COVID-19 News & Perspective

The number of cases of Covid-19 in hospitals has reduced to 191, the lowest number since early August last year.

Jeff Bridges is reflecting on his health.

muscular physique which, as Aussie chat show host Clive James once famously described Arnold Schwarzenegger, best resembles "a condom stuffed with walnuts".Meet Adrian Street – aka The Merchant of Menace – who was once the wrestling world's most notorious bad boy and is now mowing his lawn into submission and putting unruly weeds in a headlock.Now 81, but still impossibly buff for his age, he explained how injury, cancer and hurricanes all contributed to him bidding farewell to his physically-punishing lifestyle in the States for some well deserved down-time back home in the UK."I knew that one day I'd have had enough, and I dreaded it like death itself," said the grandad and dad-of-three."Then, one day, I was driving 400 miles across country to a show and watching the white lines in the middle of the road whizz past. I just realised, 'That's it, no more'."After more than 50 years and about 15,000 bouts I was done."I retired undefeated in 2010 after having just won the NWA Alabama heavyweight title at 70.

COVID-19 health crisis amid a seven-patient dip Wednesday.Hospitalizations related to the pandemic stood at 1,344 after 55 admissions and 62 discharges in the last day.There were 45 patients with the disease in intensive care units, a decrease of two.The daily includes 584 new novel coronavirus infections, though this number is based on PCR testing results. That kind of screening is only available to certain high-risk groups.

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back Tuesday on the decision by San Francisco’s conservative Catholic archbishop to deny her Communion over her support of abortion rights, saying she respects that people have opposing views but not when they impose them on others.The California Democrat says she comes from a large family with many members who oppose abortion. "I respect people’s views about that. But I don’t respect us foisting it onto others." Pelosi added, "Our archbishop has been vehemently against LGBTQ rights.

Johnny Depp’s libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard heard a snippet of testimony Tuesday contradicting one of Heard’s key witnesses, but much of the context was stripped away.Jennifer Howell — who once employed Heard’s sister, Whitney Henriquez — testified briefly Tuesday in the six-week civil trial through a recorded deposition.Depp is suing Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” His lawyers say he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name.Depp has denied he ever struck Heard, and says she was the abuser in the relationship. Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate instances of physical abuse she says she suffered at Depp’s hands.Howell testified that she sent an email in 2020 to Henriquez begging her to tell the truth.Jurors, though, did not see the letter, nor did Howell explain in what way she thought Henriquez was being untruthful.

Mumbai on Wednesday reported as many as 295 new COVID cases, which is the highest in the last over three months, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement. With today's count, the total count reached 0,63,571, while the active tally is at 1,531. 

PHILADELPHIA - A man is dead after police say he was hit by a car early Wednesday morning.The victim, a 37-year-old man, was kneeling on the 1900 block of Hunting Park Avenue when he was struck by a Nissan Pathfinder, according to police. He was pronounced dead on the scene around 12:21 a.m.Police say a 73-year-old man was driving the car involved in the fatal crash.

PHILADELPHIA - Later start times for public schools across Philadelphia have been postponed "during these challenging times."In March, the Philadelphia School District announced that schools serving grades 6-12 would start at 9 a.m. for the 2022-2023 school year.

Getting COVID was an especially scary experience for Jeff Bridges.

COVID on Wednesday, with 160 in intensive care.This is up by 192 for hospitalizations and up by three for ICUs since the previous day. Last Wednesday, there were 1,248 hospitalizations with 163 in ICU.According to latest data for hospitalizations, 59 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.

Distraught families gathered at a local civic centre and turned to social media to mourn and to make desperate pleas for help finding missing children as the death toll in a gruesome school shooting at a Texas elementary school rose to at least 19 students and two teachers.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - British supermodel Kate Moss, the ex-girlfriend of Johnny Depp, testified Wednesday as the $50 million defamation case against Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard continues through its final week.Moss was sworn in as the first witness Wednesday. Her brief testimony only lasted about three minutes.

Matthew McConaughey, pictured in 2019, is from Uvalde, Texas where a mass shooting claimed the lives of at least 19 children and two teachers. (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) Matthew McConaughey said Tuesday that "action must be taken" after a shooting at an elementary school in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas, left at least 19 children and two teachers dead. "Once again we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us," the "Dallas Buyers Club" actor wrote in a statement on his social media pages.He said every American needs to ask, "What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state and neighborhood tomorrow?"He said that Americans can’t accept mass shootings as the status quo.TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: LIVE UPDATES"As Americans, Texans, mother and fathers, it’s time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs," he continued.

