after he appeared to criticize the kingdom’s current policies during an encounter with protesters in London in 2018. ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story The protesters were chanting against the Saudi-led war in Yemen, and Prince Ahmed tried to distance the rest of the royal family from responsibility. “What does this have to do with the Saud?” Prince Ahmed said, naming the royal family in comments caught on video. “Those responsible are the king and his crown prince.” Disgruntled Saudis began posting pledges of allegiance to Prince Ahmed on the internet. But he quickly made clear he had no intention to turn on the crown prince, issuing a statement saying that his comments had been misinterpreted. He returned to the kingdom later that fall, embraced Crown Prince Mohammed at the airport, and appeared to have maintained warm relations with his nephew since. Unlike some other members of the royal family whom Crown Prince Mohammed suspects of disloyalty, Prince Ahmed had been allowed to come and go freely from the kingdom. He returned Wednesday from a trip abroad for falconry — a popular pastime among Persian Gulf royals — and he was arrested the next day, according to the person close to the family. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the former crown prince, had once been perceived as the most significant rival to the current crown prince on his path to power. As interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef controlled one of the country’s three armed forces, along with the military and the national guard, giving him significant leverage in any power struggle. His closeness with Washington was also perceived as an asset within the royal family. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman not only ousted but also humiliated his predecessor in 2017. Aides to the current crown prince physically forced his predecessor to relinquish his roles, detaining him for a prolonged period and depriving him of needed medicines. ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story Then aides to Crown Prince Mohammed froze Prince Mohammed bin Nayef’s assets, banned him from travel and started a social media campaign charging that he had become addicted to pain killers and other drugs. Stripped of his power and freedom of movement, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef also appeared to have largely acquiesced to his successor’s grip on the kingdom. A person familiar with his arrest said that on Thursday evening armed men in black uniforms and face masks had appeared at Prince Mohammed bin Nayef’s desert camp outside Riyadh, a place where he often used to meet with visiting American officials. They took away the prince and his younger brother, searched the property, and cut off all lines communications from the camp. The accusation against him was treason, according to the person familiar with the arrest. Detaining family members suspected of disloyalty has become a trademark of Crown Prince Mohammed. His detention of hundreds of powerful businessmen and royal family members in 2017 at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh was portrayed as a crackdown on corruption. Critics called it a consolidation of power and a shakedown. Associates of many of those detained said they were subjected to torture and physical abuse, then coerced into turning over billions of dollars in private wealth in exchange for their release. Since the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, though, many supporters of Crown Prince Mohammed argued that the debacle had taught him to restrain his aggressive impulses. The Saudis familiar with the arrests said Friday that it was unclear where the new detainees were being held, if they might face criminal charges, or if they might soon be released. Eric Schmitt contributed reporting.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS TRAVEL TO KARRAMOMUS TO SHARE A CUPPA AND A CHAT AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS

Sharing cuppas and cultures COMMUNITY MEMBERS TRAVEL TO KARRAMOMUS TO SHARE A CUPPA AND A CHAT AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS Shepparton News 7 Mar 2020 By John Lewis Karramomus CWA president Norma Leslie and Shepparton South Sudanese community member Cicilia Nelson connected over a cuppa when more than 50 migrant community hub members from Shepparton visited Karramomus Hall this week. There’s a sweet, spicy warmth in the air — it could be the Sudanese tea, or the samosas or the lamingtons. But more likely it’s the women’s smiles and children’s laughter at Karramomus Hall. On Wednesday, 51 people from a scattering of countries — including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaysia and Indonesia — boarded a bus in Shepparton to attend the monthly Karramomus Country Women’s Association lunchtime meeting. It was a gathering of cultures over tables filled with teapots, scones and jam, and biryani. Mothers and children from the community hub of St Georges Rd Primary School and Shepparton English Language Centre mingled with the Karramomus CWA members to share sewing and cooking stories, or just to smile and marvel at the diversity of cultures in the Goulburn Valley. ‘‘It’s a real eye-opener and a great opportunity,’’ Karramomus CWA president Norma Leslie said. ‘‘We only have 10 members, so they outnumber us five to one today, but it’s marvellous. It’s a really good thing for the CWA, we’re hoping a lot more will come out of it.’’ Cicilia Nelson offered her a small cup of syrupy Sudanese tea. ‘‘It’s very sweet and spicy — nothing like our tea. But I don’t dislike it,’’ Mrs Leslie said. Mrs Nelson beamed at her reaction. ‘‘It’s a beautiful afternoon with different people. I love the English tea,’’ Mrs Nelson said. Community hub leader Liz Arcus said for many migrant women it was the first time they had been to a CWA hall in the countryside outside Shepparton. ‘‘Our hub holds classes in sewing, cooking, gardening and English, but this is the first time we have done anything like this,’’ Ms Arcus said. ‘‘These ladies come from different cultures across the world and are learning English as a common language, so today is great — it prompts them to mingle and speak English.’’

