Former US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe tests positive for coronavirus

Davis Cup-winning former US captain Patrick McEnroe said Tuesday he has tested positive for coronavirus but is feeling well and no longer has symptoms.

The 53-year-old younger brother of seven-time Grand Slam singles champion John McEnroe said in a video posting on Twitter that he was tested at a drive-up facility in Westchester County, the New York suburb where a major outbreak took place.

"I got some minor symptoms 10 or 11 days ago," McEnroe said. "My test just came back positive. I just got it this morning.

"That's the bad news. The good news is I feel fine. My symptoms have passed and I feel really 100%."

McEnroe, speaking from the basement of his home, said he and his family had been self-quarantined for more than two weeks and advised others to do the same as a safety measure.

"Let's nail this thing," McEnroe said. "I'm an example of someone that has been able to fight through it and I'm doing absolutely fine."

McEnroe thanked well wishers later, tweeting, "So So touched by ALL the messages of support."

McEnroe won his only ATP singles title in 1995 at Sydney. He captured a Grand Slam doubles crown at the 1989 French Open alongside compatriot Jim Grabb.

He was captain of the 2007 US Davis Cup squad that beat Russia 4-1 in the final at Portland, Oregon.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/95399-former-us-davis-cup-captain-patrick-mcenroe-tests-positive-for-coronavirus.html

Pakistani actress Sajal urges her fans to stay positive amid coronavirus crisis

Pakistani actress Sajal Ali has urged her fans to stay positive amid coronavirus crisis saying we will get through all of this.

Taking to Instagram, Sajal shared a throwback photo and wrote, “Stay safe & stay positive and we will get through all of this. InshALLAH.”

Also, Sajal shared a teary-eyed picture with brother Ali Syed from the wedding ceremony.

Both the photos have taken the internet by storm and have won the hearts of thousands of fans.

Earlier, Sajal had said “It's all in our hands. It might be a scary time but remember, we are all in this together.

The solution is simple.

Stay home.

Wash your hands. For 20 seconds!

Keep your distance from others as much as possible.

Support our government in taking the right steps.

Urge everyone you know to take it seriously.

I know we can sure as hell beat it together.”

source https://www.suchtv.pk/entertainment/item/95398-pakistani-actress-sajal-urges-her-fans-to-stay-positive-amid-coronavirus-crisis.html

KP govt restricts congregational prayers by more than 5 people in mosques

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government issued directives on Tuesday according to which only five or less persons will be allowed to offer congregational prayers inside mosques across the province.

A notification issued by the KP government's Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department said that an Emergency and Section 144 had already been imposed in the province to ensure social distancing.

"Only five or less people designated for Masjid (Muazzin, Pesh Imam, Speaker) shall offer prayers by Jamaat and that the general public will offer their prayers at their respective homes and that this order shall be effective immediately and shall apply to all congregations, till further orders," read the notification.

 

The directives come after the Sindh government banned congregational prayers in mosques by more than five people last week and urged masses to pray at their homes.

Pakistani Ulema have appealed to the masses to offer prayers at home in the wake of the pandemic, which has killed more than 20 people in Pakistan and infected more than 1,800 persons.

Calls for social distancing have increased after the pandemic killed more than 35,000 people worldwide and infected more than 750,000. Governments around the world are scrambling to control the virus as economies and industries bear the brunt of the coronavirus.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/kp-fata/item/95397-kp-govt-restricts-congregational-prayers-by-more-than-5-people-in-mosques.html

IG Sindh orders Tableeghi Jamaat members be quarantined wherever they are

People from religious gatherings and those associated with the Tableeghi Jamaat are to be quarantined wherever they were, Sindh Inspector-General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Mehar told police officials.

The directions from Sindh's top police officer came after it emerged that there were members of the Tableeghi Jamaat in several districts of the city.

The marakiz, or centres, where the people of the Tableeghi Jamaat — or proselytizers — were present at the moment should be considered as quarantine facilities, the instructions added, advising them to stay where they were.

The instructions came shortly after Raiwind city near Lahore was put under a full-fledged lockdown after 27 of the 50 people suspected to have contracted the coronavirus tested positive and more than 2,200 were still present at the Tableeghi Jamaat gathering.

Mehar instructed police to ensure that no new person entered these centres and the senior superintendents of police (SSPs) were to contact the provincial health department's representatives in this regard.

IG Mehar also directed officers to make arrangements to provide rations — food and other basic necessities — to members of the Tableeghi Jamaat who would henceforth be under quarantine. Information on more people part of the Tableeghi Jamaat and other marakiz in their respective areas was also to be obtained and shared to his operations room, he added.

The top police official noted that contact-tracing must be done for those who were outside of the centres as well in order to make sure the virus did not spread to other people.

Earlier, 54 of the 200 Tableeghi Jamaat members in Hyderabad had tested positive for the novel virus, a health department official said, taking the city's total to 57 and the province's to 627.

Some 830 individuals associated with the Tableeghi Jamaat were in Hyderabad, a local media outlet quoted DIG Naeem Shaikh as saying.

A day prior, two people who had returned to Karachi after attending the "Raiwand Ijtima" had died of the coronavirus, according to the Sindh health department.

They also "had underlying renal & respiratory diseases".Mid-March, at least 250,000 people had congregated in camps near Lahore for the annual, five-day Tablighi Ijtema congregation, ignoring government warnings that such events could propagate the novel coronavirus pandemic. The event was later curtailed.

At the time, Ehsanullah — one of the event's organisers — had told AFP that although most had gone home, "still tens of thousands of people are here" and others would return.

"Our elders and organisers decided that the gathering will proceed as planned," Ehsanullah had said.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/95395-ig-sindh-orders-tableeghi-jamaat-members-be-quarantined-wherever-they-are.html

51 patients recovered from coronavirus in Sindh: Murtaza Wahab

Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab once again appealed to the masses to observe social distancing as it was the only way to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In a video message, Wahab said: "So far, there is no cure for coronavirus, the only way to defeat it is by observing social distancing."

