Will The U.S. Aircraft Carrier Commander Who Pleaded For Coronavirus Help Be Punished?

The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is pictured as it enters the port in Da Nang, Vietnam, March 5, 2020. REUTERS/Kham/File Photo

Business Insider: Navy leaders say the aircraft carrier commander who urged them for coronavirus help will not be punished for his letter leaking

* The commanding officer of an aircraft carrier who penned a leaked letter to his leaders had followed military procedures and is not expected to be punished, according to senior Navy officials.
* Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to Navy leaders on Sunday urging for an "immediate and decisive action" as the crew dealt with a novel coronavirus outbreak.
* Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said that if Crozier had leaked the letter, it would "violate the principles of good order and discipline," but added "I don't know that."
* "The fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any kind of retaliation," Modly said.

The commanding officer of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier who penned a letter to his leaders had followed military procedures and is not expected to face retaliation, according to senior Navy officials.

Capt. Brett Crozier, the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its roughly 4,800 service members, issued a letter to Navy leaders on Sunday urging for an "immediate and decisive action" as the crew dealt with a novel coronavirus outbreak. Information on the four-page letter and its contents were obtained by The San Francisco Chronicle.

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WNU Editor: US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly is saying there will be no "punishment", but other reports that are saying that he "may" be disciplined .... U.S. Navy does not rule out punishing captain who criticized coronavirus response (Reuters).

Oil Prices May Plunge Below Zero

CNN: The world could soon run out of space to store oil. That may plunge prices below zero

Highways are empty. Planes are grounded. Factories are dark. The unprecedented collapse in oil demand has sent crude crashing to 18-year lows.

Supply, on the other hand, remains largely resilient amid a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. US producers don't want to be the first to blink by turning off production.

That could mean a supply glut so epic that the world will soon run out of room to store all the unneeded barrels of oil.

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Update #1: Oil prices could soon turn negative as the world runs out of places to store crude, analysts warn (CNBC)
Update #2: Oil market shock to spill over into global supply chains - IEA (Reuters)

WNU Editor: Alberta crude is now selling for an unbelievable USD$4.00-$6.00/barrel. Some countries are now naturally taking advantage of these low prices .... China to Start Buying Oil for State Reserves After Crash (Bloomberg).

Foreigners Are Dumping U.S. Treasuries

Zero Hedge: Fed Panics As Foreigners Dump A Record $109 Billion In US Treasuries

Exactly one week ago, when we highlighted the unprecedented surge in Fed Treasury purchases which since March 19 has amounted to $75BN per day until tomorrow when it tapers modestly to $60BN, we said that the Fed's record ramp in debt monetization "is hardly an accident: one look at the Treasury securities held in custody at the Fed shows that the past two weeks have seen a whopping $50BN in foreign central bank sales, a 1.7% drop which was the highest in six years."

As we also noted, "the selling may have contributed to record volatility in the Treasury market and prompted the Fed’s intervention. More importantly, it also means that the biggest buyer of US Treasurys in the past decade, foreign official institutions (i.e., central banks and reserve managers) are now sellers, so now the U.S. government needs private investors to soak up the ever increasing debt issuance."

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WNU Editor: Every country in the world is circling the wagons right now, and that includes dumping U.S. treasuries and bringing their money back home.

Tweets For Today

Coronavirus: US sees record 884 deaths in one day https://t.co/SqiLQj2wKS

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 2, 2020

Masks are everywhere in Asia, but have they helped?https://t.co/6QrroSdhzO pic.twitter.com/dl3pp2hhoc

— AFP news agency (@AFP) April 2, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach a deal in the next few days on oil production, to end a price war that has ‘ravaged’ the oil industry worldwide https://t.co/nWOdGxvoLR pic.twitter.com/5kesKht4Bb

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 2, 2020

Beijing 'will not stand by and watch Huawei be slaughtered on the chopping board' https://t.co/jLB1LinplT

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 2, 2020

Have I seen this movie before? pic.twitter.com/Nn1BQe7f0a

— Mike (@Doranimated) April 1, 2020

#OnThisDay, the last major battle of #WWII took place, as more than 180,000 Marines and soldiers descended on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Both sides suffered a heavy toll but Allied forces took the victory, securing a critical position to end the war. #DoDRemembers75 pic.twitter.com/OrppT2FIQQ

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) April 1, 2020

Picture Of The Day

President Donald Trump arrives behind Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for the start of the daily coronavirus response briefing press briefing room of the White House in Washington, March 31. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

WNU Editor: The above picture came from this photo-gallery .... Top Photos of the Day (Reuters).

