Latest news with #Covid-19
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Dennis Quaid describes life with wife Laura Savoie as ‘paradise'
Dennis Quaid, 71, has expressed immense happiness in his marriage to Laura Savoie, 32, describing their life together as 'paradise' and their bond as his closest relationship. Quaid stated he does not notice the 39-year age difference between them, despite public commentary, and considers Savoie 'the light of his life.' He believes their union was divinely ordained, stating that 'God put us together' and he was not actively seeking a relationship when she came along. The couple secretly married in June 2020 in Santa Barbara, California, with only their pastor present, after their planned lavish Hawaiian wedding was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Savoie is Quaid's fourth wife; he was previously married to P.J. Soles, Meg Ryan, and Kimberly Buffington, and has three children from his prior marriages.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab government assures implementation of security by August 19
Chandigarh: Facing mounting pressure from the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), the state govt has pledged to fulfil a raft of demands from the medical fraternity — including deploying security at all public health facilities and implementing key service benefits — by August 19. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The assurances came after a high-level meeting on Monday between PCMSA representatives and principal secretary for health Kumar Rahul. The agreement marks a significant breakthrough in negotiations that followed weeks of protests and warnings from govt doctors. PCMSA president Dr Akhil Sarin confirmed that the govt had "agreed unequivocally" to several core demands, including the enforcement of security arrangements in hospitals and rollout of the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme. The state also committed to rationalising postgraduate (PG) allowances for specialists who completed their degrees before 2016 — including those prior to 2001 — and issuing revised SOPs for VVIP medical duties. Other commitments include rectifying pay discrepancies for the 2020 Covid-19 batch, streamlining MACP notifications and allowance rationalisations with the finance department, and clarifying accountability for data preparation among subordinate staff. The govt also agreed to revise fund allocation instructions for senior medical officers (SMOs) to purchase non-essential (non-EDL) drugs, ensure pay protection for regular medical officers (RMOs) merged into the PCMS cadre, and consider digital processing of NOCs, probation clearances, and MACPs via the i-HRMS portal. Additional administrative upgrades promised include the procurement and outsourcing of vehicles for civil surgeons and programme officers, a payment system for legal drafting, and fair allocation of interns, foreign medical graduates (FMGs), and DRPs across institutes. Five PCMSA members will be on a govt committee to oversee PCMS cadre's restructuring — a long-standing demand of the association. The PCMSA will hold a general body meeting on Aug 17 to evaluate progress on these assurances. Dr Sarin cautioned the govt against reneging on its commitments.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Health
- Time of India
Fertility fraud exposes desperation of childless couples amid birth decline in Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam: The recent incident involving Universal Srushti Fertility Centre has exposed the growing vulnerability of hopeful couples spending lakhs on fertility treatments, but only to be let down by clinics engaging in unethical practices. This surge in demand for assisted reproduction, however, may be closely linked to the steady decline in childbirth and fertility rates. For instance, after peaking at 8.5 lakh births in 2014 and 2015, Andhra Pradesh has seen a consistent drop in annual birth numbers, which have averaged between 7 to 7.5 lakh in recent years. Similarly, the number of pregnant women registered in the state declined by 12% over the past decade, from 9.4 lakh in 2014-15 to 8.93 lakh in 2023-24. According to the latest national family health survey, AP with a total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.7 is now among the states that have fallen below the replacement level fertility rate. This is even lower than the national average TFR of 2. For instance, annual birth registrations dropped to a low of 7.1 lakh in 2020 before modestly rising to 7.37 lakh in 2021, marking a decline of nearly 15% from the peak. Even if it is assumed that the Covid-19 pandemic may have influenced couples' decisions regarding childbirth in 2020 and 2021, similar trends were evident before the pandemic, with 7.6 lakh births recorded in 2018 and 7.5 lakh in 2019. Even in 2022, new births stood at 7.52 lakh, almost one lakh lower births compared to 2015 (8.48 lakh) and 2016 (8.52 lakh). The declining birth rate is further corroborated by the 'sample registration system statistical report' released by the Union ministry of home affairs. The general fertility rate, which measures live births per thousand women aged 15-49, fell from an average of 63.8 between 2008 and 2010 to 52.9 between 2018 and 2020 in AP, reflecting a 17% decline. Some previous studies have estimated a 5 percent infertility rate in AP. Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences director Dr K Rambabu said societal expectations have unfortunately turned childlessness into a source of pressure and emotional strain for many couples. "This frequently leads to unnecessary stress, pushing couples toward fertility treatments prematurely. It is advisable for couples to wait a few years before committing to treatments like IVF. Even then, they should remain sceptical of guaranteed success rates, as no fertility treatment can guarantee a 100% success rate. Choose a clinic that has the necessary approvals and certified fertility specialists. Most importantly, avoid shortcuts and always ask for a clear treatment plan, a detailed cost breakdown, and confirmation that ethical practices are being followed," he advised. Child Rights Awareness Forum state convener Gondu Sitaram said couples facing infertility may consider adoption as a compassionate and viable alternative, as it not only gives a child a chance for a better life but also allows the couple to become parents. "While the adoption process may take time, it offers a legitimate option for those willing to wait," said Sitaram.
