On May 9, Brazils death toll from the coronavirus topped 10,000. Instead of marking the grim milestone with an address or a sign of respect for the victims, President Jair Bolsonaro took a spin on a jet ski. Video footage widely circulated on social media shows Brazils far-right leader grinning as he pulls up to a boat on Braslias Parano Lake where supporters are having a cookout. As he grips onto their boat, Bolsonaro jokes about the neurosis of Brazilians worried about the virus. Theres nothing to be done [about it], he shrugs. Its madness.

Even by the standards of other right-wing populists who have sought to downplay the COVID-19 pandemic, Bolsonaros defiance of reality was shocking. From the favelas of densely packed cities like Rio de Janeiro to the remote indigenous communities of the Amazon rain forest, Brazil has emerged as the new global epicenter of the pandemic, with the worlds highest rate of transmission and a health system now teetering on the brink of collapse.

Unlike the previous global hot spots Italy, Spain and the U.S. Brazil is an emerging economy, with a weaker social safety net that makes it harder for local authorities to persuade people to stay home, and an underfunded health care system. When a particularly severe outbreak struck the city of Manaus, in the Amazon, in late April, hospitals were quickly overrun, leading to a shortage of coffins. On May 17, the mayor of So Paulo, Latin Americas largest city, warned that hospitals there would collapse within two weeks if the infection rate continued to rise. The country has confirmed almost 18,000 deaths as of May 19, with a record 1,179 people dying in the preceding 24 hoursthe worlds second highest daily fatality rate. Epidemiologists say the peak is still weeks away.

For many Brazilian politicians and health experts, much of the blame for the heavy toll lies with the man on the jet ski. Defying social-distancing measures, Bolsonaro has held large rallies with supporters and waged what he calls a war against local governors who have tried to lock down their regions. Thanks in part to his example, many Braziliansbetween 45% and 60%, depending on the stateare refusing to comply with social-distancing measures, according to cell-phone tracking data. Adding to the chaos, Bolsonaro fired his Health Minister Luiz Mandetta in mid-April when he opposed his stance on social distancing. His replacement, a doctor with no political experience, resigned on May 15, after Bolsonaro pushed him to reopen the economy and promote unproven drugs to treat the virus.

The crisis comes as Bolsonaros administration is crumbling around him, just 16 months into his presidency. On April 24, Sergio Moro, his star Justice Minister, resigned, accusing the President of attempting to interfere with the federal police and sparking a political crisis. The departure of the most popular member of Bolsonaros Cabinet, widely seen as a moderating force, piles further pressure on the President: he now faces a criminal investigation into Moros claims that could lead to his impeachment. Bolsonaros personal approval rating has fallen 9 percentage points since January, according to a May 12 poll, to below 40%. Bolsonaros personality is extremely ill suited to a pandemic, says Gustavo Ribeiro, political scientist and founder of politics site The Brazilian Report. He cant unite the country, because his whole modus operandi is based on sowing division.

But Bolsonaro shows no sign of reversing courseand the crisis in Brazil is poised to deteriorate even further, leaving epidemiologists, humanitarians and regional leaders aghast. The President is co-responsible for many COVID deaths, says Arthur Virglio Neto, the mayor of Manaus, who watched his city overtaken by the virus in late April. With irresponsible, almost delinquent preaching, he encourages people to take to the streets. He has pushed many people to their deaths.

Brazils far-right President Bolsonaro addresses journalists from outside the Planalto Palace, the official presidential workplace, in Braslia on May 12 as cases of COVID-19 surge across the country

Jodson AlvesEPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Bolsonaro rose to power in 2018 by exploiting a period of intense anger at mainstream politicians and unprecedented polarization between the left and the right. A landmark corruption investigation, dubbed Car Wash, had exposed a breathtaking network of graft among Brazils political and business elites. Bolsonaro barreled into that situation as a political outsider, supposedly immune to the corrupt structures of large parties. An isolated figure in the capital, Braslia, he joined the right-wing Social Liberal Party to run for President, only to leave it after taking office. Upon assuming the presidency, he burnished his anticorruption credentials by appointing Moro, the popular lead Car Wash judge, as his Justice Minister.

The President presented himself as a maverick, willing to speak truths on issues that divide Brazil: praising the military dictatorship that led the country for two decades in the 20th century, promoting the use of force by police officers, railing against so-called gender ideology, and disdaining environmental protections for the Amazon rain forest and the rights of indigenous communities, which he says hold back Brazils agricultural sector.

In his willingness to say the unsayable and to take on the pillars of the establishment, Bolsonaro took his cues from the U.S. Presidentso much so that international media nicknamed him the Trump of the Tropics. Over his first 16 months in office, Bolsonaro determinedly fanned the flames of Brazils culture warssometimes literally. Deforestation in the Amazon rain forest last year surged 85% from 2018, as the President slashed regulations and enforcement meant to prevent land grabbers from setting fire to the forest to clear it for farming. When the international community pressured Brazils government to slow the destruction, Bolsonaro responded by telling Angela Merkel to reforest Germany.

But Bolsonaros sense of impunity may have sowed the seeds for his eventual downfall. In the early hours of April 24, Bolsonaro removed the chief of the federal police, Maurcio Valeixo, writing in his official decision that Valeixo had asked to step down. Hours later, Moro resigned as Justice Minister. He accused Bolsonaro of firing Valeixo in order to replace him with a lackey who would illegally feed him confidential information, and later said the President had also attempted to replace the regional head of the police in Rio de Janeiro state, where two of Bolsonaros sons are under investigation. Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing and has referred to Moro as Judas.

Moro is more cautious in criticizing the President. Speaking to TIME from a gray hotel room in Braslia, the former judge chooses his words carefully. There is a difficulty in facing the pandemic in Brazil due to the Presidents negationist position. Thats obvious, he says, adding that he felt uncomfortable being part of a government led by a President who has trivialized the virus. But my focus is on the rule of law. He says the Presidents alleged interventions with the police were the last straw in a whole scenario that has unfolded over the last year that showed that this new government was not fulfilling its promises to fight corruption and strengthen institutions.