"We need to take precautionary measures, such as remaining indoors and not leaving our houses unnecessarily," he urged.

Wahab appealed to the people to follow the directives issued by the Sindh government and assured the people that the authorities were doing everything they could to curb the spread.

"The Sindh government is working with NGO's to provide rations to the needy," he said, adding that in due time the commodities will be provided to everyone.

"We do not have enough facilities to tackle this pandemic. The world's superpower has been plagued by this outbreak," he said.

The provincial government has taken several steps to curb the spread of the virus as it was the first to impose a lockdown and limit the number of people in mosques.

Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab tweeted that: 2 more corona virus patients have recovered & have tested negative.

2 more corona virus patients have recovered & have tested negative. So the tally of recovered patients now stands at 51. May Allah SWT protect us all & give shifa to the affected patients https://t.co/l3B3KOikpL

— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) March 31, 2020

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan stands at 1,872 after new cases were reported in the country, while Sindh's infected tally stands at 627 with eight deaths so far.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/95393-51-patients-recovered-from-coronavirus-in-sindh-murtaza-wahab.html

98-year old Iranian lady recovers from coronavirus

A 98-year old lady Mrs Hassanzadeh from Mashhad, northeastern Iran, defeated the potentially deadly coronavirus after 27 days of medical treatment.

Shapour Badiee, MD, told Media that the almost centennial woman was hospitalized on March 5 after she was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Saeedeh Hassanzahed, her daughter, told that Ms. Hassanzedeh had chronicle kidney complications, but the virus had not hurt her kidneys.

Thanking God, she added that with the “indefatigable” efforts of the medical staff of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, her mother defeated the virus and was discharged from hospital.

Read more: Europe sends medical supplies to Iran in first INSTEX transaction: Germany

Remember, Germany said the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal have registered the first transaction under a trade system set up last year to protect companies doing business with Iran from US sanctions, delivering medical supplies to the Islamic Republic amid the coronavirus pandemic.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95392-98-year-old-iranian-lady-recovers-from-coronavirus.html

Russian President sending medical supplies to help U.S. fight coronavirus: IFX

Russia is sending the United States medical equipment to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

President Vladimir Putin made the proposal in a phone conversation with President Donald Trump on Monday, when they discussed the coronavirus and oil markets, directing their energy ministers to speak.

“Trump gratefully accepted this humanitarian aid,” Interfax quoted Peskov as saying. A Russian plane with medical and protective equipment may leave for the United States on Tuesday, he added.

Confirmed U.S. cases have surged to nearly 180,000 with 16,000 new positive tests reported on Tuesday. For a second day in a row, the United States recorded more than 500 new deaths as the total climbed to nearly 3,600, according to a Reuters tally of officially reported data.

The state of relations between Moscow and Washington has been complicated in recent years due to U.S. sanctions on some of Russian companies in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, among other strains.

In the process of agreeing on the details for the medical supply on Tuesday, “it seems that some on the American side at least did not contribute to the prompt resolution of technical issues in accordance with the agreements of the two presidents”, Peskov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95391-russian-president-vladimir-sending-medical-supplies-to-help-u-s-fight-coronavirus-ifx.html

EOBI pensioners to get Rs8,500 per month from 1st of April onward

Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis on Tuesday announced that pensioners of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) will get Rs 8,500 per month from 1st of April onward.

In a series of tweets, a spokesperson of the ministry said that the EOBI pensioners will also get arrears of Rs 4,000 this month adding that the government had approved increase in the pension from 1st of January 2020.

He maintained that Rs 12,500 will be deposited in the accounts of the pensioners today.

This month Rs 12500 will be deposited in the accounts of pensioners. Government approved increase in pension amount from 1st January 2020. (Amount increased to Rs 8500 from 6500 per month)

— Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD (@mophrd) March 31, 2020

Talking to journalists, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari vowed to increase the pension to Rs15,000 per month during the term of the current government.

Earlier on December 12, in another step towards state of Madina, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government had increased the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension by 62 percent from Rs5250 to 8500 within first year of its tenure, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/95390-eobi-pensioners-to-get-rs8-500-per-month-from-1st-of-april-onward.html

Europe sends medical supplies to Iran in first INSTEX transaction: Germany

Germany says the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran deal have registered the first transaction under a trade system set up last year to protect companies doing business with Iran from US sanctions, delivering medical supplies to the Islamic Republic amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, Berlin’s Foreign Ministry said Germany, France and Britain “confirm that INSTEX (trade system) has successfully concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran.”

“These goods are now in Iran,” it said in a statement, giving no further details.

The German Foreign Ministry added that Berlin hopes to enhance the mechanism and carry out more transaction with Tehran.

“Now the first transaction is complete, INSTEX and its Iranian counterpart STFI (Special Trade and Finance Instrument) will work on more transactions and enhancing the mechanism,” the German Foreign Ministry said.

Iranian authorities have not commented on the news so far.

The transaction comes over a year after the European trio announced the creation of INSTEX — a non-dollar direct payment channel officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges — in an effort to keep Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers alive.

The apparatus was designed to circumvent the sanctions that the United States re-imposed against Iran after leaving a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic, the trio, plus Russia and China.

However, the Europeans have not been able to operationalize the non-dollar trade mechanism under pressure from the US.

The system was launched after Iran complained about the European countries failing to maintain trade with the country as mandated under the nuclear deal, and bowing insteadto Washington’s pressure.

In May, Iran initiated a set of countermeasures against Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and following the European partners’ failure to guarantee Tehran’s business interests under the agreement.

Iran had accepted the nuclear limits voluntarily as part of the deal, despite not being obligated by the UN nuclear agency to commit to any such restrictions.