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Medical News And Information -- April 1 - 2, 2020

Redfield warned that the virus will be 'with us' for the next 24 months, and agrees with Dr Anthony Fauci of the NIH that a second wave is coming in the fall. Pictured: Redfield (right) speaks with Fauci (left) on Capitol Hill, March 12

Daily Mail: One in four coronavirus patients have NO symptoms, CDC director says as he warns the virus will be 'with us' for the next TWO YEARS

* As many as 25% of people with coronavirus are asymptomatic, according to CDC director Dr Robert Redfield
* He warned that the virus will be 'with us' for the next 24 months, particularly as a second wave occurs in the fall
* The CDC is considering issuing new guidance that all people, not just those who are sick and healthcare workers, wear masks
* In the US, there are more than 200,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 4,000 deaths

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says as many as one in four coronavirus patients in the US are asymptomatic.

Dr Robert Redfield told NPR this probably explains how cases continue to spread across the country even as strict social distancing measures are enacted.

In the US, there are more than 189,000 confirmed cases of the virus - but federal health officials believe the numbers are much higher.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Medical News And Information -- April 1 - 2, 2020

Coronavirus: Why some countries wear face masks and others don't -- Tessa Wong, BBC
'Strike again': US scientist predicts coronavirus return in fall -- Al Jazeera
Is airborne coronavirus transmission possible? The WHO urges caution -- SCMP
Six percent of coronavirus patients with underlying conditions DIE - and nearly 40 percent of Americans who catch it have chronic diseases -- Daily Mail
More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus -- AP
China's top coronavirus expert predicts the pandemic will reach 'a turning point' in FOUR WEEKS -- Daily Mail
Chinese scientists seeking potential COVID-19 treatment find 'effective' antibodies -- Reuters
What doctors are learning about COVID-19 'on the fly' -- AFP
EU urges restraint with using malaria drugs to treat COVID-19 -- DW
Taking COVID-19's temperature: Daily 'smart thermometer' data reveals that just 1% of Americans have fevers despite the coronavirus pandemic that experts predicted would leave twice as many with the symptom -- Daily Mail
Why coronavirus testing can take DAYS: Expert breaks down just how much time every step of the process takes and why a 'five-minute test' does NOT mean bedside results -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus nightmare of China’s ‘recovered’ patients -- SCMP
Chinese military scientists hope to test coronavirus vaccine abroad -- SCMP
Coronavirus: How do ventilators work? -- DW
Bill Gates lays out three-point plan for US on brink of coronavirus catastrophe -- SCMP/Business Insider
Coronavirus and mental health: 'We are not made for social isolation' -- DW
Coronavirus: How to understand the death toll -- Nick Triggle, BBC

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Africa -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

CBS: Fight against coronavirus in Africa is an "existential war for the continent"

The head of the main public health body for the African Union, Africa CDC, has told CBS News that the coronavirus epidemic is an "existential war for the continent."

"What's keeping me up at night is two things," Dr. John Nkengasong told CBS News' Debora Patta: "That Africa will be hit in a significant way, just as we see is happening in Europe, and we don't have the capacity to respond."

There have been 5,954 reported cases of the COVID-19 disease across Africa thus far, according to CBS News partner network BBC News, and 204 people are confirmed to have died of it. But there are concerns among experts that the virus could spread rapidly among people living in deprived, cramped conditions like refugee camps and prisons, and that many countries don't have the health infrastructure to cope.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Africa -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Coronavirus in Africa tracker -- BBC
Tracking Africa's coronavirus cases -- Al Jazeera
South Africa sends testing teams into townships to contain coronavirus -- Reuters
South Africa: Impressions from a country in lockdown. -- DW
With no space or water, Cape Town slum has little to face coronavirus -- AFP
Coronavirus outbreak hinders run-up to Ethiopia elections -- DW
Somalia bans swimming over Covid-19 -- BBC
G-20 prepares coronavirus rescue package for Africa -- Politico

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The Middle East -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Arab News: Middle East continues containment measures as coronavirus red zone shifts to the West

DUBAI: Middle East countries continue to implement containment measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases topped 850,000 and over 42,000 deaths globally.

The pandemic red zone has shifted west from China, with the United States now harder hit than any other country, with almost 200,000 cases.

