Covid-19 - What's happening around the world (some) and at home

Paris bans nightime food and drink delivery to tackle worsening COVID-19 crisis

Greece ordered a nationwide lockdown on Thursday for three weeks to help contain a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, its second this year after a sharp increase in infections this week. “I’ve chosen to take drastic measures sooner rather than later,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

In Hong Kong, social-distancing restrictions ease..

100,000 cases in a single day push the U.S. into new terrain.

Italy will lock down six regions and prevent many people from crossing between them.

The Italian government announced Wednesday night that it would lock down a significant portion of the country, including the northern regions that are its economic engine, in an effort to stop a resurgent wave of coronavirus infections.

At home here in Malaysia, we are in the third phase, that's right, and sadly more and more clusters of infections are showing up every day and worse, for the past few days we've had deaths every day. 

Of all the states, Sabah on the island of Borneo is hardest hit immediately after state elections were held on September 26. Then infections increased here in the peninsula as people came back after the election campaigning and such. No quarantine was required when they touched down back at the peninsula. Horrors! Right. No one saw the impending danger. Now we are getting the brunt of that action or inaction, rather. Below is current status:

Here's some advice found online..

What food should you avoid during COVID-19?

• When cooking and preparing food, limit the amount of salt and high-sodium condiments (e.g. soy sauce and fish sauce).

• Limit your daily salt intake to less than 5 g (approximately 1 teaspoon), and use iodized salt.

• Avoid foods (e.g. snacks) that are high in salt and sugar.

• Limit your intake of soft drinks or sodas and other drinks that are high in sugar (e.g. fruit juices, fruit juice concentrates and syrups, flavoured milks and yogurt drinks).

• Choose fresh fruits instead of sweet snacks such as cookies, cakes and chocolate.

Are smokers at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus disease?

Smoking any kind of tobacco reduces lung capacity and increases the risk of many respiratory infections and can increase the severity of respiratory diseases.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases. Available research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes and death.

How to eat healthy in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Consume enough fibre because it contributes to a healthy digestive system and offers a prolonged feeling of fullness, which helps prevent overeating.

To ensure an adequate fibre intake, aim to include vegetables, fruit, pulses and wholegrain foods in all meals. Whole grain foods include oats, brown pasta and rice, quinoa and whole-wheat bread and wraps, rather than refined grain foods such as white pasta and rice, and white bread.

Good hydration is crucial for optimal health. Whenever available and safe for consumption, tap water is the healthiest and cheapest drink. It is also the most sustainable, as it produces no waste, compared to bottled water.

Can I drink alcohol during the coronavirus disease pandemic?

In particular, alcohol compromises the body's immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Therefore, people should minimize their alcohol consumption at any time, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is associated with mental disorders; people at risk or who have an alcohol-use disorder, are particularly vulnerable, especially when in self-isolation.

How long should I exercise for in self-quarantine?

WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week for adults, or a combination of both. The guidance is intended for people in self-quarantine without any symptoms or diagnosis of acute respiratory illness.

Just an idea of the Covid-19 spread worldwide. Details on individual countries can be obtained on Tracking the spread of Covid-19..

Stay safe, everyone..

Kim Kardashian robbed at gunpoint in Paris apartment

“Life of Pablo” rapper Kanye West canceled his concert (mid-song) at the Meadows Festival in New York Sunday night citing a family emergency and didn’t give further details. Concertgoers were upset naturally not knowing West’s wife, Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint in her Paris apartment in a robbery.

© Photo: Getty Images Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint in Paris. She is pictured at Hotel Ritz in Paris, France, Sept. 30, 2016 - MSN.

According to MSN..
The 35-year-old reality star went through a horrific ordeal on Monday (03.10.16) when five thieves dressed as policemen robbed her at gunpoint in her apartment in Paris, during which they tied her hands with plastic handcuffs, duct taped her, and stole more than $10 million worth of jewels, and Pascal Duvier (her bodyguard) - who was out with her sisters Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian - is adamant the culprits will be found.