Tehran has vowed to reverse all its nuclear activities as soon as the other JCPOA signatories begin fully implementing their obligations.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95375-europe-sends-medical-supplies-to-iran-in-first-instex-transaction-germany.html

Rouhani hails public compliance with social distancing measures in virus fight

President Hassan Rouhani has expressed his gratitude to the Iranian nation for their cooperation with a crisis task force set up to manage the nationwide battle against the coronavirus pandemic, saying public support has played a key role in the government’s plans to fight and curtail the outbreak.

In a Tuesday address to the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus, Rouhani hailed Iranians for abiding by restrictions introduced under the social distancing initiative to rein in COVID-19, including not making inter-city trips and closing nonessential businesses.

“My special thanks go to the dear and honorable people of Iran who have been cooperating well with the national coronavirus committee since the onset of the outbreak,” he said.

“The support and cooperation of the people is the principle. The Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to make achievements in confronting the dangerous coronavirus thanks to the people’s support and cooperation. This has come about because the people have been on the scene for the sake of their own health,” he added.

The Iranian chief executive also stressed that the nation had passed three major divine tests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, namely the eight-year Iraq-imposed war in the 1980s, the sanctions and the coronavirus outbreak.

He further noted that despite the difficult times caused by the respiratory disease, Iran has made notable achievements in tackling the crisis compared to other countries.

“It is true that doctors, nurses and medical personnel as well as the Armed Forces have been on the frontlines … but it was, in fact, the entire people” who joined the fight against the virus, Rouhani said.

He also announced new preventive measures approved at the committee fighting the coronavirus, among them an obligatory two-week self-quarantine for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.

Those refusing to observe the quarantine guidelines could even be prosecuted because they have violated the country’s law and endangered other people’s health, Rouhani said, adding that convalescent facilities will be at the service of those people who cannot quarantine at home.

The new coronavirus initially emerged in China late last year and is now spreading across the globe. Worldwide, there have been more than 788,000 confirmed cases of the virus and over 37,780 deaths.

Iran updates toll

On Tuesday, Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour reported 3,111 new infections and 141 more deaths from the virus over the past 24 hours.

In total, 44,606 Iranian have contracted the disease and 2,898 have died, he pointed out, saying 14,656 patients have recovered so far.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95374-rouhani-hails-public-compliance-with-social-distancing-measures-in-virus-fight.html

Beijing won't just 'watch Huawei be slaughtered on the chopping board', company chief warns US

Banning Chinese products from the American market may result in a retaliation from the Chinese market, Huawei head has warned. If the electronic giant is barred from the US, the same may happen to American firms in China.

"The Chinese government will not just stand by and watch Huawei be slaughtered on the chopping board," Chairman Eric Xu told reporters at the launch of Huawei's annual report.

"Why wouldn't the Chinese government ban the use of 5G chips or 5G chip-powered base stations, smartphones and other smart devices provided by American companies, for cybersecurity reasons?"

The US claims Huawei equipment gives the Chinese government opportunity to snoop on clients' communications. Washington placed it on a blacklist last May and has been pressuring allies to bar the company from upgrading their networks to a 5G standard. 

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Recipe for failure from British journo: Tweet ‘Made in China should be a badge of shame’ from Chinese-made iPhone

Some, like Germany and Britain, wouldn't yield to the pressure, saying they found no credible evidence that Huawei technology poses a security threat.

Xu predicted that further attacks against Huawei may result in Beijing barring the Chinese market to American chip producers and switching to new suppliers.

"Even if this situation you mentioned happened, Huawei and also other Chinese companies can choose to buy chipsets from Samsung from [South] Korea, MTK from Taiwan, and in China, and use those companies to develop chips," Xu said when asked about an alleged plan of the Trump administration to torpedo Huawei's supply from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

He added that a full-fledged war involving bans and restrictions between the US and China would disrupt the entire microelectronic industry and not just Huawei.

Also on rt.com

Washington grants blacklisted Huawei 45-day license extension

The annual report showed Huawei sales slopping to a three-year low in 2019. But 2020 will be an even more difficult year for the company, company officials said, citing the global economic slowdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic and continued pressure by the US.

The pandemic and its consequences have been given much attention at the Tuesday event, starting with the fact that all journalists had only a virtual presence at it. Huawei said the health crisis showed the necessity for reliable communication capacities and that it was prepared to do its part in helping its clients throughout the world to deal with the situation.

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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1865

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,865 on Tuesday after new cases were reported in the country.

The province-wise break up of the total number of cases are as follows

Total confirmed cases: 1,865
• Sindh: 627

• Punjab: 652

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 221

• Balochistan: 153

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 58

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 148

• AJK: 6

Deaths: 25

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 6

• Sindh: 7

• Balochistan: 1

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 2

• Punjab: 9

More than 37,000 deaths have been recorded globally, of which most have been in Europe since the virus first emerged in December.

Read more: Coronavirus: Two patients recover in Buner, area of KP

More than 785,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in 200 countries and territories of which a majority have been in Europe, the worst-hit continent by the virus.

Situation in AJK

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Monday said that 204 teams of the government were in the field to tackle the coronavirus outbreak across the valley.

"Saving human lives is my responsibility. We have started spraying disinfectants in the cities, streets and residential areas of the valley," he told the media at a press briefing.

China's special plane carrying relief goods

Another aircraft of China carrying medical supplies regarding Coronavirus pandemic arrived in Karachi on Monday.

The medical supplies include testing kits, N-95 masks and protective suits.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on March 27 had received a consignment of medical aid from China for fighting the coronavirus epidemic in the country at Karachi airport.

Sports Celebrities Boxer Amir Khan to donate Rs40m to Pakistan

Pakistani origin British boxer Amir Khan has announced to donate Rs40 million to Pakistan to help fight the novel coronavirus.

Boxer Amir Khan also offered to use his Islamabad boxing academy as a quarantine for the coronavirus patients.