The coronavirus scourge in Europe is also being felt in Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom, with more than a quarter-of-a-million cases and rising, as people slowly start to follow official advice to stay at home and follow social distancing.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The Middle East -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Coronavirus: Iran's official death toll passes 3,000 -- BBC
Iran hits out at US as virus death toll passes 3,000 -- AFP
Coronavirus: Iran is facing a major challenge controlling the outbreak -- BBC
Iranian officials send mixed signals on coronavirus fight -- Al-Monitor
Turkey's coronavirus death toll rises to 277, with 15,679 total cases: minister -- Reuters
War-torn Yemen ‘not equipped’ for potential coronavirus outbreak -- France 24
Saudi Arabia tells Muslims to delay plans to visit the kingdom's holiest cities for Hajj amid coronavirus fears -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings -- BBC
Israelis told to wear face masks in public, mark religious holidays with close family only -- Reuters
Israel to transfer all travelers from abroad to quarantine facilities -- UPI

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Asia -- News Updates April 1, 2020

ABC News Online: Wuhan's coronavirus lockdown is being lifted but doubts remain it will ever return to normal

As Wuhan, ground zero of the coronavirus pandemic, came to a standstill following the lockdown of its 11 million residents, the massive task ahead of Xiao Jinsong was just beginning.

Mr Xiao was among the first psychologists dispatched to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.

He has since been counselling both patients and medical staff on the front line around the clock.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In China -- News Updates April 1, 2020

Chinese county goes into coronavirus lockdown as country tries to get back to work amid fear of second wave -- SCMP
China says new coronavirus cases drop, starts posting asymptomatic tally too -- France 24
China reports asymptomatic cases -- nearly 150 -- for first time -- UPI
Wuhan reports its first 'imported case': Chinese student, 16, who studies in the UK brings the coronavirus BACK to the former epicentre after flying home from Newcastle - despite showing NO symptoms -- Daily Mail
Beijing comes cautiously back to life as COVID-19 hits hardest beyond China -- DW
Coronavirus: How China's using surveillance to tackle outbreak -- BBC
Virus data: What’s known and not known about China’s numbers -- AP

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In India -- News Updates April 1, 2020

India coronavirus cases rise amid fears true figure much higher -- The Guardian
Lack of compassion, more than resources, marks India’s deadly lockdown mismanagement -- France 24
Coronavirus: in India, after violence police try humour to enforce lockdown -- SCMP
'Some of us will die': India's homeless stranded by coronavirus lockdown -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Pakistan -- News Updates April 1, 2020

Pakistan's blame game shifts to Iran as coronavirus cases surge -- FOX News
Coronavirus and Islam: Pakistani clerics refuse to shut down mosques -- DW

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Japan -- News Updates April 1, 2020

Japan is 'on the brink' as it struggles to contain coronavirus and its medical system could collapse, health chief and minister warn -- Daily Mail
Japan expands ban on visitors as virus cases climb -- AFP
Japan 'on the brink' as it struggles to hold back coronavirus -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In South Korea -- News Updates April 1, 2020

Coronavirus: South Korea fears quarantine dodgers could cause new wave of infections -- DW
South Korea sees slight decline in new coronavirus cases -- Al Jazeera
South Korea's coronavirus crackdown a boon for Moon ahead of polls -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Asia -- News Updates April 1, 2020

Philippines President Duterte says medical staff who lose their lives treating coronavirus patients are 'lucky' to die for their country -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus pandemic threatens Bangladesh garment industry -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus fear stokes panic buying and price rises in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Indonesia bans foreigners as study warns 240,000 could die from coronavirus -- ABC News Online
Indonesia may start new holiday to replace Eid exodus amid COVID-19 concerns -- Reuters
Fears of coronavirus catastrophe as Myanmar reports first death -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus threatens Myanmar's most vulnerable in displacement camps -- BBC
Afghanistan braces for coronavirus surge as migrants pour back from Iran -- The Guardian
Australia's slow reaction to the coronavirus crisis -- DW
Australia starts putting time limits on 'draconian' virus measures -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The Europe -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

A graph showing Italy's daily death figures going up until April 1

Daily Mail: Italy sees number of deaths rise by its lowest in almost a week - 727 - but number of new infections sees sharp spike with 4,782 new cases

* The country's total death toll now sits at 13,155, with total infections at 110,574
* Italy's death toll rise is its lowest since March 26, though its infections are rising
* In the Lombardy region, the daily tallies of deaths and cases were both up today

Italy's coronavirus death toll has risen by 727 today, the lowest daily rise since March 26.

The country's total death toll now sits at 13,155, the Civil Protection Agency revealed, with today's increase significantly smaller than Tuesday's.

The percentage rise in daily deaths in Italy - 5.8 per cent - is also the lowest since the crisis began in the country.

