AP: Half-million infected worldwide as economic toll rises
The human and economic toll of the lockdowns against the coronavirus mounted Thursday as India struggled to feed the multitudes, Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in a single week. The U.S. surpassed the official Chinese government numbers to become the country with most reported infections.
As the number of cases worldwide reached a half-million and deaths climbed past 23,000, the damage to people’s livelihoods and their well-being from the effort to flatten the rising curve started to come into focus.
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MIDDLE EAST
Turkish forces 'neutralize' Kurdish fighters in Syria after 2 troops killed.
US forces return Qayyara air base to Iraqi control, withdraw From Mosul area.
Iraqi military says 2 rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone.
US puts NEW sanctions on Iran, despite calls for relief amid massive coronavirus outbreak.
Former FBI agent Robert Levinson dies in Iranian jail, according to family. Robert Levinson: Iran denies US former agent died there.
UN urges immediate truce in five-year conflict in Yemen.
U.S. cuts humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Israel election: Netanyahu rival Gantz ‘agrees emergency unity government’.
Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey charges 20 Saudis over journalist's murder.
ASIA
Xi Jinping urges ‘stronger international cooperation’ and quick action to fight coronavirus pandemic and stave off global recession.
China in coronavirus propaganda push as US ties worsen.
US warship sails through Taiwan Strait amid tensions with China.
Gunmen attack Sikh temple in Afghanistan, killing 25 worshippers.
U.N. mission in Afghanistan urges halt to attacks on civilians.
US-Taliban deal raises hopes for Afghan prisoners.
Afghanistan to release up to 10,000 prisoners to slow coronavirus spread.
India coronavirus: $22bn bailout announced for the poor.
North Korean Embassy in Beijing displays Xi, Kim photos.
Great Barrier Reef suffers third mass bleaching in 5 years.
AFRICA
Number of coronavirus cases rising quickly across Africa.
Egypt expels Guardian reporter for challenging coronavirus count.
Cameroon rebels declare coronavirus ceasefire.
Chad's 'invincible' army reels from jihadist blow.
Libya battles escalate as coronavirus arrives in country.
EU launches new Libya arms embargo mission in Mediterranean.
Mali opposition leader goes missing. Malian opposition leader kidnapped ahead of general elections.
Malian election candidate fights political crisis and coronavirus.
Chad president pays tribute to soldiers lost in Boko Haram attack.
EUROPE
EU leaders order up recovery plan for after coronavirus.
EU leaders at loggerheads over unified coronavirus response.
Eurozone given two weeks to find virus response.
Coronavirus capital by capital: How are Europeans coping with shutdown?
Germany, Switzerland help France deal with COVID-19 patients.
Coronavirus row helps topple Kosovo government. Kosovo PM becomes 1st world leader ousted over coronavirus response.
Coronavirus has put a stop to Europe's Schengen open border policy on its 25th anniversary.
Coronavirus delays Russian vote on Putin staying in power.
Greece celebrates independence day amid rising tensions with Turkey.
AMERICAS
US emerges as virus hotspot as infections, unemployment soar.
Trump to receive new coronavirus recommendations this weekend, plans Xi call.
Trump announces plan to relax lockdown as US surpasses China for most coronavirus cases.
Coronavirus: Record number of Americans file for unemployment. US jobless claims hit record 3.3 million as coronavirus batters economy.
Fed balance sheet tops $5 trillion for first time as it enters coronavirus war mode.
Venezuela's Maduro charged with drug trafficking by U.S. court. U.S. charges Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, others with drug trafficking.
Coronavirus: Mexicans demand crackdown on Americans crossing the border.
Canada slams US proposal to station troops on border.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Mozambique Islamist insurgency intensifies.
Germany: IS sympathizer jailed 10 years over poisoning plan.
Christchurch mosque shooting suspect changes plea to guilty.
Norway extradites jihadist preacher Mullah Krekar to Italy.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Coronavirus: US stocks defy record jobless claims, rise strongly on massive stimulus plan. In three-day surge, stocks recover 20 percent of losses.
Coronavirus: G20 to inject US$5 trillion into global economy, vowing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to overcome pandemic.
Asia stocks rise on bets of more stimulus as dollar rally fades.
6 comments:
Michigan’s Democrat Governor THREATENS All Doctors and Pharmacists who Prescribe or Dispense Hydroxychloroquine for Coronavirus Patients
Democrats complain that Trump is not a medical expert.
When medical doctors, who are medical experts want to prescribe something, Democrat governor's object.
Democrat governors want to climb to higher office on the back of dead Americans.
How are Democrats not actively working to tank the economy?
