SCIENTISTS believe the coronavirus pandemic could have started as early as October and participants at the Military World Games, held in Wuhan that month, could have unwittingly helped transmit the lethal virus around the world.

TWO of Germany's local authorities will bring back certain lockdown measures in some areas following an increase in infections after the government's easing of restrictions.

MY mother was born in 1928 and grew up in Kent.

SO enough with the panic buying, already. Now that we're all settling down into quarantine and accepting that the new normal is going to be never seeing anyone, ever again, now is the time to reflect on the last few weeks. And what the last few weeks have revealed to me is that the contents of my cupboards have changed beyond all comprehension.

WEEK five, or is it six, if anyone's still counting, and yet another fiercely competitive trend in social isolating has emerged.

The Virtual Grand National takes place today and Express Sport is on hand with the full list of runners and riders.

The Virtual Grand National takes place today and Express Sport is on hand with all the live stream information, including how to watch the race for free.

The Virtual Grand National replaces the real-life National this afternoon with ITV providing life coverage of a lifelike simulation to substitute for the cancelled regular race. Express Sport brings you live updates with an animated Tiger Roll the favourite for victory.

The Virtual Grand National takes placed this evening in the absence of the real race at Aintree.

Potters Corner triumphed at the Virtual Grand National with an explosive finish in a boost to the NHS.

Profits of £2.6million have been donated to NHS Charities Together after Saturday's Virtual Grand National.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT claims have surged in recent weeks, as Britons have begun to feel the impact of the coronavirus crisis. How do earnings affect payments?

GEORGE SOROS made a chilling warning about the state of global markets in 2012 that has fresh relevance today as world leaders grapple with the unprecedented challenge of rebuilding the post-coronavirus economy.

Leeds continues their Premier League promotion push with a dominant 4-0 win against Hull on Saturday.

Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty around the world. It occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, judiciary functions, large and small businesses, military and other services and so on.

Some countries are seeing increasing protests at large scale corruption. In India, a largely non-violent movement has sprung up, which has also inspired anti-corruption campaigners in Nepal. In Brazil, inspired by the way protesters in Spain have used social networks, technology has been used to increasingly campaign against corruption there.

The global financial crisis has made conditions worse in many places for many people. Increasing food prices and other policy decisions governments are pushing through is leading to many volatile conditions, and it may be that this is giving a much needed push for large-scale grassroots and civil society movements against debilitating corruption.

This update to the corruption section includes an overview of some of the protests mentioned above.

Read full article: Corruption

The global financial crisis has spawned a global protest movement campaigning against things like inequality, corporate greed, lack of jobs, etc. Although these protests have occurred for decades, they have typically been in the developing countries, or about the situation in developing countries. As such, many Western nations, who have strongly influenced the conditions in developing countries, have typically not paid much attention to such protests, no matter how large. However, this time, the global financial crisis has hit the ordinary citizens of Western nations quite hard, and inspired by the Arab Spring and protests in Spain, a global movement seems to have sprung up.

The global protests page had not been updated since the end of 2003, but has not included a brief overview of more recent protests such as the so-called Occupy Movement. The older content remains because it is interesting to note some of the parallels too, and it is perhaps important to note that these protests are unfortunately not new. Whether this time it can make a difference is too early to tell but a lot of people in wealthy countries this time are also participating.

Read full article: Public Protests Around the World

An overview of the Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 17), held in Durban, South Africa in December 2011.

Predictably and sadly, the same issues have resurfaced: lack of media coverage, West stalling on doing anything trying to blame India and China instead, lack of funding, disagreement on how to address it, etc.

Geopolitical threats (real and imaginary) quickly focus a lot of political will and money is easily found to mobilize military forces when needed.

The economy also takes center stage as the current pressing issue, while climate change is easily deferred, in the hopes that the West can let China and India pick up the burden of addressing emissions even though they have not contributed to the historical build up of emissions that have started the recent changes in the climate.

This page is an overview of the Durban conference.

Read full article: COP17 - Durban Climate Conference

US campaign financing rules have been relaxed even further in recent years, making a worrying problem about the state of American democracy worse (because those with money have even more ability to try and buy votes or influence policy).