Police sources have revealed Kim was tailed by two men in the days before the robbery, with the suspects - described as Caucasian and North African and having French accents - posing as a plain-clothes detective and a photographer to gain 'close surveillance' information ahead of the terrifying incident.

And one had even tried to gain access to the 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star's apartment within the exclusive Hotel Pourtales.

A source said: "Kim Kardashian was tailed for at least three days before the robbery.

More..
Kim Kardashian West's bodyguard speaks out

© Provided by Mirror - MSN
If you are still interested, a few more related stories ahead:
Kim Kardashian calls terrifying robbery ordeal the 'worst moment of her life'

Kim Kardashian 'feared rape' as masked robber grabbed her by the ankles and ordered her out of bed

Excerpts..
Kim Kardashian reportedly feared she was going to be raped during Sunday night's terrifying robbery.

The 35-year-old mum was bound, gagged and locked in a bathroom during the nighttime raid on her Paris apartment.

According to US reports, the reality star was laying in bed with her robe on when she heard loud footsteps making their way up the stairs of the two-storey home.


Kim Kardashian back after being held at gunpoint in $10 million Paris robbery

Some excepts:

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian returned to New York "badly shaken" on Monday after being robbed at gunpoint in her Paris residence by masked men who stole some $10 million worth of jewelry from her.

Kardashian, who has two young children with husband-rapper Kanye West, was not beaten but the robbers put a handgun against her temple before tying her up, the source said.

The robbers stole a box containing jewels worth 5 million to 6 million euros ($5.6 million to $6.7 million) and a ring worth about 4 million euros ($4.5 million), the Paris police source said. As news of the robbery spread, West abruptly ended a performance in New York less than an hour into his set on Sunday night.

The Paris apartment block is a discreet building behind the city's Madeleine church, with several secret entrances, often frequented by movie and music stars who pay up to 15,000 euros ($16,800) a night. The source said the attackers fled on bicycles.

The robbery set social media alight, with some users making fun of the latest headline-grabbing event in the life of a TV star who documents her life continually on screen and on social media.

James Corden, the host of U.S. talk show "The Late Late Show," said on Twitter, "People making jokes about @KimKardashian tonight would do well to remember that she's a mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend. Be nice or shut up."



What happened to Kim Kardashian? All the conspiracy theories, from 'Pink Panther gang' to 'publicity stunt' claims

Excepts:
Was it a plot to access her personal info?

Kim's two smartphones were reportedly stolen during the terrifying gunpoint robbery - sparking fears she could be targeted in a blackmail plot.

BFM TV report Kim's purse, 1,000 Euros and her two smartphones were taken.

Kim's two mobiles no doubt contain a wealth of personal information.

French authorities suspect Kim Kardashian armed robbery was 'inside job'

What Happened To Kim Kardashian's Security?

Kim Kardashian’s bodyguard Pascal Duvier vows to track down robbers: ‘You messed with the wrong one'

Excepts..
Kim Kardashian’s bodyguard Pascal Duvier has vowed to track down the men who attacked the star in her Paris apartment.

Police in the French capital have described the incident as "extremely rare" and said the robbers were focused on "possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media".

© Provided by Mirror - MSN
Designers love Kim Kardashian..

By the way, the center image shows Kim K in a satin and tulle pearl Givenchy bustier during the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 on Oct. 2, 2016 in Paris. (That's a day before the robbery.)

Check out all 50 designs.


All images are courtesy of MSN.com

UPDATE:
Designer Karl Lagerfeld tells Kim Kardashian, 'you cannot display your wealth'
Kim Kardashian's robbers targeted star after 'seeing jewels on social media'
Kim Kardashian 'blames herself' for Paris robbery and 'doesn't want Kanye West to replace stolen ring'
Kim Kardashian West has 'flashbacks' about her robbery
Armed robbery hotel concierge: 'Thieves weren't after Kim Kardashian's jewels'
Kim Kardashian sacked bodyguard

Paris - two days after the attacks

Many artists shared their sympathy with France after the attacks that killed to-date 132 people in Paris.
Source

KL Tower lights up in blue, white and red

The Kuala Lumpur Tower lights up in blue, white and red (the colours of France's flag) joining other landmarks around the world in solidarity with France after the terror attacks in six different locations in Paris on Friday night.