Withholding the stimulus bill. Pelosi is such a disgrace but no one dares say it. Otherwise you're called a sexist ..but she is incompetent and just plain dumb.. Heartless on top. Pretends to pray for the president. Horrible person
On top she and other Democrats wanted to abandon borders. Right. Vote them out. No more delaying
Those of us who served in the intelligence community knew this day was coming. The day when President Donald Trump's near total disregard for intelligence professionals would eventually affect every American. Personally, I thought Trump's willful blindness might manifest itself in a failure to heed signs of an imminent terrorist strike, military assault or state-sponsored cyberattack. Instead, the missed warnings pointed to a pandemic that has so far resulted in over 82,000 infected Americans and over 1,100 dead here at home. While Trump claims the coronavirus was a "surprise," we've now learned that as early as January, intelligence professionals were sounding the alarm.
Our country’s intelligence agencies monitor global pandemic preparedness because the impact of such a virus poses a national security threat.
Our country's intelligence agencies monitor pandemic preparedness not only because of the possibility that adversaries could weaponize a virus, but also because the impact of such a virus poses a national security threat. A widespread, unchecked illness that affects troop strength, police and rescue staffing, health care workers, critical infrastructure and our economy makes us more vulnerable to both internal and external threats. That's why intelligence agencies assess global response capabilities generally and individual virus outbreaks specifically. Now it appears the president's disdain for unvarnished intelligence may have caused him to disregard their prescient warnings.
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Whoever coined the phrase "ignorance is bliss" never met Trump. The president has a well-established record of ignoring his intelligence advisers on even the most serious issues. When Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, our intelligence community concluded that Saudi government operatives, and more precisely the crown prince, were to blame. Trump disputed the findings. When U.S. intelligence agencies found the Russian government responsible for hacking into the Democratic National Committee and for social media propaganda during our 2016 presidential election, the president chose to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial.
Those of us who served in the intelligence community knew this day was coming. The day when President Donald Trump's near total disregard for intelligence professionals would eventually affect every American. Personally, I thought Trump's willful blindness might manifest itself in a failure to heed signs of an imminent terrorist strike, military assault or state-sponsored cyberattack. Instead, the missed warnings pointed to a pandemic that has so far resulted in over 82,000 infected Americans and over 1,100 dead here at home. While Trump claims the coronavirus was a "surprise," we've now learned that as early as January, intelligence professionals were sounding the alarm.
Our country’s intelligence agencies monitor global pandemic preparedness because the impact of such a virus poses a national security threat.
Our country's intelligence agencies monitor pandemic preparedness not only because of the possibility that adversaries could weaponize a virus, but also because the impact of such a virus poses a national security threat. A widespread, unchecked illness that affects troop strength, police and rescue staffing, health care workers, critical infrastructure and our economy makes us more vulnerable to both internal and external threats. That's why intelligence agencies assess global response capabilities generally and individual virus outbreaks specifically. Now it appears the president's disdain for unvarnished intelligence may have caused him to disregard their prescient warnings.
Whoever coined the phrase "ignorance is bliss" never met Trump. The president has a well-established record of ignoring his intelligence advisers on even the most serious issues. When Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, our intelligence community concluded that Saudi government operatives, and more precisely the crown prince, were to blame. Trump disputed the findings. When U.S. intelligence agencies found the Russian government responsible for hacking into the Democratic National Committee and for social media propaganda during our 2016 presidential election, the president chose to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial.
For two hours, Schumer and fellow Democrats held up the bill — written to boost a faltering economy amid the coronavirus outbreak — while the stricter language was inserted. The Senate passed the $2 trillion package just before midnight.
The change was meant to close a loophole in the original clause that barred loans to businesses that were at least 20 percent owned by presidents or their children, spouses and in-laws. The updated language extended the ban to businesses in which several family members collectively have a 20 percent stake, even if each person's individual stake is below the 20 percent threshold.
For Democrats, it was a small victory after three years of fruitless efforts to block Trump from linking his private business interests with America’s highest public office.
“Now is a time to come together as a nation to provide a desperately needed lifeline to American families," said House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y). "It is not time to bail out the private businesses of President Trump and his family or any other top policymakers."
The Trump family business interests have not been immune from the economic devastation that has blanketed the country. Hotels and tourism have been among the hardest-hit industries, and the president's properties have suffered. Across the country, his hotels and resorts have either partially or completely shut their doors, likely costing his family millions of dollars even as they lay off thousands of employees.
Mar-a-Lago, Trump's South Florida home away from the White House, has closed. The restaurant at Trump’s Washington hotel, a popular gathering spot for candidates, lobbyists and congressional aides, isn't serving food or drinks. And the spa at the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York is not accepting customers.
“Various facilities are temporarily closed given local, state and federal mandates,” a Trump Organization spokesman said. “We anxiously await the day when this pandemic is over and our world-class facilities can reopen.”
Trump, who has met with various industries looking for bailouts, including hospitality executives, has said he would like to re-open businesses by mid-April, despite public health officials warning that much more time is needed.
Some of Trump's properties were initially slow to respond to government calls to limit business activities that involved large gatherings of people. Some kept advertising banquets and spa services, for instance. Other properties remain open in a limited capacity and are still promoting some activities, such as rounds of golf.
Mr. Lapides,
Just write a program that copies news articles from the NYT, Washington Post, and other former newspapers and posts them to the comment section of this blog.
Automate your drek process.
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