Media coverage of this issue, though it may pop up from time to time, seems quite limited. Perhaps because it is estimated that television stations this year could make as much as eight billion dollars from political campaigns.

The state of US mainstream media has unfortunately been lamentable for many years, and after the issues around hurricane Katrina, it was thought that the media would be rejuvenated. Unfortunately it does not seem that way.

This page has been updated with further information about campaign financing issues and how limits in the US have been lifted making the problem worse. Also added were notes on US press freedom, and an info graphic on media ownership concentration.

Read full article: Media in the United States

Twenty years ago at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, countries adopted Agenda 21 — a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection. Marking that anniversary, this year sees Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, with aims to get bold agreements to address things like poverty, sustainable development, decent jobs, etc.

This page provides coverage of recent events via Inter Press Service’s news feed.

Read full article: Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development

An overview of the Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 18), held in Doha, Qatar in December 2012.

Predictably and sadly, the same issues have resurfaced: lack of media coverage, West stalling on doing anything, lack of funding, disagreement on how to address it, etc.

This page is an overview of the Doha Climate conference. It also includes a feed of latest news stories from Inter Press Service’s coverage of the conference.

Read full article: COP18 - Doha Climate Conference

The latest data covering global arms sales shows that sale of arms in 2011 increased to around $85 billion, 84% of which went to developing countries. This was almost double the arms sales compared to 2010 which was the lowest since 2004.

One major factor for the increase was the US sales of arms to Saudi Arabia. Most other major arms sellers otherwise saw a decrease in sales and the trend in recent years had been declining sales.

The global financial crisis has affected many countries, and many developing countries started to see a decrease in purchases in the last few years. However, just 10 developing countries account for some 85% of all sales to developing countries in the period 2004 to 2011, which the data covers. Saudi Arabia tops that list followed by India and the United Arab Emirates. (As well as concerns about some of the regimes in the top buyers, some of this spending is also said to be due to modernizing efforts.)

Updated graphs and charts on arms sales data are provided here.

The arms trade is big business. The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China), together with Germany and Italy, account for approximately 85% of all arms sold between 2004 and 2011.

Some of the arms sold go to regimes where human rights violations will occur. Corruption often accompanies arms sales due to the large sums of money involved.

Read full article: The Arms Trade Is Big Business

A recent study found that coral reefs will face severe challenges even if average global warming temperature rise is restricted to 2 degrees Celsius. This is a rise that most countries are struggling to negotiate and meet. But reefs are very sensitive to temperature changes, experts fear the window of opportunity to prevent massive reef loss is very small.

Read full article: Nature and Animal Conservation

In recent years, global military expenditure has increased again and is now comparable to Cold War levels. Recent data shows global spending at over $1.7 trillion, despite the global economic conditions. It is still approximately 1% increase since 2008 when the financial crisis began, for example.

Not all nations have felt the impacts of the global financial crisis in the same way. Some have grown economically, including many Asian countries, which has allowed some of them to increase their military spending. There are geopolitical interests at stake for various powers, so economic troubles or not, military spending is seen as important to maintain, or at least to minimize possible reductions.

The highest military spender is the US accounting for 39% of the world’s spending, more than the next top 10 countries combined, and more than all its potential enemies, combined. But this represents a slight decline over previous years as other nations, especially China and Russia, increase their spending. At the same time, the US has reduced military spending for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while Western Europe’s austerity programs affect their military spending budgets.

This update includes new and updated figures, graphs and charts exploring this further.

Read full article: World Military Spending

An overview of the Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 19), held in Warsaw, Poland in November 2013.

Predictably and sadly, the same issues have resurfaced: West stalling on doing anything, lack of funding, disagreement on priorities, etc.

This page is an overview of the Warsaw Climate conference and also includes a feed of latest news stories from Inter Press Service’s coverage of the conference.

Read full article: COP19 - Warsaw Climate Conference

It is well known that tobacco smoking kills. But it also exacerbates poverty, contributes to world hunger by diverting prime land away from food production, damages the environment and reduces economic productivity. Second hand smoking also affects other people’s lives. Despite many attempts to prevent it, a global tobacco control treaty became international law in 2005.