Developing health sector real service to nation: SAPM Awan

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that developing the health sector is a real service to the nation.

In a statement issued on Monday, the SAPM said that the opposition was upset when government ministers spoke truthfully.

“Developing the health sector was not a priority for the previous rulers,” Awan said. “What mattered to them was putting their name on the board.”

“For Imran Khan, the health of the nation comes first,” she said, adding that the incumbent premier had increased the health budget.

Zafar Mirza urges Pakistanis to follow social distancing directives

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza urged citizens to follow the instructions about social distancing in order to limit the spread of the virus in Pakistan.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that the way some patients were being treated was "extremely saddening".

"They are being criminalised, what will happen is people will get scared and won't come forward to report it [...]," he said.

Cabinet approved economic package, says Hammad Azhar

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar said that the government had announced an economic package which was approved by the ECC after which it was approved by the cabinet today.

It includes:

Rs200 billion for daily-wagers

Arrangements to delay interest payments on loans by six months for industries

Increase quota of deserving people

Rs50 billion for utility stores

Reduced petrol and diesel prices

Read more details on the economic package here.

Sindh reports one more death; provincial toll at 8

A 74-year-old man has died from the coronavirus in Sindh, with the provincial death toll from the disease rising to eight.

The patient, a resident of Karachi, was brought to the hospital on March 26 where he was tested, the Sindh health minister said.

He had a history of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Diabetes.

Testing capacity to rise to 280,000 people tomorrow: Asad Umar

Asad Umar said that it is important to increase the testing capacity for Covid-19.

He said that the country had the capacity to test 30,000 people on March 13 and this will rise to 280,000 tomorrow.

By April 15, he said this capacity will rise to 900,000.

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that an important thing that was discussed in the cabinet meeting was that citizens who test positive should not be treated as criminals by society.

He said people would stop reporting out of fear.

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that the National Coordination Committee and the National Command Centre, that began working from today, will not be partisan.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/95373-the-number-of-confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-pakistan-rose-to-1865.html

Facebook Invests Additional $100 Million to Support News Industry During the Coronavirus Crisis

The news industry is working under extraordinary conditions to keep people informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when journalism is needed more than ever, ad revenues are declining due to the economic impact of the virus. Local journalists are being hit especially hard, even as people turn to them for critical information to keep their friends, families and communities safe.

Today we’re announcing an additional $100 million investment to support the news industry—$25 million in emergency grant funding for local news through the Facebook Journalism Project, and $75 million in additional marketing spend to move money over to news organizations around the world.

Through the COVID-19 Community Network grant program, direct funding is helping journalists cover important stories when we all need them most. We're building on this work and will direct a portion of these funds to publishers most in need in the hardest hit countries. The first round of these grants went to 50 local newsrooms in the US and Canada. Here are some examples of how they've used the funding to support their COVID-19 news coverage:

The Post and Courier, South Carolina

Took down its paywall for coronavirus stories. It will use the grant to cover travel costs and remote work capabilities to extend coverage to rural, news desert portions of the state.

Southeast Missourian, Missouri

Publishing email newsletters highlighting coronavirus coverage. The newspaper will use its grant to bolster remote work technology and on contingency plans for reaching elderly readers should print distribution be disrupted.

El Paso Matters, Texas

New local online news organization launched earlier this year by former El Paso Times editor Bob Moore. The team will use their grant to hire freelance reporters and translators to expand coverage of coronavirus in El Paso and across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

“This money will not only help keep journalists reporting right now amidst the crisis, the funding will also fuel opportunities for local media to accelerate business transformation toward a more sustainable digital footing,” said Nancy Lane, CEO of Local Media Association.

"Local news organizations, especially hyper-local news organizations including those serving black and other underserved communities, have experienced challenges with the sustainability and distribution of news and information in the current media environment.

COVID-19 has exacerbated an already existing crisis and our jobs have just gotten tougher. With such a sizable infusion from Facebook, local news organizations across the country will benefit as will our readers, our viewers and our listeners," said Janis Ware, publisher of The Atlanta Voice.

This commitment builds upon $300 million we’ve committed already to serving journalists around the world through diverse and inclusive news programs and partnerships, including Report for America, the Pulitzer Center, the Community News Project and the Facebook Journalism Project’s Local News Accelerator training program.

If people needed more proof that local journalism is a vital public service, they're getting it now. And while almost all businesses are facing adverse financial effects from this crisis, we recognize we're in a more privileged position than most, and we want to help.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/technology/item/95371-facebook-invests-additional-100-million-to-support-news-industry-during-the-coronavirus-crisis.html

World reaches another grim Covid-19 milestone as global cases surpass 800,000

The number of cases of coronavirus infection around the world surpassed 800,000 confirmed cases on Tuesday, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

At the time of writing the total number of coronavirus cases worldwide stood at 800,049 resulting in some 38,714 deaths. 

Of this grim tally, the US accounts for 164,000 cases followed by Italy with 101,739 and Spain with 87,956, marking the three largest and most severe outbreaks within the wider, global pandemic.

Authorities the world over are preaching continued caution, as WHO experts in Asia warn that the pandemic in Asia is "far from over."

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Covid-19 pandemic in Asia 'far from over,' countries should brace for 'large-scale community transmission,' WHO warns

Thankfully, over 170,000 previously infected people have recovered, as authorities scramble to bring the situation under control and intensive care units the world over are stretched to breaking point.

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Iran-Turkey gas pipeline stops functioning after 'terrorist' attack – gas company official (VIDEO)

A senior official with Iran's state gas company has alleged that terrorists were behind an explosion and massive fire on the pipeline transporting natural gas from the Islamic Republic to Turkey.

"This morning, terrorists attacked a natural gas pipeline inside Turkey near Iran's Bazargan border with Turkey," National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Dispatching Director Mehdi Jamshidi Dana said on Tuesday, as cited by Reuters.

