Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• A massive stockpile of 39 million N95 masks is being sold to American hospitals — around 27 million more than the US government's emergency stockpile
• Student loan stimulus: Suspended payments, plus coronavirus relief from collections
• Coronavirus: Malaria drug has no impact on treating Covid-19 patients, Chinese study finds
• Senate Virus Stimulus Deal Drops Airline Carbon Emissions Limits
• Family concludes former FBI agent Robert Levinson died in Iran
• One chart shows how much cash you should expect from the coronavirus stimulus based on your salary
• AP PHOTOS: Virus accentuates isolation of Spain's homeless
• Airlines owe you a refund when they cancel a flight. So why is United balking during coronavirus crisis?
• U.S. playing dangerous game, China says, after warship sails through Taiwan Strait
• North Korea Seeks International Help for Virus Testing, FT Says
• At first, I was unsure if lockdowns are a good idea. But now I'm convinced we'll come through for the better.
• What grocery store employees want you to know about shopping right now
• After Putin's Big Fail, Russia Braces for COVID-19 Onslaught
• S&P 500 rallies for second day as investors await $2 trillion aid package
• Biden: ‘I think we’ve had enough debates’
• Mexican governor prompts outrage with claim poor are immune to coronavirus
• Pelosi reacts to coronavirus stimulus deal, hints at possible voice vote
• Islamic State Claims Bold Raid on Strategic Mozambique Town
• 5 reasons the coronavirus hit Italy so hard
• Delta, American, and other airlines are parking planes on closed runways at major airports as carriers struggle to store grounded airliners
• Factbox: Germany's anti-coronavirus stimulus package
• Letters to the Editor: The obvious vice presidential pick for Joe Biden is Michelle Obama
• Coronavirus checks, direct deposits are coming. Here's everything you need to know.
• Top scientist: Coronavirus could be seasonal
• Pressure Builds on Boris Johnson Over the U.K.’s Lag in Virus Testing
• Why companies like Goldman Sachs, Apple, and Facebook had all of those N95 masks to donate in the first place
• Judge: Tekashi 6ix9ine probably belongs at home, not jail
• Dyson Goes From Vacuums to Ventilators In Just 10 Days
• Grocery store throws out $35K worth of food after woman's 'twisted prank'
• Whoopi Goldberg Confronts Newt Gingrich for Suggesting Nurses Will Abandon Coronavirus Patients
• India Delays Plan for Population Register Citing Coronavirus

A massive stockpile of 39 million N95 masks is being sold to American hospitals — around 27 million more than the US government's emergency stockpile Posted: 26 Mar 2020 02:58 PM PDT The Service Employees International Union said in a statement, circulating on Twitter, that it's selling 39 million masks to hospitals around the country.

Student loan stimulus: Suspended payments, plus coronavirus relief from collections Posted: 25 Mar 2020 02:34 PM PDT The coronavirus stimulus package suspends student loan payments, but does not have loan forgiveness. The feds also have stopped collections efforts.

Coronavirus: Malaria drug has no impact on treating Covid-19 patients, Chinese study finds Posted: 25 Mar 2020 01:34 PM PDT The malaria drug hydroxychloroquine might not be effective in treating patients with Covid-19, a new study finds.The report published by the Journal of Zhejiang University in China tested if coronavirus patients who received the medication were more likely to recover than those who didn't, and it found that was not the case.

Senate Virus Stimulus Deal Drops Airline Carbon Emissions Limits Posted: 25 Mar 2020 08:55 AM PDT

Family concludes former FBI agent Robert Levinson died in Iran Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:01 PM PDT They said they didn't know how or when he died, "only that it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic."

One chart shows how much cash you should expect from the coronavirus stimulus based on your salary Posted: 26 Mar 2020 01:34 PM PDT The stimulus bill that was passed by the Senate includes checks for most Americans. The amount is based on your tax-filing status and income.

AP PHOTOS: Virus accentuates isolation of Spain's homeless Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:26 AM PDT While Spanish authorities tell the public that staying home is the best way to beat the coronavirus pandemic, some people are staying out because home has come to mean the streets of Madrid and Barcelona. Spain, which ranks fourth worldwide among the countries with the most virus cases, is under a government-imposed lockdown that has closed stores, emptied office buildings and left cities largely deserted, day and night. In typically bustling Barcelona, figures with boxes and blankets, mattresses or tents, punctuate the eerie emptiness.

Airlines owe you a refund when they cancel a flight. So why is United balking during coronavirus crisis? Posted: 26 Mar 2020 01:58 PM PDT Airlines are supposed to refund flyers' money if they cancel a flight. United has introduced more restrictive policies during the coronavirus crisis.

U.S. playing dangerous game, China says, after warship sails through Taiwan Strait Posted: 25 Mar 2020 05:43 PM PDT

North Korea Seeks International Help for Virus Testing, FT Says Posted: 25 Mar 2020 06:23 PM PDT

At first, I was unsure if lockdowns are a good idea. But now I'm convinced we'll come through for the better. Posted: 25 Mar 2020 11:59 AM PDT Opinion | The lockdowns in place to control the coronavirus pandemic are tough on the economy, but necessary to control the disease.

What grocery store employees want you to know about shopping right now Posted: 26 Mar 2020 08:48 AM PDT The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has put grocery store workers on the front lines of an unprecedented situation.

