| Trump adviser warned of millions of virus deaths in January. Trump says he saw the memo only this week. Posted: 07 Apr 2020 05:53 PM PDT  President Trump said Tuesday that he did not learn of two memos written in January and February by his own economic adviser warning that a COVID-19 pandemic could kill as many as 2 million Americans until "maybe a day ago."
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| 'It is an existential threat': As coronavirus spreads to Africa, health experts warn of catastrophe Posted: 07 Apr 2020 01:31 PM PDT  So far, African countries have been spared the high death tolls seen in Italy, Spain, and the U.S., but officials are bracing for the worst in the coming weeks.
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| Azul Rojas Marín: Peru found responsible for torture of LGBT person Posted: 08 Apr 2020 05:40 AM PDT  Azul Rojas Marín was beaten and raped in custody in Peru, a top human rights court rules.
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| Photos show thousands packing into cars, planes, and trains in a rush to get out of Wuhan as China lifts the coronavirus lockdown Posted: 08 Apr 2020 12:12 PM PDT  China ended the near-11-week lockdown of the city of Wuhan at midnight on Wednesday, sending floods of people out of the city.
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| Fauci once dismissed concerns about 'silent carriers' of coronavirus. Not anymore. Posted: 07 Apr 2020 09:17 AM PDT  The nation's top infectious disease expert says half of the people spreading coronavirus may never feel sick. That's more than anyone thought.
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| New York state reports more coronavirus cases than any country except the U.S.: Reuters tally Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:44 AM PDT  The U.S. state has 149,316 reported cases compared with Spain at 146,690. Italy is now in third place with 139,422 cases reported on Wednesday. In total, the United States has recorded over 417,000 cases and 14,100 deaths, according to the Reuters tally.
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| Bernie drops out, as Democrats pick pragmatism over consistency Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:09 AM PDT  In many ways, Bernie Sanders is the anti-Trump. And, in important ways, he ran his campaign as the anti-Biden.Sanders bowed out of the Democratic nomination race on April 8, repeating his runner-up status from four years earlier. His two runs at the White House have cemented his legacy as a consistent standard-bearer for progressive policies. The veteran democratic socialist possessed a rare quality for a political candidate in this age of Trumpian fickleness. He is a politician whose actions and beliefs have remained steadfast over time and across campaigns. But in the current political moment, it appears the Democratic electorate longs less for a politician who is consistent from day to day than one who can provide pragmatic leadership to unseat the vacillating Trump. Same ol' SandersSanders ran his campaign as the antithesis of a political showman, who says one thing today and another tomorrow with little regard for facts and consistency. He has exhibited throughout his career what anthropologist Alessandro Duranti calls "existential coherence" – he is a political figure "whose past, present, and future actions, beliefs, and evaluations follow some clear basic principles, none of which contradicts another." As a linguistic anthropologist who studies language and politics, I know that traditionally, candidates have worried about how to project a consistent political persona, and they have often gone to great pains to do so. But Trump shattered that expectation, excelling in self-contradictions and inconsistencies – often within a single sitting.Sanders, instead, has put forth a consistent vision that has remained more or less the same since his early days in politics as mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Rather than moving toward the electorate and shifting positions based on perceptions of what the electorate desired, the electorate has moved toward Sanders to join his vision for universal health care and other progressive causes. A CNBC survey in 2019 found that a majority of Americans supported progressive policies, including a higher minimum wage and Medicare for All – key issues that Sanders has been advocating throughout his decades-long political career. In an episode of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" last year, host Trevor Noah unearthed footage from 1987 of Sanders discussing politics on a local public access channel in his hometown of Burlington. The Bernie Sanders of 1987 talked of the unfair tax system that placed a large burden on working people and the need for universal health care. "We are one of two nations in the industrialized world that does not have a national health care system," declared Sanders in 1987. Three decades later, in both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, Sanders continued with that theme. In 2016, he released his Medicare for All plan by declaring, "It is time for our country to join every other major industrialized nation on Earth and guarantee health care to all citizens as a right, not a privilege." His 2020 campaign website further echoed this sentiment, stating that "the United States will join every other major country on Earth and guarantee health care to all people as a right." A consistent candidate often comes across as a more authentic candidate – someone who is staying true to his core self rather than pandering to the latest polling data or saying whatever will attract the most dramatic news coverage. Sanders' authenticity as a candidate who has fought for working people and progressive ideals his entire life made him appealing to many liberals. He attracted an unshakable following of core supporters because of it. 