Virginal News: August 2020

Monday, August 31, 2020

NFL takes over Washington Football investigation

The NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the Washington Football Team, a person familiar with the situation said Monday.

5 alleged MS-13 members charged in murder of teen girl near reservoir

Five alleged members of the MS-13 street gang in Maryland have been charged in the May murder of a 16-year-old New York girl, according to a report.

Ex-NFL player Jack Brewer calls on Americans to 'take a stand' for school choice

With the coronavirus pandemic putting a new focus on school choice in America, former NFL player and Brewer Group CEO Jack Brewer told “The Story” Monday that public school systems are not keeping up with “real issues.”

Chadwick Boseman 'Black Panther' co-star Michael B. Jordan pens tribute to late actor

Michael B. Jordan is the latest of Chadwick Boseman's "Black Panther" co-stars to pay tribute to the late actor.

CVS pharmacy workers in Georgia told not to call patients about medication handled by sick employees: report

A CVS spokesman said the instructions did not originate from its corporate office and were not company policy.

'Here we go again': Second wave of coronavirus grips 'canary in the coal mine' Spain

Málaga, Spain: At midday on Sunday, there were 31 patients inside the main coronavirus treatment centre in Málaga, the city with the fastest-rising infection rate in southern Spain. At 12.15 pm, the 32nd arrived in an ambulance. Half an hour later came No 33.

The garbage can by the door overflowed with masks and blue surgical gloves. Relatives hovered in silence outside — one of them in tears, another feeling a pang of déjà vu.

“My brother-in-law had the virus in the spring,” said Julia Bautista, a 58-year-old retired office administrator waiting for news Sunday of her 91-year-old father.

“Here we go again,” she added.

If Italy was the harbinger of the first wave of Europe’s coronavirus pandemic in February, Spain is the portent of its second.

France is also surging, as are parts of Eastern Europe, and cases are ticking up in Germany, Greece, Italy and Belgium, too, but in the past week, Spain has recorded the most new cases on the continent by far — more than 53,000. With 114 new infections per 100,000 people in that time, the virus is spreading faster in Spain than in the United States, more than twice as fast as in France, about eight times the rate in Italy and Britain, and 10 times the pace in Germany.

Spain was already one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, and now has about 440,000 cases and more than 29,000 deaths. But after one of the world’s most stringent lockdowns, which did check the virus’ spread, it enjoyed one of the most rapid reopenings. The return of nightlife and group activities — far faster than most of its European neighbours — has contributed to the epidemic’s resurgence.

Now, as other Europeans mull how to restart their economies while still protecting human life, the Spanish have become an early bellwether for how a second wave might happen, how hard it might hit, and how it could be contained.

“Perhaps Spain is the canary in the coal mine,” said Professor Antoni Trilla, an epidemiologist at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, a research group. “Many countries may follow us — but hopefully not at the same speed or with the same number of cases that we are facing.”

To be sure, doctors and politicians are not as terrified by Spain’s second wave as they were by its first. The mortality rate is roughly half the rate from the height of the crisis — falling to 6.6 percent from the 12 percent peak in May.

The median age of sufferers has dropped to around 37 from 60. Asymptomatic cases account for more than 50 percent of positive results, which is partly due to a fourfold rise in testing. And the health institutions feel much better prepared.

“We have experience now,” said Dr María del Mar Vázquez, the medical director of the hospital in Málaga where Bautista’s father was being treated.

“We have a much bigger stock of equipment, we have protocols in place, we are more prepared,” Vázquez said. “The hospitals will be full — but we are ready.”

Yet part of the hospital is still a building site — contractors have yet to finish a renovation of the wing of the hospital that deals with coronavirus patients. No one expected the second wave for at least another month.

And epidemiologists aren’t certain why it arrived so soon.

Explanations include a rise in large family gatherings; the return of tourism in cities like Málaga; the decision to return responsibility for combating the virus to local authorities at the end of the nationwide lockdown, and a lack of adequate housing and health care for migrants.

