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I.M.F. Approves Critical Loan for Ukraine I.M.F. Approves Critical Loan for Ukraine
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MOSCOW — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has won an important vote of confidence in his promised anti-corruption efforts as the International Monetary Fund has approved a multibillion-dollar lending program for the country.MOSCOW — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has won an important vote of confidence in his promised anti-corruption efforts as the International Monetary Fund has approved a multibillion-dollar lending program for the country.
The fund’s executive board late Tuesday authorized a line of credit of about $5 billion over 18 months, and Ukraine officials on Wednesday welcomed the decision as a hard-fought victory.The fund’s executive board late Tuesday authorized a line of credit of about $5 billion over 18 months, and Ukraine officials on Wednesday welcomed the decision as a hard-fought victory.
The money, desperately needed for Ukraine’s swooning economy and to pay for the costs of containing the coronavirus, is the largest foreign aid program approved so far under the tenure of Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian elected president last year.The money, desperately needed for Ukraine’s swooning economy and to pay for the costs of containing the coronavirus, is the largest foreign aid program approved so far under the tenure of Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian elected president last year.
Last year, the Trump administration delayed $400 million in congressionally approved military assistance to Ukraine, with the president’s allies asserting that Mr. Zelensky had not followed through on his anti-corruption platform.Last year, the Trump administration delayed $400 million in congressionally approved military assistance to Ukraine, with the president’s allies asserting that Mr. Zelensky had not followed through on his anti-corruption platform.
Democrats in Congress said the administration, in fact, had delayed the aid to force the Ukrainian government into a public announcement of an investigation into the family of Joseph R. Biden Jr., now the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for U.S. president. Mr. Trump was impeached in the House over this issue, but acquitted in the Senate.Democrats in Congress said the administration, in fact, had delayed the aid to force the Ukrainian government into a public announcement of an investigation into the family of Joseph R. Biden Jr., now the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for U.S. president. Mr. Trump was impeached in the House over this issue, but acquitted in the Senate.
The I.M.F. negotiations became a test of Mr. Zelensky’s commitment to rooting out government corruption, which has for years stunted Ukraine’s economic development.The I.M.F. negotiations became a test of Mr. Zelensky’s commitment to rooting out government corruption, which has for years stunted Ukraine’s economic development.
His early promise as an anti-corruption star dimmed this year after former officials went public with criticism of foot-dragging on key overhauls needed to tamp down on insider dealing.His early promise as an anti-corruption star dimmed this year after former officials went public with criticism of foot-dragging on key overhauls needed to tamp down on insider dealing.
Still, the Ukrainian government cleared an important hurdle last month when Parliament passed a bill preventing insiders from siphoning off international aid money through bank bailouts. The I.M.F. had conditioned the loan on passage of the bill.Still, the Ukrainian government cleared an important hurdle last month when Parliament passed a bill preventing insiders from siphoning off international aid money through bank bailouts. The I.M.F. had conditioned the loan on passage of the bill.
The law was seen as preventing a former business partner of Mr. Zelensky’s, Ihor Kolomoisky, an oil, banking and media tycoon whose television station had aired the future president’s comedy shows, from gaining access to the I.M.F. bailout money.The law was seen as preventing a former business partner of Mr. Zelensky’s, Ihor Kolomoisky, an oil, banking and media tycoon whose television station had aired the future president’s comedy shows, from gaining access to the I.M.F. bailout money.
Still, the I.M.F.’s statement on approval of the new lending program came with reservations.Still, the I.M.F.’s statement on approval of the new lending program came with reservations.
The fund said that, broadly, “more reform efforts are needed to ensure robust and inclusive growth.” The first portion of the loan, $2.1 billion, will be disbursed immediately, with the remainder released only after progress reviews.The fund said that, broadly, “more reform efforts are needed to ensure robust and inclusive growth.” The first portion of the loan, $2.1 billion, will be disbursed immediately, with the remainder released only after progress reviews.
Updated June 22, 2020
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
One risk, said Kristalina Georgieva, the fund’s managing director, is that Ukraine’s scramble to meet the medical and economic crisis of the coronavirus has “refocused priorities away from deep structural reforms.”One risk, said Kristalina Georgieva, the fund’s managing director, is that Ukraine’s scramble to meet the medical and economic crisis of the coronavirus has “refocused priorities away from deep structural reforms.”
Though the fund approved the lending, she noted that “uncertainty about the direction of economic policies remains substantial.”Though the fund approved the lending, she noted that “uncertainty about the direction of economic policies remains substantial.”
Notably, the fund mentioned in its statement an issue touching on the relationship between Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Kolomoisky, the businessman.Notably, the fund mentioned in its statement an issue touching on the relationship between Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Kolomoisky, the businessman.
A Ukrainian state-owned bank has sued Mr. Kolomoisky to recover money that banking regulators say he embezzled and laundered abroad. The I.M.F. has encouraged Mr. Zelensky’s administration to press ahead with that effort, saying in its statement that “recovering costs” in banking disputes should be a focus for the Ukrainian government.A Ukrainian state-owned bank has sued Mr. Kolomoisky to recover money that banking regulators say he embezzled and laundered abroad. The I.M.F. has encouraged Mr. Zelensky’s administration to press ahead with that effort, saying in its statement that “recovering costs” in banking disputes should be a focus for the Ukrainian government.