The overlapping controversies of Bolsonaros handling of COVID-19 and Moros dramatic departure have begun to sap the Presidents support. A survey published May 12 by pollster CNT/MDA found the Presidents personal approval rating fell to 39.2% from 47.8% in January, as disapproval rose to 55.4% from 47.0%. But Bolsonaros radical base, which includes evangelical Christians, the military and the agriculture sector, remains strong, says Rodrigo Soares, a professor of Brazilian public policy at Columbia University. The President is [doubling down] to appeal to his core supporters, who would be displeased if he took a technocratic approach and listened to public-health experts. Thats not how he got where he is.

The same might be said of Trump, who has at times taken an approach to the coronavirus as cavalier as Bolsonaros. Both men have sowed confusion over the seriousness of the disease. Both have promoted unproven drugs as treatments for COVID-19, despite warnings of their serious side effects. In March, Bolsonaro visited Trump in the White Housea trip that ousted Health Minister Luiz Mandetta later described to CNN as a corona trip because several members of Bolsonaros team tested positive for the virus afterward.

Yet while Trump leads the richest country in the world, Bolsonaro leads an emerging market with one of the worlds highest rates of inequality. Health care access is patchy for millions of people, and fewer in Brazil than in the U.S. have the conditions necessary to work from home. Miguel Nicolelis, one of the most respected scientists in Brazil, who is coordinating a committee for northeastern states to track the viruss spread, says the situation is still worsening. Despite the very serious problems in the U.S., the exponential curve of cases and deaths in Brazil suggests we are not even close to our peak yet.

Nurse technician Vanda Ortega Witoto, 32, takes care of a patient in Parque das Tribos, an indigenous community near Manaus, the capital of Brazils northern Amazonas state

Ricardo OliveiraAFP/Getty Images

In April, Vanda Ortega Witoto, a nurse technician, began monitoring the chief of her indigenous community. Messias Martins Moreira, 53, of the Kokama people, had a fever that wouldnt let up, which Ortega believed was COVID-19. There is no health center in Parque das Tribos, their remote community of 700 families on the banks of the Tarum-Au River in the Amazon. At first, Martins didnt want to go to a hospital in the nearby city of Manaus, saying he would rely on traditional medicine. [By the time] he realized there was no other way, he couldnt breathe, Ortega says. He died on May 14.

Brazils 800,000 indigenous people, many of whom live in remote parts of the vast Amazon rain forest, now find themselves particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. Joenia Wapichana, the countrys only indigenous member of Congress, has warned that the communities isolation and lack of health and sanitation infrastructure could turn the coronavirus into another genocide for indigenous people. The first occurred when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil in the 1500s, carrying diseases and staging violent takeovers of land that wiped out most of the more than 3 million indigenous people living there.

And all over Brazil, there are vulnerable communities. Roughly 11 million people live in Brazils favelas, shantytowns often on the outskirts of major cities. Cramped homes, limited water infrastructure and unsafe working conditions have left millions of favela residents struggling to stem the spread of the virus.

With case numbers yet to peak, health systems around the country are on the edge of collapse. In So Paulo, 90% of ICU beds are full. In the state of Pernambuco, where ICUs are 96% full, a shortage of ventilators has forced doctors to choose not to treat some cases, and some hospitals are treating patients in hallways. In Rio de Janeiro state, the waiting list for a hospital bed topped 1,000 in the second week of May; some emergency facilities opened a few weeks ago are already over 90% full.

The economic impact of the coronavirus is also likely to carry a heavy human toll. Even as lockdowns have been only partly implemented, the economy is projected to shrink 5% in 2020which would be the deepest recession since records began in 1900. Incomes have already fallen sharply among the majority of the population, who cannot work from home, and particularly among the roughly half the work-force who earn a few hundred dollars a month in the informal sector. Humanitarian groups say a hunger crisis is in the cards for the quarter of the population who live in poverty. The government announced an estimated $30 billion package to funnel emergency cash to those who cannot work.

The impact of this is especially unpredictable in Brazil, where almost every economic crisis since its return to democracy in 1985 has been followed by a sharp political shift. Ribeiro, the political scientist, says it is very, very possible that any such shift in the near future would be accompanied by social unrest. People are as radicalized as I have ever seen. And now were going to an economic crisis like Ive never seen in my lifetime, he says. I dont see a rosy future ahead of us.

Bolsonaro has a not-so-secret weapon that could help him ride out the storm. A former army captain, the President has forged a tight alliance with the military. Active and former military officials currently hold nine of the 22 Cabinet positions, and they appear to be closing ranks around Bolsonaro, which analysts say might shield him from impeachment.

The President may yet survive, but many of his people will not. Carlos Machado, coordinator of the observatory against COVID-19 at the countrys epidemiological institute, Fiocruz, sees the makings of an extremely dangerous situation for Brazilians in the current moment. When public-health emergencies overlap with extremely precarious political and economic crises, it can create a humanitarian crisis, he says. Brazil is heading there.

With reporting by Flvia Milhorance/Rio de Janeiro

This appears in the June 01, 2020 issue of TIME.

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Write to Ciara Nugent at ciara.nugent@time.com.

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Brazil Is Starting to Lose the Fight Against Coronavirusand Its President Is Looking the Other Way - TIME

The development of a vaccine to prevent people from being infected with the novel coronavirus is unlikely to be completed by the end of this year, the head of a Japanese government panel of experts on the virus said Wednesday.

While governments and companies around the world are working to develop vaccines to contain the pandemic, Takaji Wakita said it will be vital to ensure their efficacy and safety, as well as to ascertain whether they have side effects.

"I think (development) will go beyond the year end, and it is difficult to predict at this moment how soon a vaccine will become available," said Wakita, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, at a parliamentary session.