'Results, not revolution'Biden's pragmatic approach, however, trumped Sanders' often dogmatic consistency. In their debates, Sanders hammered Biden over what he saw as shifting stances on Social Security, Medicare and veterans' programs. And then there was Biden's 2003 vote for the Iraq war before he turned against it.But this is not the 2004 presidential election, where accusations of flip-flopping can sink a candidate, like it did John Kerry in his race against George W. Bush. Perhaps Donald Trump's fickleness has changed what voters look for in a candidate. Maybe it's simply that nobody cares about Biden's apparent lack of judgment in 2003, which occurred well before he spent eight years as vice president in arguably one of the most popular Democratic administrations in U.S. history.Biden easily parried Sanders' accusations of inconsistency by pointing to an underlying consistency of principles that have guided his varying positions over time. Voters ultimately decided to support someone who exhibits a practical sense of how to govern in a way that gets things done. As Biden said in his last debate with Sanders, "People are looking for results, not revolution."On health care, one might have expected Sanders to have an advantage with his Medicare for All proposal, a consistent theme across his time as mayor, congressman, senator and presidential candidate. Polling done by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that for the first time a majority of Americans began to support a single government plan for health care in 2016, corresponding to the Sanders campaign push for Medicare for All.But in the same Kaiser poll, more Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they would prefer a candidate who would build on the Affordable Care Act rather than replace it. Biden's campaign argued precisely for this more pragmatic approach, and he positioned himself as the right person to get the job done in a contentious political environment. An overtureAfter sweeping the primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona in March – putting the wheels in motion for the eventual withdrawal of Sanders from the race – Biden then struck the right chord in his speech after the Florida primary by making an appeal to Sanders voters. "I hear you," he said. "I know what's at stake. I know what we have to do. Our goal as a campaign and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify this party and then to unify the nation." Biden's appeal to Sanders voters suggests he may be willing to absorb some of the best ideas from Sanders – and other candidates. It's a pragmatic approach, rather than a dogmatic consistency, that may bring along their supporters, too. That may be exactly what he will need to do to beat Trump in November.[You're smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation's authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to The Conversation's newsletter.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * Biden's big night with moderates, African Americans and baby boomers * Biden's resurrection was unprecedented – and well-timedAdam Hodges 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.
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| Germany Plans to Tighten Rules on Foreign Takeovers Posted: 07 Apr 2020 02:02 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's government plans to bring in new rules to protect German companies from takeovers by entities based outside the European Union.The bill would enable the government to block deals that present "potential interference" to German interests, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. At the moment, it can only prevent a takeover if it is seen as posing a security threat.Authorities will also be able to restrict access to companies' know-how while an acquisition is being reviewed.Merkel's cabinet aims to pass the changes to the Foreign Trade Law on Wednesday, the official said. The details were reported earlier by Funke media group.As the coronavirus pandemic batters the global economy, officials have expressed concern that companies critical to German interests could become vulnerable to foreign takeovers. The euro area's finance ministers are set to discuss proposals to mitigate the economic and financial fallout from the outbreak on Tuesday.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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| Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown blasts Trump but praises Republican governor's response to coronavirus Posted: 07 Apr 2020 11:59 AM PDT  Sen. Sherrod Brown defeated Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in 2006, but now praises his old political foe's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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| Why black Americans appear to be more affected by COVID-19 Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:35 AM PDT  African-Americans are more affected by the coronavirus than other groups, according to data emerging from some states.
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| UK truck driver pleads guilty in deaths of 39 Vietnamese Posted: 08 Apr 2020 07:49 AM PDT  A truck driver accused in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants whose bodies were found inside a refrigerated container that had been hauled to England pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday. Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, entered the plea at Central London Criminal Court.
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| As coronavirus spreads, mentally ill Americans are left scrambling for options Posted: 07 Apr 2020 09:51 AM PDT  The rapid spread of the coronavirus has dramatically affected the one in five Americans who deal with mental health in any given year, as well as those who work tirelessly to keep those individuals well.
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| Navy secretary's flight out to an aircraft carrier to bash its fired captain cost taxpayers $243,000 Posted: 08 Apr 2020 05:15 PM PDT  That trip didn't just cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. It also ultimately cost the acting Navy chief his job.
