Teacher shortage looms as thousands still unvaccinated as nsw infection numbers

By Hazel Shearing Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Head teachers are warning of disruption in this summer's school exams amid a shortage of invigilators, fuelled by fears of catching Covid. The Association of School and College Leaders says staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being diverted from normal work to oversee the exams. Some parents, too, are being asked to help, according to some school staff. The Department for Education doesn't expect major problems as schools should have made "robust contingency plans". More students than ever are sitting in-person A-levels and GCSEs for the first time this week, after the last two years of traditional assessments were cancelled because of the pandemic. But fewer invigilators are returning to oversee them because they are worried about Covid or have moved on to other work, unions … [Read more...] about GCSE and A-level exam invigilator shortages mean parents and teachers are stepping in

North Korea has announced that six people have died and hundreds of thousands of others have fallen ill amid an explosive spread of fever across the nation, a day after it acknowledged a Covid-19 outbreak in a largely unvaccinated population for the first time since the pandemic began. The true scale of the coronavirus outbreak in North Korea is still unclear , as North Korea – which lacks Covid-19 diagnostic kits and other medical equipment – said it hasn’t found why the fever has happened. But some experts say the outbreak can cause major consequences because North Korea’s health care infrastructure remains broken and many of the North's unvaccinated population are malnourished. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that more than 350,000 people have been treated for fever that “explosively” spread nationwide since late April and that 162,200 of them were recovered. It said that 18,000 people were newly found with fever symptoms on Thursday alone. It wasn’t … [Read more...] about Covid-19: North Korea reports first deaths after admitting virus outbreak

On this "Face the Nation" broadcast moderated by Margaret Brennan: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown Dr. Scott Gottlieb Lloyd Blankfein , senior chairman of Goldman Sachs Mark Esper , former defense secretary Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. I'm Margaret Brennan. We have a lot to get to today, but we begin with breaking news from Buffalo, New York, where an 18-year-old male is in police custody following a mass shooting that killed 10 and injured three others. That massacre is being investigated by the Justice Department as a hate crime and an act of -- quote -- "racially motivated violent extremism." President Biden referred to it as an act perpetrated in the name of white nationalist ideology, and he has called for an end to hate-fueled domestic terrorism. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen reports. (Begin VT) MAN: A shooter, a mass … [Read more...] about Full transcript of “Face the Nation” on May 15, 2022

By Shaimaa Khalil Published 2 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Australia election 2022 The pandemic - and PM Scott Morrison's handling of it - was once expected to be a central element of his campaign to be re-elected. But with the election just a week away, Covid seems to have taken a backseat in Australian politics. Mr Morrison took credit for saving thousands of lives in his first campaign video - a reminder of 2020 when infections first gripped Europe and the US, but life in much of Australia largely went on as usual. The country was sealed off from the world, but it began to cautiously open up to itself. "Finally made it all the way to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland," I remember telling my friend. Australia was hailed as a Covid success story as days went by with zero cases. But as the pandemic has worn on, that theory has … [Read more...] about Is Australia still a Covid success – and does it matter to the election?

North Korea has confirmed 15 more deaths from "fever" Sunday after leader Kim Jong Un said that a COVID-19 outbreak has thrust his country into "great turmoil." What do we know so far about North Korea's COVID outbreak? On Sunday, a total of 42 people were reported to have died, just days after the country announced its first-ever cases of COVID-19 infections and imposed a nationwide lockdown. Overall North Korea has reported 820,620 suspected cases so far, with 324,550 still receiving medical treatment. State news agency KCNA said the country was taking "swift state emergency measures" to curtail the spread of the virus. "All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted," state-run media outlet KCNA said on Sunday. However, there was no sign that the country, … [Read more...] about COVID: North Korea reports further deaths amid health crisis