(Takaji Wakita, chair of a government panel on the new coronavirus and head of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, speaks during a House of Representatives budget committee session in Tokyo on May 20, 2020.)

"I'm not sure which party -- if it's Japan or other countries -- will reach the goal first," he said.

As of Wednesday, the virus had infected over 4.8 million people worldwide and claimed more than 320,000 lives, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

As for the coronavirus epidemic in Japan, Shigeru Omi, chairman of a government advisory committee on COVID-19, warned that even if Tokyo and seven other prefectures lift a state of emergency over the coronavirus, people should think of the infection as still continuing even though it is not visible.

The government is considering lifting the emergency in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo, all in western Japan, among the eight prefectures later this week, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a final decision on Thursday.

Omi said domestic infections appear to be subsiding, but warned, "It is highly possible that (infections) can flare up again (in Japan) before winter arrives."

(Supplied electron micrograph shows the new pneumonia-causing coronavirus.)[Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]

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FOCUS: Japan's initial goal of V-shaped recovery not on horizon

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Coronavirus vaccine unlikely to be developed this year: Japan expert - Kyodo News Plus

Well meet again, but we still dont know where, still less when. The figures are encouraging: fewer than 10,000 Covid-19 patients in hospital, deaths on a downward trajectory, infection rates falling fast. On Monday, there were no new cases in London and the East, with just 79 testing positive across England. Insofar as the gradual relaxation of the lockdown has not led to a new spike, the Governments cautious approach has been vindicated.

So far, so safe. But what next? Take schools, where the evidence is mixed. Schools are reopening across Europe, but here the teaching unions, with tacit support from local authorities, are resisting any return to the classroom. The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has passed the buck to school heads. Instead of leadership we have seen order, counter-order and disorder.

Such a cavalier, even chaotic approach to the education of our children is just not good enough. If the original policy of continuing to teach the children of key workers had been carried out more rigorously, schools would be able to expand their provision from a substantial base. Instead of the expected 10 per cent of pupils, however, a mere 2 per cent have attended classes. Distance learning has been patchy, with the gap between the best and the worst unacceptably wide. About a third are being let down badly. By June 1 these pupils will have missed two months of their education. It will be a tough task to restore discipline and make up for lost lessons. No wonder union leaders and some teachers are reluctant to face up to this challenge.

Elsewhere, the debate about rebooting the economy has focused on social distancing. Industries such as leisure, tourism and hospitality are lobbying against the two-metre rule, which they say makes many businesses unviable. It is true that elsewhere in Europe, only Spain has imposed two metres, rather than the one metre rule recommended by the World Health Organisation. It is also apparent that many people are now treating the rules casually. Social distancing depends on compliance to be effective. If you tell people a metre, they will take liberties even with that. The two-metre rule should probably stay for now, but be reduced to one metre as soon as infection rates across the whole country have fallen to Londons level.

The pressure for a rapid return to normal is coming primarily from producers and providers, rather than consumers. Even when pubs, restaurants and hotels reopen, the evidence from elsewhere is that customers are taking their time to return. Many businesses may have to run at a loss for months until confidence is restored. Some new spending patterns may be here to stay. Open plan offices, crowded public transport and high street shopping are out of favour. Home working and entertainment, outdoor activity and online retail are booming. There is no point in the Government trying to force people to return to habits that its own policies have discouraged or banned. Yet neither is there any virtue in enforced idleness. We are going back to work many of us have never stopped but the watchword must be: steady as she goes.

Britain, in brief, must go with the flow and that includes politicians. Some MPs are resisting calls to return to Westminster, but the public expects to see its elected representatives in their workplace. Cue howls of protest: surely Parliament should set an example as a model employer? This is to misunderstand the nature of politics as a vocation. That vocation is unique even in the field of public service. Members of neither House are employees, even though they are paid for their work. They are called by the Sovereign and sent to Westminster by their constituents to parley with one another, to legislate and to lead the country. Their absence is unlikely to make the voters hearts fonder.

Virtual proceedings are all very well, but they are no substitute for the serious business of running the country. Even if just 50 of the 650 MPs can sit in the chamber at once, there should be eager competition to be among them. For the present, those over 70 or otherwise vulnerable may have to stay away a problem for the Lords in particular but they too should be brought back to Westminster at the earliest opportunity. Parliament is meant to be a physical microcosm of the nation, not a glorified Zoom meeting.

As we move into the next phase of the crisis, some ministers have been found wanting and the Prime Minister is reported to be thinking about a Cabinet reshuffle. He will surely wish to bring a few experienced colleagues from the Remain camp back into Government, notably his former rival Jeremy Hunt, who has been notably loyal, and perhaps even Amber Rudd. Rory Stewart, however, has ruled himself out by briefly standing as an independent in the London mayoral race. Amanda Milling, the party chairwoman, is likely to become a full Cabinet minister, as is Suella Braverman, the Attorney General. But the main focus should be on promoting new talent.

An outstanding example is Kemi Badenoch. Elected in Saffron Walden only in 2017, after a brief stint at the Department for Education she moved to the Treasury in February, where she serves as Exchequer Secretary . She has earned her meteoric rise and a Conservative Government needs a different face to deal with the crisis in schools and universities. Boris Johnson has rewarded Gavin Williamson for his loyalty, but the former Chief Whip has manifestly failed to inspire confidence either at Defence or Education. His replacement by Kemi Badenoch, a self-made woman of Nigerian heritage, would send a powerful message to parents, teachers and academics. There is no time to lose in ensuring that the Government not only speaks for the whole country, but can be seen to do so, too.

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So far, so safe. Time to learn the lessons of the coronavirus crisis - TheArticle

President Donald Trump named a top Republican contributor as the new Postmaster General, returning the post to a political appointee for the first time in 48 years.

Post offices were once the ultimate patronage pits for political organizations, some of whom enjoyed the large amounts of cash transactions involved.

