Hunger killing over 10,000 children a month owing to Covid-19 curbs: UN

More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck by what is called wasting, according to the UN.

Coronavirus and its restrictions are pushing already hungry communities over the edge, killing an estimated 10,000 more young children a month as meager farms are cut off from markets and villages are isolated from food and medical aid, the United Nations warned Monday.
In the call to action shared with The Associated Press ahead of publication, four UN agencies warned that growing malnutrition would have long-term consequences, transforming individual tragedies into a generational catastrophe.

Hunger is already stalking Haboue Solange Boue, an infant from Burkina Faso who lost half her former body weight of 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) in just a month. Coronavirus restrictions closed the markets, and her family sold fewer vegetables. Her mother was too malnourished to nurse.

"My child", Danssanin Lanizou whispered, choking back tears as she unwrapped a blanket to reveal her baby's protruding ribs.

More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck by what is called wasting, according to the UN malnutrition that manifests in spindly limbs and distended bellies. Over a year, that's up 6.7 million from last year's total of 47 million. Wasting and stunting can permanently damage children physically and mentally.

"The food security effects of the Covid crisis are going to reflect many years from now," said Dr. Francesco Branca, the WHO head of nutrition. There is going to be a societal effect.

From Latin America to South Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, more poor families than ever are staring down a future without enough food.

Covid masks thwarting facial recognition tech, will investigate: US agency

Even the best commercial facial recognition systems have error rates as high as 50% when trying to identify masked faces, says study.

Having a tough time recognising your neighbours behind their pandemic masks? Computers are finding it more difficult, too.

A preliminary study published by a US agency on Monday found that even the best commercial facial recognition systems have error rates as high as 50% when trying to identify masked faces.

The mask problem is why Apple earlier this year made it easier for iPhone owners to unlock their phones without Face ID. It could also be thwarting attempts by authorities to identify individual people at Black Lives Matter protests and other gatherings.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology says it is launching an investigation to better understand how facial recognition performs on covered faces. Its preliminary study examined only those algorithms created before the pandemic, but its next step is to look at how accuracy could improve as commercial providers adapt their technology to an era when so many people are wearing masks.

Some companies, including those that work with law enforcement, have tried to tailor their face-scanning algorithms to focus on people's eyes and eyebrows.

NIST, which is a part of the Commerce Department, is working with the US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security's science office to study the problem.

Zee5 launches 'Zee5 Club' yearly subscription package: Price, other details

The Zee5 Club yearly subscription includes access to around 1000 movies, ZEE Zindagi shows and over 90 Live TV channels without advertisements.

Zee5 on Monday announces ‘Zee5 Club’ subscription plan in which the home grown over the top platform provides access to television shows, originals and Alt Balaji shows. Priced at Rs 365, the Zee5 Club yearly subscription includes access to around 1000 movies, ZEE Zindagi shows and over 90 Live TV channels without advertisements

"We are a customer obsessed OTT platform and the launch of ZEE5 Club is a result of the feedback we received from our consumers.

Furthermore, democratising access for all Indians to their favourite entertainment content, at a value price, was brewing as an idea for the longest time. With a strong consumer value proposition, ZEE5 Club will help us to board every Indian and provide them with a hyper-personalised and a seamless content viewing experience all at Rs 365 per year,” said Rahul Maroli, Senior Vice President and Head SVOD, ZEE5 India.

Besides regular content, some of Zee’s popular TV shows like Kumum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya in Hindi, Sembaruthi in Tamil, Jothe Jotheyali in Kannada and Mazya Navryachi Bayko in Marathi would be available on ZEE5 Club before telecast on television.

Earlier this year, Star India subsidiary Hotstar announced free content on its OTT platform to expand its reach in tier-II and tier-III cities. Part of Hotstar ka vaada, free entertainment sabse zyada marketing campaign, the free content on the platform included movies like Chhichhore, Mission Mangal; TV shows from Star Plus like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hain, Nazar, Kasauti Zindagi Kay and Star Bharat like Savdhaan India along with News.

 

Oscar-winner Olivia de Havilland, Hollywood's Golden Age icon, dies at 104

The senior actor, who was one of the remaining actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, was a two-time Academy Award winner and has received many accolades for her stellar performances.

