In the time of the coronavirus, churches across Hartford are learning to hold their congregations close over livestreams and ease growing levels of hunger, isolation and homelessness in their communities — and they’re doing it without the help of full collection plates on Sundays. Sixty-five percent of U.S. churches report giving is down since the pandemic began, according to an April survey from the National Association of Evangelicals, called the State of the Plate. About 1 in 10 respondents said giving was down at least 75%. Advertisement In Hartford, a number of congregations shared how they’re weathering loss of revenue even as need has increased dramatically due to the pandemic. As...

Boris Johnson will seek to persuade Britain's top bosses on Sunday that his strategy for easing the coronavirus lockdown will pave the way for a swift economic fightback. ......

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has won bipartisan praise for rallying supplies for his ravaged hospitals and helping slow the coronavirus, is coming under increasing criticism for not bringing ......

Congress said Parliament...

The Covid-19 crisis has many wealthy individuals thinking about estate planning opportunities. Personal finance expert Megan Gorman discusses the benefits of using GRATs during the current environment. ......

Israel stressed on Friday that it would discuss the reports about cutting the number of...

China’s President Xi Jinping had called up World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom in January to...

BEIJING - Amid the further containment of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), China is powering ahead in returning to work and resuming business and production. The following are the latest facts and figures: - China is set to orderly open up public places and entertainment venues, according to a guideline issued by the State Council on May 8. Shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and...

In the last three months, 33.5 million Americans have lost their jobs and the unemployment rate is 15%. We need a coordinated national policy to control Covid-19. The secret is doing precise, living-standard-based lifetime financial planning. ......

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just gave her very first commencement address...inside the Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing. ......

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Two people who travelled home to Kerala from the Gulf have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, taking the the total number of active cases in the state to 17, Chief...

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's capital has shut down more than 2,100 nightclubs, hostess bars and discos after dozens of coronavirus infections were linked to club goers who went out last weekend as the country relaxed social distancing guidelines. The measures imposed Saturday by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon came after the national government urged entertainment venues around the nation to close or otherwise enforce anti-virus measures, including distancing, temperature checks, keeping customer lists and requiring employees to wear masks. Park said the entry bans on the facilities will be maintained until the...

BEIJING - Entrusted by President Xi Jinping, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 8 visited King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, who came to Beijing for a physical examination. Wang conveyed the cordial greetings from President Xi...

The Red Square...

Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued on Europe Day: 'Today is the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration that gave life to the idea of the European Union (EU). Since the approval of Turkey's candidacy to the EU in 1999, the '9 May Europe Day' is celebrated in Turkey, together with the people of Europe. The ideas behind the Schuman Declaration have provided the resurrection of the Europe from its ashes following a war ruining the whole world. These ideas enabled the countries to come together for peace, security, development and prosperity by...

O2 and Virgin media sign a £31.4 billion merger agreement to form a telecom giant in the UK. The new company will boast 46 million total subscribers and revenue of £11 billion. The joint venture plans on making a £10 billion investment in the United Kingdom in five years. Earlier this week on Thursday, Spain’s Telefonica (EBR: TFA) and UK’s Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA) announced to have signed a £31.4 billion...

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ippassaq wifikkut attaveqaatitigut ajutoornerup kingorna arlallit...

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned that the risk of a hard Brexit is increasingly likely for the United Kingdom as London has so far made almost no progress in talks with the European Union (EU) on the future trade relationship, criticizing Britain for disregarding the agreed political agreement. In an interview with Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Saturday, the German top diplomat expressed his concern amid floundering trade talks between London...

Moscow sent over a dozen military transport planes with equipment and specialists to Italy back in March to help the country in its efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 infection. ......

The text version of this document in not available. You can...

Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See other free reports here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in a ceremony shorn of its usual military parade and pomp by the coronavirus pandemic. In neighboring Belarus, however, the ceremonies went ahead in full, with tens of thousands of people in the sort of proximity that has been almost unseen in the world for months....

PARIS — French Resistance member Cecile Rol-Tanguy, who risked her life during World War II by working to liberate Paris from Nazi occupation, has died. She was 101. Rol-Tanguy died on Friday at her home in Monteaux, in central France, as Europe commemorated the 75th anniversary of the...