Until 1971, local postmasters were political appointees who often got their jobs as patronage for Members of Congress. Postmasters of large post offices were named by the President, with U.S. Senate confirmation; the Postmaster General appointed postmasters of smaller post officers after receiving recommendations from local congressmen or influential members of the presidents political parties, like county chairs.

Sometimes the job went to politically adept career postal workers who built relationships with local politicians. Over time, the job transitioned from pure political appointments to people who had post office experience.

There is no indication that Trump plans to return to the old system, but his appointment of North Carolina businessman Louis LaJoy, who has contributed more than $2 billion to GOP campaigns over the last four year, flips control of the post from career postal employees back to the political arena.

The Postmaster General post was a political appointment from the presidencies of George Washington to Richard Nixon. From 1829 to 1972, the Postmaster General was a member of the presidents cabinet.

Trump has been a harsh critic of the U.S. Postal Service, calling the agency a joke and refusing requests for a $75 billion bailout with out an increase in postal rates.

Local Postmasters

When the Ramsey postmaster job opened up in 1957, Rep. William Widnall (R-Saddle River) asked President Dwight Eisenhower to appoint John Roosa, a community leader active in local politics.

After Roosa retired ten years later, Widnall wanted to give the job to another Republican, Fred Warren. But with Democrat Lyndon Johnson in the White House, Democratic U.S. Senator Harrison Williams decided to make the appointment.

That same year, Rep. Henry Helstoski (D-East Rutherford) picked Robert Nieradka as the East Paterson (now Elmwood Park) postmaster after a vote of the local Democratic county committee.

Nieradka and another Democrat, John Mezian, both screened for postmaster. The county committee voted and Nieradka won. Democratic Municipal Chairman Sal Spinato then needed to get sign off from Bergen County Democratic Chairman Anthony Andorra before Helstoski made his recommendation to the White House.

Postmasters were frequently allowed to squat in most cases, rather than switch them out as consequences of national elections.

Republicans had pushed for the creation of a single Edison Post Office in the 1950s to replace what had been 11 separate post offices throughout the municipality. That allowed Edisons congressman, Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen (R-Harding), to name the new postmaster a move that upset Mayor Anthony Yelencsics, whose local Democratic organization still controlled the smaller post offices from the 20 years that Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman occupied the White House.

In New Jersey, local postmaster was a relatively easy and lucrative position.

Democrat William Fiedler, a former assemblyman and Newark mayor, was appointed Newark postmaster by President Grover Cleveland after losing re-election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican John Blair was one of the wealthiest men in the nation, but he also spent more than 25 years as the politically-appointed postmaster in Blairstown. He was also the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1868.

With the loss of postmasters and congressional pages, House members are now limited to a small staff and military academy appointments.

Postmaster Generals were party leaders

The Postmaster General post was a political appointment from the presidencies of George Washington to Richard Nixon. From 1829 to 1972, the postmaster general was a member of the presidents cabinet.

The legendary James Farley served simultaneously as postmaster general and Democratic National Chairman during Roosevelts first two terms. Trumans postmaster general was Robert Hannegan, one of the top party bosses in St. Louis. He was also DNC chairman while serving in the cabinet. Under Dwight Eisenhower, the postmaster general was Arthur Summerfield, the Republican National Chairman.

John F. Kennedy named Edward Day, a former Illinois state insurance commissioner and ally of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, as postmaster general. His replacement in 1963 was John Gronouski, a former Wisconsin commissioner of taxation who had unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1952.

In 1965, Johnson nominated Gronouski as the U.S. Ambassador to Poland and replaced him with Lawrence OBrien, one of the national Democratic Partys top political operatives. Marvin Watson, who was Johnsons White House Appointments Secretary and de facto Chief of Staff, was named Postmaster General in 1968.

Nixons postmaster general was Winton Blount, a GOP insider who left the post in 1972 to become the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama.

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Trump names GOP donor as postmaster general. Could that mean the return of local postmasters as congressional picks? - New Jersey Globe | New Jersey...

Ahmad Sajoh, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adamawa State outlines the qualities the most valued staff of Mr. President must embody

The death of Mallam Abba Kyari is a very big blow to His Excellency Mr. President, the government and indeed the country at large. He left a very big vacuum which will be hard to fill. While it is indeed wrong to speak ill of the dead, I find some of the testimonies bandied around by people who claim to have been too close to the late Chief of Staff as equally wrong. Where were all these people when the man was alive and so many unsavory things were said about him? Some of the testimonies do not even add up at all when juxtaposed with what transpired under the presidency when he was alive. Like I said earlier, we have all accepted this cultural norm that it is bad to talk ill of the dead. But It is equally wrong to say things not true about a man who passed away. In all honesty, we should have been more concerned with designing a template for the President to use in selecting a replacement rather than spending so much time and energy in portraying the late Chief of Staff as an irreplaceable super human.

For me, the most important thing we all should be doing is to help the President identify a suitable replacement that will serve the best interest of the President as the leader of the country and the citizens who have a service contract with the President. According to the President, one of the qualities that stood Mallam Abba Kyari apart was his close relationship with Mr. President for over four decades. This means that whoever will replace the late Chief of Staff must have been close to the President for a long time, long enough to understand the Presidents person and temperament as well as to appreciate him both as a leader with all the burdens of the office and as a human with personal needs. Such a replacement must understand national politics very well while still remaining completely apolitical without pandering to the political whims of the different political tendencies in the polity. This way, the different roles of the office of the President cannot be compromised on the altar of political expediency or to satisfy a particular individual or group political interests.

In addition, the replacement must appreciate working 24/7 all year round without let or rest within the Presidents demands. This must have been cultivated over the years dating to periods long before Muhammadu Buhari became the President. This is why such an appointee should be the choice of the President this time around not one supposedly imposed on the President as was speculated with the late Chief of Staff. And it is easy for the President to find such a person within his inner circular. Most importantly such a persons appointment should erase all the speculations about the office serving as the extension of a supposed cabal manipulating the governance process. This is necessary for confidence building.

