| | | | | | People in Philadelphia can be excused if they feel a sense of whiplash as the city abandons its indoor mask mandate just days after becoming the first U.S. metropolis to reimpose compulsory masking. City officials who had previously stressed the need to head off a new wave of coronavirus infections abruptly called off the mandate after what they said was an unexpected drop in hospitalizations and a leveling-off of infections. The quick about-face comes as travelers across the country removed masks earlier this week on planes, trains and in travel hubs in response to a federal judge's ruling. Cities like Boston are recommending masks but not mandating them. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County still requires masks on public transit. | | | | | | Stocks are slumping again on Friday as the sharp, recent surge for interest rates keeps weighing on Wall Street. Some disappointing profit reports from companies also shook what's been the market's main pillar of support. The S&P 500 was 1.8% lower in midday trading and on pace to close out a third straight losing week. A day earlier, Wall Street seemed set for healthy gains for the week after more companies reported strong profits for the start of the year. But markets buckled as the Federal Reserve indicated it may indeed hike rates by double the usual amount at upcoming meetings, starting in two weeks. | | | | | | Are you over age 45? Here's a look at how frequently you should be screened for 10 health conditions and diseases, from diabetes to STDs. | | | | | | Pentagon press secretary John Kirby says assessments show Ukrainian troops are still contesting the southern city of Mariupol despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim of victory in the battle for it. The city in Ukraine's industrial heartland is home to coal mines, metal plants and heavy-equipment factories. Putin on Thursday ordered his troops not to storm a giant Mariupol steel mill where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainians remain holed up but to seal it off. It was an apparent bid to free up his troops for the broader campaign in eastern Ukraine. Kirby said it was "unclear" why Putin did that and Putin's words need to be viewed with skepticism. | | | | | | A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to establish field hospitals near Ukraine's border and ramp up medical support for what's expected to be a monthslong war of attrition waged by Russia. More than a dozen House members wrote Friday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking for the U.S. to fill gaps in Ukraine's medical infrastructure. Steps recommended by the group include opening field hospitals in eastern Poland, providing Ukraine with armored ambulances and taking some of the sick and wounded to a U.S. military hospital in western Germany. The State Department notes the U.S. is providing Ukraine with resources. | | | | | | Food plays a central role in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, from the daytime fasting to celebratory iftar meals to break the fast. For Muslims grappling with eating disorders, navigating those religious and social rituals can pose unique challenges. Islam allows for exemptions from fasting during the month, such as for the sick. Still, some people with illnesses such as anorexia may experience feelings of guilt or isolation if they are not taking part in the ritual. Says one woman: "If I did fast, it would be for my eating disorder." | | | | | | Officials in Shanghai have promised to ease anti-virus controls on truck drivers that are hampering food supplies, while Hong Kong's government announced the end of a 2-year-old ban on non-residents flying into the city as its outbreak fades. Streets in Shanghai are largely empty despite an easing of restrictions that confined most of its 25 million people to their homes. Many still are barred from leaving their neighborhoods. Most offices and factories are closed. A deputy mayor promised "every effort" to resolve problems that prompted complaints about a lack of access to food. The Hong Kong government said non-residents who are vaccinated and have a negative virus test will be allowed to fly in starting May 1. | | | | | | Thailand has announced that beginning next month, visitors who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer have to undergo any test or quarantine on arrival. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says the new regulations will help boost the economy because the country relies heavily on tourism. Unvaccinated travelers will still need to provide proof of negative results from a RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Under the current rules, even fully vaccinated travelers have been required to undergo RT-PCR tests upon arrival and then stay in a government-approved hotel for one night until the results are known. | | | | | | |
