coronathrax

Here’s Why You Should Skip the Covid Vaccine

The Bitter Tiers of Mutant England

Engineering Contagion: UPMC, Corona-Thrax and “the Darkest Winter”

Whitney Webb • September 25, 2020

 

 

Sunday, Jan. 3rd, 2021 

New York surpasses one million cases of COVID-19, becoming the fourth state to do so after Texas, California, and Florida. (Bloomberg) 

The homes of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are vandalized after the government failed to pass the CASH Act, a bill that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000. (Business Insider) 

 

Kazakhstan formally abolishes the death penalty, making a two-decade freeze on executions permanent, according to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. (Voice of America) 

Health officials report that at least 26 residents of a retirement home in Mol have died from complications related to COVID-19 since a volunteer dressed as Sinterklaas, who later tested positive for the virus, visited the home on December 5. Officials, however, have not confirmed that the volunteer was the source of the outbreak at the home, where 85 others have also tested positive. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

117th Congress to be sworn in  The 117th Congress will be sworn in on Sunday with several new lawmakers in both chambers getting ready to settle in at the Capitol. Democrats retained a majority in the House in November’s election despite significant gains from the Republicans who narrowed the margin to 11 seats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to win re-election Sunday, though the vote could be close. The Senate majority, meanwhile, still hangs in the balance with the Georgia runoffs set for next week. If one or both of the GOP incumbents, Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and John Ossoff (R-Ga.), hold off their Democratic challengers, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, Republicans will hold the fort. But if Warnock and Ossoff unseat Loeffler and Perdue, Democrats will even things up, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would hold the tie-breaker, giving her party the advantage in close votes. Source: CNN

U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpasses 350,000  The United States surpassed 350,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths Sunday, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows. There have been more than 20 million recorded infections in the country. Both figures lead the world. December saw the highest number of coronavirus cases and fatalities of any month since the pandemic began in the U.S., and experts anticipate numbers will continue to go up in the coming weeks following recent holiday gatherings. The expected surge comes amid a major vaccination drive. The rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines has been under way for multiple weeks now, and as of Saturday night, Bloomberg had tallied 4.3 million doses have been administered, which is well shy of the federal government’s goal of inoculating 20 million Americans by the end of 2020. Source:  Fox News 

GOP senators criticize colleagues’ plan to oppose Electoral College certification  Several Republican senators on Saturday reacted strongly to news that as many as 12 of their GOP colleagues, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), intend to object to the Electoral College certification on Jan. 6 because of allegations of widespread voter fraud. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said “evidence is overwhelming” that President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Trump in the November election, and he accused Cruz and the others of directly undermining “the right of the people to elect their own leaders.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also confirmed she’ll “vote to affirm” Biden’s victory, as did Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who said he “could never have imagined seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world.” Vice President Mike Pence, on the other hand, “welcomes the efforts” of Republican lawmakers who intend “to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections,” his chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement. Source: Slate

Germany, U.K. expect to prolong, tighten coronavirus restrictions  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday he’s “fully reconciled” with the fact that his government may “need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher” in “many parts of the country” as the coronavirus, including a newly-identified, potentially more transmissible variant, continues to surge. Johnson didn’t get too specific on possible restriction enhancements, but he did say school closures may be on the horizon, even though “it’s not something we necessarily want to do.” Germany, meanwhile, is preparing to extend its national COVID-19 lockdown beyond Jan. 10. “The numbers are still too high, so we will have to prolong restrictions,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said Saturday night. It’s unclear how long the extension would last, though an answer will likely come Tuesday when Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders are expected to meet. Source: Reuters 

 

Saturday,  Jan. 2nd, 2021 

Two French Army troops are killed when their armoured personnel carrier hits a roadside bomb in Ménaka, Mali. It is the second attack in the past few days that targeted French troops, the first being the December 28 JNIM-claimed bombing that killed three French soldiers. (Al Jazeera) 

The United Kingdom reports a record 57,725 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since the beginning of the pandemic. Another 445 deaths from COVID-19 are also reported, bringing the country’s death toll to 74,570. (Sky News) 

The UK reactivates emergency critical-care COVID-19 hospitals amid a surge in both cases and hospitalizations. (Reuters) 

Over 800,000 people in Russia have received the Sputnik V vaccine. (The Hill) 

The government announces a one-week closure of all shops that were allowed to reopen during the holiday season, as well as all places of worship beginning tomorrow in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases ahead of the reopening of schools on January 11. A curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time will also be imposed. (Ekathimerini) 

Palau receives 2,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine in a special contribution from the United States. The government announced that it will vaccinate healthcare workers first and then vaccinate seniors and people with medical conditions. (RNZ) 

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office releases footage of deputies executing a search warrant on the last known address of Dolal Idd, as well as a raid on his family’s house. (WCCO-TV) 

Saïd Bouteflika, the brother and special advisor of former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is cleared of conspiracy charges following a retrial. Saïd Bouteflika had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019 for “undermining the authority of the armed forces” and “conspiring against the authority of the state” following his brother’s resignation in the context of the 2019–20 Algerian protests. (AFP via Arab News) 

 