The Star

Other landmarks include Sydney's Opera House, The London Eye, Stockholm's Ericsson Globe Arena, Madrid City Hall, Shanghai's Oriental Pearl TV Tower and New York's One World Trade Center.

On Friday night, militants and suicide bombers launched attacks at restaurants, a concert hall and a stadium in Paris killing 129 people and injuring 352, including 99 who are in a serious condition..


The Star also reported..

PARIS: Several foreigners have been identified as victims of Friday’s deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, which left at least 129 dead and more than 300 injured:

- ALGERIA: Two Algerians were killed, the official APS news agency said, citing diplomatic sources as saying the victims were a woman aged 40 and a man aged 29.

- BELGIUM: At least three Belgians including a dual French national were killed, according to the Belgian foreign ministry.


- BRITAIN: One Briton was killed, the Foreign Office says, adding that a “handful” were feared dead.

- CHILE: A man and a woman, including the niece of Chile’s ambassador to Mexico, were among the dead.

- MOROCCO: One Moroccan has been killed and another injured, according to the embassy in France.

- PORTUGAL: Two Portuguese nationals are reported to have died, according to the Lisbon government. A 63-year-old national who lived in Paris and worked in public transport was killed near the Stade de France sports stadium, while the second victim, killed at the Bataclan music hall attack, was a dual-national born in France in 1980.

- ROMANIA: Two Romanians were killed, according to the foreign ministry in Bucharest.

- SPAIN: 29-year-old Alberto Gonzalez Garrido was killed while attending the concert at the Bataclan theatre, Spanish authorities said.

- SWEDEN: One person of Swedish nationality was wounded by gunfire and another was killed, according to the foreign ministry, which said it was still verifying the information.

- TUNISIA: Two young Tunisians, sisters who lived in the French region of Creusot and who were celebrating a friend’s birthday in Paris, were also killed, according to the Tunisian foreign ministry.

- UNITED STATES: A student from California was killed in the attacks, her university said.

Other US citizens and a Swiss woman are reported to be injured, while two Brazilians were wounded in the attacks, President Dilma Rousseff said. – AFP


A really sad incident for humanity..

Friday Frolics - The Paris Test

Oops! I'm late again this week. But hey, it's still Friday, right?

Let's go to Paris this week..

You Are Optimistic

Some people may consider you to be too shy, but you are simply thoughtful. You are a naturally creative person. You are always looking for your next inspiration. You value your relationships, and you try to learn as much about your friends as possible. Novelty and variety recharge you. You are a true adventurer at heart.

Now take the quiz..
The Paris Test

Fun, Free Quizzes!

Last Week's Quiz: What Kind of Storm Are You?

Shakespeare and Company Bookshop in Paris

Watching the Hong Kong TVB series Triumph in the Skies 2 (on Astro On Demand) last night, I was pleasantly surprised that Episode 21 takes the cast/story to this famous bookstore in Paris, Shakespeare and Company, located in a 17th-century building by the Seine at 37 Rue de la Bucherie, 75005 Paris, France.

Image source: Wikipedia

From Wikipedia..
Shakespeare and Company is the name of two independent bookstores on Paris's Left Bank. The first was opened by Sylvia Beach on 17 November 1919 at 8 rue Dupuytren, before moving to larger premises at 12 rue de l'Odéon in the 6th arrondissement in 1922. During the 1920s, it was a gathering place for writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ford Madox Ford. It closed in 1940 during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened.

The second is situated at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement - where it currently stands. Opened in 1951 by George Whitman, it was originally named "Le Mistral" but renamed to "Shakespeare and Company" in 1964 in tribute to Sylvia Beach's bookstore. Today, it serves both as a regular bookstore and as a reading library, specializing in English-language literature. The shop was featured in the Richard Linklater film Before Sunset and in the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris and now might I add in Triumph in the Skies 2 or TITS2 in short.