Yesterday 8 May, the largest high-level gathering of UN member states since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis was held as part of Estonia's presidency of the UN Security Council. The six-hour meeting brought together nearly 80 countries, around 50 of which were represented at a ministerial level, to exchange thoughts on lessons learnt from the Second World War. All the Security Council members were represented, with almost half attending with high-level participants: Germany, France, Belgium, Vietnam, United States and the United Kingdom in addition to Estonia. 'Yesterday's meeting was the largest international event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Second World War in Europe. It...

They have left behind royal life as they knew it, swapping Britain for the sunnier climes of Los Angeles. But former Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not quite slumming it, as they join the Hollywood elite in a reported $18m (€16.4m) Beverly Hills mansion owned by a...

Allies of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are being told to sharpen attacks on President Donald Trump's stimulus efforts as thinly veiled "cronyism", according to a memo being sent to Democratic office holders and supporters yesterday. The memo gives Mr Biden's campaign representatives new language to use in their attacks on Mr Trump and shows a...

Mike Pence's press secretary, the wife of one of President Donald Trump's senior advisers, has tested positive for the coronavirus, raising alarm about the virus' potential spread within the White House's inner most circle. ......

Nearly all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from the Global Financial Crisis has now been lost in one month. ......

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy, the duo whose extraordinary magic tricks astonished millions until Horn was critically injured in 2003 by one of the act’s famed white tigers, has died. He was 75. Horn died of complications from the coronavirus on Friday in a Las Vegas hospital, according to a statement released by publicist Dave Kirvin. “Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend,” Siegfried Fischbacher said in the statement. “From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried.” He was injured in October 2003 when a tiger named Montecore...

(CNN)The United States has scaled back its role on the world stage, taken actions that are undermining efforts to battle the coronavirus pandemic and left the international community without a traditional global leader, according to experts, diplomats and analysts. The US -- usually at the head of the table helping to coordinate in global crises -- has declined to take a seat at virtual international meetings convened by the World Health Organization and the European Union to coordinate work on potentially lifesaving vaccines. Former world leaders warn that the Trump administration risks alienating allies by politicizing the deadly pandemic with its push to punish China and have other...

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — The top administrator of a national forest in northern New Mexico says there’s an elevated risk of human-caused wildfires due to drying conditions and negligence by some forest visitors....

An American newspaper stressed in a report: Although the US government has intensified its rhetoric and economic pressure on Iran, it seems that in fact, the main focus on Iran in its national security strategy is shifting to Russia and China. According to Fars News Agency, the administration of US President Donald Trump has intensified its rhetoric about Iran’s alleged threat this year. On the other hand, military officials and experts believe that the US military has reduced its presence in the Persian Gulf region and has withdrawn its ships, military aircraft and missiles. No US aircraft carrier has been replaced in the region since Theodore Roosevelt sailed from the Persian Gulf to...

Washington: Vice president Mike Pence’s press secretary has the coronavirus, the White House said Friday, making her the second person who works at the White House complex known to test positive for the virus this week. President Donald Trump, who publicly identified the affected Pence aide, said he was “not worried” about the virus spreading in the White House. Nonetheless, officials said they were stepping up safety protocols for the complex. Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller, who tested positive Friday, had been in recent contact with Pence but not with the president. She is...

Ivanka Trump's personal assistant has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, making her the third White House staff member to be infected from COVID-19, a media report said on Saturday. The assistant, who works in a personal capacity for US President Donald Trump's daughter, has not been around her in several weeks, the CNN reported. COVID-19 Pandemic Tracker: 15 countries with the highest number of...

Donald Trump has been bullish about a coronavirus vaccine – so much so that experts have had to talk him off a more aggressive...

To mark Mother's Day 2020, the hosts and reporters of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network expressed their appreciation to their mothers and all the moms across America who are helping their families through the coronavirus pandemic. ......

They have left behind royal life as they knew it, swapping Britain for the sunnier climes of Los Angeles. But former Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not quite slumming it, as they join the Hollywood elite in a reported $18m (€16.4m) Beverly Hills mansion owned by a...

80 young African scholars are tackling the business of agriculture through the innovativeness and freshness that comes with youth — while obtaining their masters or doctoral degrees in the process.

The post Africa’s Youth Scholars Harvest Ideas on the Business of Agriculture appeared first on Inter Press Service.

