OPPOSITION TO MOVE COURT POLITICAL MATURITY OF OVER PARLIAMENT RECALL SRI LANKA'S LEADERS PUT TO THE TEST MAY THE POWER 01 - 03, 2020 OF PAPER VOL: 4- ISSUE 193 . 30 ‘UTTER DISASTER' PASSIONS AND GLOCAL PAGE 03 HOT TOPICS PAGE 04 COMMENTARY PAGE 06 PERSONALITIES PAGE 08 Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/144/News/2020 COVID-19 and curfew in Sri Lanka • 14 people were confirmed as COVID-19 positive yester- day (April 30), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel coro- navirus infection to 663. 502 individuals are receiving treatment, 154 have been deemed completely recovered and seven have succumbed to the virus. • An all island curfew was imposed from 8:00 p.m. yes- terday till 5:00 a.m. Monday (4). • Of the 997 navy personnel tested for COVID-19, 159 were confirmed as positive with 80% being asympto- matic. • Of the 21,000 PCR tests carried out in Sri Lanka so far, 3% have been confirmed as positive. • The Civil Aviation Authority has invited drone opera- tors to join the fight against COVID-19. • Police say no decision has been taken so far to extend the curfew in areas deemed as high risk, till May 31 though it was announced that curfew passes issued for essential services that ended yesterday could be used till the end of May. • Postmaster General RanjithAriyaratne has announced that all post offices will be opened from Monday for reg- ular services. He has requested public to follow health advices when visiting post offices and obtaining services. • Those with suspected COVID-19 symptoms are urged to call 1390 - emergency hotline- set up for free medical advice and assistance, and to facilitate hospital admis- sions. - Emilio Morenatti/AP Coronavirus toll A woman and child sit by the sea in Barcelona, Spain daily deaths hovered around 300 and it is the lowest the toll has been gradually dropping. Spain's nearly 47 yesterday (April 30). The country counted another daily figure since March 20 when 235 fatalities were million people have since March 14 lived under one of the 227,482 deaths at 268 people who have died from the coronavirus, the reported. The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 strictest virus lockdowns in the world, with only adults lowest daily number since March 20 as the government stands at 213,435, although the government recently authorized to leave home to buy food, medicine or walk prepares to ease its tough lockdown measures. The began counting in its total only patients who test the dog. The lockdown was prolonged last week until 1100 GMT yesterday figures from the health ministry bring the total number positive using a technique known as PCR. Over 112,000 May 9 but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday PARIS - The new coronavirus has killed at least 227,482 of deaths from the pandemic in Spain to 24,543 - the people have been declared cured of the disease. Health (April 28) unveiled a plan to gradually begin easing the people since the outbreak first emerged in China in De- fourth-highest after the United States, Italy and Britain. experts believe Europe's largest outbreak peaked on restrictions in four phases that should be completed by Yesterday was the fifth straight day that the number of April 2 when 950 people died over 24 hours. Since then, the end of June cember, according to a tally from official sources com- piled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday (April 30). More than 3,180,800 cases were registered in 193 countries and territories. Of these cases, at least 908,500 are now considered recovered. US job loss far worse than indicated The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Or- WASHINGTON- With a flood of that roughly 50% more people than sity found that 42% of those work- investments were not made,” Gould ganization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the unemployment claims continuing counted as filing claims in a recent ing in February had lost their jobs said. “The result is that the state actual number of infections. to overwhelm many state agencies, four-week period may have quali- or suffered a reduction in earnings. systems are buckling under the Many countries are testing only the most serious cases. economists say the job losses may fied for benefits — with the differ- By April 18, they found, up to eight weight of these claims.” The United States has the highest number of to- be far worse than government tal- ence representing those who were million workers were unemployed The seasonally adjusted num- tal deaths with 60,999 out of 1,040,488 cases. At least lies indicate. stymied in applying or didn’t even but not reflected in the weekly ber of