BROOMALL, Pa. - A body has been found at the auto body shop owned by a man missing from Delaware County, police say. The family of George Hughes says he was last seen leaving his business in Broomall on May 16 and hasn't been seen since. A customer reported spotting Hughes near the Giant in Edgemont Square Shopping Center between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m on the last day he was seen. Family, friends and people from across Delaware County showed up Sunday to search for a local business owner missing nearly one week.His family and friends gathered in Delaware County on Sunday to search for him and his sister says disappearing is not in his character.

DALLAS - Only days before the end of school, a mass shooting has devastated the community of Uvalde in south Texas. A total of 21 people were killed including 19 children and two teachers.The Texas Department of Public Safety said 18-year-old Salvador Ramos first shot his grandmother, who is still alive.

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18-year-old gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, "shooting anyone that was in his way," an official said Wednesday, describing the latest a gruesome, yearslong series of mass killings at churches, schools and stores.Police and others responding to Tuesday's attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday on NBC’s "Today."Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School.

Many pubs are being forced to close two days a week due to a staffing crisis which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to groups representing pub owners.

PHILADELPHIA - Two former police officers whose gender discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit led Philadelphia’s police commissioner to resign have won a $1 million verdict against the city.A federal jury on Tuesday found that Cpl. Audra McCowan and Patrol Officer Jennifer Allen endured a hostile work environment that included being put in undesirable jobs, with changing shifts, after they raised sexual harassment complaints.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Pennsylvania resident caught a record carp while fishing from the bank of Summersville Lake in West Virginia, regulators said.Ayden Minick of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, caught and released the carp on May 7, the Division of Natural Resources said in a news release. It measured by a DNR fisheries biologist at 41.2 inches (104.6 centimeters) long, breaking the record of 41 inches (104.1 centimeters) caught in 1988 by Charles Cook at Stonecoal Lake.The carp weighed 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms), which was just shy of the record of 47 pounds set in 1998 in a Preston County farm pond.Advertisement

UVALDE, Texas - The United States is still in shock following the mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school. Many are wondering what they can do to can help the community of Uvalde. The shooting left 19 children and two adults dead on Tuesday.

Rylan Clark has announced he's finally returning to Celebrity Gogglebox - and his mum Linda will join him on the TV sofa.Rylan and his beloved mum Linda became fan favourites on the Channel 4 telly-watching show, but the pair were forced to miss out on the last series as Linda suffered ill health.The Radio 2 star, 33, had previously revealed they were unlikely to star in the last series as his mum was battling Crohn's disease.However, fans will be delighted to see the mother-son duo back on their screens, where they're sure to throw more banter at eachother.Rylan took to Twitter to confirm his return on Wednesday (May 25) - excitedly telling fans: "We're back x"The singer shared a sweet press snap which showed him grinning as he sat on the sofa next to Linda - alongside the return date, which has been confirmed as June 10.Rylan's fans were delighted with the broadcaster's announcement, so many of them rushed to send him supportive messages.One said: "Happy days! Your mum is a Legend! My mum loves your mum."Another wrote: "I can’t wait!!! Gogglebox isn’t the same without you both."A third agreed: "Can't wait will be watching Rylan x", whilst a fourth added: "Yes!!! This is the best news!!"Rylan first joined Celebrity Gogglebox back in 2019, but he explained it was unlikely he would have rejoined last year as his mum was struggling with Crohn's.In 2020, he told the Mirror: "It'll be a year away now, we were really lucky to be part of the first one and the second one.

Families of those bereaved by Covid have reacted with anger to the publication of the Sue Gray report, joining demands that Tory MPs depose Boris Johnson.

TRENTON, N.J. - One month into existence, New Jersey’s recreational marijuana market has done $24 million in sales On Tuesday, regulators voted to grant permits to nearly a dozen new recreational cannabis retailers in their first public meeting since the market opened to the public last month. How long before the new dispensaries open, though, isn’t clear, and there will be additional regulatory hurdles before the new shops start selling to adults 21 and over. AdvertisementRegulators also said the 13 facilities open for recreational sales did $24 million in business, averaging about $5 million a week and conducting 212,000 transactions.