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| U.S. reports 1,200 coronavirus deaths in one day as China lifts lockdown Posted: 07 Apr 2020 03:48 AM PDT  Nation's top infectious diseases expert said he is "cautiously optimistic" that worst projections may be avoided "if we keep our foot on the accelerator."
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| Eastern Libya confirms first coronavirus case Posted: 07 Apr 2020 12:56 PM PDT |
| Biden Says Coronavirus Damage Could ‘Eclipse’ Great Depression Posted: 07 Apr 2020 08:20 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Joe Biden said the economic recovery from the coronavirus would likely be the "biggest challenge in modern history," suggesting it could surpass what the country faced after the Great Depression."I think it may not dwarf, but eclipse what F.D.R. faced," Biden said Tuesday night in an interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN, referring to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.But Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, said the recovery efforts would create an opportunity for the next president to address the nation's longstanding structural problems.He said the efforts should include provisions to help people meet basic needs like paying rent, but they should also include a "reconstructive part," specifically improving the voting system and environmental protection efforts."We're the only country in the world that's taken on crisis and come out stronger for it," Biden said. "We have an opportunity, Chris, to do so many things now to change some of the structural things that are wrong. Some of the structural things we couldn't get anybody's attention on. In a sense, no pun intended, the band-aid has been ripped off here."Biden also described his Monday phone call with President Donald Trump, during which they discussed the response to pandemic.Biden said he shared his suggestions on how the country could better address the crisis including fully implementing the Defense Production Act, naming a supply commander to oversee the process and extending the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.Biden said he and Trump had "a good conversation," and that the president was "very gracious" during the call. Biden declined to provide more specifics, explaining that Trump had asked the details of the call to remain private.Earlier, Trump said they had a "very nice and friendly talk" that lasted about 15 minutes."The call went really well," Trump said, adding that he and Biden had agreed "that we weren't going to talk about what we said."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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| NYC Is Taking Hundreds of Body Bags Out of Houses—and Soon They Will Be Counted Posted: 08 Apr 2020 11:21 AM PDT  The coronavirus death count in New York City, already unfathomable, is expected to surge in the coming days as officials begin including people who have been dropping dead at home without an official diagnosis.Emergency Medical Service data first reported by Gothamist suggests the undercount of individuals who have likely died from the virus is massive. On Tuesday alone, 256 people were pronounced dead at home across the five boroughs. Until this month, about 25 people in New York City were found dead in their homes on a typical day, suggesting that most of Tuesday's calls were related to the outbreak that has already killed over 5,400 people across the state and infected 140,386 more. According to New York City Fire Department data obtained by The Daily Beast, first responders have reported 2,192 "dead-on-arrival" calls over the last two weeks. On average, the department handled about 453 of those calls over the same period last year. That data also showed that the number of cardiac or respiratory arrest calls has exploded, from 20 to 30 a day at the end of March and the beginning of April in 2019, to 322 on one day in April in 2020—with more than 100 calls every day since March 28. While 30 to 50 percent of those calls ended in a death in 2019, more than 50 percent of those calls have ended in a death every day since March 22 this year, with the percentage steadily rising to 75 percent as of April 5.'New York Is in Crisis': Cuomo Pleads for Help as State Suffers Worst Single-Day Death Toll "Every person with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis is counted in the number of fatalities, whether they passed away at home or in a hospital," a spokesperson for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said in a statement to The Daily Beast. "The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and the NYC Health Department are working together to include into their reports deaths that may be linked to COVID but not lab-confirmed that occur at home." They did not specify when the city will begin reporting that data, but the decision to include the possible virus-related fatalities comes after Gothamist's report about at-home deaths that were likely related to the disease and not included in the city's reports.While New York City reported over 400 