After Putin's Big Fail, Russia Braces for COVID-19 Onslaught Posted: 26 Mar 2020 03:18 AM PDT Only days after the Kremlin assured the Russians that the coronavirus pandemic was under control, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told Russian President Vladimir Putin that "the momentum is high and a serious situation is unfolding." Contrary to the previously reported low rate of infection, "the real number of those who are sick is significantly higher," Sobyanin said. He added that the number of tests conducted to date has been extremely low "and no one on earth knows the real picture."Russia Swore It Whipped the Virus, and Fox and CNN Bought ItOn Wednesday, officially released statistics listed 658 coronavirus infections and no deaths. To date, there have been at least 3 known deaths of coronavirus patients in Russia, but they are being attributed to other causes and thereby deceptively omitted from government reports. The official bulletin about the coronavirus, released by Russia's federal agency Rospotrebnadzor on March 24, states that more than 112,074 people remain under medical supervision.Concerned Russian doctors sounded the alarm that potential coronavirus cases are being ascribed to pneumonia and seasonal flu without testing. For example, the city of St. Petersburg experienced a sharp jump of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus cases. During just one week in March, 63,000 SARS cases and 406 cases of pneumonia have been recorded, according to Interfax. The city's administration emphasized that the incidence of SARS is at the epidemiological threshold. The Interfax news report did not point out that the official name of the novel coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2.In light of the Kremlin's pandemic propensity for lying, the public disregarded initial claims that the government successfully curtailed the spread of the coronavirus. Panic buying ensued, leading to the rising prices of sugar, buckwheat, produce and other food items.As the coronavirus curve keeps on climbing, President Putin is on a mission to demonstrate his leadership. He postponed a nationwide vote on pending constitutional changes, which are meant to secure his lifelong presidency. The voting may take place later in the year and possibly be conducted by mail. The decision is being left solely to Putin.Putin Worries Coronavirus Could Screw Up His Constitutional 'Coronation'In a televised address to the nation Wednesday, Putin announced a sweeping array of measures, which he said were designed to prevent "what is happening today in many Western countries, both in Europe and overseas" from becoming Russia's future. Starting on March 28, Russians are getting one week of paid leave to stay home, in an attempt to "flatten the curve" of the pandemic. With exception of the Russians trying to return from abroad, Russia stopped all international flights.Russian pundits and medical experts described the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as a rehearsal for biological warfare. Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian army to carry out drills designed to increase its readiness to fight the novel coronavirus. The drills will include specialist medical units and nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops.  Discussions are underway as to the potential cancellation of the Victory Day parade in May of this year, but final determination will be made depending on the efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. There is a possibility the parade, commemorating the surrender of the Nazis in WWII, may be held without spectators. U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien is currently set to attend the event, in lieu of Donald J. Trump.  Kremlin-controlled state TV shows are taking unprecedented measures to protect some of their most cherished assets: the hosts, whose full-throated support of Vladimir Putin is especially important during these challenging times. Popular Russian info-talk show 60 Minutes is now filming its segments without audiences. After the host Olga Skabeeva could be heard coughing during a commercial break, she was separated from her husband and co-host Evgeny Popov. The married couple are now hosting 60 Minutes separately, on different days. Likewise, they are staying apart during the off-work hours, because even if one of them falls ill, the show must go on.Speaking of performance art, Vladimir Putin embarked on a visit to Moscow's hospital for monitoring suspected coronavirus patients. Unlike U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who frequently claims that the threat of coronavirus is widely overblown, Vladimir Putin is an old Chekist who believes in science, facts and bio-warfare. Taking no chances, Putin donned a hazmat suit and visited only one patient— Dmitry Garkavi, who is a doctor and a social media influencer. The drop-in was not particularly risky, since Garkavi was hospitalized with pneumonia, and tested negative for coronavirus—twice. In his social media posts, Garkavi remarked that he communicated with Vladimir Putin for all of "10-15 seconds." After the brief exchange, Putin observed other patients through the glass of the hospital's control room, was helped out of his outfit and promptly left the building.  The hazmat suit sported by the Russian leader was distinctly different than the protective attire worn by hospital workers. It was purchased for the Russian president by his staff especially for his hospital visit. Putin's yellow jumpsuit is now in high demand, but is completely sold out at the store where it was bought.Vladimir Putin's coronavirus photo op promptly made the rounds on Russian state television. During his show, The Evening with Vladimir Soloviev, the host beamed with pride when he pointed out: "Out of all of the world leaders, only [China'a President] Xi Jinping and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin went to visit the sick." For contrast, Soloviev introduced a clip of the U.S. President Donald J. Trump rapidly moving away from the White House's coronavirus task force response coordinator, Dr Deborah Birx, as soon as she mentioned her low grade fever.In spite of Russia's own issues with coronavirus testing, widespread shortages of medical equipment and protective medical gear, the Kremlin is posturing by offering to help other countries in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov offered to help Washington in the fight against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and complained about "rude" American media trying to switch the focus to other countries (like Russia).State TV host Vladimir Soloviev pompously predicted: "I have a feeling that we will end up saving humanity—again, like we've done more than once," an apparent reference to Russia's sacrifices defeating the Nazis in World War II. Russian state media are framing the failure by the Trump administration to offer help to its European allies in their fight against the deadly pandemic as the defeat of the United States, the end of NATO, and the virtual nonexistence of transatlantic unity. Russian experts believe that the outcome of the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic will change the entire balance of power in the world. Russian state media outlet Vesti described the course chosen by the administration of the U.S. President Donald J. Trump as "indecisive," "poorly coordinated" and hesitant to implement the tough measures recommended by the experts in curtailing the deadly pandemic.Vesti argued that "coronavirus will determine the winner in the rivalry between China and the United States." But the stakes are much higher. Kremlin-controlled media believe that on a larger scale, "the success or failure of the United States will form a global view of the effectiveness of democracy compared to autocracy. This, in turn, will affect America's global position, its ability to attract vacillating allies into its orbit from China's sphere of influence, and possibly determine the global geopolitical leader for years to come."Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

S&P 500 rallies for second day as investors await $2 trillion aid package Posted: 25 Mar 2020 02:35 AM PDT Wall Street trimmed hefty gains late in the session after reports raised doubts about how quickly the bill might pass, but the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average still ended up more than 1% and 2%, respectively. Boeing surged 24%, bringing its gain over the past three sessions to almost 70%, as investors bet on government support for the aerospace industry as well as airlines. American Airlines Group , United Airlines Holding and Delta Air Lines each jumped more than 10%.

Biden: ‘I think we’ve had enough debates’ Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:13 PM PDT When former Vice President Joe Biden was asked if he believes there should be more Democratic primary debates, he said he believes that there have been enough.

Mexican governor prompts outrage with claim poor are immune to coronavirus Posted: 26 Mar 2020 01:06 PM PDT Miguel Barbosa's comments reflect almost conspiratorial response of many Mexican politicians to pandemic * Coronavirus – latest updates * See all our coronavirus coverageA Mexican state governor has prompted incredulity and outrage by claiming that poor people are immune to Covid-19, as the government attempts to promote physical distancing and cancels non-essential services.Miguel Barbosa, the governor of Puebla, was apparently commenting on reports that a significant proportion of Mexico's coronavirus cases is made up of wealthy people who had travelled abroad.Officials say three-quarters of Mexico's 475 confirmed cases are related to international travel, including several people who reportedly caught the virus on skiing trips to Italy or the US."Most of them are wealthy people," Barbosa said. "If you are rich you are at risk. If you are poor you are not. The poor, we're immune."default His comments set off a firestorm in a country, where nearly half of the population are poor and the majority work in the informal economy.They also reflected the almost conspiratorial response of many Mexican politicians toward Covid-19, which threatens to wreck the government's agenda of mega-projects and expanding social programmes.The country's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose administration has promised to "put the poor first", has responded with breezy optimism to the crisis. He told reporters on Tuesday that Mexico would be past the "worst of it" within a month.López Obrador has resisted stiffer measures such as quarantine and border closures, on the grounds that poor Mexicans are unable to afford not to work."The economy is in a nosedive and his base, the poor, is getting the short end of the stick," said Esteban Illades, the editor of Nexos magazine, of the president's motives. "A weak economy means his legacy is compromised."Mexico has entered phase II of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning community spreading has started. There have been six deaths in the country so far.Covid-19 has struck at a tough time for Mexico. The economy slumped in 2019 and forecasts for 2020 suggested continued stagnation even before the pandemic.López Obrador swept to power with an overwhelming majority in 2019, but recent polls suggest his support is slipping. One survey showed his approval rating below 50% for the first time.The president's supporters have rallied around him and tried to downplay the dangers of the coronavirus.Analysts say the pandemic is the most recent in a string of crises, including outbreaks of drug violence and growing fury over gender-based violence, which López Obrador and his supporters see as personal attacks rather than issues requiring urgent attention and resources."They're looking at how coronavirus will affect their so-called 'fourth transformation", as the president refers to his administration, "and how their dreams of transforming the country are now on the backburner," Illades said. "It happens every presidential term. Reality always gets in the way of dreams."