As we step into the third year of the pandemic, post-coronavirus complications or long COVID is becoming an equal concern as the initial infections from the virus itself. Some studies have shown that people can suffer from long Covid symptoms even after 2 years and devastating neurological effects can persist for more than a year. And though most complications tend to improve over time, some of the symptoms can become worse. Here is all that you need to know.

AFP, Antoine Flahault, Director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva said the emergence of the phenomenon should act as an alert. 

PHILADELPHIA - A man is dead after being shot and killed while walking his dog in Kensington, according to police. Authorities say the incident happened just after 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. Officers with the 24th District responded to numerous 911 calls reporting gunshots and a shooting at Frankford Avenue and E Atlantic Street, police say. According to Chief Inspector Scott Small, when police and medical personnel arrived on scene, they found a man on the grond with multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body. Medics transported him to Temple Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m., per authorities. The victim's identity remains unknown, but neighbors told police he is known to the area, according to Small. Police say when the victim was found, he was still holding on to a leash with his dog attached. "We're getting information from witnesses that this victim was walking a dog when two males approached him, firing multiple shots," Small said.

UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, Pa. - An emergency shipment of baby formula is expected to arrive in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. According to Nestle, the shipment is being sent to a distribution center in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. The products will then be sent out to hospitals and stores nationwide to help combat the shortage. RELATED HEADLINESNestle says it has significantly ramped up production. The shortage was fueled by supply disruptions coupled with a shutdown at the Abbott Nutrition plant in Michigan in February after four babies suffered bacterial infections from the formula produced by the facility. President Joe Biden has directed the FDA to import more formula to help struggling families across the country. A U.S. Air Force plane has already transported about 78,000 pounds of baby formula from Europe in an effort called Operation Fly Formula. AdvertisementINDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 22: Pallets of formula is seen near a U.S.

UVALDE, Texas - Distraught families gathered at a local civic center and turned to social media to mourn and to make desperate pleas for help finding missing children as the death toll in a gruesome school shooting at a Texas elementary school rose to at least 19 students. Authorities said the gunman also killed two adults.By nightfall, names of those killed during Tuesday’s attack at Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde began to emerge.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom star Jason Momoa has shared a photo of himself getting an MRI scan, prompting a wave of concern from fans and famous friends. The actor posted the photo in question to his Instagram, writing: 'You got to break some eggs to make an omelette.

(Reuters); Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday (24) he will present an interim budget within six weeks, slashing infrastructure projects to re-route funds into a two-year relief programme for the crisis-hit island nation.Wickremesinghe, who took office two weeks ago, warned that inflation would rise as the government gets down to tackling the crisis, and that there could be more protests on the streets.He said he hoped any unrest would not get out of hand, adding that funds would be made available to help the most vulnerable of the country’s 22 million people.“Looking at the hard days ahead, there has to be protest.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The World Bank said that it is concerned for the people of Sri Lanka and are working in coordination with the IMF and other development partners in advising on appropriate policies to restore economic stability and broad-based growth.Until an adequate macroeconomic policy framework is in place, the World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka.“Recent media reports have inaccurately stated that the World Bank is planning support for Sri Lanka in the form of a bridge loan or new loan commitments, among other incorrect assertions,” said the World Bank.It added that it is currently repurposing resources from previously approved projects to help the government with some essential medicines, temporary cash transfers for poor and vulnerable households, school meals for children of vulnerable families, and support for farmers and small businesses.

China's capital Beijing has further tightened its Covid-19 restrictions, with zero community transmission the target, punishing workplaces that flout rules or circumvent curbs and imploring residents to police their own movements.

PHILADELPHIA - Tuesday's cool, cloudy weather will persist overnight with temperatures dropping to the low 50s. The clouds will make way for some sun on Wednesday as temperatures rebound into the 70s with an average high of 77.Rain is expected at the end of the week with possible showers on Thursday and an even heightened chance of rain on Friday.The weekend will dry things out by Sunday as temperatures will climb back up into the 80s. Memorial Day is expected to be warm and sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s.WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. High: 75, Low: 54THURSDAY: Clouds and showers.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game winner with 3:27 left in the third as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Calgary Flames 5-3 Tuesday night at Rogers Place. The Oilers lead the series 3-1

North Korea fired three missiles, including one thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday, after U.S. President Joe Biden left Asia following a trip in which he agreed to new measures to deter the nuclear-armed state.

