As a result of the pandemic, USPS, which has run at a loss for years, is even more cash-strapped. It expects to lose $2 billion each month during the pandemic. That prompted Postmaster General Megan Brennan to ask Congress for $50 billion in funds -- $25 billion to offset lost revenue from declining mail volume due to the pandemic, and another $25 billion for modernization.

In this uncertain and increasingly homebound era, customers are turning online for everything from groceries to cat food. It's more important than ever to make sure that websites are optimized for the highest-possible customer engagement and conversion. E-commerce optimization is one game that companies struggling for market share in the midst of a pandemic must play.

With something like 380 websites being created every minute, building an e-commerce shop can be a daunting task. It's easy to look at all of the success stories out there and think, "How could I possibly be that lucky?" However, the opportunity for growth in e-commerce is not slowing down. E-commerce sales are projected to grow 85 percent from their 2019 totals by 2022.

Contact tracing is a big job, like trying to drain an ocean with a teaspoon. It involves finding people who have been exposed to the coronavirus and testing them to determine if they are infected or are carriers. Public health officials then can take necessary steps to prevent the virus' spread. It's a perfect fit for CRM, and Salesforce's core technology is coming to the forefront.

Consumers and companies worldwide have ramped up online ordering for software products and digital goods as they struggle to improve productivity and security while working remotely and spending more time at home. The sharp spike in online commerce aligns with the timing of the current global pandemic. Software-based offerings accounted for the highest levels of growth.

Shopify has unveiled an app that lets users discover local businesses, receive relevant product recommendations from their favorite brands, check out effortlessly, and track all their online orders. It can gather and track orders automatically, but it also works without auto-tracking. Consumers can get a customized feed with deals, trending items and recommendations from their favorite stores.

Salesforce has announced a new version of Work.com designed to help businesses function safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Work.com is a completely new initiative using an existing domain name that we previously owned," said Salesforce spokesperson Joel Steinfeld. "Our focus is on speed and moving as quickly as possible to help our customers, and Work.com is an optimal way to do that.

Sign makers in P.E.I. have been busy since the province announced its plans to ease back COVID-19 restrictions, as businesses are ordering signs and decals ahead of reopening.

With opposition parties continuing to call for the legislature to be convened, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says that opportunity for them to examine the government’s spending is coming.

Health PEI plans to create a COVID-19 unit within the Prince Edward Home to be used for any long-term care resident — living in any long-term care facility on the Island — who is diagnosed with the virus.

All of P.E.I.'s 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 are now considered recovered, said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.

The craft brewing industry in P.E.I. is suffering, with sales down from about 40 to 80 per cent.

The owner of P.E.I. Brewing Co., the oldest craft brewery on P.E.I., says the business went from preparing for its best year to its worst year.

A $28.8 million spending bill nearing legislative approval would allocate funding to combat lead in Michigan drinking water systems and investigate sexual assaults by clergy.

Voters have elected a new mayor in Flint, Michigan, where recovery from a lead-contaminated water crisis remains a major issue.

Test your currency with current events.

The consolidated banking statistics provide quarterly data on the worldwide consolidated positions of banks headquartered in reporting countries. They are designed to analyse the exposure of internationally active banks of different nationalities to individual countries and sectors.

Long-term interest rates have remained low despite a surge in the issuance of sovereign debt to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.

Inflation pressure could be weak even after consumer demand for non-discretionary goods and services begins to grow as the economy gets back on its feet.

At a time of conflicting narratives, a range of markets from equities to energy to gold may persist in volatility until one narrative gains the upper hand.

Gold and silver prices often move in tandem, but the gap between them widened by 31% January through April in line with a trend that began nine years ago.

You may not like who you’re about to become.

The struggle between fear and comfort.

Learning what hardship has to teach us.

Publication by Mr Dimitar Radev, Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, in the Quarterly Bulletin of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, issue 61, March 2020.

Speech by Mr Fehmi Mehmeti, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, at the press conference where the details of the measures taken by the CBK for maintaining health in the economy were given, Pristina, 3 April 2020.

Speech (via webcast)by Mr Jerome H Powell, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington DC, 9 April 2020.

Remarks by Ms Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, at a 24-Hour Global Webinar co-organised by the SAFE Policy Center on "The COVID-19 Crisis and Its Aftermath: Corporate Governance Implications and Policy Challenges", Frankfurt am Main, 16 April 2020.

Remarks by Benoît Cœuré, Head of the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, at the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee - Chamber of Digital Commerce webinar on "The world economy transformed", 17 April 2020.

Introductory remarks by Mr Thomas Jordan, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, at the Media News Conference of the Swiss National Bank, Berne, 25 March 2020.

Statement by Mr Ignazio Visco, Governor of the Bank of Italy and Governor of the Constituency of Albania, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino and Timor-Leste, at the 101st Meeting (virtual) of the Development Committee (Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries), Washington DC, 17 April 2020.

Remarks by Mr Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland, at the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee Panel Discussion on "The world economy transformed: Reflections on policy responses and the future post pandemic monetary architecture", in the context of the virtual IMF Spring Meetings, Washington DC, 17 April 2020.

Address by Mr Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, 21 April 2020.

Speech by Mr Benjamin E Diokno, Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the central bank of the Philippines), at an investor call with Standard Chartered Bank, Manila, 22 April 2020.

The soil is ready to be tilled and seeds wait to be planted at community gardens across Ottawa after the province reversed a decision declaring them off limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seventy-three homeless shelters and other community organizations are getting extra funding to help pay for basics like extra food, cleaning and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Bryan Paterson is urging the province to take second look at a request to give regions like his more autonomy in how they handle the presence — or absence — of COVID-19 in their communities.

CBC Ottawa's latest roundup of key points during the coronavirus pandemic.

For Canadian champion Roman Sadovsky and former Canadian champions Nam Nguyen and Keegan Messing, the Four Continents results will determine who takes the one spot available in the men's event at the worlds.

Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier won the silver medal in ice dancing on Friday at the ISU Four Continents figure skating competition in Seoul, South Korea.

Canadians Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro won the bronze medal in pairs on Saturday at the ISU Four Continents figure skating competition in Seoul, South Korea.

Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann says the government is evaluating whether to allow the world figure skating championships to go ahead next week in Montreal.

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu believes he was born to figure skate, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to pressure and expectations.

The Canadian three-time world champion figure skater displayed his four-wheeler driving skills as part of the Americares Blades for the Brave fundraiser for front-line workers.

The Canadian four-time world champion figure skater hammed it up along with fellow Canadian skater Kaitlyn Weaver, to raise funds for the United Nation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

The World pairs champion and Olympic gold medallist played the piano during a special hosted by fellow Canadian figure skater Kaitlyn Weaver, to raise funds for the United Nation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Figure skater Michael Marinaro gets emotional as he talks about his grandmother who passed away from COVID-19. Marinaro and his partner Kirsten Moore-Towers joined fellow Canadian Kaitlyn Weaver who was hosting a livestream with figure skating legends to raise money for the UN Foundation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Canadian figure skater Scott Moir posted a video on Instagram and Twitter on Thursday, explaining that he and fiancee Jackie Mascarin are currently stationed in Tampa, Fla., because Mascarin works as a physician's assistant in the respiratory unit of a local hospital.

Larry Shover, SFG Alternatives

Bob Iaccino, Path Trading Partners