My understanding of the functions of the Chief of Staff to the President Federal Republic is one that performs a gate keeping function for the President. This is not in the sense of one who blocks people and issues from getting to the President but one that sieves through the many schedules of the President and the many issues requiring his attention. For the President, this is a very crucial role. Only someone strategic and close enough who understands Mr. President, understands his temperament and thinking can be an effective gate keeper, determining what goes in and out of the Presidents presence and office. Every individual or document going into the Presidents office should be appropriately evaluated for content and in keeping with the mood of the President. This must be done in an honest and timely manner without conflict of interest especially one induced by external forces.

It must also be noted that the Chief of Staff is the coordinator of all the personal staff of Mr. President as well as all the Staff of the Presidential Villa. As the name implies, he is the Chief of all the staff directly serving Mr. President. Everyone serving the President or working within the Presidential Villa looks up to him for general direction and coordination.

Supporting the political process including configuring effective relationship between the President and the political class and political office holders is also another major function of the Chief of Staff. The President as the leader of the country must relate everyday with his political party, other strata of the political class including those in opposition parties, and political office holders. The Chief of Staff liaises with all of these levels of political activity in a manner that is neither partisan nor myopic. He must understand the needs of the political class, help to evaluate certain concepts and contents in order to guide the President on the correct political decisions to make that are appropriate to existing situations.

One of key functions of the Chief of Staff is effective liaison with other levels of the Presidents functions. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Officer Commanding all other security outfits in the country. It is the duty of the Chief of Staff to liaise with all of them and keep Mr. President abreast of happenings in the security sector and also avail him information on public perceptions and demands. This, the Chief of Staff must do without undermining the functions of all offices responsible for coordinating security strategies and activities. It is a function that must be used with caution and only someone who is apolitical and level headed can perform this function effectively.

The President is the head of his cabinet and must be able to guide, promote and protect the effective functioning of the cabinet as a constitutional requirement of the governance process. The Chief of Staff must provide support to the cabinet secretariat, ensuring that the President understand all memos and issues to be discussed to enable him guide the process effectively. In doing so the Chief of Staff must have sufficient institutional memories of the functioning of the cabinet from inception of the Buhari presidency. Such a person should have been with the President from the beginning of his Presidency.

The new Chief of Staff should possess a lot of Institutional memory with respect to Diplomatic relationships established overtime and what needs to be done at what level. Therefore the office requires a persons who had been close enough to have been with the President throughout his tenure. He or she must be a close ally and confidant of the President. The new Chief of Staff must be able to appreciate the President as a person, his temperament and family responsibilities. He must be absolutely loyal to the President and such loyalty must have been proven over time,must have the capacity to take as many verbal and written bullets as possible without buckling or even over reacting. A person who has the technical ability to analyze documents and provide advisories for Mr. President, must assemble a crack team and work as a team player with the temperament to moderate the various tendencies that will compete for the Presidents attention

In trying to be all of the above and much more, the Chief of Staff must avoid engulfing the office or the person occupying the office in unnecessary controversies. The whole Nation awaits what a replacement will do in mitigating some of these controversies. It is imperative that the President appoints a relatively less visible person to enable him draw more attention to the functions of the office rather than the personality of the occupant of the office. A person without much political visibility or adverse political baggage will surely bring in credibility and respect to the Office.

It is therefore safe to summarize that the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President is an important coordinating centre for the effective governance of the country under the leadership of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the federation. One of the requirements of the office is to simplify complex operations for Mr. President to enable him understand issues and operational modalities in a manner that aids effective decision making.

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Searchlight on Mr. Presidents New Chief of Staff - THISDAY Newspapers

Don't miss this delightful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in desirable Walnut Point! This home exudes curb appeal with its mature landscaping, detailed stone-work and maintenance-free vinyl siding. Situated on one of the largest lots in the community, this neutral, newly painted, open floor plan home is perfect for staying home with family or hosting large gatherings of friends. The grand, two-story foyer welcomes you into this classically elegant home with custom millwork. Whether you are a gourmet cook, or a GrubHub queen, you'll adore your generous, eat-in kitchen which boasts on-trend hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, lighter colored custom cabinets, built-in microwave, new dishwasher, counter-depth refrigerator and a large, walk-in pantry! Your oversized breakfast bar makes meal prep and serving a breeze! Just off the kitchen, sits your comfy, casual family room with great views of your outdoor entertaining space. On cold winter nights, warm up by the fire and get cozy in front of your gas fireplace. Your spacious family room also showcases custom built-ins. Perhaps you~d prefer lounging in your 4-seasons room, with ample windows that bathe you in natural light. If you love to entertain, take the party outdoors onto your expansive, Trex deck with retractable awning or head down to your custom paver patio and cook s'mores at your built-in fire pit. The level, nearly half acre lot offers you plenty of space to throw a football or even add a pool! Head upstairs to your massive master retreat featuring a deep tray ceiling, double closets and even an additional shoe closet. Need to relax and unwind at the end of the day? Your spa-like bath features dual sinks, a jetted tub and a separate shower. Three additional generous bedrooms all boast walk-in closets. Washer and dryer in your upstairs laundry room included in the sale. Massive unfinished basement with plenty of storage awaits your designer touches! 3+car garage has a durable, low maintenance epoxy floor. Just minutes from the Carlisle Pike and in Cumberland Valley School District, this home offers something for everyone! Schedule your private tour today!

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Homes Recently Listed in the Carlisle Area | Home & Garden - Carlisle Sentinel

THE Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (CNGOs) in Zambia has appealed to the government to accept the draft NGO Bill without alterations as citizens stand to benefit greatly from a robust NGO regime.

Chairperson McDonald Chipenzi said, in a statement, that CNGOs whose mandate include to develop, adopt and administer the Code of Conduct for NGOs and facilitate and coordinate the work of NGOs operating in Zambia, expressed its gratitude at the favourable gesture by the Cabinet of approving in principle the Repeal and Replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009.