coronavirus deaths in less than 24 hours on Wednesday, that number did not include those who died in non-hospital settings without a formal lab diagnosis.While initially refusing to discuss his administration's reporting system, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday agreed the city should include home deaths to give an accurate account of the tragedy ravaging the city. He acknowledged that a "vast majority" of deaths at home are "coronavirus related.""The blunt truth is coronavirus is driving these very tragic deaths," de Blasio said on CNN. "We're talking about something like 100, 200 people per day. Don't take this disease ever lightly because the real death toll is even higher."The mayor added that New York—currently the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States—has seen more deaths in the "last couple of days" than "the number of people who died in the World Trade Center."State and city officials are still struggling to track the number of coronavirus cases, as officials believe there are a number of individuals infected with the virus who have not, or cannot, be tested. One emergency room doctor told The Daily Beast that his hospital is "aggressively sending people home." "Being in the hospital is not going to change their course of illness," the physician said, indicating the hard choices medical professionals face during this pandemic.De Blasio said that he was hopeful the virus was starting to slow after seeing indications that the city's overwhelmed hospital system was seeing fewer admissions—until he learned that hundreds of people are dying in their homes without seeking medical care. NYC Is on the Brink as Patients Flood Hospitals Already 'Under Siege'"We never saw anything like this in normal times," he added. "We have to acknowledge that, and say this is further evidence of just how destructive this disease is."On Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that 779 more people had died across the state, marking the second day in a row that the Empire State saw an increase in deaths related to the pandemic."If the hospitalization rate keeps decreasing the way it is now, then the system should stabilize these next couple of weeks, which will minimize the need for an overflow that we have built into the system," Cuomo said, adding that "the number of deaths, as a matter of fact, will continue to rise as those hospitalized for a longer period of time pass away." The death toll has already overwhelmed city hospitals and morgues. To deal with the flood of bodies, 45 refrigerated trucks have been set up across the five boroughs, some of which are already full, and a temporary morgue has been erected outside Bellevue Hospital in Midtown Manhattan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said last week that New York will also receive 250 ambulances, about 500 EMTs and paramedics, and 85 more refrigerated trucks to help with the overload. On Monday, de Blasio, who'd previously refused to detail any plans for mass burials, said that the city has contingency plans in place if needed to bury COVID-19 victims in temporary plots on Hart Island, which has been used as New York's potter's field for 150 years, until morgues and cemeteries can handle the influx. "We're going to try and treat every family with dignity, respect, religious needs of those who are devout, and the focus right now is to try to get through this crisis and obviously also put all of our energy and resources into saving those we can save," de Blasio said. "That's how we're going to go about it. We'll have the capacity for temporary burials. That's all I'm going to say."Read 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.
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| More than 90,000 cruise crewmembers left to battle coronavirus – at times without pay Posted: 08 Apr 2020 03:17 PM PDT  Crew members are having just as trouble as passengers in getting off ships once their skills are no longer needed.
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| Column: 'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli wants out of prison to find a cure for coronavirus Posted: 07 Apr 2020 01:06 PM PDT  In act of chutzpah, 'Pharma bro' Shkreli seeks prison release to find a coronavirus cure.
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| One chart shows how long the coronavirus lives on surfaces like cardboard, plastic, wood, and steel Posted: 07 Apr 2020 01:58 PM PDT  Recent research shows that the coronavirus lives longest on glass, paper money, and the outside of surgical masks.
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| Texas teen accused of threatening to spread coronavirus is charged Posted: 08 Apr 2020 01:58 PM PDT  Maradiaga claimed in a series of Snapchat videos to have tested positive and threatened to willfully spread COVID-19, according to police.
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| Maeve Kennedy McKean's body is recovered after canoe search Posted: 07 Apr 2020 06:19 AM PDT  Maeve Kennedy McKean and her son were last seen in a canoe off Chesapeake Bay in Maryland last week.