The surge has also been blamed on the revival of nightlife, which was reinstated earlier and with looser restrictions than in many other parts of Europe.

“We have this cultural factor related to our rich social life,” said Ildefenso Hernández, a former director-general of public health for the Spanish government. “People are close. They like to get to know each other.”

For several weeks in places like Málaga, nightclubs and discos were allowed to open until as late as 5 am, as regional politicians attempted to revive an economy dependent on tourists and partygoers. Revellers were allowed only to dance around a table with friends, rather than mixing with strangers — but the rules were not always observed.

In one notorious incident in early August, a performer was filmed spitting at dancers on a crowded dance floor at a beach club outside Málaga.

The venue was quickly closed, all nightclubs were ordered to shut two weeks later, and bars must now shut by 1 am. But critics fear the restrictions are still far too lax.

As beds continued to fill up in Málaga’s hospitals this weekend, residents were still cramming into bars along certain beach fronts until well past midnight. In some bars, the tables were tightly packed together — far closer than the current rules of two metres, or about six feet, allow.

At closing time, drinkers spilled out onto the beaches and pontoons, mostly without wearing masks. There they congregated in groups of more than 20 — a normal sight during any other Spanish summer, but far larger than the gatherings of 10 or fewer now allowed by law.

Some were teenagers who said they had recently recovered from a mild form of the virus, and who now therefore considered themselves immune. Others felt the pandemic restrictions were an overreaction.

“I don’t think COVID is real,” said Victor Bermúdez, a 23-year-old shop assistant at an early morning gathering on a pontoon jutting into the Mediterranean. “Well, yes, it’s real — but it’s not as serious as they say. It’s all a plan to kill the poor and boost the rich.”

During the lockdown, the Central government set a clear agenda from Madrid. But with the lifting of the state of emergency at the end of June, certain powers were returned to each of Spain’s 17 regional governments, leading to a disjointed and confused approach.

When regions attempted to enforce restrictions on local life, some of their decisions were struck down by local judges, who argued that only the central Parliament had the power to introduce such measures.

“We don’t have the legal tools that guarantee us the ability to take decisions,” said Juan Manuel Moreno, the president of the regional government in Andalusia, the region in which Málaga lies.

The debate has also become the latest proxy for a bitter conflict over the Spanish Constitution that has been brewing for more than four decades. For federalists and Catalan separatists, for example, the debacle highlights how power was never properly devolved after the death in 1975 of the dictator Francisco Franco. For Spanish nationalists, it instead shows how the process of decentralisation has already gone too far.

“There is a kind of war going on to show what kind of political system is better,” said Nacho Calle, the editor of Maldita, a prominent fact-checking service. The decentralised approach has led to a piecemeal system of tracking and tracing potential coronavirus victims. Some regions employ several thousand trackers to trace people who might have come into contact with infected people, while other regions hired only a few dozen — slowing the rate at which potential patients are told to enter quarantine.

And even in regions with large numbers of trackers, like Andalusia, health workers on the ground report that the process is still too slow and understaffed in certain locations.

Francisca Morente, a nurse in a clinic west of Málaga, was one of hundreds of local nurses seconded this summer to work as a tracker because of staff shortages at her district’s official tracing unit.

But even now, Morente is one of just five trackers working at her clinic — not enough to make the hundreds of daily calls that a proper tracing service requires. And even once she manages to track down potential coronavirus patients, those patients still currently need to wait a week until their tests are processed, because of bottlenecks at local laboratories.

“We need more trackers and more resources,” she said. “We need a designated tracker unit in every clinic, instead of this temporary system that we have at the moment.”

A lack of institutional support for undocumented migrants has also contributed to the second wave, according to some experts. Some recent outbreaks began among foreign farmhands living in cramped communal accommodations.

Barred from seeking unemployment benefits and lacking formal labor contracts, undocumented migrants cannot easily take time off work if they are sick. Nor can they afford the kinds of homes that would allow them to easily self-isolate.