Chipenzi said as a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009, the Council of NGOs in Zambia appreciated the levels of engagement and cooperation between itself with individual NGOs on one hand and the government through the department of NGOs Registration at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services on the other hand in the process of repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No.16 of 2009.

Since the launch of the National Policy on the NGOs in Zambia and the election of the new CNGOs in October 2018 with the subsequent appointment of the 20 member diversely selected and Civil Society led Technical Working Group (TWG), a lot of ground (though not at a pace the Council would have loved) towards reaching the goal of having a repealed and replaced NGO Law, he said. The CNGOs understands too well the healthy but also critical collaboration amongst the members of the TWG and commends the strides made this far that include Drafting of the Laymans NGO Bill through one of its members the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) and the national wide consultations for comments and input from stakeholders.

Chipenzi noted that the CNGOs also conducted in 2019, a comprehensive NGO Policy sensitisation through its NGO provincial forums across the country, an activity that was inevitable to precede the consultations on the Draft Bill.

Whereas the CNGOs in Zambia applauds the approval to go ahead with the repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009 by government, it would further like to make a passionate appeal to government through Cabinet should accept the Draft NGO Bill as would be from the NGOs and stakeholders themselves without alterations as the document would not only be a reflection of the aspirations of the sector but that the Government generally and the citizens particularly stand to benefit greatly from a robust NGO regime, he said. The CNGOs is grateful to the cooperating partners that include the Germany Technical Corporation (GIZ), the European Union (EU), SIDA and Action Aid Zambia among many for coming on board in these endeavours. Furthermore, the CNGOs would like to make an earnest appeal and a clarion call on all NGOs (local and international) to take this process as golden and factor some activities, in their programming, to make submissions/input to the Draft NGO Bill, 2019. The CNGOs would endeavour to ensure and see that NGO(s) singularly or collectively is left behind and/or out.

Chipenzi said it was the CNGOs considered view that the final product would be owned by all stakeholders and will be a beacon of admiration and best practice in the region, the continent and the world as a whole.

Originally posted here:
NGOs urges govt to accept draft bill The Mast Online - themastonline.com

Asthe country braces for a one-in-100-year recession, Cabinet has agreed to a law change that will block thepublicfrom the resource consent processin order to fast track projects that create jobsand stimulatethe economy.

Environment Minister David Parker saidnew legislation was expected to be passed in June to allow for fasterResource Management Act(RMA) consenting ofdevelopment and infrastructureprojects, in response to the damage the coronaviruspandemic was having on the economy.

Created in 1991, the RMAallows communities to make decisions on how their own environment is managed through regional and district resource management plans.

Parker said theRMA providedfor local decision-making generally by local councils with the publichaving a right of participation and appeal.

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However, under the new powers resource consent decisionsfor large projects would not go tocouncil and public input would not happen. Instead,a panel of experts chaired by an Environment Court judge would determine whether a project could be given the green light, he said.

"Most people realise that the world is entering into the worst recession in 100 years as a result of Covid-19," Parker told Stuff.

Tom Lee/Stuff

Attorney-General David Parker says National Leader Simon Bridges, as chair of the Epidemic Response Select Committee, has made an "unprincipled" move in trying to summons high-ranking Government officials to hand over Crown Law advice.

"We think it's justified to put aside those normal rights of participation and have a narrower group of people make these decisions centrally."

As Minister for the Environment Parker would be the "gatekeeper" determiningwhich projects would be fast-trackedand go before the expert panel.

Traditional consentingprocessesused in normal circumstances did notprovide the speed needed in response to the economic fallout from Covid-19, he said.

"The new processes will get projects started sooner and people into jobs faster."

Both private and public projects would be eligiblefor the fast-tracked process such asroading, walking and cycling, rail, housing, sediment removal from silted rivers and estuaries, new wetland construction, flood management works, and projects to prevent landfill erosion.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

Roading projects will benefit from a proposed fast-tracked consenting process.

Projects that helped alleviate housing challenges, encouraged active transport and enhanced the environment would be prioritised, Parker said.

The projects had to be "significant" in size and create a large number of jobs, he said.

"We're not going to be taking over every little resource consent that people have to apply for because that would just choke up this panel and defeat its purpose."

Chris Skelton/Stuff

In 2019 a flood ripped open the Fox Glacier landfill causing large amounts of rubbish to spill into the ocean. Projects to prevent landfill erosion could be fast-tracked under the new law.

Once a project was referred to the panel there was a high level of certainty the resource consent would be granted, he said.

He expected the new legislation to free up resources at a local council level, which should speed up the processing ofotherconsent applications.

Parker said the fast-track process was designed as a short-term intervention to help with economic recovery from Covid-19 and the legislation would be repealed in two years.

Part 2 of the RMA, which contained the core principles of environment protection, would still be applied, he said.

Alden Williams/Stuff

National MP Judith Collins says the changes approved by Cabinet shows the RMA makes it difficult to get anything to get done quickly.

The Opposition's RMA spokeswoman Judith Collins said the changes sounded similar to changesproposed by the National Party.

"They should therefore support the repeal and replacement of the RMA, which is what we are proposing," Collins said.

"Even this government has worked out that the RMA is almostimpossible for anything to get done quickly under it."

Parker said while projects were being fast-tracked environmental safeguards remained.

New Zealand's health response to Covid-19 had given the country a head-start on the world to get the economy moving again, he said.

"This fast-tracking process will allow our economic recovery to accelerate."

Ideas from district and regional councils as well as non-government organisations and the private sector would be considered.

Excerpt from:
Coronavirus: Cabinet approves new legislation to fast-track resource consents and boost economy as it emerges from lockdown - Stuff.co.nz

Medway Council plans to spend 12million on the replacement of thousands of street lamps to make them carbon neutral.