However, the number of new cases rose more sharply than a day earlier, growing by 4,782 against a previous 4,053, bringing total infections since the outbreak began to 110,574.

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Spain has recorded a record-breaking number of coronavirus deaths for the second day in a row at 864, bringing the country's total from 8,189 to 9,053

Daily Mail: Spain sees its highest number of deaths for second day in a row – 864 - as number of coronavirus cases tops 100,000

* Spain saw 864 coronavirus deaths Wednesday, up from a record 849 on Tuesday
* There were 7,719 new cases reported, bringing the total from 94,417 to 102,136
* The country is now rapidly catching pace with Italy, which has the most deaths
* Spain went into lockdown four days after Italy, meaning virus has yet to peak

Spain's death toll from coronavirus has risen by a record amount for the second day in a row with total cases now over 100,000.

The country registered 864 new deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the total from 8,189 to 9,053. The previous largest increase was 849, which occurred in the previous 24 hours.

The number of new infections rose by 7,719, jumping from 94,417 on Tuesday to 102,136 at the same time Wednesday.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Italy -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Italy sees number of deaths rise by its lowest in almost a week - 727 - but number of new infections sees sharp spike with 4,782 new cases -- Daily Mail
Italy records lowest coronavirus death toll for a week -- The Guardian
Italy coronavirus death rate slows but studies suggest true tally higher -- Reuters
Italy is priming 'biological bombs' by sending coronavirus-positive hospital patients to care homes to recover, doctors warn -- Daily Mail

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Spain -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Coronavirus: Spain's deaths pass 9,000 as infection rate slows -- BBC
Spain's coronavirus cases top 100,000 as masks, sanitiser flown in -- Reuters
Poor and vulnerable hardest hit by pandemic in Spain -- The Guardian
Doctors hit by 'huge avalanche' of coronavirus patients in Spain -- NBC

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In France -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

France reports new daily record of 509 coronavirus deaths, surpasses 4,000 deaths in total -- France 24
French PM warns lockdown will not be lifted ‘in one go’ as police issue more than 350,000 in fines -- France 24
Tour de France in doubt after UCI announce racing suspension until June -- The Guardian

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The U.K. -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

UK reports daily death toll of 563 in worst day of coronavirus crisis -- France 24
France passes 4,000 coronavirus deaths, no end of lockdown in sight -- Reuters
UK records biggest daily rise in coronavirus deaths -- The Guardian
Britain comes to terms with its darkest day yet as the coronavirus death toll jumps by a third -- ABC News Online
UK coronavirus deaths rise by 563 to 2,352 -- Reuters
Donald Trump tears into Boris Johnson’s failure to respond early to coronavirus crisis, warning it would have been ‘catastrophic’ to simply ‘ride it out’ -- Daily Mail
Testing of frontline staff to reach 100,000s in coming weeks- English medical boss -- Reuters
Prince Charles speaks for the first time about suffering coronavirus and his 'strange and distressing' time in self-isolation - as he calls for NHS and key workers to get 'special consideration' when they are out shopping -- Daily Mail
Prince Charles: COVID-19 is 'strange,' 'frustrating' and 'distressing' -- UPI
Wimbledon is CANCELLED for the first time since World War II due to the coronavirus pandemic as All England Club chiefs call tournament off at emergency meeting -- Daily Mail

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Germany -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Germany suffers its biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths for second day in a row with 149 new fatalities, bringing mortality rate over 1% for the first time -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: Germany extends social distancing restrictions until April 19 -- DW
Merkel tells Germans to stay home until after Easter to beat virus -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Russia -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Moscow rolls out tracking app to 'ensure self-discipline' during coronavirus lockdown -- France 24
Vladimir Putin will take no more chances with coronavirus and 'work remotely', the Kremlin reveals after physician he shook hands with a week ago tested positive for Covid-19 -- Daily Mail
Russia earmarks $18 billion to tackle coronavirus crisis -- Reuters

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Sweden -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Sweden: Europe’s lockdown exception -- France 24
STILL Sweden bucks the trend: Public continue to mill about in groups as life goes on despite warnings their government's coronavirus approach is recipe for disaster -- Daily Mail
Sweden response to coronavirus outbreak divides opinion -- Al Jazeera

Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In The Europe -- News Updates April 1 - 2, 2020

Albania extends lockdown till end of coronavirus outbreak -- Reuters
Portugal prepares to extend state of emergency as deaths rise to 187 -- Reuters
Shortage of drugs and equipment: Brussels hospitals sound the alarm -- Reuters
Austrian supermarkets hand out face masks before they become compulsory -- Reuters