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| Bernie Sanders reportedly spoke to Biden and Obama before ending his 2020 run Posted: 08 Apr 2020 12:57 PM PDT  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had made a few phone calls to the last administration before making his big dropout decision.Sanders suspended his 2020 run on Wednesday, saying his "path toward victory is virtually impossible" but pledging to stay on primary ballots through the Democratic National Convention to gain influence in the party. And shortly after making that announcement, Sanders reportedly made a call to Joe Biden, who he left as the presumptive Democratic nominee, CBS News reports.> Former Vice President @JoeBiden and Sen. @BernieSanders spoke around midday today about the senator's decision to suspend his campaign, a source familiar with the call tells me. This was one of several calls between the two opponents in recent weeks.> > -- Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) April 8, 2020Sanders also consulted former President Barack Obama "several times" before making his decision, NBC News reports. Obama reportedly still isn't ready to hop into the 2020 fray just yet, but Sanders' suspension surely makes it easier for him to do so.> Source close to @BarackObama tells me: "When the moment is right and when he feels he can have maximum impact, the country will be hearing more from him." Source notes Obama has spoken to @SenSanders "several times" over the past few weeks.> > -- Kristen Welker (@kwelkernbc) April 8, 2020Hillary Clinton, 2016's Democratic nominee, meanwhile had no comment on Sanders' exit. > Not too shocking: Hillary Clinton has no comment on Bernie Sanders suspending his presidential campaign, per a Clinton spokesman. > > Remember, Clinton had this to say of Sanders in a Hulu docuseries that aired earlier this year: "Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him."> > -- Monica Alba (@albamonica) April 8, 2020More stories from theweek.com Dr. Anthony Fauci cautiously predicts kids will return to school next fall, 'but it's going to be different' The coming backlash against the public health experts WHO director-general implores world leaders not to politicize the coronavirus pandemic
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| EU Nations Upgrade Trade Arsenal to Offset U.S. Attack on WTO Posted: 08 Apr 2020 01:20 AM PDT |
| WHO Head Urges ‘Unity’ in Response to Trump’s Funding Threat Posted: 08 Apr 2020 11:19 AM PDT  The director of the World Health Organization on Wednesday defended its handling of the coronavirus threat after president Trump and a number of U.S. lawmakers accused the group of demonstrating bias towards China, where the deadly outbreak originated."Please don't politicize this virus," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged at a briefing in Geneva. "The focus of all political parties should be to save their people.""If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it," he said, urging the U.S. and China to come together to fight "this dangerous enemy.""The unity of your country will be very important to defeat this dangerous virus," Tedros continued. "Without unity, we assure you even any country that may have a better system will be in more trouble."Tedros nevertheless expressed optimism that the U.S. will continue to provide funding, the WHO's largest single source of financial support."My belief is that it will continue that way," the WHO director said. "The U.S. will continue to contribute its share. Other countries will do the same."The WHO chief's pleas come after President Trump said the organization "blew it" with its "very China centric" early response to the outbreak and threatened to cut its funding, saying Tuesday "we will giving that a good look.""They called it wrong and if you look back over the years even, they are very much, everything seems to be very biased towards China," Trump said Tuesday. "That's not right."The WHO recommended in January that countries keep borders and trade open even as it dubbed the coronavirus outbreak a global emergency. In March, the WHO upgraded the outbreak to pandemic status.Several Republican senators have taken aim at the WHO for its response to the pandemic, accusing the group of being too willing to accept China's narrative surrounding the pandemic. Senators Rick Scott and Martha McSally accused the WHO director of aiding China in its efforts to conceal its underreporting of coronavirus case numbers.Additionally, WHO assistant director-general Dr. Bruce Aylward appeared to dodge a question about whether the WHO will reconsider granting membership to Taiwan, which China claims as a territory. Taiwan, which has reported under 400 cases of the infection and only two deaths, has been widely praised for its containment of the coronavirus.
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| French aircraft carrier ends mission amid possible outbreak Posted: 08 Apr 2020 07:15 AM PDT  The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle headed back to port Wednesday due to a possible virus on-board outbreak of the new coronavirus, France's Defense Ministry said. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that around 40 sailors showed symptoms compatible with COVID-19, the disease the virus causes. French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said.
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| Obesity is major COVID-19 risk factor, says French chief epidemiologist Posted: 08 Apr 2020 01:15 AM PDT  Being overweight is a major risk for people infected with the new coronavirus and the United States is particularly vulnerable because of high obesity levels there, France's chief epidemiologist said on Wednesday. Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government on the epidemic, said as many as 17 million of France's 67 million citizens were seriously at risk from the coronavirus because of age, pre-existing illness or obesity. "That is why we're worried about our friends in America, where the problem of obesity is well known and where they will probably have the most problems because of obesity."
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| Korean Air puts 70 percent of staff on leave Posted: 07 Apr 2020 07:17 PM PDT  Korean Air is the flagship of the Hanjin group, one of the multifaceted, family-controlled conglomerates known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea and played a key part in its rise to become the world's 12th-largest economy. Most of its staff will go on leave from April 16 for six months in response to "deteriorating business circumstances", Korean Air said in a statement. Korean Air's labour union agreed to participate as part of a "burden-sharing" initiative, the company said -- executives have also agreed to take pay cuts.