Pelosi reacts to coronavirus stimulus deal, hints at possible voice vote Posted: 25 Mar 2020 05:48 PM PDT The chamber has adjourned until Thursday and it is likely there would be no action until then.

Islamic State Claims Bold Raid on Strategic Mozambique Town Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:06 AM PDT

5 reasons the coronavirus hit Italy so hard Posted: 26 Mar 2020 05:09 AM PDT Italy is one of the nations worst hit by the global coronavirus pandemic. As a scholar in the field of security and emergency management who has studied and worked in Italy, I have determined that there are at least five major reasons why the country is suffering so much. 1\. Lots of old peopleItalians have the sixth-longest life expectancy in the world – 84 years old. That means lots of Italians are elderly: In 2018, 22.6% of its population was 65 or over, among the highest proportions in Europe.Medical researchers have said the coronavirus poses a more serious threat to older people than to younger ones. Older people are more likely to contract the COVID-19 disease and, mostly, to have a more severe case of it. That can also increase the demand for hospitals' intensive-care units.Many older Italians may have been also exposed to the virus in the workplace; in 2019 the average Italian retirement age was expected to be 67, at least two years later than average retirees in other Western developed nations. 2\. Close proximityItalians aren't used to social distancing. They are very physically affectionate people: Hugs and cheek-kisses are common not just among family members but also friends and even work colleagues.Even when they're just chatting, Italians are closer together than many other people, because their culture's psychological perception of personal space is smaller than in other countries. Large social gatherings, formerly common in public areas, were banned by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the beginning of March 2020. 3\. Dense populationThere isn't a lot of space in Italy for people to spread out in. Italy is a densely populated country, with an average density of 533 people per square mile. In comparison, Germany has a population density of 235 people per square mile while the U.S. has 94.Two-thirds of Italians live in urban areas that are even more dense. Rome has 5,800 people per square mile, and Milan packs more than 19,000 people into every square mile. That's almost twice the density of Berlin and Washington, D.C. 4\. Northern Italy is a business hubMilan, in northern Italy, is the country's financial capital, and has close trade and educational connections with China. The whole region of northern Italy is home to offices for many multinational corporations. Workers travel from all over the world to attend meetings and conventions in northern Italy. An infected person not only could infect others, but those people could rapidly spread out across the entire country. 5\. Massive number of casesAs of March 25, China is the only country registering more COVID-19 cases than Italy. With far fewer people, Italy's infection rate is much higher than China's. No other country has a truly comparable set of circumstances.A key factor in emergency management is learning lessons from others in similar circumstances – but there is no one for Italy to learn from at this stage of the crisis. Chinese experts have traveled to Italy to help – but many of the lessons they are bringing only became clear after Italy's outbreak began, so the Italians are behind where other countries, with more recent outbreaks, may be.The Italian government has progressively worked to contain the disease, including declaring a total national lockdown on March 10. More than two weeks later, the country may finally be seeing a decline in the number of new cases. Italy has struggled – and is continuing to fight – against an unprecedented crisis that found dangerously fertile ground in elements of the country's demographics, business, geography and culture. But its people haven't lost their social habits – just adapted them, and created perhaps a temporary new national motto: "Distanti ma uniti." Distant, but united.[You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read our newsletter.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * In battling the coronavirus, will 'optimistic bias' be our undoing? * How can we prepare for the coronavirus? 3 questions answeredSara Belligoni does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Delta, American, and other airlines are parking planes on closed runways at major airports as carriers struggle to store grounded airliners Posted: 26 Mar 2020 10:20 AM PDT Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, normally the busiest airport in the US, closed an entire runway to store Delta Air Lines aircraft.

Factbox: Germany's anti-coronavirus stimulus package Posted: 25 Mar 2020 06:56 AM PDT

Letters to the Editor: The obvious vice presidential pick for Joe Biden is Michelle Obama Posted: 26 Mar 2020 03:00 AM PDT The former first lady is admired by liberals and conservatives. Putting her on the ticket would make defeating Trump easy.

Coronavirus checks, direct deposits are coming. Here's everything you need to know. Posted: 26 Mar 2020 08:48 AM PDT Who qualifies? How much is being sent? When? How will I get the money? Questions and answers.

Top scientist: Coronavirus could be seasonal Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:29 AM PDT Anthony Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said there is a strong chance the new coronavirus could return seasonally.

Pressure Builds on Boris Johnson Over the U.K.’s Lag in Virus Testing Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:39 PM PDT (Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson's top medical adviser said the U.K. must learn from other countries' experience of coronavirus testing as he warned the National Health Service may be overwhelmed by the pandemic.The admission came after days of criticism from politicians and the media that Britain's test regime is lagging behind other nations', including Germany and South Korea. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said the U.K. is being hobbled by global supply chain bottlenecks, and he dampened optimism that home test kits could be available within days. "What we need to do is look at those countries that have actually got more testing than us and work out how to do it the way they're doing it as best we can in our own system, using our own testing systems," Whitty said at a joint press conference with Johnson on Wednesday.The issue carries significant political risk for Prime Minister Johnson because testing is seen by medical experts, the World Health Organization and even his own advisers as crucial in the absence of a vaccine. Without knowing how many people have been infected it's impossible to know how best to tackle the outbreak -- or to judge when to end an economy-sapping lockdown.The admission that the U.K. needs to learn from other countries is also potentially damaging for the government, which has faced repeated criticism for acting more slowly than other countries to curb movement of people, close schools, and ban gatherings in public. 'Extraordinary Speed'Standing next to Johnson and Whitty at a press conference in London, the U.K.'s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance acknowledged the government has no idea how widely the virus has spread in the population. "The scale of this is something which has obviously occurred at extraordinary speed," Whitty said, when asked why the U.K. was not able to match other countries' rate of testing. "That's just a practical reality."The lack of testing capacity is having an immediate impact on the state-run NHS's capacity to cope, because many front-line workers showing symptoms -- or in households with other people who are -- are self-isolating to avoid the risk of infecting their patients. But not all of these medical workers would have to stay at home if they could be tested and given the all-clear.The U.K. had conducted just over 90,000 tests as of March 24, typically at a rate of 5,000-6,000 day. That's still well short of the immediate goal of 10,000 daily tests and far from the 25,000 target it wants to hit in the coming weeks.U.K. Says 3.5 Million Coronavirus Home Tests Coming SoonClose Run"This is going to be a close-run thing, we all know that," Whitty said, when asked if the NHS will be overwhelmed in the next three weeks. If people adhere to the lock down rules, the outbreak will "probably be manageable, but we can't guarantee that," he said.Johnson decided to stop widespread testing, instead choosing to limit tests to patients who were taken to hospital showing likely symptoms.That policy was driven by the pursuit of so-called herd immunity -- the point at which enough people have had an illness, and gained protection from it, that it won't be transmitted to those who haven't been infected. Vallance said at the time that 60% of the U.K. population would need to catch the disease for it to work.The government abandoned that strategy when scientific modeling made clear the NHS didn't have enough critical care beds to cope with the expected numbers needing treatment.It is now in a phase of trying to suppress the outbreak with intensifying measures aimed at reducing social interactions. On Monday, Johnson said the country would be in a lock down for at least three weeks.The strategy had many critics including Jeremy Hunt, the U.K.'s longest-serving health secretary from 2012 to 2018, who told the BBC on Wednesday the decision to stop testing in the community was "very worrying.""When the view was that you were happy for 60% of the population to get this, then testing becomes less important," he said. "The key -- if we want to avoid long periods of lock down -- is to have very, very comprehensive testing so that we actually track down and break the chain of transmission."For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Why companies like Goldman Sachs, Apple, and Facebook had all of those N95 masks to donate in the first place Posted: 24 Mar 2020 09:36 PM PDT Some companies began stockpiling masks after the avian flu 15 years ago because they believed it would protect people from respiratory illnesses.