There have been dozens of shootings and other attacks in U.S. schools and colleges over the years, but until the massacre at Colorado’s Columbine High School in 1999, the number of dead tended to be in the single digits.

The horrific mass shooting at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday that left 19 children and three adults dead, including the gunman, has sparked another round of calls for gun control in the United States.

Homes Under The Hammer on Tuesday (May 24) following a major health scare.The 58-year-old underwent emergency heart surgery after experiencing chest pain and being rushed to hospital with “hours to live”.A life-saving operation was performed to deal with "a massive amount of fluid" surrounding Martin's heart.The presenter shared a video message on his Instagram account announcing his return to work."So I've got some news and it’s actually pretty amazing news," he began.“So I am back today filming Homes Under The Hammer."Following the announcement, the BBC star shared that it was quite an emotional day. He revealed: "Today is a very special day, it's quite an emotional one to be honest because I've spoken to the doctors and they've said as long as I take it easy I'm ok to start work.“I'm in the valleys of Wales, I never thought I'd be so happy."Martin captioned his post with "It’s a very special day… so I decided I should wear a very bright shirt to celebrate."Martin's 20,000 followers responded with delight to the news, with co-presenter Lucy Alexander commenting: "Lol I NEVER thought you'd be so happy kissing bricks.

daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.46% and the weekly positivity rate was 0.49 %, according to the ministry.

Selena Gomez wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt for a grocery shopping trip in Malibu on Tuesday.The 29-year-old performer was seen looking unusually casual, punctuating the look with fuzzy slip-on shoes.She carried a brown paper bag through the parking lot of a Pavilions, days after visiting the white house to talk mental health. Out and about: Selena Gomez wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt for a grocery shopping trip in Malibu on TuesdayThe former Disney star pulled her lustrous dark tresses into a loose, imperfect bun and went makeup-free.She covered her figure in a big, black sweatshirt that was a pullover hoodie style.

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. healthcare system that has been under siege for the last two years was dealt another blow when federal health regulators sounded the alarm on a shortage of contrast dye needed for important imaging procedure. The FDA announced a global shortage of contrast materials that it blamed on COVID-19 shutdowns in Shanghai, China, a major exporter of the medial dye.

A woman who threw a covid-19 warning sign at a bar worker when asked to wear a mask in the pub has been given a 12-month community order and must now carry out 80-hours community service after being convicted.

PHILADELPHIA - Police say a 27-year-old, off-duty police officer is dead after a motorcycle crash in South Philadelphia Tuesday night. At around 6:45 p.m., police say they responded to the 3300 block of South Broad Street for reports of an auto accident.Upon arrival, police and medics say they found a 27-year-old man laying on the highway next to a crashed motorcycle. The 27-year-old was traveling southbound down Broad Street when a vehicle, operated by a 22-year-old woman, was pulling out of the parking lot in an eastbound direction. Authorities say the woman was making a right hand turn to go south when she came into contact with the motorcycle driver. MORE HEADLINESThe contact caused the motorcycle driver to lose control and police say he struck the curb at the median, causing his body to then strike a light pole. Police and medics found the victim's body next to the light pole where they say he had significant trauma to his neck.

EWING, N.J. - A 5-year-old boy of Ewing Township is in critical condition after he went into cardiac arrest on a soccer field last week. Sheryl Grell was watching her son, Anthony, run up and down the field during a soccer game when suddenly, he collapsed on the field. At that moment, Grell's instincts kicked in as she rushed to the field to save her son's life. Grell, who is also an emergency room nurse, performed CPR on her son in a rush to keep him alive. Local police also used an automatic defibrillator to bring Anthony back to life. "I just started pounding on his chest," said Grell.MORE HEADLINESAnthony's heart stopped three times, and he has now been diagnosed with a rare condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, according to the doctors at CHOP.The fellow nurse says she is grateful for all the hard work of the doctors and nurses at CHOP, and she's begging all parents to learn CPR. "The doctors and nurses have been absolutely wonderful," Grell said.

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on May 25, 2022, after North Korea fired three ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan according to South Ko SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea's government says one of the three weapons North Korea launched Wednesday was a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile.  South Korea's government says the launches are "a grave provocation" that threaten international peace.

Today we are reporting 8,150 community cases, 368 hospitalisations and 11 deaths.