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| Trump says he never saw a January WH memo warning of the impact from coronavirus Posted: 07 Apr 2020 04:55 PM PDT  At Tuesday's coronavirus task force briefing, President Trump said he never saw a memo written in late January by White House trade adviser Peter Navarro warning about the possible effects of coronavirus in the United States. The memo warned that the illness could endanger the lives of millions of Americans.
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| Charlotte Figi, the girl who spurred a cannabis movement that changed laws across the world, dies at 13 after being treated as 'a likely COVID-19 case' Posted: 08 Apr 2020 11:48 AM PDT  Charlotte Figi, who had epilepsy, and her parents worked with the Stanley brothers to champion the therapeutic uses of CBD in treating seizures.
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| Sanders' exit could bring Obama into the 2020 fold Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:09 AM PDT  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is out, and former President Barack Obama is maybe, possibly in.Sanders dropped out of the 2020 race on Wednesday, saying his "path toward victory is virtually impossible" but pledging to stay on primary ballots through the Democratic National Convention to gain influence in the party. That makes former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee, and leaves Obama free to campaign for his former second in command.Obama has refused to endorse a primary candidate since the 2020 Democratic race's jam-packed beginnings, though reports did suggest he was quietly backing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Other reports suggested he wasn't thrilled about Biden getting in the race, and told Biden's campaign staff to make sure he didn't "embarrass himself." Biden meanwhile maintained he specifically asked Obama not to endorse him, though he has promised his presidency would essentially be a third Obama term.But Sanders' departure leaves Obama with just one choice, effectively compelling him to take a stand as a Biden surrogate. Obama did reportedly expect to perform a lot of party unifying this summer, after all. There's just one problem: Obama didn't end up turning the tides when he did the same for Hillary Clinton in 2016.More stories from theweek.com Dr. Anthony Fauci cautiously predicts kids will return to school next fall, 'but it's going to be different' The coming backlash against the public health experts WHO director-general implores world leaders not to politicize the coronavirus pandemic
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| U.S. Eyes Second Coronavirus Outbreak in China Posted: 07 Apr 2020 01:44 AM PDT  As the Trump administration scrambles to get a hand on the spread of the new coronavirus across the U.S., it is keeping one eye on developments in China, the country where the pandemic originated.According to two officials with knowledge of those efforts and cables reviewed by The Daily Beast, the administration is monitoring China's second wave of coronavirus cases, gathering data on the ground on the number of individuals newly infected and the reasons for the recent uptick. Over the past few days Chinese officials have noted an emergence of new cases, particularly in asymptomatic individuals. But U.S. officials say it is difficult to trust Beijing's numbers because of its history of putting out unreliable data.The push for real-time intelligence on China's new outbreak is an attempt by U.S. officials not only to study what factors can lead to a reemergence of the virus but also to get ahead of any attempt by Beijing to—yet again—put a spin on it, those same officials said. The White House is leaning on officials from across several agencies, including the State Department, Centers for Disease Control and the intel community to probe how Beijing is handling the new cases so as to better understand what the U.S. could expect later this year, when medical officials believe a second round of infections may happen as well. Grim Scenes at Chinese Hospitals as Doctors Rush to Treat Deadly CoronavirusThe effort by the U.S. to gather new data in China could rattle an already delicate detente that Washington and Beijing appear to have reached on coronavirus messaging.For weeks following the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, the Trump administration called out Beijing for misleading the world about the reality of the situation on the ground, claiming the lack of information and the silencing of health-care workers helped lead to the global spread of the virus. China relentlessly pushed back on that assertion and demanded that the U.S. stop referring to the coronavirus as the "Wuhan virus"—as several top Trump officials were doing. Since then, both President Trump and President Xi have toned down the tough talk and the State Department in cables has refrained from referring to the coronavirus as the "Wuhan virus". In public appearances and behind closed doors Trump has changed his tune, calling Xi his good "friend" and an "incredible guy".But officials who spoke to The Daily Beast said they worry that China could again manipulate its numbers, costing the U.S. and countries across the world valuable information needed to fight another wave of coronavirus cases. According to one State Department cable