“If I have to quarantine, then I cannot work,” said María Perea, a 50-year-old Colombian cleaner waiting on Monday for the results of a coronavirus test. “And if I cannot work, then I have no money.”

But in general, doctors say that Spain is in a far stronger position to fight the virus than it was in March.

National coordination is improving — the central government last week agreed to a deal to deploy 2,000 soldiers as contact tracers. Testing speeds are accelerating — in Málaga, the biggest hospital can process tests within a single morning, thanks to the recent purchase of a series of robots. Across the road, a makeshift hospital built in a rush in April stands empty, ready for a rise in cases.

“It’s not like the first wave,” said Carmen Cerezo, 38, a train attendant waiting outside the Málaga hospital while her father was tested for coronavirus inside.

“We’re calmer now,” she said.

Patrick Kingsley and José Bautista c.2020 The New York Times Company

from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/31LzhP2

आज लॉन्च होगा Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

सैमसंग न्यूजरूम पर दी गई जानकारी के मुताबिक, Galaxy Z Fold 2 किताब की तरह खुलेगा और इसे दो कलर वेरिएंट मिस्टिक ब्लैक और मिस्टिक ब्रॉन्ज में लॉन्च किया जाएगा.

from Latest News मोबाइल-टेक News18 हिंदी https://ift.tt/2GcAc2p

Wedding announcement goes viral after groom's ex publicly reveals he cheated on her when he met the bride

When Nikyta Moreno saw her ex-husband in the New York Times' Wedding section, it came with a startling realization: He had been cheating on her. Now, after publishing her side of the story, the internet has her back.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/32GS25p

Some Louisiana residents won't have power for weeks, if not months, after Hurricane Laura

Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, the state faces another long, grueling recovery in the wake of Hurricane Laura.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/3gM0zZu

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin was never afraid to go to space. But a police stop made him sweat

A police stop could have cost former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin his career in space before he ever got started.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/3jwgn4t

Trump calls rioters 'supporters' of media while dismissing question on violence from his own backers

President Trump dismissed questions from reporters on Monday about his supporters inciting violence in various cities, insisting that the media has the support of rioters.

St. Louis couple who brandished guns during BLM protest make first court appearance

The St. Louis couple charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon after waving their guns at protesters during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in June made their first appearance in court Monday morning.

Big Ten presidents voted 11-3 to cancel fall football season

A court filing disclosed Monday shows Big Ten Conference presidents voted 11-3 to postpone the football season, bringing some clarity to a key question raised in a lawsuit brought by a group of Nebraska football players.

Cops search for 2 alligators stolen from pet store in Pennsylvania

Police are still on the lookout for two American Alligators that were stolen from a pet shop earlier this month.

Weekend gun violence pushes Philadelphia to over 300 homicides so far in 2020

A bloody weekend in Philadelphia pushed the number of homicides in the city north of 300, according to police figures.

Ohio State player out of hospital after weekend shooting

Ohio State defensive tackle Haskell Garrett was released from the hospital Monday after being shot in the face over the weekend, a spokesman for the football program said.

GOP lawmaker argues left is 'funding, in a huge way,' protests and riots across US

An investigation into the riots that have taken place in cities across America would reveal a money trail on the left, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., claimed Monday.

Marlins get outfielder Starling Marte in trade with D-backs

Miami acquired outfielder Starling Marte in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, giving the Marlins a versatile hitter and defender as they try to make a surprising push for the playoffs.

Will new coaches, new QBs keep it simple? They won't tell

Teams with new coaches or new quarterbacks could limit their playbooks early in the season because they missed valuable practice time in the offseason due to the coronavirus shutdown.