Around 23,100 could be changed to LED energy saving light bulbs while more than4,000 concrete columns are likely to be replaced. These are deemed cheaper to manage and run in line with the council's environment strategy.

But, a final decision will need to be made by full council on April 23 before work can start. The move was unanimously backed by Medway Council's cabinet during a public meeting at Chatham's Gun Wharf.

Medway councillor Phil Filmer (Con), the portfolio holder for front line services, said: "This programme will be carbon neutral and help to keep our climate change programme up to date. I hope full council agree to it."

However, some concerns have been raised over vandals disrupting works carried out to replace the lights, if approved by councillors later this month.

This comes after 5G network masts were subjected to attacks in parts of the UK, with some claiming that they have contributed to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Some were set alight in Liverpool and Birmingham.

Medway Council's opposition leader, Cllr Vince Maple (Lab), described the arson as "absolutely ludicrous" and called on all residents to act responsibly.

He added: "The link between the 5G network and the cause of this pandemic is nonsense. If anyone thinks about acting against these street lamps, they need to think long and hard about doing so before doing anything so stupid."

There are 25,667 street lights in Medway, with around 90% of these expected to be upgraded. This is because LED lights are deemed more energy efficient and it is hoped that any repairs needed can be completed quicker in the future.

The proposal also comes amid fears that running costs will grow beyond the council's means, with a 431,000 overspend over the past 18 months.If no action is taken, council bosses say further year on year increases are likely.

A Medway Council paper published ahead of the cabinet meeting stated: "The current situation, where column replacements are prioritised within an inadequate funding envelope, is unsustainable.

"Most columns are already beyond their original design life and even focusingon columns that are deemed structurally unsafe, there is insufficient funding, in annual budgets to meet the needs of this service."

Medway's 55 councillors will decide whether to back the move at the next full council meeting, which remains planned for April 23 at Chatham's Gun Wharf.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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Let there be carbon neutral light - Kent Online

As we enter the second month of stay-at-home orders around the U.S., the strain on the home kitchen is already clear; stores and vendors are adjusting to changing food demands and the supply chain has been impacted.

Certain ingredient shortages we encounter while managing with limited grocery shopping runs make cooking dinner and breakfast, and lunch, and snacktime, and dessert, and midnight snack all the more difficult.

For those battling food insecurity, school meal services and food banks are working overtime to help provide necessary meals and supplies. But for those looking at empty pantry shelves while delaying a grocery trip to stock up further on in-demand items like beans and oat milk, a few innovative swaps can mean that a missing ingredient here or there wont throw off your meal planning. For advice, TIME turned to Alissa Wagner, chef and co-founder of the popular downtown New York City restaurant Dimes and co-author of the recently published cookbook Emotional Eating, as well as baker and Great American Baking Show winner Vallery Lomas, whos popular on social media as the Foodie in New York, and pastry chef and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi, who has been teaching fans with daily live Instagram tutorials.

Wagner called from her restaurants associated market, which is still serving prepared foods and remains busy and well-stocked. Start simply and play around with things, Wagner says. You really can look at cookbooks and recipes and try not to be intimidated and enjoy it. Lomas, meanwhile, has been testing out simplified recipes from her studio apartment in Harlem that are fuss free and work for smaller crowds or even portioned just for one. Dont let fear of failure stop you, she said. Tosi keeps things interesting by playing music themed to match her culinary pursuits (like a queens of pop playlist while making popovers) and sharing what she makes, as much as she safely can. Kitchen time never feels like a chore when you approach it with a generosity of spirit mentality, she says. Now is the time to spread the love more than ever.

Here, Wagner, Lomas and Tosi share their suggestions for what to do when you run out of some of the basics. And while this guide doesnt cover everything you might need to make your preferred dish of the evening to the recipes exact specifications, it might help you come up with some creative solutions. I like to look at my pantry with a sense of imagination, Tosi says. Approach every ingredient with a What does this typically bring to the dish or snack I use it in? Write it down and come back to it when you put your apron on.

Eggs are a refrigerator staple, but once youve worked through your regular dozen, you may find yourself uncertain of what to use as a replacement. If its a breakfast protein youre in the mood for, Wagner recommends turning to tofu, which can be prepared as a scramble and lasts a long time in the fridge.

Although eggs are hard to match in taste as a standalone food and Tosi cautions against trying to replace them in a recipe if it calls for more than a few there are a number of workable stand-ins. If youre baking, do as the vegans do: consider swapping in apple sauce or another fruit you can cook or puree, which provides the same binding properties in baked goods as eggs. (Mashed bananas are a common option, too, and very cost-effective if you buy bunches in bulk. They can also be frozen for later use.) Tosi says a neutral-flavored oil could also help provide structure and moisture.

Lomas and Tosi also recommend the flax egg letting a tablespoon of flaxseed meal soak in a few tablespoons of water for a few minutes. The resulting jelly-like concoction will work in lieu of real eggs, and is every vegans favorite trick, Tosi says.

If youre looking for egg whites, the water in a can of chickpeas, called aquafaba, will suffice. Meringues, mayonnaise and cocktails like a pisco sour can use aquafaba instead of real egg whites. Vegans have been using the replacement source for years.

When dairy supplies run low, fortunately there are plenty of milk substitutes that are more shelf-stable than perishable dairy. Wagner particularly likes coconut milk, which you can keep in your pantry and will work as a replacement for regular milk when thinned with some water. (Its a lot fattier than regular milk, Wagner explained.)

Match your milk sub with the flavor profile of what you are baking, Tosi says. So for bundt and loaf cakes, for instance, she sometimes turns to sour cream and Greek yogurt.

If you have nuts lying around, making your own nut milk is also a possibility: Wagner recommends a three-part water to one-part nut ratio, soaked overnight and blended. A clean t-shirt will do as a strainer, she says. Wagner likes cashew milk, which has a really nice sweetness and its a little cheaper than almonds, making it a more cost-effective option. Almonds and oats also work, and Tosi says nut milks are a good option for pancakes, crepes and bar cookies. Im not above melting down vanilla ice cream to sub in for milk, either, she adds. Embrace all the milky things, she said. Yes, even whipped cream.