The official told IRNA that fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a guerilla group active in eastern Turkey, have attacked the pipeline in the past. NIGC spokesperson Mohammad Asgari, meanwhile, described the blast as an "incident" without linking it to terrorism. According to the NIGC, at least one person was killed.

The explosion rocked the pipeline near the Gurbulak border gate with Iran in Turkey's eastern Agri Province around 6am local time. Turkish media reported that the loud blast sparked a massive fire that could be seen by residents in local villages, with flames rising up to 40 meters (131 feet).

Gürbulak sınır kapısı doğal gaz patlaması #gürbulak #gürbulaksınırkapısı #iransınırı pic.twitter.com/3N6RFB2Mwl

— Republicofgalatasaray (@Republicofgala1) March 31, 2020

The flow of gas in the pipeline has been cut off as Turkish officials are determining the cause of the explosion. Turkish media did not report any fatalities on the ground.

The NIGC said that gas exports to Turkey will resume several days after the pipeline is repaired.

In early March, the PKK fired a rocket near the Gurbulak border gate, killing one person.

Also on rt.com

US renews sanctions on Iran's nuclear program, threatens economic pressure despite calls to lift restrictions amid pandemic

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12yo girl dies of Covid-19 in Belgium, as country counts 700+ victims

A 12-year-old girl has died of the coronavirus in Belgium, becoming the youngest person to succumb to the disease in the country, authorities have announced. The epidemic death toll has surpassed 700 in Belgium.

Losing the child to the disease is “an emotionally difficult moment” not only for the family, but also for medics and researchers,” Belgian crisis-center coronavirus spokesman Emmanuel Andre said on Tuesday as he announced the death.

“We are thinking of her family and friends. It is an event that is very rare, but one which upsets us greatly,” he added as cited by AP.

Belgium has identified 12,705 Covid-19 cases in total. Since Monday 98 people have succumbed to the disease, bringing the total toll to 705. The country expects to pass the peak of the epidemic in coming days, Andre said, which will hopefully happen before its hospitals reach their saturation point.

At the moment like many other nations in the world Belgium is under a lockdown, which is to remain in place until at least April 18.

Also on rt.com

First baby dies in the US after coronavirus diagnosis

Covid-19 tends to have more serious effect on older people and on patients with preexisting conditions, but even newborn babies can become carriers. In the US an infant infected with the coronavirus was reported dead last week.

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Opposition Leader demands NSC meeting over coronavirus situation

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has demanded to summon a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on coronavirus situation.

The PML-N leader, in a statement, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government should immediately call the National Security Committee meeting and clear its strategy about lockdown across the country in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

He said that hiding facts on corona pandemic from the masses will create more problems for the federal and provincial administrations.
Shehbaz Sharif also demanded to form parliamentary monitoring committee on coronavirus relief funds.

It must be noted that the National Security Committee (NSC) held on March 14 had announced closure of educational institutions, borders besides cancellation of mass gatherings and partial suspension of flight operations.

A meeting of the country’s top civil-military body took place at the Prime Minister’s House under the chair of PM Imran Khan. The three services chiefs, the federal ministers for interior, foreign and law affairs as well as the education minister were in attendance in the meeting.

The meeting constituted a high-level National Coordination Committee to carry on joint efforts to fight against coronavirus across the country.

Meanwhile, the confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has reached 1,865, according to the National Command and Control Centre.

According to the report, there are 652 cases in Punjab, 625 in Sindh, 221 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 153 in Balochistan, 58 in Islamabad, 148 in Gilgit Baltistan and six cases in Azad Kashmir.

The number of patients recovered from the virus stands at 57, whereas, 25 Pakistanis lost their lives and 11 remain critical in different hospitals, according to the national dashboard.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/95369-opposition-leader-demands-nsc-meeting-over-coronavirus-situation.html

Spain’s Covid-19 death toll rises by a RECORD 849 overnight, as known cases reach almost 95,000

The number of Covid-19 cases in Spain has risen from 85,195 on Monday to 94,417 by Tuesday morning, while its death toll rose by 849 to 8,189, according to the latest figures from the Spanish Health Ministry.

The increase in the death toll was the highest one-day total in the country since the outbreak began. However, despite this, it still marked a slightly lower increase in percentage terms than on previous days. 

Spain’s emergency health chief Fernando Simon tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday night and he was replaced by his deputy chief, Maria Jose Sierra, who confirmed that at least 12,298 health workers have tested positive for Covid-19 infection so far, accounting for roughly 14 percent of the total infections in the country.

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Spanish emergency health chief Fernando Simon tests POSITIVE for Covid-19

Meanwhile, almost 20,000 people have recovered from the infection, which has decimated the country's healthcare system in what is still the second-worst outbreak in Europe, behind Italy.

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Head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute defends Covid-19 optimism but says current mortality rate will rise

President of the Robert Koch Institute Lothar Wieler believes that Germany’s current Covid-19 mortality rate of 0.8 percent would rise further but defended his optimism on flattening the curve of infection in the country.

During Tuesday morning's briefing, Wieler stated that Germany's coronavirus strategy would remain the same for the time being: containment, protection of the most vulnerable demographics in society like the elderly and immunocompromised and increasing hospital capacity where possible. 

He warned that the pandemic will continue for months, not weeks, however.

"Whoever does so, of course, underestimates the risk," he said, warning that the pandemic will continue for months, not weeks, adding that the picture will be clearer after Easter.

As of Tuesday morning, Germany has 67,051 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection resulting in some 650 deaths.

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Court rejects Faryal Talpur’s plea to unfreeze her bank accounts

An Islamabad accountability court has turned down PPP leader Faryal Talpur’s plea to unfreeze her bank accounts which were previously frozen in the fake bank accounts and money laundering case.

Judge Azam Khan heard the case on Tuesday.