Olivia de Havilland, the star of the classic movie 'Gone With the Wind', has died. She was 104.

The news of her demise was confirmed by her former lawyer Suzelle M. Smith to Variety.

"Last night, the world lost an international treasure, and I lost a dear friend and beloved client. She died peacefully in Paris," the publication quoted Smith as saying.

The senior actor, who was one of the remaining actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, was a two-time Academy Award winner and has received many accolades for her stellar performances.

In 1940, the veteran actor won the Oscars for her performance in 'The Heiress' and 'To Each His Own'. She then was given the Academy Award nominations for Gone With the Wind, 'The Snake Pit', and 'Hold Bach the Dawn'.

The actor who ruled Hollywood's Golden Age had a boasting career spanned from 1935 to 1988. Born to British parents in Tokyo, the actor appeared in more than 45 films and had a strong imprint in the industry.

 

Israeli delegation to participate in Covid-19 testing programme in India

A delegation of Israel's ministries of foreign affairs and health have left for India to test the four coronavirus diagnosis solutions with AIIMS in Delhi.

A delegation of Israel's ministries of foreign affairs and health have left for India to test the four coronavirus diagnosis solutions with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

"Our delegation with the MFA and Ministry of Health took off from Israel and is making its way to India! Once there, the delegation will test four promising corona diagnosis solutions together with our Indian partners and counterparts," Israel's Defence Ministry tweeted on Sunday (local time).

On July 24, the Israeli embassy in India said that Tel Aviv has decided to send India this week a team of scientists working to develop a rapid testing kit for coronavirus.

The Israeli team will work in AIIMS in Delhi. Testing of the first phase was already done in Israel and the last stage will now be carried out in India for the testing kit which can give results within a minute, according to a statement by the embassy.

It also said Israel's ministries of foreign affairs, defence and health will lead an unprecedented anti-COVID-19 cooperation operation between India and Israel.

 

France's Health Minister says coronavirus tests now free of charge

France's Health Minister Olivier Veran announced that he signed a decree allowing everyone who takes a coronavirus test to receive a refund.

France's Health Minister Olivier Veran announced that he signed a decree allowing everyone who takes a coronavirus test to receive a refund.

"I also signed an order published this Saturday that anyone from today can receive a fully reimbursable PCR test without having to show a doctor's order or valid reason and without showing symptoms," Veran told Le Parisien newspaper.

The minister also expressed concern about the increasing number of COVID-19 infections but said that it was too early to talk about a second wave.

"We cannot talk about a second wave at this time. But one thing is for sure, within a few days, we saw the number of positive cases rise sharply after it had declined for thirteen weeks," Veran said.

He appealed to the youth to remain vigilant and not take the virus lightly.

Youth eager to return to large social gatherings have become a bane for public health professionals, who say they account for a large portion of the spikes seen in many countries.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, France has registered over 180,000 cases and more than 30,000 deaths from COVID-19. The daily increase has largely decelerated since its peak in early March, but a slight upward trajectory has seen the daily new cases breach the 1,000 mark this week.

BCCI sends acceptance letter to Emirates Cricket Board to host IPL 2020

The 2020 edition of IPL will start on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council Chairman Brijesh Patel on Sunday confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sent the acceptance letter to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

"Yes, we have sent the acceptance letter to the ECB and both the boards will be working together from now on to stage the tournament," Khaleej Times quoted Patel as saying.

According to the newspaper, ECB had sent the proposal to the BCCI in April to host the 13th edition of the IPL, which was originally scheduled to commence on March 29 in India. However, the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, Patel said that the eight IPL franchises -- Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore -- will hold their respective pre-tournament training camps in the UAE.

He said that the training camps will be held in the UAE in a bio-secure environment and "the teams need at least three to four weeks to prepare for the tournament".

Earlier on Friday, Patel confirmed that the 2020 edition of IPL will commence on September 19 in the UAE and continue till November 8.

"The fans will enjoy the full tournament from September 19 to November 8 and further course of action will be discussed with the franchises in the Governing Council meeting," he told ANI.

The postponement of this year's Men's T20 World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC) provided the much-needed window to stage this year's IPL.