This is the interior of the bookshop as you can also see it in TITS2. It also shows Summer (Myolie Woo) and Isaac (Ron Ng) putting up a night there - sorry, no hanky-panky, just heart-to-heart talk and some sweet moments. It also has them putting back books on the shelves, probably working for the store for accommodation for the night.

Image source: Wikipedia

Overlooking the Seine and facing the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, the store, looking somewhat beat-up behind a Dickensian facade and spread over three floors, has been an offbeat mix of open house and literary commune. For decades Mr. Whitman provided food and makeshift beds to young aspiring novelists or writing nomads, often letting them spend a night, a week, or even months living among the crowded shelves and alcoves.

He welcomed visitors with large-print messages on the walls. “Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise,” was one, which he attributed to Yeats, although it was actually a variation on a biblical passage. Next to a wishing well at the center of the store, a sign said: “Give what you can, take what you need. George.” By his own estimate, he lodged some 40,000 people.

Mr. Whitman was famously frugal and expected the bibliophiles residing in his store to work a few hours every day sorting and selling books. Yet he also invited uncounted numbers of people for weekly tea parties to his own apartment, or for late-night readings enriched with dumplings or pots of Irish stew. - NY Times

Shakespeare and Company is now owned and run by Sylvia Beach Whitman, only child of George Whitman who used to live in the third-floor apartment above the store until his death at age 98 on December 14, 2011. She was named after Sylvia Beach, founder of the original Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.

Image source: NY Times

Ms Whitman continues to run the shop in the same manner as her father and allowing young writers to live and work in the bookstore.

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore - now, this is the kind of place that will make it to my itinerary should I visit Paris.


Related articles
- George Whitman, Paris Bookseller and Cultural Beacon, Is Dead at 98 - NY Times
- Literary Luminaries Hold Forth at Storied Paris Bookshop - NY Times

Gay Paree, here I come! I wish..

I stumbled on a site about luxury vacation rentals paris france and wished I was there in Paris away from this current choking smog and hazy environment.

I would see Gay Paree during the day and plonk onto the most comfortable bed at night after spending an exciting day painting Paris red and all sorts of other vibrant colours!  

I'm captivated by this set of lightings on the website.  They are pretty, don't you think? Oui?

Do you have somewhere you'd like to escape to too in this haze? Come share..

Google Doodle for Auguste Rodin

Rodin is the reason for a Google doodle today, Nov 8, as Google celebrates the 172nd birthday of François-Auguste-René Rodin who was a French sculptor and who gave us The Thinker.

"The Thinker" (Le Penseur in French) is a bronze and marble sculpture by Auguste Rodin, whose first cast, of 1902, is now in the Musée Rodin in Paris. It depicts a man in sober meditation battling with a powerful internal struggle. It is often used to represent philosophy.

The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919, dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It has two sites, at the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds in central Paris, and just outside Paris at Rodin's old home, the Villa des Brillants at Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine). The collection includes 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 drawings, 8,000 old photographs and 7,000 objets d’art, and the museum receives 700,000 visitors annually.

Source: Wikipedia

The last Google Doodle was for Bram Stoker who gave us Dracula.

CNNGo's list of World's 10 Most Loved Cities

Hey Rurousha, your city from yonder made it to the World's 10 Most Loved Cities on CNNGo's list coming in at No. 9! How cool! Wait, there's more. Your (Hero) city tops the list. Not fair, you get to live in two of the world's most loved cities!

Apparently, all cities are not created equal. CNNGo trawled the Internet for media "best of" praise, solicited recommendations from local correspondents, bloggers and travelers, scraped the bottom of every Internet and press barrel we could find for reasons not to include these conurbations, and still come up with what we think is a definitive list of the world's most loved cities. They found out that:

San Francisco has its Tenderloin, food snobs and bridge tolls.
Cape Town has its great white sharks and 17-hour commutes from New York City (which has its own issues).
Montreal has an underperforming hockey team and ridiculously cold winters.
And let’s not even get started about Tokyo.

Bottom line: travelers love places in spite of all their imperfections. Or perhaps because of them.

Here's the list of the World's 10 Most Loved Cities. Are you living in one of them..