However, challenges still remain as tobacco companies try to hit back, for example, by targeting developing nations, increasing advertising at children and women, attempting to undermine global treaties and influence trade talks, etc.

This update includes updated stats, as well as more information on the above issues.

Read full article: Tobacco

A recent study has found that three quarters of the world’s big carnivores are in decline, due to declining habitats and persecution by humans. This is also having a negative impact on the environment because top predators have a crucial role in any given ecosystem which is hard to replace.

At the same time, the number of rhinos being poached in South Africa (where most rhinos now remain) has soared exponentially in recent years.

This update includes more information on the above issues.

Read full article: Nature and Animal Conservation

An overview of the Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 20), held in Lima, Peru in December 2014.

While it seemed like it was a successful meeting, because developing nations were committed to drawing up their own plans for emissions reductions for the first time, a number of important issues were left undecided such as how financing would work.

This page is an overview of the Lima Climate conference.

Read full article: COP20—Lima Climate Conference

Recently released data showed that 2014 was the hottest year since records began in 1880.

This update includes updated charts and graphs and animations that look into this further.

Read full article: Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction

Celtic host Hearts in the Scottish Premiership today and Express Sport is on hand with all the live stream and TV information.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has suggested he could leave Ibrox after their defeat to Hearts as the manager said he will consider his future over the next couple of days.

The FA Cup fifth round takes place on Wednesday evening and Express Sport is on hand with all the info you need as the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United find out their opponents.

The FA Cup quarter-final draw takes place this evening but what ball number is your team? Express Sport has all the details.

THE next Fortnite live event is kicking off now and there's good news for UK gamers missing out on the Party Royale Concert.

ELVIS PRESLEY's Sunday Meatloaf can be made at home and now Graceland chef's has shown fans how from the mansion's kitchen in a new video.

QUEEN and Adam Lambert's tour has already been postponed until next year but Brian May has concerns for performing in a post-pandemic world.

The British Open has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The PGA Tour has been disrupted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic - but will player eligibility be affected?

Rory McIlroy is teaming up with Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff to help raise funds for COVID-19 relief in a skins match.

LYING flat out on a hot stone table, wearing nothing but the skimpiest of briefs, I suddenly felt incredibly uneasy. A Turkish man, topless and muscular, entered the room, threw freezing water over me then rubbed my stomach with abrasive mittens… and this was meant to be a holiday!

LET THE good times roll, the drinks flow and the music rock. It's party time on the edge of the world. By mid afternoon guests are knocking back cocktails as classic tunes and the thunderous crash of waves on unspoilt sands fill the air.

STARING out at the pounding Atlantic waves, I never thought I'd get in, let alone close to surfing, standing up on a board. The breakers pulsed toward me as I patted my feet in the shallows while trying to stay upright in the unrelenting wind.

MARTIN LEWIS, 47, appeared on his Money Show Live last night to discuss the latest news on all things finance and coronavirus. He responded to one viewer who had questions on their ISA options.

STATE PENSION age must be reached in order to get the state pension. It also marks the point at which some may be able to claim the means-tested benefit Pension Credit.

MARTIN LEWIS was on hand to answer questions from the public during The Martin Lewis Money Show - A Coronavirus Special on ITV on Thursday evening. During the instalment, he addressed ISA and regular savings accounts.

NATWEST customers are being warned to watch out for potential scams, as fraudsters attempt to take advantage during the coronavirus crisis.

MONEY saving hacks are something which many people will look to adopt in their lives, be it for a financial milestone or for a rainy day fund. And, there may be a way in which some soon see their spare cash add up.

STATE PENSIONS are calculated by National Insurance contributions - but can you top up any missed years?

UNIVERSAL CREDIT claims have surged in recent weeks, as Britons have begun to feel the impact of the coronavirus crisis. How do earnings affect payments?

COSTA RICA is a name to send a chill down any Scotsman’s spine. For me it’s up there with Peru when I think of football nightmares on a world stage.

SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW - Everything you need to know ahead of the draw in including date, time, TV channel and live stream.