Here are today’s top stories.
Why some people of color say they won’t wear homemade masks
The CDC’s mask guidance is an example of heterogeneous effects, one scholar says: “Clearly, there are additional costs that blacks must consider when choosing what protective gear they will wear.”
French doctors’ proposal to test Covid-19 treatment in Africa slammed as ‘colonial mentality’
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has condemned controversial comments made by French doctors about testing a Covid-19 potential treatment first in Africa, calling the remarks a “hangover from a colonial mentality.”
US coronavirus death count likely an underestimate. Here’s why
Health experts are warning that the national count of Covid-19 deaths in the United States could be underestimated as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.
Boris Johnson receives oxygen treatment in ICU amid questions about who’s running the UK
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been receiving oxygen treatment for coronavirus in intensive care, a senior member of the Cabinet confirmed.
Radomir Antic, the only man to coach Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, has died
Radomir Antic, the only man to serve as coach of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, has died at the age of 71.
‘I’ve got a private island, says Dana White as he plots UFC event
As other sports search for solutions on how to carry out events in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, UFC president Dana White believes he has come up with a creative resolution.
The world’s most powerful passports in the age of coronavirus
(CNN) – Just a couple of months ago, the world was enjoying greater freedom of movement than at any time in history. Air traffic had been rising steadily for decades. The Henley Passport Index, which measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports, announced in January that Japan had topped its 2020 ranking, with its citizens able to visit a record-breaking 191 destinations without requiring a visa in advance.
Hydroxychloroquine and Covid-19: an explainer
The prospect of using hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic has sparked rancor and disagreement among politicians and scientists.
A zoo has been trying to get two pandas to mate for 10 years. When coronavirus shut the zoo down, the pandas finally did
(CNN) – It seems all these giant pandas needed was a little privacy. Parenthood might be around the corner for Ying Ying and Le Le, which are longtime residents of Ocean Park in Hong Kong. Zoo officials announced Monday that after 10 years of attempts at natural mating, and “through trial and learning,” the two have finally succeeded.
PM stable in hospital and not on ventilator
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “in good spirits” after spending the night in intensive care being treated for coronavirus, No 10 has said. A spokesman said Mr Johnson, 55, was stable overnight and is being given oxygen and is not on a ventilator.
Drones in Africa: How they could become lifesavers
Death comes fast, says Temie Giwa-Tubosun, as we sit in the scorching sunshine of Rwanda’s capital Kigali. She’s talking about post-partum haemorrhage – women bleeding after childbirth. “I’m always amazed that more attention isn’t paid to this – it’s the biggest cause of death in childbirth”.
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Moroccans without masks in public risk jail terms
Moroccans who venture outside their homes without wearing face masks risk prison sentences of up to three months and a fine of up to $126 (£102). The new order takes effect on Tuesday for those leaving their homes during the coronavirus lockdown, which began in mid-March.
Coronavirus wreaks havoc in US black communities
Stark statistics from Chicago health officials have underscored the heavy toll of coronavirus on black Americans. Black Chicagoans account for half of all coronavirus cases in the city and more than 70% of deaths, despite making up 30% of the population. Other cities with large black populations, including Detroit, Milwaukee, New Orleans and New York, have become coronavirus hotspots.
La Liga president Javier Tebas suggests restart dates for league
La Liga could resume as early as 28 May in the best-case scenario as the league discusses its options, says its president Javier Tebas. No Spanish side has played a competitive game since 11 March, when Atletico Madrid knocked holders Liverpool out of the Champions League.
Why smart people believe coronavirus myths
We’ve debunked several claims here on BBC Future, including misinformation around how sunshine, warm weather and drinking water can affect the coronavirus. The BBC’s Reality Check team is also checking popular coronavirus claims, and the World Health Organization is keeping a myth-busting page regularly updated too.
Why has this country reported no virus cases?
As the Covid-19 map gets covered by growing red circles, several countries still haven’t registered a single case of infection, including one of the most repressive states in the world – Turkmenistan. Many experts are concerned its government may be hiding the truth, which could disrupt attempts to end the pandemic.
Coronavirus has pushed activism indoors. Here’s how major groups are adapting.
In a staggeringly short amount of time, the coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life in the U.S., forcing people to quickly recalibrate how they live their lives in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the official term for the disease caused by the virus.
WhatsApp is making viral content less viral to fight coronavirus misinformation
At a time when misinformation is rampant – from the supposed coronavirus cures to the “dangers” of 5G – major social media platforms are taking steps to keep it in check. On Tuesday, Facebook’s chat app WhatsApp announced it will start limiting the way viral messages can spread on its network.
How to clean your filthy video game controller
Gaming is a good way to pass time during this period of social isolation. (Um, the new Animal Crossing, anybody?) But just think of all the times you’ve touched your face while gaming, and snacking on a bag of chips, and petting your little furry friend.
A local news station has a helpful new segment: What Day Is It?
Do you know what day it is? Unless you’re one of the few people who is still working outside your home (by the way, thank you for your service), you probably have no idea. In these days of quarantine, it’s become increasingly difficult to keep track of time passing at all, much less remember which day of the week it actually is on any given day.
Coronavirus pandemic exposes urgent need for programmers of a very old computer language
Ventilators, retired doctors, N95 face masks – all have been in high demand from heads of state and U.S. governors, but now you can add COBOL programmers to that pandemic response list. That’s right, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has a new request you might not have seen in the headlines: computer programmers adept in a decades-old programming language called COBOL.
