INSIDER
Russian statistics soar for virus-linked deaths in 2020
Read full article: Russian statistics soar for virus-linked deaths in 2020By Jan. 1, the task force reported a total 57,555 deaths. Russian officials ascribe that to different counting methods, saying the task force only includes deaths where COVID-19 was the main cause. December accounted for the highest number of Russian deaths since April — 44,435, according to Rosstat. AdRosstat’s count is much higher than the 77,068 deaths that have been reported by the Russian government’s coronavirus task force so far, including deaths that occurred in January and February. The Kremlin credited the government's response measures for Russia’s low COVID-19 mortality, and experts cited the way Russia counts virus deaths as one of the reasons behind the relatively low reported number of virus deaths.
ICE: International students will have to leave country if in-person classes are online only
Read full article: ICE: International students will have to leave country if in-person classes are online onlyWASHINGTON, D.C. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Monday that international students, or nonimmigrant students within the United States, are prohibited from taking a full course of study through online classes. ICEs decision argues that visa requirements for students have always been strict and taking online-only courses has been prohibited. Additionally, even if international students elect to take in-person classes, there is no guarantee universities will be able to continue to offer them throughout the semester or year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19, ICEs Student and Exchange Visitor Program instituted a temporary exemption regarding online courses for the spring and summer semesters. The policy permitted nonimmigrant students to take more online courses than normally permitted by federal regulation to maintain their nonimmigrant status during the COVID-19 emergency.