The PPP leader had approached the court after her release on bail, asking it to unfreeze her bank accounts of her children.

During the hearing, NAB opposed Talpur’s appeal.

After hearing the arguments of both the parties, the court ordered the restoration of the accounts of Talpur’s children but denied doing so for her.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/95367-court-rejects-faryal-talpur-s-plea-to-unfreeze-her-bank-accounts.html

Sweden’s teens warned to stop deliberately coughing on the elderly in despicable ‘coronavirus challenge’

Authorities in the Swedish municipality of Eslov have warned residents that teenagers are knowingly coughing, sneezing, and spitting beside the elderly in the so-called ‘coronavirus challenge.’

Parents have been advised to “talk” with their children after a number of reports of targeted unsavory and unsanitary behavior by the local youth against the elderly. Sweden has opted not to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement of its citizens, contrary to most other countries. 

However, universities and high schools have shut, meaning a bored youth is apparently looking to entertain itself at the expense of the elderly.

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“Some of our elders have been exposed to youths knowingly coughing, sneezing, and spitting in their vicinity in the streets and in stores. Talk to your youth and, above all, respond if you see someone out to provoke and behave disrespectfully,” Eslov Municipality wrote on Facebook.

Many people online called the behaviour “disgusting” and “absolutely senseless” though some accused the municipality of spreading “fake news” from “racists” and that “young people” was a code word for something entirely different. 

“It has come to our knowledge that older people feel insecure. That young people cough and shout ‘corona’ only to walk away and laugh,” Ingrid Westerlund, the head of operations at Eslov Municipality, told Swedish Radio.

Meanwhile, a migrant duo from Eskilstuna behind the YouTube account “Alpha & Ali” posted a video several days ago in which they approached random people on the street while pretending to cough while claiming they have coronavirus.

🔴 Skrämmer folk med coronasmitta.
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃#svpol pic.twitter.com/3ut8RCwOQA

— 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 (@SamnyttSimon) March 28, 2020

Local Social Democrat politician Maria Hind Alias tweeted, describing the pair as “general idiots” while inviting them to try and prank her, promising she’ll “be nice” before vowing to call their parents and inform them that they have raised “two full-scale idiots.” As of Tuesday morning, Sweden has a reported 4,028 cases of coronavirus infection, resulting in 146 deaths. 

Sweden is not alone when it comes to distasteful coronavirus-themed pranks, however, as similar instances of attention-whoring have appeared online as Generation Z tries to outdo itself in the middle of a pandemic, all for the sake of staving off boredom.

The #CoronaVirusChallenge has evolved. Now these absolute fools are targeting grocery stores. 5-6 years in prison should be enough to make other wannabe internet-celebrities think twice before endangering the health of the rest of us. #Idiocracy #Modernity pic.twitter.com/mv6MXuTHBE

— BasedPoland (@BasedPoland) March 23, 2020

Irish police have made several arrests after youths were caught coughing on or spitting at members of the general public in what Ireland’s Health Minister Simon Harris described as “disgusting” and “pathetic” behaviour.

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US renews sanctions on Iran's nuclear program, threatens economic pressure despite calls to lift restrictions amid pandemic

The US has renewed sanctions curtailing Iran's nuclear program for another 60 days, as Iran issued pleas for the US to ease its pressure campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic to avoid humanitarian and economic crisis.

"We will continue to use the full range of our diplomatic and economic tools to constrain Iran's destabilizing proliferation activities," the US State Department said in a statement.

The US re-imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran after Washington unilaterally left the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program in 2018. The move was blasted by the EU, Russia and China, who were also signatories of the agreement.

US President Donald Trump claimed that the Islamic Republic was secretly violating the JCPOA. However, the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed at the time that Iran was complying with the deal.

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US sanctions on life-saving drugs are leading Iran into a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ as pandemic rages – Zarif

After the US ramped up the sanctions aiming to torpedo Iran's oil trade, Tehran started scaling down its commitments under the JCPOA. Iranian officials pledged to return to the agreement if the EU provides the nation with sanctions relief.

Iran, which insists that the US sanctions are illegal under international law, has been warning that Washington's 'maximum pressure' campaign undermines its ability to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and hurts regular Iranians. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the sanctions are leading to a "humanitarian catastrophe" as they hamper Iranians' access to life-saving drugs.

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Coronavirus: US death toll passes 3,000

The US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic passed 3,000 on Monday, according to the running tally compiled by the Johns Hopkins University, with more than 163,000 confirmed cases.

The United States has recorded 3,008 deaths, according to the tally, while its 163,429 cases are by far the highest national number ahead of Italy, Spain and China.

President Donald Trump has been criticized for an initially slow response by the federal government to the now-accelerating pandemic spread.

Harrowing scenes from hospitals in New York and elsewhere revealed a health system unprepared with basic supplies such as face masks, as well as life-saving devices like respirators.

On Sunday, Trump cancelled his plans to re-open much of the country by Easter — April 12 — and extended social distancing guidelines until the end of April after his top scientists confronted him with data on the rising coronavirus crisis.

Trump said America’s death rate was likely to increase for two weeks, describing as “horrible” a prediction by senior scientist Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could claim up to 200,000 lives.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95365-coronavirus-us-death-toll-passes-3-000.html

Germany sees 4-digit jump in Covid-19 cases to 61,913 as death toll nears 600

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen from 57,298 to 61,913 in 24 hours, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has reported. The disease has claimed 128 more lives, bringing the total death toll to 583.

Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia remain the parts of Germany with most cases and deaths, according to the latest tally.

Germany is considering new measures that would help deal with the coronavirus, including tracking movement of patients through their phones. The approach is used by several other nations like Singapore and Israel, but digital surveillance is a touchy subject in Germany. Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said tracking apps may be used in the country only voluntary.