If you dont have milk, Lomas suggests simply using water instead of milk for a substitute in baking. And when all else fails, Tosi notes, dont underestimate the power of milk powder, which you can mix with water, too.

There is an almost infinite variety of cheeses on the market. But when it comes to the cheese that we use most often, its generally as an additive on other dishes for that umami kick. Nutritional yeast will work as a substitute in many pasta dishes, Wagner says. Or for saltiness, you can try out capers and olives, which last in the pantry and fridge and bring in the salty brininess you might be missing when you run out of parmesan, notes Wagner.

For Tosi, the pantry or snack cabinet could also hold answers. Ill take the flavor packet from my mac and cheese to make my own Cheez-Its, or use a box of cake mix and some cream cheese for a gooey butter cake, she says.

For cooking, oil olive, canola or even grapeseed or avocado can generally be used as a butter substitute, provided you select an oil with a flavor that complements the rest of your ingredients. It depends on the recipe as to how well this swap will work, Lomas says. Coconut oil, for instance, has a flavor all its own. Used in a cookie recipe, canola and vegetable oil will result in a sandier textured cookie, Tosi says. The conversion is also not a direct one-to-one swap between butter and oil, since butter also has milk fats that an oil may lack; you might need a few tablespoons fewer of oil than butter for a cake, for instance.

Then theres old school shortening, which Tosi says is a best bet for matching butters flavor and structure; margarine is another option, although not as flavorful. If the butter is being used as an especially creamy component, like in a risotto, you could try a heavy cream.

If youre craving homemade carbs perhaps inspired by the proliferation of amateur baking projects youre seeing on social media theres plenty to choose from. Amid flour and yeast shortages, there are still breads you can make that dont require yeast.

Cornbread, Wagner says, should fit the bill provided you can find cornmeal. Simpler bread recipes like focaccia are another option, as it is made without yeast. Tosi turns to her fool-proof beer bread, since beer already has yeast in it. (Her recipe: 1 beer, 3 cups flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, cup butter melted.) She also recommends adapting bread recipes by cutting all but one tablespoon sugar out and throwing spices and seed in, like zaatar or curry powder, for a more aromatic loaf.

Lomas has been baking basics like wheat bread from scratch using whole wheat flour. Other alternative flours, like rice or chickpea, are common in gluten-free recipes and can be used widely. Wagner likes chickpea flour which is less gummy than rice flour and makes really good savory pancakes. Tosi suggests cake flour, which has a lower protein content. Nut flours nuts ground up in a food processor until they are sandy, with a few tablespoons of cornstarch to encourage the binding are her recommendation for cookies. Oat flour (ground up oats) also can work: 1 cups oat flour for 1 cup all purpose flour, says Tosi. Lomas is also a proponent of oat flour, which works well in her cookies and is a decently affordable option.

Even beyond the expected flour alternatives, Tosi suggests turning to other dry ingredients that can grind down into a flour-like consistency, like popcorn and pretzels. (Popcorn flour is fire! she says, but keep an eye on the overall salt content if you use pretzel flour.)

When running low on sugar, look to other sweeteners you have at hand: maple syrup and honey, both of which are actually lower on the glycemic index than regular processed sugar, Wagner says. Plus, both maple syrup and honey last a long time without going bad. Lomas even uses honey in her homemade whole wheat bread recipe. Agave is another natural sweetener option.

Tosi suggests thinking even further beyond the basics when it comes to bringing sweetness to a recipe. Most things you crave late at night can work, too: marshmallows, chocolate, white chocolate chips, peanut butter, sorbet melted down, and candy.

Brown sugars can also be whipped up at home if need be: light brown sugar can be concocted by adding a splash of maple syrup to granulated sugar, while to mix your own dark brown sugar you can add molasses. And powdered sugar, to top things off? Blend granulated sugar with a pinch of cornstarch. In the baking world its called 10x, in reference to it being ground down 10 times, Tosi says of powdered sugars origins.

You can also look beyond sugar for flavor in your baking. If you like a salty-sweet combo, throw potato chips, pretzels, butterscotch chips you name it in your cookie dough or loaf or pancake batter, Tosi says.

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Alternatives to meat like plant-based brands Beyond Meat or the Impossible Burger are buzzy, but can get pricy. To fulfill the central protein portion of a meal, Wagner looks farther afield to vegetarian staples like tofu, which can be bought in bulk for a more cost-conscious solution, or chickpeas. Theyre very filling and versatile; they take to spice and herbs very well, she says, suggesting a simple preparation with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, chopped cilantro and red pepper flakes (or Aleppo pepper if you have it).

Or turn to canned goods. Canned fish like sardines, anchovies and tuna is shelf-stable and stores well, and works as a meal centerpiece. Wagner suggests a spin on the classic French Nioise salad, featuring a canned fish and any vegetable you have on hand, or you can serve the fish on toast.

By the end of two weeks without restocking at a grocery, vegetables may have wilted. But Wagner reminds us that any kind of soft herb or the green part of a vegetable can be used as a base for a salad or a green addition to a meal, including parsley, basil, cilantro, kale or chard. Carrot tops, beet greens, even fennel fronds anything like that you can use, instead of throwing it out, she says.

And dont overlook your onions. One thing people always have lying around that can upgrade anything are onions. You can pickle them easily and throw them into a salad; you can fry them and throw them in with beans, or saut them into your eggs. It adds a ton of flavor in a really easy way, she says.

Pickling is a helpful way of extending the lifespan of leftover vegetables, too. All you really need is vinegar, salt and sugar. Everything else is a bonus, Wagner says of the pickling process.

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A Guide to Expert-Tested Cooking and Baking Substitutes If You Can't Find Your Usual Ingredients Anywhere - TIME