Judge: Tekashi 6ix9ine probably belongs at home, not jail Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:19 PM PDT The judge who sentenced the rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine to prison said Wednesday he would have ordered home confinement instead if he had known about the coronavirus in December. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer commented in a written order even as he rejected a lawyer's request that the 23-year-old performer, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, be confined at home for the remaining four months of his two-year prison term. Engelmayer said he "could not have known that the final four months of Mr. Hernandez's sentence would be served at a time of a worldwide pandemic to which persons with asthma, like Mr. Hernandez, have heightened vulnerability."

Dyson Goes From Vacuums to Ventilators In Just 10 Days Posted: 26 Mar 2020 02:43 PM PDT The company is one in a growing list that's joining COVID-19 relief efforts.

Grocery store throws out $35K worth of food after woman's 'twisted prank' Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:48 AM PDT The store's co-owner said he was "sick to my stomach" about the food loss. "When so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing."

Whoopi Goldberg Confronts Newt Gingrich for Suggesting Nurses Will Abandon Coronavirus Patients Posted: 26 Mar 2020 10:21 AM PDT Newt Gingrich joined The View live from Rome on Thursday morning where he has been quarantined for weeks with his wife, U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Calista Gingrich. And yet despite living in the horror that could be America's near future, the former Republican Speaker of the House had only mild criticism for the way President Donald Trump has handled the coronavirus crisis. Gingrich acknowledged that the president and his task force should probably be "social distancing" during their daily press briefings. And he threw some cold water on Trump's promise to get the economy up and running again by Easter.  "I think the president's direction is right, but probably the speed won't happen as fast as he wants it to," he said diplomatically. But the most contentious part of the interview came when co-host Sunny Hostin asked Gingrich to weigh in on the $2 trillion stimulus package passed by the Senate Wednesday night. Joe Biden Blasts Trump on 'The View': We Can't Just 'Let People Die'"Several Republican senators are worried unemployment benefits will be so enticing that people will stop working," Hostin said. "Senator Graham even implied that the benefits would incentivize well-trained nurses to stay home and collect a check." She was citing a joint statement from Senators Lindsey Graham, Ben Sasse, and Tim Scott that read, "If the federal government accidentally incentivizes layoffs, we risk life-threatening shortages in sectors where doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are trying to care for the sick, and where growers and grocers, truckers and cooks are trying to get food to families' tables." "Do you share their concern?" Hostin asked."Sure, as a practical matter you have to," Gingrich replied. "As I understand it, there's one part of this where you can actually make more money not working. That's not a very good incentive." Of course, the unemployment relief in the stimulus package would only benefit workers who are laid off due to the economic crisis—not doctors and nurses who are needed more than ever in this moment. As he continued talking, Whoopi Goldberg could be heard off-screen saying, "That's so disrespectful!" She added later, "Lindsey Graham should be ashamed of himself." "It just seems to me the suggestion that nurses who are on the front line are not going to work and sacrifice the way that they have because they're going to be making a few hundred dollars more is ludicrous," Hostin told Gingrich, "but that's just my opinion." "It's insulting! It's insulting!" Goldberg added. She repeated, "Lindsey Graham should be ashamed of himself to say something like that in the middle of all of this."  Fox News Host Martha MacCallum Nails Kellyanne Conway for Rewriting Trump's Coronavirus HistoryRead more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