The leading European economy remains among the nations in which a high number of identified cases has resulted in a relatively low number of deaths. France has fewer virus-positive patients but more fatalities, with its death toll sadly surpassing 3,000 on Tuesday.

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DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Coronavirus epidemic 'far from over' in Asia: WHO official

The coronavirus epidemic is “far from over” in the Asia-Pacific region, and current measures to curb the spread of the virus are buying time for countries to prepare for large-scale community transmissions, a WHO official said on Tuesday.

Even with all the measures, the risk of transmission in the region will not go away as long as the pandemic continues, said Takeshi Kasai, Regional Director for the Western Pacific at the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new coronavirus first surfaced in central China in late 2019. Infections have now exceeded 770,000 cases worldwide, with the United States, Italy and Spain overtaking mainland China in confirmed cases.

“Let me be clear. The epidemic is far from over in Asia and the Pacific. This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard,” Kasai told a virtual media briefing.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/95364-coronavirus-epidemic-far-from-over-in-asia-who-official.html

Covid-19: PML-N criticises the government’s response over pandemic

The PML-N has criticised the response of the government towards the coronavirus pandemic.

The party leaders held a meeting on Monday via video link. It was chaired by Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

Shehbaz said that the prime minister cares more about the opposition and media than the country’s people.

They expressed their concerns over the way the funds for coronavirus are being distributed among the people. The PML-N has asked for the formation of a parliamentary committee to look into the distribution of funds.

Shehbaz remarked that the Corono Relief Tigers Force is nothing but a sham. The government should’ve asked the relevant authorities to come into force, he added.

At a time of crisis, the PM has dissolved the country’s biggest authorities on medicine, he said while referring to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/95363-covid-19-pml-n-criticises-the-government-s-response-over-pandemic.html

Covid-19 pandemic in Asia 'far from over,' countries should brace for 'large-scale community transmission,' WHO warns

While some Asian countries appear to have slowed down the spread of the deadly Covid-19 disease, no nation should let its guard down, World Health Organization (WHO) experts have warned.

"Let me be clear. The epidemic is far from over in Asia and the Pacific," WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai told reporters on Tuesday.

This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard... We need every country to keep preparing for large-scale community transmission.

While positive news has been coming out of China and South Korea, whose response seems to have slowed down the spread of the virus, WHO technical adviser Matthew Griffith explained that this should not be interpreted as Covid-19 leaving particular areas.

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"Whereas countries and areas in this region have shown how to flatten the curve, outbreaks continue to pop up in new places and importation remains a concern," he said.

Meanwhile, Chinese health officials reported on Tuesday that there were no new confirmed Covid-19 cases recorded in the Hubei Province – where the outbreak initially started – for the seventh day in a row. All new 48 cases reported on Tuesday were linked to people arriving from abroad.

Chinese authorities said that although the domestic transmission of the disease has been largely stopped, the growing number of imported cases risks triggering a secondary wave of the infection.

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India & Pakistan convert trains into mobile Covid-19 hospitals (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Pakistan’s national railway has converted all of its business class coaches into rolling quarantine wards for Covid-19 patients, adding thousands of beds to the fight against the virus, a move mirroring a similar project in India.

The mobile isolation units are ready to ship out to any part of the country connected by rail lines, offering much needed relief to local authorities in Pakistan’s hardest-hit regions, Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad announced on Monday at the Rawalpindi train station in Punjab, a major stop on the Karachi–Peshawar line.

#Pakistan #Railways Introduces 300-Bed Quarantine Trains In Seven Cities

The Pakistan Railways Inaugurated On Monday Quarantine Trains, Comprising 300 Beds, In Seven Cities Across Pakistan Including #Karachi, #Rawalpindi #Sukkur And #Multan. pic.twitter.com/AIFcs41LwO

— Developing Pakistan (@DevelopmentPk) March 30, 2020

Pakistan Railways #Rawalpindi Division has dedicated 6 coaches as a special quarantine ward. 40 beds with complete medical facilities and attended by doctors are made available for the isolation of suspected COVID19 cases #Pakistan #Railways #Coronavirus #COVID19 @DevelopmentPk pic.twitter.com/UstDZr6gt7

— Ik Information (@IkInformation) March 31, 2020

Some 220 coaches have been specially equipped to house and treat patients, each containing nine beds, the Dawn newspaper reports. Train stations in all seven divisions administered by Pakistan Railways – in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Rawalpindi and Multan – have also been fitted with 100 beds and a ventilator each, further taking pressure off local healthcare systems.

Pakistan Railways has launched Quarantine special train including two AC sleepers and three normal sleepers pic.twitter.com/UB1D7eHrWa

— Sindhnews.com (@Sindnewspk) March 30, 2020

Pakistan Railways Creating mobile Quarantine centre for COVID-19 patients.#COVID2019 #COVID19 #COVID19Pakistan @ShkhRasheed @pakistanrail pic.twitter.com/FDo2qhbGCG

— Syed مظاہر Bukhari (@iamsyed121472) March 30, 2020

The Pakistan Railways network. ©  Wikipedia

Pakistan has suspended all passenger rail services amid the Covid-19 outbreak, allowing only freight cars to deliver vital food and supply shipments around the country. While Ahmad said he hoped passenger lines could reopen sometime in April, he noted they would remain shuttered until authorities could get a handle on the outbreak, which has sickened some 1,700 Pakistanis and killed 21, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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India, too, has signaled plans to convert rail cars into moving isolation wards, with the state-owned Indian Railways presenting a prototype for the project over the weekend. Once cleared by authorities, the train operator hopes to convert 10 coaches into quarantine units each week to serve its 16 zones, which make up the world’s fourth largest rail network. Despite boasting a population of over 1.3 billion, India has confirmed only around 1,250 cases of the virus to date, with 32 deaths.