Earlier this month, Walt Disney World began reopening, following almost four months of closure due to the pandemic. I flew to Orlando to experience the magic. The week I arrived, Florida had registered the highest single-day case count of any state thus far. In Orlando’s airport, I felt a vague sense that Floridians considered such statistics a source of secret pride, as if they had set a record for fattest alligator or ugliest serial killer or most senior citizens in a golf cart. The airport where I had started my day, in Connecticut, had required masks, and everyone wore them. Here in Florida, some passengers went totally unmasked, but most wore masks in a defiant fashion, either slung under their chin or with their nostrils gaping out over the top, sucking and spewing potentially viral particles with every breath. A friend who lives a couple of hours away in St. Petersburg likens this latter style to “wearing a condom that covers only the shaft.” Disney World is in Florida only … [Read more...] about I Went to Disney World

South Canterbury emergency service leaders credit good planning and contingency plans with helping ensure the provision of uninterrupted services throughout pandemic. New Zealand Police Aoraki area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said Covid-19 had impacted on his organisation as much as any other, and like many others – planning had been the key to getting through potential staffing shortages. "In South Canterbury we have been fortunate to only have small groups away at a time and through planning and rostering have been able to ensure we continue to deliver the service the South Canterbury community expect and deserve,” Gaskin said. “As a result of this planning we have been able to ensure the response services have been generally unaffected. We have also supported other operations around the country, such as the protest at parliament.” READ MORE: Winton Volunteer Fire Brigade firefighters now isolating Two volunteer fire brigades suspended due to shortage of … [Read more...] about South Canterbury emergency service leaders credit good planning for continued operation through pandemic

Rishi Sunak will put Britain's energy security at risk if he imposes a windfall tax on oil companies , the head of BP has warned as the country battles soaring fuel prices. Bernard Looney said that a tax raid on his industry would make the UK a less stable environment for investing and potentially hold back plans to wean the UK off its dependence on foreign oil and gas. It came as experts warned of a looming surge in the price of diesel because refineries are struggling to keep pace with demand after supplies from Russia were cut off . Mr Looney said that BP plans to reinvest all of its profits from the North Sea over the next decade, following months of high wholesale gas prices which have led to record profits for producers. He added: "What’s our view on windfall taxes? A stable and competitive fiscal environment is an important element in any investment decision. – and that is what we have in Britain today. “By definition, windfall taxes are unpredictable – and so … [Read more...] about Sunak is endangering Britain’s energy security with windfall tax, warns BP chief

Since the roll-out of the COVID-19 jabs, there have been many reports of potential side effects. While most have been ruled out through various studies, one of the most persistent claims has prompted much debate online and in the home. Many women have observed irregularities in their menstruation cycles after getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The changes observed range from earlier or later periods that are heavier or lighter, to longer or more painful periods. Some have even said they skipped an entire cycle. The effect of COVID-19 vaccines on menstrual cycles, like many other vaccine candidates, was not included as a possible side effect for participants during the 2020 clinical trials. Menstrual side effects are not actively tracked in VAERS , the US-based database that allows vaccine recipients to enter possible side effects themselves. By May 2021, only a small number of individuals (fewer than 200) had self-reported a menstruation-related issue. Many women have … [Read more...] about Fact Check: Do COVID vaccines affect the menstruation and fertility of women?

Published 3 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Rail passengers in Scotland could face weeks of disruption on Sundays in a union pay dispute. ScotRail, which was nationalised last month, had been relying on overtime working on Sundays due to delays in training new drivers. Last Sunday driver shortages affected 110 services across the country. Aslef denied suggestions that drivers had staged unofficial strike action but it has now balloted its members after rejecting a 2.2% pay offer. Unless there is a breakthrough, it is understood that the scale of disruption this weekend will not be clear until late on Saturday, as planning teams attempt to source driver cover. ScotRail goes back into public ownership David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: "It is very disappointing that we find ourselves at this stage with Aslef, despite a very … [Read more...] about Rail passengers face Sunday disruption in pay dispute