India Delays Plan for Population Register Citing Coronavirus Posted: 25 Mar 2020 06:01 AM PDT (Bloomberg) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has postponed indefinitely plans to begin surveys leading to its next census and a comprehensive population register as it grapples with the spread of coronavirus infections. The process was to have begun in April.The population registry plan was seen as a precursor to a national citizens register that, along with a new citizenship law, had led to angry protests across India since December. Door-to-door surveys to record the census and start creating a population register were delayed keeping in mind the coronavirus outbreak, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.India has recorded 512 cases of COVID-19 infections and nine deaths.The delay in the exercise could help temporarily calm protests and reassure some state governments, especially states ruled by opposition parties, including Kerala and West Bengal. The two states had already halted all work related to the population register citing a possibility the data collected during the exercise could be used for a citizen's registry. The federal government, which on Tuesday announced a 21-day national lockdown to fight the outbreak, will need to states' cooperation to manage the pandemic.Census data is collected once in a decade in India. The population register is to gather data that can help the government reach benefits to targeted beneficiaries. The surveys to register residents of India had been scheduled to run April through September. (Adds more details in fourth paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Republicans block most aid to help states plan for presidential election amid coronavirus pandemic
• In coronavirus pandemic, Trump allies say they're ready to die for the economy
• U.S. files drug trafficking charges against Venezuelan president
• U.S. passes Italy, China as nation with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19
• The US government has a stockpile of 16,000 extra ventilators in case of an emergency like COVID-19. It isn't enough.
• Survivors of world conflicts offer perspective amid pandemic
• Exclusive: U.S. military to withhold some infection data over concern of adversary use
• The college student who licked an airplane toilet said she'd 'pull up' and cough on Dr. Phil, who called her 'spoiled and entitled'
• Russia thanks 'real friend' Jack Ma for gift of a million masks
• Sanders, AOC Threaten Delays on $2 Trillion Economic Stimulus
• 'He's an American hero': Trump confirms American FBI agent Robert Levinson likely dead in Iran
• Missouri man charged with licking items at Walmart to mock coronavirus fears
• China cuts international flights, bars foreign residents
• The Best New Teapots, According to AD's Market Editor
• The coronavirus mutates more slowly than the flu — which means a vaccine will likely be effective long-term
• Two Grand Princess cruise passengers with coronavirus die; 103 have tested positive for COVID-19
• Busch will give you a '3-month supply' of free beer if you adopt or foster a pup as shelters close
• India's coronavirus cases tick up, immense lockdown holds
• Justice Department Charges Venezuela’s Maduro with Drug Trafficking, Offers $15 Million Reward
• Biden reportedly says Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is in his 'top three' picks for VP
• Stimulus checks are coming — here's how to make sure you get yours quickly
• Cho Ju-bin: South Korea chatroom sex abuse suspect named after outcry
• Trump makes thinly veiled attack at AOC during coronavirus briefing after she suggests stimulus bill overly favours corporations
• Spain, Europe's worst-hit country after Italy, says coronavirus tests it bought from China are failing to detect positive cases
• Mexico's coronavirus fight has just begun. Doctors say they're already running out of masks
• FBI: Soldiers set up deadly robbery to fund foreign fighting
• Greta Thunberg says it's 'likely' she had coronavirus
• Erdogan says Turkey will overcome coronavirus in two-three weeks through measures
• Biden Suggests Dems Push for ‘Green New Deal’ Provisions in Next Coronavirus Stimulus Bill
• Workers of color in the low-wage workforce taking major hit as the economy suffers
• A Louisiana pastor defied state orders and held a service for hundreds of people. He says he has no plans of stopping.
• Rockets hit Iraq's Green Zone, US-led coalition leaves base
• North Korea is secretly asking for coronavirus aid from other countries while publicly denying that it has any cases
• Why are so few Germans dying from the coronavirus? Experts wonder
• US couple, adopted daughter, caught in India virus lockdown
• 'All my income is gone': Tenants, landlords voice coronavirus fears as rents come due
• New York sees glimmer of progress against coronavirus, New Orleans worsens
• Trump lashes out at journalist during White House coronavirus briefing
• Coronavirus: Mexicans demand crackdown on Americans crossing the border
• Accused New Zealand mosque shooter shocks with switch to guilty plea
• Immigration chief on thin ice for adopting Obama’s stance during crisis
• There's been a coronavirus outbreak aboard a deployed US Navy aircraft carrier, and at least 8 sailors have it
• This state rejected Medicaid expansion. Its uninsured residents now stare down a pandemic.
• An influencer who licked a toilet seat says he's in the hospital with the coronavirus
• The U.S.'s $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier Has a Toilet Problem
• Fox News Host Martha MacCallum Nails Kellyanne Conway for Rewriting Trump’s Coronavirus History
• Chinese State Media Falsely Claim U.S. Army Athlete Brought Coronavirus to China
• Dakota access pipeline: court strikes down permits in victory for Standing Rock Sioux
• Italy suffers setback to hopes its coronavirus epidemic might be in retreat
• Israel's Netanyahu and rival Gantz move closer to unity government

Republicans block most aid to help states plan for presidential election amid coronavirus pandemic Posted: 25 Mar 2020 03:31 PM PDT Voting reforms that would make it much easier to cast ballots by mail in the fall presidential election were left out of the $2 trillion rescue package that was unveiled Wednesday.

In coronavirus pandemic, Trump allies say they're ready to die for the economy Posted: 25 Mar 2020 08:54 AM PDT Some conservatives are urging Americans to ignore the advice of public health experts and get back to work in order to avoid an extended market downturn.

U.S. files drug trafficking charges against Venezuelan president Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:44 AM PDT The U.S. and Maduro have long been at odds over the country's extensive corruption.

U.S. passes Italy, China as nation with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 Posted: 26 Mar 2020 03:33 PM PDT The U.S. surged past China and Italy to become the planet's most infected nation Thursday, a stark milestone in the coronavirus era - and a reminder of its deadly, culture-changing effects on American life.

The US government has a stockpile of 16,000 extra ventilators in case of an emergency like COVID-19. It isn't enough. Posted: 25 Mar 2020 01:37 PM PDT Already, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his state needs 30,000 more ventilators for the projected cases in the next two weeks.

Survivors of world conflicts offer perspective amid pandemic Posted: 24 Mar 2020 11:19 PM PDT As Western countries reeling from the coronavirus pandemic awaken to a new reality of economic collapse, overwhelmed hospitals, grounded flights and home confinement, it's tempting to think the end of days is at hand. Few have more experience with lockdowns and closures than the Palestinians. During the uprising known as the Second Intifada in the early 2000s, Israel shut down parts of the occupied West Bank and Gaza for weeks on end, using checkpoints and curfews to try to quash it.

Exclusive: U.S. military to withhold some infection data over concern of adversary use Posted: 26 Mar 2020 07:23 AM PDT The U.S. military has decided it will stop providing some of the more granular data about coronavirus infections within its ranks out of concern that the information might be used by adversaries as the virus spreads.

The college student who licked an airplane toilet said she'd 'pull up' and cough on Dr. Phil, who called her 'spoiled and entitled' Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:04 AM PDT Ava Louise, who said she'd "rather die hot than live ugly" and who posted a TikTok of herself licking an airplane toilet, also criticized boomers.

Russia thanks 'real friend' Jack Ma for gift of a million masks Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:27 AM PDT Russia has received more than a million masks and 200,000 coronavirus testing kits as a gift from Chinese billionaire businessman Jack Ma, its Defence Ministry said on Thursday. Calling Ma "a real friend", the ministry said in a statement that the co-founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba had spoken by telephone to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and told him how touched he had been by Moscow's own help for China. The foundations of Alibaba and Ma said on Wednesday they had sent medical equipment to Russia.

Sanders, AOC Threaten Delays on $2 Trillion Economic Stimulus Posted: 25 Mar 2020 02:10 PM PDT Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Wednesday both threatened a possible delay in voting on the massive $2 trillion economic-stimulus package working its way through Congress.Sanders objected to an amendment proposed on Wednesday afternoon by Senators Ben Sasse (R., Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), and Tim Scott (R., S.C.) that would cap unemployment benefits at a worker's previous salary level."I cannot at the last minute allow some right-wing senators [to] try to undermine the needs of workers and think they are going to get away with that," Sanders told the New York Times. He added that he would vote for the stimulus if the group of Republicans dropped their proposed amendment, and called the current draft of the bill "far superior" to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's (R., Ky.) original draft."The reason I know I'm right is that Bernie Sanders has just threatened me," Graham countered in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. "This is Bernie Sanders on steroids. . . . He could not win at the ballot box, but he's winning in this bill."Sasse told National Review that the Republican senators worry the text of the bill allows workers to make more money "by being unemployed than if the employer-employee relationship were maintained."Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez said she may request a "recorded vote" on the stimulus in the House, which would force House members currently not in Washington, D.C., to return to vote in person. She has said she is worried the stimulus will favor large corporations at the expense of workers."With the health risks of travel, there is no easy choice here," Ocasio-Cortez told CNN. "But essential workers are showing up and putting their health at risk every day, and if the final text of a bill is set up to hurt them, [a recorded vote] may be something we have to do."House speaker Nancy Pelosi favors holding a vote by unanimous consent, in which case one House member could block the bill's passage by voting against.