India 🇮🇳 Jugaad

China 🇨🇳 built 1000 bedded new hospital, india 🇮🇳 converted trains into 6000 plus beds quarantine#COVID2019india pic.twitter.com/Fmr8TWMjek

— Expertmile- Tax, Finance, Legal solution (@expertmile) March 29, 2020

The Indian Railways network. ©  Wikipedia

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Contractor behind troubled Afghan propaganda program billed Pentagon $425 MILLION for unaired ads — lawsuit

The Pentagon’s one-time top propaganda producer in Afghanistan billed the US millions of dollars to produce ads it knew full well would never air, let alone win hearts and minds, a lawsuit by a company whistleblower has alleged.

The Leonie Group took in upwards of $425 million in military contracts from 2008 until 2015 to produce TV, radio, and billboard ads on behalf of the US in Afghanistan, knowing the lion’s share of the propaganda would never be seen by Afghan eyes, a recently-unsealed lawsuit by Scott Kreller, the company’s former president, claims. Adding insult to injury, Leonie allegedly retaliated against Kreller for trying to clamp down on the “fraud.” 

Kreller claimed he was fired in February 2017 after refusing to submit an inflated $4.5 million invoice to the US government for “double-billed” psychological operations despite “several months” of pressure “on an almost weekly basis” from the company’s owners.

But that final invoice was just the straw that broke the camel’s back, Kreller claims, describing how the Pentagon essentially poured money into a black hole for four years before demanding a minimum of accountability from his former employer — and even afterwards got precious little return on its investment. Despite accepting a $120 million contract to churn out propaganda for the population of occupied Afghanistan over the 2010-2014 period, Leonie had no way to verify that any of the work it billed the Pentagon for was actually being seen by the target population.

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Only when the Pentagon ordered Leonie to begin to “monitor and verify” its ad placements in 2014 did the company even make an effort to see its work made it onto the airwaves — and even then, it didn’t try very hard, according to Kreller. At any given time, fewer than 75 percent of the company’s TV ads and less than 45 percent of its radio ads were actually being seen by a single Afghan — and those two mediums accounted for over 95 percent of the material Washington was paying for. Kreller’s suit alleges all this happened with the full knowledge and consent of the “owners, officers, managers, and employees” — presumably including himself — who “knowingly submitted false bills” to the US government.

While Kreller initially filed suit in the US District Court of Washington DC in July 2017 under the False Claims Act, the case was only unsealed earlier this month, after the government declined to join the case. The Pentagon severed its relationship with Leonie in 2016 for reasons including, but not limited to, its mounting doubts about the company’s ability to deliver effective propaganda. The False Claims Act allows private citizens to file suit on behalf of the government, but the government only joins in less than a quarter of such cases, according to the Justice Department.

Claiming he was told by a Leonie board member that he was fired for refusing to submit the last fraudulent invoice, Kreller is asking for double his back pay plus interest, compensation for “special damages,” reinstatement to his position, and litigation and attorneys’ fees. It’s not clear how warmly his old company will welcome him back after suing it and airing its dirty laundry, however.

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In 2012, USA Today obtained an internal report revealing the Pentagon was concerned about where the hundreds of millions they were paying Leonie to win Afghan citizens’ hearts and minds was going. Not only was the company unable to provide any metrics showing success, but it had failed to pay over $4 million in taxes on the same massive contracts the Pentagon was beginning to feel conflicted about paying. Instead of squaring with the Pentagon, Leonie’s owners launched an anonymous online smear campaign against USA Today, which was subsequently exposed. While the Pentagon briefly suspended Leonie from doing business with the government, they were quickly reinstated, with over $123 million in contracts for 2014 and 2015.

After finally ditching Leonie in 2016 for rival SOS International, the Pentagon insisted to USA Today that its propaganda programs had functional oversight and were more closely tracked. However, a request for effectiveness metrics on a pamphlet drop in Syria was met only with the comment: “That’s classified.” 

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Astronomers observe jet-firing SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE from the early universe

Astronomers have managed to capture a supermassive black hole firing out streaking jets of plasma after hungrily devouring matter in its vicinity, in a development that promises to cast light on early galaxies.

The observation is made even more impressive by the fact that the supermassive black hole sits in the heart of a galaxy a staggering 11 billion light-years away. So, the light the boffins observed dates back to the early days of the Universe, when it was a mere three billion years old.

The breakthrough was possible thanks to the peculiar process of gravitational lensing. Because another massive galaxy sits between us and the source of the light, gravity bends and magnifies the origin galaxy and allows it to be seen in much greater detail. 

The central supermassive black hole emitting powerful jets, which are disturbing the surrounding gas in the galaxy. © Kindai University/ illustration

“This distortion works as a ‘natural telescope’ to enable a detailed view of distant objects,” explained Takeo Minezaki, one of the researchers from the University of Tokyo.

Using the ALMA astronomical interferometer and taking advantage of the lensing allowed the scientists to obtain exceptionally sharp vision, 9,000 times better than human eyesight would allow. 

The observations promise to cast light on the mystery of how galaxies evolved in the early Universe. One remarkable feature that was observed was that the supermassive black hole in the galaxy’s center had recently - at least in cosmic terms - violently spewed out enormous jets of plasma.

Observing the interaction between black hole jets and the gaseous clouds they leave in their wake is crucial to learning more about how galaxies evolve.

Reconstructed image of what the galaxy would look like if gravitational lensing effects were turned off. © ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), K. T. Inoue et al.

The exceptionally clear images enabled the scientists to learn the distribution and motion of the clouds. They found that the wisps created by the gigantic jets have a violent motion, with speeds as high as 600 kilometers per second. This led them to the conclusion that they witnessed the very early phase of jet evolution in the galaxy.

“We found telltale evidence of significant interaction between jets and gaseous clouds even in the very early evolutionary phase of jets. I think that our discovery will pave the way for a better understanding of the evolutionary process of galaxies in the early Universe,” the study’s lead author, Kaiki Inoue, said. 

The research is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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