Some Louisiana residents won't have power for weeks, if not months, after Hurricane Laura

Laura destroyed key parts of Louisiana's power grid after making landfall as the strongest hurricane to strike the state since 1856. The storm whipped 150-mph winds, shredded houses and contributed to at least 17 deaths in Louisiana and Texas.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel https://ift.tt/3gM0zZu

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin was never afraid to go to space. But a police stop made him sweat

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin wasn't scared to serve on two Space Shuttle Atlantis missions to help build the International Space Station. But as a Black man, getting stopped by the police when he was in high school scared him.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel https://ift.tt/3jwgn4t

Trump's lawyers say court wrongly sided with Manhattan DA over financial records

President Donald Trump argued in a federal appellate court filing Monday that a district court had wrongly sided with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's office in a lawsuit over a subpoena to Trump's longtime accounting firm for his financial records, saying the lower court's assessment was "not the kind of process the Supreme Court envisioned when it remanded this case."

from CNN.com - RSS Channel https://ift.tt/31Li888

Russian jet violated NATO airspace while attempting to intercept US B-52 bomber

A Russian military jet violated NATO airspace on Friday while it was attempting to intercept a US Air Force B-52 bomber flying near the Danish island of Bornholm, the alliance said in a statement Monday, calling the incident a "significant violation of international law."

from CNN.com - RSS Channel https://ift.tt/3bcrCfw

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Night of deadly violence yields pointed leader responses

After a night of deadly protest violence in Portland, Oregon, officials responded in starkly different ways. CNN's Wolf Blitzer has the latest from Mayor Ted Wheeler, President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/3lHO318

Leaders resign after 'Golfgate' scandal highlights hypocrisy

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, who resigned from his post for breaking Ireland's coronavirus restrictions by attending a political golf society event with 80 other people, was just the latest member of the political elites to be caught flouting the rules. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/34NR6yG

CNN reporter pushes GOP senator on violence in Wisconsin

CNN's Dana Bash speaks to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) about the violence that flared in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, is accused of shooting and killing two men and injuring a third Tuesday night.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/3jtRy9n

Sánchez's pinch slam, Hicks' HR help Yanks sweep Mets

Gary Sánchez and Aaron Hicks — among the few remaining regulars healthy enough to join the Yankees' lineup — made sure the Bronx Bombers held serve at home in this unusual Subway Series.

Wisconsin's Gov. Tony Evers tells Trump not to visit Kenosha

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, asked President Trump to reconsider traveling on Tuesday to Kenosha, Wis., the scene of recent protests against police brutality, in a letter Sunday.

California pastor told Trump: 'Any real, true believer' will vote for him over Biden

Grace Community Church pastor John MacArthur said Friday that he told President Trump "any real, true believer" of Christianity will be forced to vote for him in November, due to the conflicting ideologies between the Democratic party's platform and a belief in Jesus Christ.

Ken Buck doubles down on Rand Paul's call for investigation into funding of violent protests

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., on Sunday called for a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the funding of recent violent protests that have sprung up across the country, echoing statements made by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was recently attacked while with his wife during the Republican National Convention.

2020 MTV VMAs dedicates show to Chadwick Boseman: 'He is a true hero'

The MTV Video Music Awards opened with a special dedication to the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

Jon Rahm's makes the biggest putt to win a thriller at BMW

With so few people around, Jon Rahm still got word from the other side of the Olympia Fields clubhouse that Dustin Johnson had made a 45-foot birdie on the final hole to force a playoff Sunday in the BMW Championship.

Brian Austin Green hasn't ruled out reconciliation with Megan Fox: 'Never say never'

Brian Austin Green says that reconciliation with estranged wife Megan Fox isn't out of the question.

Wisconsin governor urges Trump to reconsider Kenosha trip in forceful letter

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wrote a letter to President Donald Trump on Sunday urging him to reconsider his planned visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week as the city continues to grapple with racial unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel https://ift.tt/3hJrWoA

One shot of coronavirus vaccine likely won't be enough 

When a coronavirus vaccine comes on the market, people will likely need two doses, not just one -- and that could cause real problems.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/2YQ4luO

Axios: Trump offered FBI director job to John Kelly if he pledged loyalty

President Donald Trump offered then-Homeland Security secretary John Kelly the position of FBI director one day after he fired James Comey in 2017, but demanded that he be loyal, according to an Axios report citing New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt's forthcoming book.

from CNN.com - RSS Channel - App International Edition https://ift.tt/2YOrSMI