'He's an American hero': Trump confirms American FBI agent Robert Levinson likely dead in Iran Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:23 PM PDT Trump has admitted it is not "looking good" for retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, now presumed dead in Iran.In a coronavirus taskforce press conference on Wednesday evening, the president said that he assumed the American had died in custody.

Missouri man charged with licking items at Walmart to mock coronavirus fears Posted: 25 Mar 2020 01:34 PM PDT Authorities say Cody Lee Pfister, 26, posted a video on social media of himself licking deodorants at a Walmart in Warrenton. He was charged with making a terrorist threat.

China cuts international flights, bars foreign residents Posted: 26 Mar 2020 05:06 PM PDT China will drastically cut its international flight routes and bar entry to returning foreigners based in the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus, authorities said Thursday. Foreigners living in China with valid visas and resident permits will be blocked from returning to the country after midnight Saturday, the foreign ministry said in a statement. "The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation," it added.

The Best New Teapots, According to AD's Market Editor Posted: 25 Mar 2020 05:00 AM PDT

The coronavirus mutates more slowly than the flu — which means a vaccine will likely be effective long-term Posted: 25 Mar 2020 06:18 PM PDT The mutation rate of the new coronavirus suggests a one-time vaccine would be sufficient to confer long-term immunity, according to experts.

Two Grand Princess cruise passengers with coronavirus die; 103 have tested positive for COVID-19 Posted: 25 Mar 2020 06:03 PM PDT Two passengers who had been on Princess Cruises' Grand Princess, which docked in California, have died due to complications from the coronavirus.

Busch will give you a '3-month supply' of free beer if you adopt or foster a pup as shelters close Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:41 AM PDT Busch and Midwest Animal Rescue & Services have partnered to entice perspective dog owners to adopt or foster during the pandemic with free beer.

India's coronavirus cases tick up, immense lockdown holds Posted: 26 Mar 2020 12:50 AM PDT India's death toll from the coronavirus rose by six to 16 in the last 24 hours, as the government sought on Thursday to improve basic services to 1.3 billion people locked indoors to slow the spread of the disease. Streets were silent across Indian cities and towns on the second day of a three-week, 24-hour shutdown, as people heeded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call not to step out of homes except in emergencies or to buy food and other necessities. Police have strictly enforced the lockdown even though Modi said essential services would be maintained.

Justice Department Charges Venezuela’s Maduro with Drug Trafficking, Offers $15 Million Reward Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:08 AM PDT Attorney General William Barr on Thursday announced charges against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and senior members of his government.The Justice Department has charged Maduro and other officials with drug trafficking and offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction."While holding key positions in the Maduro regime, these individuals violated the public trust by facilitating shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, including control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base, as well as control of drug routes through the ports in Venezuela," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.The Justice Department alleges that the Venezuelan government has worked with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization, to traffic cocaine to the U.S."We estimate that somewhere between 200 and 250 metric tons of cocaine are shipped out of Venezuela. . . . Those 250 metric tons equates to 30 million lethal doses," the Justice Department said in its announcement.The indictment of a foreign head of state is unusual and comes during a time of increased tension between the U.S. and Venezuela. The U.S. currently recognizes Venezuelan opposition head Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate president and has accused Maduro's government of widespread human-rights abuses including torture, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrest.

Biden reportedly says Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is in his 'top three' picks for VP Posted: 26 Mar 2020 02:58 PM PDT While reportedly setting up video equipment in Delaware over four days, former Vice President Joe Biden was apparently mulling over possible running mates.Biden told former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is one of his "top three" choices should he win the Democratic presidential nomination, Mediaite reported Thursday.Reid, who was also a longtime senator representing Nevada, is reportedly nudging Biden toward choosing Cortez Masto as his VP, and Biden's campaign apparently feels she would be a strong choice and could help expand Biden's popularity among Latinx voters. Biden publicly committed to choosing a woman as his vice president if nominated over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sparking endless speculation over who that woman might be. CNBC says Biden's "business allies" are hoping for Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) or Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), two former presidential candidates themselves. The Washington Post, meanwhile, said Biden's shortlist probably included Cortez Masto, but also named more well-known Democrats like former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Biden's campaign declined to dispute Mediaite's reporting, simply saying he would vigorously vet candidates.New York magazine wrote that Biden is spending his "coronavirus bunker" time "thinking a lot" about a potential VP, and taking lots of calls from supporters and Democratic strategists who are pushing Biden to pick their candidate of choice. None of those calls, however, resulted in much reported information on whether Biden had narrowed his list.Biden told The View on Tuesday his "short" list was between "12 and 15" names, but if his reported statement to Reid is to be believed, he's done a lot of whittling in the past few days. Read more at Mediaite and New York.More stories from theweek.com Elton John to host 'Living Room Concert for America' with stars performing from home What Trump's coronavirus briefings are really about Evangeline Lilly apologizes for 'dismissive' coronavirus comments

Stimulus checks are coming — here's how to make sure you get yours quickly Posted: 26 Mar 2020 01:50 PM PDT Spoiler alert: If you haven't filed your taxes since 2017, now is a good time to get that done.

Cho Ju-bin: South Korea chatroom sex abuse suspect named after outcry Posted: 25 Mar 2020 03:58 AM PDT At least 10,000 people used the chatrooms, with some paying up to $1,200 (£1,000) for access.

Trump makes thinly veiled attack at AOC during coronavirus briefing after she suggests stimulus bill overly favours corporations Posted: 26 Mar 2020 02:41 PM PDT Donald Trump took a veiled jab at New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beloved by the far left, calling her a "little grandstander" over her threats to delay passage of a coronavirus economic aid package.Ms Ocasio-Cortez, known colloquially as "AOC," has complained that she is concerned the bipartisan measure, which cleared the Senate on a 96-0 vote, is too friendly to large corporations. She wants more provisions to help workers and those who have lost their jobs due to the super bug outbreak.

Spain, Europe's worst-hit country after Italy, says coronavirus tests it bought from China are failing to detect positive cases Posted: 26 Mar 2020 06:44 AM PDT Spanish researchers found that the tests could identify cases only 30% of the time. Testing delays could hamper Spain's efforts to slow the virus.

Mexico's coronavirus fight has just begun. Doctors say they're already running out of masks Posted: 25 Mar 2020 02:07 PM PDT As coronavirus cases rise, Mexican doctors are protesting over a lack of basic supplies that they say endangers them

FBI: Soldiers set up deadly robbery to fund foreign fighting Posted: 26 Mar 2020 07:19 AM PDT

Greta Thunberg says it's 'likely' she had coronavirus Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:10 AM PDT Teenage activist Greta Thunberg said it's "extremely likely" she had contracted the coronavirus. The Swedish climate campaigner wrote in an Instagram post that she'd experienced several symptoms following a trip to central Europe.