reviewed by The Daily Beast, China's National Health Commission appears to be linking the second wave with an uptick in individuals testing positive who do not show signs of symptoms. The Chinese government began reporting the number of asymptomatic cases on the mainland for the first time on April 1. As of last week China reported that 1,075 people with no signs of symptoms were "under medical observation." About 135 of those individuals had tested positive for COVID-19. "These asymptomatic infections include individuals who do not show any signs of illness but who have a positive laboratory test result for the virus that causes COVID-19," the cable reads. "Asymptomatic infections represented about one-third of current cases [in mainland China] as of March 31." White House Pushes U.S. Officials to Criticize China For Coronavirus 'Cover-Up'The fear of a second wave through asymptomatic individuals is concerning Chinese officials so much that some cities are now requiring individuals scan their QR health codes before riding public transportation. In Wuhan, the local government is reportedly considering "testing all residents to find asymptomatic persons due to fears of a second outbreak," according to that same cable.Like China, the Trump administration is increasingly worried about the spread of the coronavirus from asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control issued new guidelines advising Americans to wear cloth face covers or masks while around other people even if they did not feel sick.The administration had hesitated on issuing such guidance in part out of concern that a run on medical masks would further hamper American hospitals that are struggling to procure personal protective equipment for their workers. In order to address that shortage, President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner last week announced that he and White House adviser Peter Navarro were working with a team to help buy supplies like masks and gowns internationally, including from China. But the Chinese supplies are a subject of concern as well, after reports of faulty equipment in places such as Spain and the Netherlands.According to a State Department cable, China last week implemented a new policy to ensure all of the medical supplies it planned to export were functioning correctly."The policy regulated exports of medical supplies including detection reagents, medical masks protective clothing, ventilators, and thermometers by requiring exporters to provide documentation that shipments meet China's medical device product registration requirements," the cable reads. As the administration tries to track down accurate data in China on the new asymptomatic cases sweeping the country, it's also looking to keep Chinese disinformation at bay. In the State Department, officials have been tasked with flagging "news" stories and foreign cables that appear to propagate false information. For example, the State Department highlighted in a cable last week the statements made by Lu Shaye, the Chinese ambassador to France. "Following international media reports that the COVID-19 death toll in Wuhan had been dramatically understated (as evidenced by the social media posts, now censored, showing a large number of urns and long lines of residents at government-operated crematoriums)… Shanye told French media that official statistics in Wuhan were accurate," the cable reads. "When asked why the PRC government censored videos and pictures of the long queues of persons waiting to pick up urns, Lu said, 'if they were censored, where did you get those pictures and videos?'" The ambassador was referring to photos that spread on social media last week showing stacks of urns in Wuhan funeral homes. The photos have been deleted but their publishing raised additional questions about the true scale of the coronavirus crisis in China.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.
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| Iran says US oil production must be known before OPEC+ call Posted: 08 Apr 2020 01:21 AM PDT  Iran demanded on Wednesday that U.S. oil production levels must be known before an upcoming OPEC meeting with Russia and others seeking to boost global energy prices. The meeting of the so-called OPEC+ is scheduled to be held Thursday after officials delayed it following Saudi Arabia criticizing Russia over its comments about the price collapse. A meeting in March saw OPEC and other nations led by Russia fail to agree to a production cut as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has drastically cut demand for oil.
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| Speed of coronavirus deaths shocks doctors as New York toll hits new high Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:46 AM PDT  New York, the hardest-hit state in America, on Wednesday reported its highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in a single day with even veteran doctors and nurses expressing shock at the speed with which patients were declining and dying. The number of coronavirus cases in New York state alone approached 150,000 on Wednesday, even as authorities warned the state's official death tally may understate the true number. "Every number is a face, " said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ordered flags flown at half-staff across New York in recognition of the toll.