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Negligence ruling upheld for Ruby Princess Covid cruise
The Ruby Princess left Sydney in March 2020 for New Zealand and returned 11 days later. The operator of a cruise ship that embarked just as the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the globe will remain liable to pay passengers impacted by the virus after a failed appeal. Carnival's Ruby Princess set off from Sydney on a 13-day tour of New Zealand in March 2020 with 2671 passengers and 1146 crew on board. The voyage was cut short after 11 days just as Australia shut its borders when Covid-19 ran rampant globally. Twenty-eight people on the vessel died during the outbreak and 663 positive cases were reported amongst passengers. A class action lawsuit headed by Shine Lawyers and lead applicant Susan Karpik found that Carnival was misleading and negligent in October 2023. The company knew or ought to have known about the heightened risk of Covid-19 infection on the vessel and owed a duty of care to Ms Karpik to take reasonable care of her health and safety as a passenger, Federal Court Justice Angus Stewart said. A panel of three judges unanimously dismissed an appeal on Tuesday after Carnival challenged those findings. The Ruby Princess cruise should have been cancelled, Justices Brigitte Markovic, Sarah Derrington and Darren Jackson wrote. "It was a foreseeable consequence of Mrs Karpik's boarding (the ship) that she would be exposed to the heightened risk of there being Covid-19 on board the Ruby Princess," they said. The court also tossed a separate appeal seeking to increase the damages awarded to her by Justice Stewart. While she was allowed $A4423 ($NZ4838) plus interest for out-of-pocket medical expenses, the judge declined to award non-economic damages as she had not been diagnosed with long Covid. She had originally sought more than $A360,000 in damages for injuries, distress and disappointment. Carnival offered to settle the case for $A15 million before a trial began in October 2022. But the offer was rejected by the passengers, who asked for $A69 million. Carnival has been contacted for comment on the appeal's dismissal. Shine Lawyers joint head of class actions Vicky Antzoulatos said the firm was pleased with the appeal court's decision. "Passengers can now proceed to have their individual claims assessed," she said in a statement. "We hope this result will lead to a meaningful resolution of their claims so that they can finally put this sorry episode of their lives behind them." Justice Stewart will determine the next steps in the case at a later date.
Bangkok Post
3 hours ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Schools wary after 5 kids left dead
Public Health Ministry Spokesman Dr Varoth Chotpitayasunondh reported that the border clashes have led to 15 civilian deaths and injured 53 others. Among the dead, five were reported to be local students. The ministry also reported that 20 hospitals have been affected, 13 of them have closed, while 7 of them are partially closed. Another 175 subdistrict-level medical centres have also been impacted. Dr Varoth also reported that as of now, 548 of 1,221 public health response teams were in operation. Those included the Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT), the Mini MERTs, and other related teams, he added. In mental health services, 21,007 people have received mental health screening with the Mental Health Crisis Response Teams (MCATT). Of those, 293 were diagnosed with having high stress, while 41 reported being at risk of suicide, said Dr Varoth. Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) reported that three soldiers were killed during attacks on Monday. They were named as SM1 Theerayuth Sijuijai of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, SM Apirom Songput of the 8th Infantry Regiment, and Private Theerayuth Krajangthong of the 2nd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. As of Tuesday, the number of casualties among military personnel stood at 14 since the fighting broke out on July 24. The troops remain cautious after the ceasefire was imposed. The use of weaponry has also subsided in areas under the control of the 2nd Army Region, according to the RTA. Meanwhile, effects on schools and students have been reported. Acting Sub Lt Thanu Wongjinda, secretary-general of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), said that the Obec was now drafting a learning plan for students in the disputed areas, as per concerns by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The plan will be based on the learning method used during the Covid-19 pandemic. Obec is set to apply five "on" methods for students on the border. According to Acting Sub Lt Thanu, the schools in a safer location can operate classrooms "on-site" if the situation returns to normal. The school can opt for an "on-air" classroom through the DLTV system, an "online" class, or an "on-demand" class through a mobile application.