Erdogan says Turkey will overcome coronavirus in two-three weeks through measures Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:12 PM PDT Turkey will overcome the coronavirus outbreak in two to three weeks through good measures, with as little damage as possible, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, adding that he expected patience, understanding and support from Turks in the process. "We have preparations for every scenario," Erdogan told a televised address to the nation.

Biden Suggests Dems Push for ‘Green New Deal’ Provisions in Next Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:37 PM PDT Former vice president Joe Biden on Wednesday suggested passing climate-change legislation as part of economic aid packages amid the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic."We're going to have an opportunity, I believe, in the next round [of economic aid] here to use…my Green Deal to be able to generate both economic growth as consistent with the kind of infusion of monies we need into the system to keep it going," Biden said in a live-streamed briefing on the coronavirus crisis.Biden then advocated for investment in infrastructure-related jobs to offset the economic impact of the pandemic."We're going to need new infrastructure going down the road here, and it's a way to generate economic growth. That's going to be, I think, the next round we have to be looking at."Biden in January released a climate-change plan based in part on the "Green New Deal" floated in 2019 by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Senator Ed Markey (D., Mass.).Democrats have already attempted to add environmental legislation to the massive $2 trillion economic stimulus meant to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation included measures requiring airlines receiving assistance to fully offset carbon emissions by 2025, as well as requiring airlines to report greenhouse gas emissions in order to display the results in a public database.On Monday, President Trump criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressional Democrats for the attempt to add the legislation."Nancy Pelosi came and put a lot of things in the deal that had nothing to do with workers -- that had to do with an agenda that they have been trying to get passed for 10 years," Trump said during a Fox News virtual town hall. "[The Democrats said] 'We want green energy, let's stop drilling oil' -- they had things in there that were terrible…Windmills all over the place and all sorts of credits for windmills -- they kill the birds and ruin the real estate. A lot of problems."

Workers of color in the low-wage workforce taking major hit as the economy suffers Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:30 PM PDT People of color make up a disproportionate share of workers in the industries where layoffs are the most intense and only expected to get worse.

A Louisiana pastor defied state orders and held a service for hundreds of people. He says he has no plans of stopping. Posted: 25 Mar 2020 12:42 PM PDT Pastor Tony Spell, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, held a service for 400 people on Tuesday. On Sunday, there were more than 1,000.

Rockets hit Iraq's Green Zone, US-led coalition leaves base Posted: 26 Mar 2020 08:57 AM PDT Two rockets slammed into the Iraqi capital's high-security Green Zone early Thursday, hours before US-led forces were set to pull out of a second base in the country. Some 7,500 foreign troops are in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition helping local troops fight jihadist remnants, but those numbers are being significantly drawn down this month. Before dawn on Thursday, two rockets punched into an empty square near an Iraqi security headquarters in the Green Zone, where government buildings and foreign embassies are based, Iraqi security forces said in a statement.

North Korea is secretly asking for coronavirus aid from other countries while publicly denying that it has any cases Posted: 26 Mar 2020 04:09 AM PDT Officials in the isolated country have been privately asking other countries and aid groups for supplies like masks and test kits, reports say.

Why are so few Germans dying from the coronavirus? Experts wonder Posted: 25 Mar 2020 09:06 AM PDT "I would be happy if we can come back in two months' time and still be able to talk about what Germany did right," one expert said.

US couple, adopted daughter, caught in India virus lockdown Posted: 26 Mar 2020 03:23 PM PDT A Georgia couple who traveled to India to adopt a child have had to delay bringing their new daughter back to the United States after Indian authorities locked down the country because of the coronavirus. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Tuesday announced a three-week lockdown in the country of 1.3 billion people, meaning that citizens and visitors alike may only leave their homes or hotels for food, medicine or other essential needs. The order is meant to keep the virus from surging and overwhelming an already strained health care system, but it has also left Mike and Whitney Saville of Auburn, Georgia, with little hope of getting back home with their daughter Grace anytime soon.

'All my income is gone': Tenants, landlords voice coronavirus fears as rents come due Posted: 26 Mar 2020 12:53 PM PDT Southern California tenants and landlords are bracing for missed rent payments in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New York sees glimmer of progress against coronavirus, New Orleans worsens Posted: 25 Mar 2020 05:32 AM PDT The rate of hospitalizations in New York has slowed in recent days, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, with numbers he called "almost too good to be true." In an ominous sign he and other governors are preparing for the worst, the states of New York, North Carolina and Hawaii requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency send special mortuary teams that can be deployed for mass casualties, FEMA said on Wednesday. New Orleans, where large crowds celebrated Mardi Gras a month ago, was on track to become the next U.S. epicenter, as Louisiana's Gulf Coast metropolis recorded the world's highest growth rate in coronavirus cases.

Trump lashes out at journalist during White House coronavirus briefing Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:02 PM PDT President Trump on Wednesday lashed out at a journalist during the White House's coronavirus task force briefing.

Coronavirus: Mexicans demand crackdown on Americans crossing the border Posted: 26 Mar 2020 09:48 AM PDT Wearing face masks, protesters blocked the US southern border, telling Americans to 'stay home'

Accused New Zealand mosque shooter shocks with switch to guilty plea Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:13 PM PDT An Australian man accused of killing 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand's worst mass shooting changed his plea to guilty in a surprise move on Thursday. Brenton Tarrant, who appeared by video link, admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act in a hastily called Christchurch High Court hearing. "The entry of guilty pleas represents a very significant step towards bringing finality to this criminal proceeding."

Immigration chief on thin ice for adopting Obama’s stance during crisis Posted: 26 Mar 2020 11:40 AM PDT

There's been a coronavirus outbreak aboard a deployed US Navy aircraft carrier, and at least 8 sailors have it Posted: 25 Mar 2020 04:48 PM PDT The Navy announced the first three cases on Tuesday. The next day, the number of cases jumped to eight as five more sailors tested positive.

This state rejected Medicaid expansion. Its uninsured residents now stare down a pandemic. Posted: 26 Mar 2020 07:13 AM PDT "This outbreak is going to bring to light and highlight really strongly the types of disparities and the gaps in our health care system that leave people vulnerable," one expert said.

An influencer who licked a toilet seat says he's in the hospital with the coronavirus Posted: 26 Mar 2020 03:53 AM PDT The TikToker, called Larz, said he took part in a bizarre "Coronavirus Challenge" and ended up with COVID-19.

The U.S.'s $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier Has a Toilet Problem Posted: 26 Mar 2020 07:28 AM PDT It's yet another headache plaguing America's newest aircraft carrier.