10. Barcelona, Spain


9. Cape Town, South Africa


8. Montreal, Canada
7. New York City, United States
6. Paris, France
5. Petra, Jordan
4. San Francisco, United States
3. Santiago, Chile
2. Shanghai, China
1. Tokyo, Japan


Read more about the cities on CNNGo's World's 10 Most Loved Cities..

Street styles in Paris during the Fashion Week

Oh my goodness, this is so up my alley. Love it!

This outfit was spotted among others on the streets in Paris during the Fashion Week. More street styles if you are interested..

Picked out a few of my favorites.

Not sure if I'd wear this.. but oh well, to each his/her own.. Love the bag and the blouse and that smile though. (I have a soft spot for big bags.)

Now this is a sweet combo.. Pink pants and purple Celine bag..

A familiar piece in my wardrobe..

Jewelry to die for..

A Chanel jacket..

This ensemble I love too.. the bag, the bag!

A see-through clutch, anyone?

Alright, the list wouldn't be complete without shoes. Here are just a few spotted on the streets of Gay Paree.

Bags? Go check them out yourself..

All images from Marie Claire

Christian Dior's John Galliano

If you live in the Klang Valley or have been to this part of the world, wouldn't you say the scene above could pass for one of our chain cafes that have been sprouting all over town the last few years? Or it could be a painting of a cafe scene by Vincent van Gogh (ala The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night)?

Actually, this is the now-famous cafe where John Galliano supposedly made anti-Semitic remarks. John Galliano, a British fashion designer, is head designer at Christian Dior, i.e., until his removal following this episode. Troubled by the actions of its star designer, Christian Dior acted to limit the damage. Mr. Galliano, 50, is a one-time punk stylist whose soaring imagination helped turn Dior into a multimillion-dollar brand. So far, no charges have been filed against him.



The British fashion designer John Galliano in Paris in July 2010 at the end of the presentation of his Fall-Winter 2010-2011Haute Couture collection for Christian Dior.

Related article:
Dior Fires John Galliano After Bigotry Complaints

Source: NY Times

Visit Gay Paree!

France must be one of the most visited countries in the world. It boasts a variety of activities to keep one's travel itinerary exciting. When we think of France, Paris surely comes to mind.
.

Paris, the French capital, known as the City of Lights, also the land of love and romance, is bursting with activity, day and night. Theatre, music, major exhibitions of art, photography and sculpture, opera, popular celebrations and fireworks, reading improvisations, contemporary or classical dance, festivals of all kinds: Paris just never stops, hosting hundreds of major events every year. There’s always something different to do at any time of the year. One thing is certain too. Visitors to Paris are never short of accommodations as there is a wide variety of Hôtels en Paris.

.

Visit the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra National de Paris and Louvre. These are merely a few of the attractions in Paris.
.
Paris never sleeps. All year round, when day turns into night, when the lights go down on the city’s sublime sights and the French capital turns into one big dance floor. The Cabaret shows are also not to be missed when in Paris.
.

Naturally, Paris is not the only place to visit when in France. There's Nice along the Riviera, Marseilles, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, the wine country and lots of other nice little towns in France. Visit the Rhone-Alpes for a different experience of lovely countrysides of mountains, lakes and vineyard.

.

There is a wide range of accommodation options in France, be it hotels in Paris or any other city. Booking online is easy and can even save you quite a bit. Cheaperthanhotels and Hotelsenfrancais offer last minute and year round accommoation at prices often less than direct prices, but also with free inclusions. This works out to be excellent value when 2 or more persons are travelling to hotels, hostels or serviced apartments. Ensure you get the hotel of your choice by booking Paris hotels online. You'd be paying rates that are cheaper than what hotels offer.

.

Picture source: en.parisinfo.com

The Human Show in Paris

Got an interesting email yesterday - supposedly exhibits from the Human Show held in Paris. Look how real they are. Beautiful, aren't they? I find the first exhibit mesmerizing but my favourite has to be the man on a chair. He must be freezing. It was Winter, wasn't it? Which one's your favourite?







Source unknown