NEW HOUSE RULES: Makkah LIVE HD | قناة القران الكريم | بث مباشر | Masjid Al Haram LIVE

City of Perth Commissioners’ shake-up could lead to... Eastern Reporter Vincent & Stirling 5 Mar 2020 Reports by Michael Palmer Picture: Michael Palmer ✗ NO car for the Lord Mayor ✗ NO dining room for councillors ✔ NEW tenants to share Council House THE days of entitlement at the City of Perth may soon be at an end. City staff have been ordered by the Commissioners running the council since its suspension to review the policies giving councillors and the Lord Mayor access to free dining and transport. Commissioners also want the top three levels of Council House on St Georges Terrace revamped, including making at least one floor open to commercial tenants. These levels include the council chambers, the dining room, Mayoral office and 16 offices. Commercial tenants would not be new at Council House. Law firm John Toohey Chambers occupied Level 3 of Council House for 19 years. Mark Hay Realty Group principal Mark Hay said it was a prestigious address. “The proximity couldn’t be much better,” he said. “You’re on the doorstep of the Supreme Court, the river and in two minutes you can be in London Court or Hay Street Mall.” The average space on a floor in Council House is 780.9sq m, which Mr Hay said was “right in the sweet spot”, but the market was very competitive. The office vacancy rate in the CBD was the highest in Australia at 18 per cent. “It is a competitive market and it’s not going to change any time soon,” Mr Hay said. “It all comes down to price, facilities and how it presents. End-of-trip facilities is a big one. If you’re employing one to two hundred people, at least 10 per cent will want them: bike storage, showers and changerooms.” The proposals came from Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond, who was absent at the meeting where it was voted on. Commissioners Gaye McMath and Len Kosova approved it without comment. A council report said a “more efficient and effective” use of space in Council House would minimise costs and potentially generate revenue. It said staff were already considering a redesign of office space. قناة القران الكريم | المسجد الحرام بث مباشر| Makkah Live HD | Masjid Al Haram | La Makkah en direct مكة المكرمة بث حي مباشر 24 ساعة للحرم المكي الشريف 24/7 Live Stream of Masjid Al Haram from Makkah ALQURANHD MEMBERS: https://www.patreon.com/alquranhd ► Subscribe Now: http://www.youtube.com/alquranhd?sub_... ► Become A Patron: https://www.patreon.com/alquranhd ► Donate: (coming soon) ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alquranhd ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/alquranhd ► Instagram: https://instagram.com/alquranhd

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Australia cuts rate to record low 0.5% to fight virus impact

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia’s central bank on Tuesday cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to a record low of 0.5% in response to the economic shock of the new coronavirus. The reduction at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s monthly meeting is the first since October and the fourth since June. It was announced hours before financial leaders and central bank governors of other major industrial nations planned to hold a teleconference to discuss ways to confront the crisis. Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe said his board took the decision to “to support the economy as it responds to the global coronavirus outbreak.” “The coronavirus has clouded the near-term outlook for the global economy and means that global growth in the first half of 2020 will be lower than earlier expected,” Lowe said in a statement. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the slowdown in the global economy that started in 2018 appeared to be coming to an end, he said. “It is too early to tell how persistent the effects of the coronavirus will be and at what point the global economy will return to an improving path,” Lowe said. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on Monday forecast that economies “strongly interconnected with China” such as Australia would suffer most the virus-linked global downturn . The OECD forecast that the COVID-19 outbreak will reduce Australian economic growth by half a percentage point to 1.8% this year. Lowe said last year he wants to use rate cuts to get the economy growing fast enough to push the unemployment rate down to 4.5%. The jobless rate currently sits at 5.3%. Australia's central bank is the first after the People's Bank of China to ease monetary policy to counter the fallout from the viral outbreak and it comes as financial leaders and central bank governors prepare to discuss similar measures later Tuesday, noted Shane Oliver of AMP Capital. Others, “including the Fed are all heading in the same direction," he said in a commentary. Rates already are so low that some Australian's will be paying the lowest mortgage rates since the early 1950s, he said.