Fox News Host Martha MacCallum Nails Kellyanne Conway for Rewriting Trump’s Coronavirus History Posted: 25 Mar 2020 07:31 PM PDT White House counselor Kellyanne Conway was trashing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday night when Fox News host Martha MacCallum hit her with a rude awakening. Conway accused the mayor of "lying to America" when he said he's "been on top of" the coronavirus crisis from the beginning, pointing to tweets in which he encouraged New Yorkers to go out despite early warnings to the contrary from medical experts as well as his decision to visit his gym "one last time" as the state was being quarantined. "I think it shows you the contrast in leadership when you have feckless leaders," Conway said, referring to de Blasio, "or when you have a president, who's publicly facing every single day, giving people information engagement they need."Kellyanne Conway Spars With Reporters Over 'Kung-Flu' Coronavirus SlurAt that point, MacCallum interrupted, saying, "But Kellyanne…" While the host didn't disagree with Conway's characterization of de Blasio, MacCallum couldn't stand by as the Trump counselor erased the weeks and weeks that the president spent downplaying the deadly virus."In terms of the things that you're mentioning, you could probably match up, some of those early statements from him with also similarly optimistic statements from President Trump, although they've handled it very differently since then," MacCallum said, arguably giving the president more credit than he deserves given his recent reversals on the value of social distancing. "There's no comparison between the two leaders," Conway insisted. "There's no comparison." "In terms of get out and live your life and go ahead and do what you're doing, back in early March?" MacCallum asked. While Conway was able to provide evidence of others in the White House taking the pandemic seriously, she did not deny that Trump was vocally optimistic about the situation just a few weeks ago. Instead, she pivoted to touting his relatively good approval ratings as evidence that he's handling the pandemic well now, given that it "came out of nowhere." Samantha Bee on Making Comedy Amidst 'Unimaginable' TragedyRead more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

Chinese State Media Falsely Claim U.S. Army Athlete Brought Coronavirus to China Posted: 26 Mar 2020 07:43 AM PDT Chinese state-run media are citing an American conspiracy theorist to push claims that coronavirus was brought to China by a U.S. military athlete.The Global Times claimed in an article Wednesday that the coronavirus, which was first discovered in Wuhan, was in fact manufactured in a U.S. military lab and brought to China by a cyclist who took part in the World Military Games in Wuhan in October.The CCP-run paper cites known U.S. conspiracy theorist George Webb as the source for the claim, which it admits lacks "strong evidence" but still raises questions about the U.S. athletes who traveled to Wuhan.The Global Times also quotes Li Haidong, a professor of U.S. studies at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, who challenges the U.S. to release "relevant information regarding the athlete's health status and infection records to clear public doubts and help with the scientific study on the virus' origin."China has pushed propaganda to distance itself from blame for the spread of COVID-19, after suppressing initial reports of human-to-human transmission and silencing labs that discovered the novel virus resembled the deadly SARS virus of 2002-2003.On February 27, Zhong Nanshan, a primary pulmonologist said at a press conference, that "the coronavirus first appeared in China but may not have originated in China."The efforts have led to scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, who have proposed holding China accountable for the coverup."Since day one, the Chinese Communist Party intentionally lied to the world about the origin of this pandemic. The CCP was aware of the reality of the virus as early as December but ordered laboratories to destroy samples and forced doctors to keep silent," Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) said in the release of a resolution calling for an international investigation to determine how the Chinese Communist Party directly contributed to the emerging global pandemic.Multiple mainstream outlets have been complicit in serving the interests of Chinese state media.The Global Times also used footage this week from U.S. mainstream media criticizing President Trump's use of the term "Chinese virus" to suggest any scrutiny of China's handling of the coronavirus is racist.> The US President's rhetoric in using "Chinese virus" to describe COVID19, has sparked fierce public criticism from all walks of life in the US. pic.twitter.com/RMljngN7P3> > -- Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 23, 2020The Daily Caller reported Wednesday that The Daily Mail, the popular British tabloid, has also been pushing Chinese propaganda by publishing dozens of coronavirus-related stories originating from People's Daily, the communist party's official newspaper.The Economist is running advertorials — ads designed to look like news stories — from the state-backed Beijing Review in its print issues, The Washington Free Beacon reported Thursday.

Dakota access pipeline: court strikes down permits in victory for Standing Rock Sioux Posted: 25 Mar 2020 05:02 PM PDT Army corps of engineers ordered to conduct full environmental review, which could take yearsThe future of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline has been thrown into question after a federal court on Wednesday struck down its permits and ordered a comprehensive environmental review.The US army corps of engineers was ordered to conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS), after the Washington DC court ruled that existing permits violated the National Environmental Policy Act (Nepa).The ruling is a huge victory for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of North Dakota, which rallied support from across the world and sued the US government in a campaign to stop the environmentally risky pipeline being built on tribal lands."After years of commitment to defending our water and earth, we welcome this news of a significant legal win," said the tribal chairman, Mike Faith. "It's humbling to see how actions we took to defend our ancestral homeland continue to inspire national conversations about how our choices ultimately affect this planet."In December 2016, the Obama administration denied permits for the pipeline to cross the Missouri river and ordered a full EIS to analyze alternative routes and the impact on the tribe's treaty rights.In his first week in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite construction. Construction of the 1,200-mile pipeline was completed in June 2017.The tribe challenged the permits – and won. As a result, the corps was ordered to redo its environmental analysis, which it did without taking into consideration tribal concerns or expert analysis.The pipeline continued to transport oil from North Dakota to Illinois. The tribe and EarthJustice, an environmental law not-for-profit group, sued again.In his ruling on Wednesday, the federal judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, said the environmental analysis by both the companies behind the pipeline and the corps was severely lacking.The abysmal safety record of the pipeline parent company, Sunoco, "does not inspire confidence", he added.The court-mandated EIS will be more in depth than the assessment already completed by the corps – and could take years. The court will next decide if the pipeline should be shut down until the EIS is done.The corps did not respond to a request for comment."This validates everything the tribe has been saying all along about the risk of oil spills to the people of Standing Rock," said Jan Hasselman, an EarthJustice attorney. "The Obama administration had it right when it moved to deny the permits in 2016."The setback for the pipeline comes as the Trump administration moves to severely curtail Nepa, the 1969 legislation which is widely considered the cornerstone of US environmental protection. Trump has repeatedly blamed Nepa for blocking fossil fuel projects.

Italy suffers setback to hopes its coronavirus epidemic might be in retreat Posted: 26 Mar 2020 10:27 AM PDT Hopes that Italy's coronavirus epidemic might be in retreat suffered a setback on Thursday when data showed that both the number of new cases and deaths had ticked higher, underscoring how hard it is to halt the disease. Officials said 712 people died of the illness in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally to 8,215, well over double that seen in anywhere else in the world, while new infections rose by 6,153 to 80,539. The number of cases is nudging close to the more than 81,000 infections recorded in China where the pandemic began.

Israel's Netanyahu and rival Gantz move closer to unity government Posted: 26 Mar 2020 02:35 AM PDT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival, Benny Gantz, was elected parliamentary speaker on Thursday in a surprise manoeuvre that could herald a unity government keeping the veteran leader in power. With the support of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud and allied parties, former general Gantz left many of his own political allies fuming over the smoothing of a path to partnership with a prime minister under criminal indictment. The surprise twist in 48 hours of political drama plunged Gantz's Blue and White Party into disarray just 13 months after it came into existence as a coalition of centrist Netanyahu opponents intent on bringing down the 70-year-old right-winger who is Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

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