people filing initial unem- 124,023 have been declared recovered. The Labour Department said try because the process was too for- claims data. ployment claims is down from late Italy has the second highest toll with 27,682 deaths out yesterday (April 30) that 3.8 mil- midable. The difficulties at the state level March and early April, when more of 203,591 cases, followed by Britain with 26,097 deaths lion workers filed for unemploy- “The problem is even bigger than largely flow from the sheer volume than six million people applied for on 165,221 cases, Spain 24,543 deaths and 213,435 cases, ment benefits last week, bringing the data suggest,” said Elise Gould, of claims, which few agencies were benefits two weeks in a row. But the six-week total to 30 million. But a senior economist with the insti- prepared to handle. Many were that’s a small consolation in light of France 24,087 deaths and 168,935 cases. researchers say that as the economy tute, a left-leaning research group. burdened by ageing computer sys- the larger economic picture, econo- China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date staggers under the weight of the “We’re undercounting the econom- tems that were hard to reconfigure mists said. Before the pandemic, declared 4,633 deaths and 82,862 cases. It has 77,610 re- coronavirus pandemic, millions ic pain.” for new federal guidelines. just over 200,000 people a week covered cases. of others have lost jobs but have Alexander Bick of Arizona State “We’ve known that the state un- applied for new unemployment Since Wednesday (April 29) at 1900 GMT, the Mal- yet to see benefits. A study by the University and Adam Blandin of employment insurance systems benefits. dives has announced the first death on its soil. Economic Policy Institute found Virginia Commonwealth Univer- were not up to the task, yet those -NYT Europe has a total of 136,085 deaths from 1,456,222 cases, the United States and Canada have 64,053 deaths and 1,091,719 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean have 10,425 deaths and 200,205 cases, Asia has 8,532 Arab League slams Israeli plan to annex Rishi Kapoor, bollywood leading deaths and 219,064 cases, the Middle East has 6,680 deaths and 168,820 cases, Africa has 1,590 deaths from occupied West Bank man from a film dynasty, dies at 67 36,703 cases, and Oceania 117 deaths from 8,071 cases. CAIRO - The Arab League has con- ian conflict. -AFP demned Israel's controversial proposal Rejected by the Palestinians and con- MUMBAI - Rishi Kapoor, a widely popular film actor from one of to annex much of the occupied West demned by much of the international Bollywood’s most celebrated families, died in Mumbai yesterday Bank, saying the move would constitute community, the plan gives Israel the (April 30) He was 67. a "new war crime" against the Palestin- green light to annex Jewish settlements The family confirmed his death in a statement, which did not list a ians. and other strategic territory in the West cause. Kapoor learned he had leukaemia in 2018 and was admitted Pharmaceutical industry The remarks came in a joint state- Bank. to a hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday (April 29). ment issued by Arab foreign ministers An Israeli coalition government The news rocked India just a day after the death of another Bol- looking into 145 potential yesterday (April 30) following a virtual agreement reached between Prime lywood figure, character actor Irrfan Khan. conference chaired in Egypt's capital, Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Kapoor was best known as a romantic hero, and his charm and COVID-19 therapies Cairo. main rival Benny Gantz last week in- charisma quickly made him one of Bollywood’s leading men of the "The implementation of plans to an- cludes a framework for implementing 1970s and ’80s. He later began taking on more supporting roles and GENEVA- More than 140 substances are being probed nex any part of the Palestinian terri- the annexations outlined in the plan. character parts. as pharmaceutical companies are racing to come up with tories occupied in 1967, including the Such annexations would violate inter- He came from a long line of Bollywood actors. His grandfather medications to treat the coronavirus disease COVID-19, Prithviraj Kapoor was a pioneer of Indian theatre and film who Jordan Valley ... and the lands on which national law. an industry umbrella group reported yesterday (April Israeli settlements are standing rep- During the Arab League meeting, founded a travelling theatre company. His father, Raj Kapoor, was one of the most influential actors and directors in Hindi cinema. 30). resents a new war crime ..