1. Keh Gayi Sorry teaser: Shehnaaz Gill pairs up with Jassie Gill in new music video, watch  Hindustan Times
2. Keh Gayi Sorry Teaser: Fans can't wait for the full music video featuring Shehnaaz Gill and Jassie Gill  PINKVILLA
3. Bigg Boss 13's Shehnaaz Gill curses Coronavirus for ruining her dreams in this new hilarious TikTok video  Bollywood Life
4. Shehnaz Gill curses corona for ruining her dream of signing autographs after Bigg Boss 13; watch hilariou  Times of India
5. PHOTOS: Shehnaaz Gill proves she can pull off any look with panache; Check out  PINKVILLA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. Coronavirus: Do not anticipate worst case situation like developed countries in India, says govt  Livemint
2. Government Tweaks Rules For Testing As COVID-19 Cases Rise. Details Here  NDTV
3. Only ‘severe’ coronavirus patients to be tested before discharge from hospital as India braces for infection surge  The Tribune India
4. Health ministry says learn to live with coronavirus as India's COVID-19 count crosses 56,000  Livemint
5. 116 vs 66: Mismatch between Covid toll of Delhi govt, hospital data  The Indian Express
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. 'Not anticipating worst situation but…': Health Minister on Covid-19 in India  Hindustan Times
2. Testing capacity for Covid-19 scaled up to 95,000 per day: Harsh Vardhan  Times of India
3. 'Have prepared country for worst situation': Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on coronavirus pandemic  Times Now
4. ‘We’re prepared for the worst’: Health minister on Covid-19 crisis  Top Live News
5. Do not anticipate worst case situation like developed countries in India: Harsh Vardhan  Times of India
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. Tamil Nadu: All private establishments outside Covid-19 containment zones to open from Monday  The Indian Express
2. Coronavirus: Tamil Nadu relaxes lockdown measures further  Times of India
3. Major Relaxations For Non-Containment Zones In Tamil Nadu From Monday  NDTV
4. 1,589 cases linked to Koyambedu so far  The Hindu
5. Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court against Madras high court order to close Tasmac liquor shops  Times of India
6. View Full coverage on Google News

James A. Paul, a writer and consultant, was Executive Director of Global Policy Forum (1993-2012), an NGO monitoring the work of the United Nations, and author of the book “Of Foxes and Chickens: Oligarchy & Global Power in the UN Security Council.” He was also for many years an editor of the Oxford Companion to Politics of the World.

The post The COVID-19 Cash Crisis: Will the UN Cease to Exist? appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is a former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN (2002-2007), Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UN (1996-2001) and Chairman of the UN General Assembly’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee (1997-1998)

The post UN Faces Financial & Liquidity Crisis as Global Pandemic Rages appeared first on Inter Press Service.

The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), described as an integral part of its highly-ambitious development agenda, may be in deep trouble. Aimed at addressing some of the global challenges the world faces– including extreme poverty and hunger, inequalities in incomes and gender, climate change and environmental degradation– the SDGs now seem threatened by a […]

The post UN’s Development Goals Threatened by a World Economy Facing Recession appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Alexander Trepelkov is Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)

The post SDGs: the Challenge to Improve Lives After the COVID-19 Crisis appeared first on Inter Press Service.

The oil slump, global recession and uncertainty about the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic will fuel the appetite for cheaper fossil fuel energy and delay investments in renewables, affecting the targets of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The countries of the developing South, and in particular oil exporters, […]

The post The Crises of 2020 Will Delay the Transition to Clean Energy appeared first on Inter Press Service.

While one-fourth of the world’s population is under home-quarantine to contain the spread of the novel Covid-19 pandemic, another crisis is brewing behind closed doors—domestic violence. Research shows that in emergencies be it conflicts, economic crisis or during disease outbreaks, there has been a repeat pattern of increase in domestic abuse, therefore abusers and their […]

The post Addressing the rise in domestic violence during lockdown appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Ensuring sex workers’ rights was essential, not just for the workers themselves, but for any country’s wider society, including public health

The post Ensuring Russia’s Sex Workers’ Rights Essential for Wider Gender Equality appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Music and dance lovers can find something interesting for themselves this year, whether they like jazz or rock, latin or folk and whether they go to western or eastern Turkey... Click through for the 2018-2019 calendar for music and dance festivals in Turkey...

Turkey is one of the most extraordinary countries to visit. Here, we list the 5 unmissable villages in the country.