by NITIN SETHI & KUMAR SAMBHAV SHRIVASTAVA

New Delhi; Article14: About a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the world’s largest lockdown on 24 March 2020, India’s leading medical research body told the government that the shutdown would have limited impact on the spread of the Coronavirus, preventing only 20-25% of infections that might eventually be detected at the peak of the pandemic.

by NITIN SETHI & KUMAR SAMBHAV SHRIVASTAVA

New Delhi; Article14: The Indian government delayed action on warnings from its scientists to begin preparation for a coming Covid-19 pandemic, according to an Article14 review of records of presentations and an internal meeting.

by Govind Nair

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Today is the 50th anniversary of International Mother Earth Day, and it seems like Planet Earth, rather than man, has every reason to celebrate.

With COVID-19 keeping man indoors in almost every country of the world for the past month or so, there has been a drop in air, water, soil and noise pollution around the globe.

And, the Earth has been able to “breathe easy”.

But, for how long?

by Marwan Kabalan

The coronavirus outbreak has put the Arab Gulf States under the spotlight and exposed their structural weaknesses. It has also suggested that security, which is often the focus because of geopolitical regional rivalry, especially with Iran, distracts from other equally important threats.

By AW Siddiqui

A 2019 research in Belgium revealed evidence that deficits in emotion understanding and emotion management are related to right-wing and prejudiced attitudes. It found that people with lower emotional intelligence have less empathy and are less able to assume the perspective of others.

by Xinhua writer Tan Jingjing

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- With over 85,800 diagnosed COVID-19 cases by Thursday night, the United States has registered the highest national total in the world, and has also witnessed a rapid surge in confirmed cases, with a daily increase of over 10,000 daily over the past four days.

While addressing a White House coronavirus task force briefing Thursday afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump said the jump in cases is "a tribute to our testing."

"We're doing tremendous testing," he said.

By LISA MARIE PANE and JIM VERTUNO

In some parts of the U.S., authorities say gun shops aren’t essential businesses and should close during stay-at-home orders meant to slow the coronavirus. In other places, officials are stopping background checks for concealed carry permits. Elsewhere, city leaders have invoked emergency powers allowing bans on gun sales.

by Elif Selin Calik

Gold prices have risen while that of oil has slumped due to the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has taken the lives of over 14,000 people and infected more than 330,000. The death toll in Italy is especially devastating, nearing 6,000.

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has never been known for his patience or long attention span.

Now, as the coronavirus crisis threatens his presidency, and upends his campaign for reelection, Trump is rapidly losing patience with the medical professionals who have made the case day after day that the only way to prevent a catastrophic loss of life is to essentially shut down the country — to minimize transmission and “flatten the curve” so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed with critical patients.

by Chang Yuan

NEW YORK, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide topped 300,000 as of 6 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Saturday (2200 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The fresh figure reached 303,816 cases with 12,950 deaths, the CSSE said.

By ZEINA KARAM

BEIRUT (AP) — As 2019 gave way to 2020 in a cloud of tear gas, and in some cases a hail of bullets, from Hong Kong to Baghdad, from Beirut to Barcelona and Santiago, it seemed civil disobedience and government crackdowns on protests would dominate the international landscape.

Then came the coronavirus.

by Hani Habeeb

12 Mar 2020; MEMO: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin is planning to hold talks with the various parliamentary blocs in the 23rd Knesset next Sunday in order for them to nominate their candidates to form the next government. The competition is between the leaders of Blue and White, Benny Gantz, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.