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| Dems Demand Half of $251 Billion in Additional Small Business Loans Be Targeted to Minority, Women-Owned Companies Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:30 AM PDT  The White House is requesting an additional $251 billion for additional small business lending as part of the government's coronavirus response, eliciting a counter from congressional Democrats asking for $125 billion in targeted aid for farmers, women, minorities, and veteran-owned businesses."I'll be asking Congress to provide an additional $250 billion for the paycheck protection, which will help keep Americans employed, to facilitate a quick and full recovery," President Trump said on Tuesday at the White House during a coronavirus task force briefing.The Senate's phase-three package, which passed last month, earmarked $350 billion to make small business loans through commercial banks to companies with 500 or fewer employees, provided the companies agree to keep workers on the payroll. As part of the "Paycheck Protection Program," most or all of the loan would be written off if the borrower retained its workers and didn't cut their wages, with the government repaying the banks for the forgiven portions of the loans.In a letter to Capitol Hill, the White House Office of Management and Budget said that the program, conducted through the Small Business Administration (SBA), has administered over 220,000 loans — totaling approximately $66 billion. "Given the level of demand for the program, the Administration believes the funds appropriated for this program will soon be exhausted," the letter reads.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said in a statement on Tuesday that he hoped to approve the additional funding with unanimous consent or a voice vote during a procedural session on Thursday, without the full chamber present."It is quickly becoming clear that Congress will need to provide more funding or this crucial program may run dry," McConnell said. "That cannot happen. Nearly 10 million Americans filed for unemployment in just the last two weeks. This is already a record-shattering tragedy, and every day counts."Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) — who said she was open to "an interim package" — countered with their own proposal Wednesday, which placed a number of conditions on the new funding to make sure 50 percent of it goes to farmers, women, minorities, and veteran-owned businesses. The proposal also called for an additional $100 billion in hospital funding and $150 billion more for state and local governments.
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| If you sailed on these cruise ships, you may have been exposed to coronavirus Posted: 07 Apr 2020 10:41 AM PDT |
| In South Africa, a government minister lost her salary for eating lunch in the wrong place Posted: 08 Apr 2020 09:54 AM PDT  "Unmoved" by her excuses for the outing, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa put the minister on two months' leave, one of which will be unpaid.
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| DIY T-Shirt Masks and Balaclavas: Military Services Release Face-Covering Guidance Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:40 AM PDT  The military branches are requiring troops to make their own cloth face masks after the Pentagon's latest policy.
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| NYPD releases video of moments before $1.3 million jewellery burglary Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:56 AM PDT  New York Police Department has released footage of the moments before a $1.3 million jewellery burglary in the Bronx.Four individuals broke into 50 East Fordham Road on the 31 March at around 1am, police said.
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| Democrat Amy McGrath raises more money than Mitch McConnell in 1st quarter Posted: 07 Apr 2020 11:11 PM PDT  Democrat Amy McGrath is hoping she'll be the one to take on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in November, and when it comes to campaign cash, she's already ahead.McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot who narrowly lost a 2018 congressional race, is the favorite to win the Democratic primary, which was moved to June because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, McGrath's campaign reported bringing in $12.8 million over the first three months of 2020, while McConnell's campaign reported raising close to $7.5 million over the same time period.This was McConnell's most successful fundraising haul since becoming a senator in the mid-1980s, his campaign said. "Kentuckians know that at a time of great consequence, there is no substitute for the proven leadership of Mitch McConnell," campaign manager Kevin Golden told The Associated Press. McGrath entered the Democratic primary race last summer, and has so far received $29.8 million in contributions for the 2020 election cycle, with McConnell raising $25.6 million; she has $14.7 million on hand, while McConnell has almost $14.9 million. McGrath campaign spokesman Terry Sebastian told AP her numbers show "voters are fed up with Mitch McConnell continually putting corporate handouts ahead of working people" and "working Americans don't trust his leadership and are demanding new leaders like Amy McGrath who they know will have their back."More stories from theweek.com Dr. Anthony Fauci cautiously predicts kids will return to school next fall, 'but it's going to be different' The coming backlash against the public health experts WHO director-general implores world leaders not to politicize the coronavirus pandemic
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| U.S. sees deadliest day in COVID-19 outbreak Posted: 08 Apr 2020 04:48 AM PDT  After 11 weeks of lockdown, residents of China's Wuhan were allowed out, and tens of thousands prepared to leave the city.
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| Russia aims to prosecute destruction of war monuments abroad Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:59 AM PDT  Russia's defense minister called on law enforcement officials Wednesday to consider filing criminal charges against representatives of other countries where World War II memorials commemorating the actions of the Soviet Union are demolished. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the appeal to the head of the Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation body. Russia takes offense at any criticism of the Soviet role in the war.
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| Special Report: Johnson listened to his scientists about coronavirus - but they were slow to sound the alarm Posted: 07 Apr 2020 06:04 AM PDT  It was early spring when British scientists laid out the bald truth to their government. It was "highly likely," they said, that there was now "sustained transmission" of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. If unconstrained and if the virus behaved as in China, up to four-fifths of Britons could be infected and one in a hundred might die, wrote the scientists, members of an official committee set up to model the spread of pandemic flu, on March 2.
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