Friday,  Jan 1st, 2021 

California reports a record 585 new deaths in the past 24 hours. (KABC-TV) 

The United States surpasses 20 million cases of COVID-19. (CBS News) 

In the wake of a violent New Year’s Eve protest that was declared a riot in Portland, Oregon, police orders all people in the area to leave immediately. Authorities have not stated the number of protesters arrested. (The Hill) 

The authorities arrested dozens of protesters in Minneapolis as they demanded answers into the fatal police shooting of 23-year-old Dolal Bayle Idd on December 30. The protests came after the body camera footage from a deadly traffic stop was released. At least 15 people were detained for allegedly rioting and 21 people were cited and released. (ABC) 

The Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announces that all primary schools in London will remain closed for at least two weeks at the start of the new term on January 4. It was previously announced that only schools in 23 of the 32 boroughs would be closed. (BBC) 

India officially approves the emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca and University of Oxford, which is to be manufactured locally by Serum Institute of India, and another made by Bharat Biotech. (BBC) 

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has notified them of its intention to enrich uranium to 20% purity, in accordance with a law recently passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Iran reportedly did not specify when this enrichment would begin. The December 2020 bill, adopted after the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, instructs the government to increase uranium enrichment if sanctions against Iran are not eased within two months. (BBC) 

The United States Senate votes 81–13 to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. This is the first successful veto override of the Trump presidency. (Business Insider) 

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. (Formula One) 

Russian-led consortium Nord Stream AG says it has completed the construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline in Germany’s exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea. The U.S. had previously threatened to impose wider sanctions on the project if work continued. (Reuters) 

Scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences announce the discovery of a “well-preserved” woolly rhinoceros carcass in Abyysky District, Sakha, Russia, which was revealed by melting permafrost in August. The Russian Academy of Sciences says that the woolly rhinoceros was likely 3 or 4 years old when it died by drowning in the river, and could be anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 years old. (ABC News) 

Gun Stores Overwhelmed By People Returning $600 Guns For $2000 Guns

United States surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases On Friday, the United States topped 20 million recorded COVID-19 cases. There is also a record number of people hospitalized with the virus; Covid Tracking Project data shows that on Thursday, there were more than 125,370 coronavirus patients in U.S. hospitals. It took 292 days for the U.S. to reach its first 10 million cases, but only 54 more days to double it, CNN reports. December was the country’s worst month of the pandemic, with more than 6.1 million coronavirus cases recorded and 74,147 people dying of the virus. Public health experts believe this is due to people traveling for the holidays and gathering inside because of cold weather. Source: CNN

Israel becomes the first country to vaccinate at least 10% of their population against COVID-19, with around 950,000 doses administered. (The Jerusalem Post) 

France tightens the curfew in 15 worst-affected departments from tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. local time in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. (France 24) 

Because of government “U-turn”, London mayor Sadiq Khan says that all primary schools in London will have to remain closed at the start of new term on January 4. (BBC) 

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen says that she is ready to have talks with China and urges the country to have dialogues. (Bloomberg.com) 

Initiative 190 comes into effect in Montana, making it the 13th state to legalize recreational cannabis. (Great Falls Tribune) 

Pharmacist arrested, accused of intentionally allowing COVID-19 vaccines to spoil  A pharmacist in Wisconsin was arrested on Thursday after police say he intentionally spoiled more than 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine. Authorities say the incident took place at a hospital in Grafton, outside Milwaukee. The pharmacist, who has not been publicly identified, was arrested on recommended charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property, and adulterating a prescription drug. Authorities say the pharmacist, who worked for Aurora Health Care, wrote that he removed 57 vials from refrigeration “knowing that if not properly stored the vaccine would be ineffective.” This will delay vaccinations for hundreds of people in Wisconsin, which reported 3,810 new coronavirus cases and 42 deaths on Thursday. Source: The Washington Post 

World welcomes 2021 with muted celebrations  People around the world happily bid adieu to 2020, with cities celebrating the arrival of 2021 with scaled-back events. In Sydney, a fireworks display over the Opera House and harbor bridge dazzled those watching from home, while in Hanoi, there were fireworks to celebrate that Vietnam has been one of the most successful countries at containing the arrival and spread of the coronavirus. In New York City, the throngs of people who usually crowd Times Square weren’t there — instead, the few revelers who watched the ball drop were invited frontline and essential workers. Several countries and cities canceled their normal events, due to curfews put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. In France, 100,000 extra police officers were mobilized to ensure people weren’t out after a 7 p.m. curfew and to break up gatherings of more than 10 people,  Source: NBC News 

 

Thursday, Dec. 31st, 2020 

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley says he’ll object to Electoral College certification process  Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Wednesday announced he’ll object during the Electoral College certification process, which is expected to seal President-elect Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6. Hawley said he plans to do so because he’s concerned about allegations that “some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws” and because of what he described as “the unprecedented effort of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election, in support of” Biden, boosting President Trump’s unfounded claims that the election was stolen from him. State election officials and Attorney General William Barr previously affirmed there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Several House Republicans are preparing to object, and Hawley is the first senator to join them. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) previously asked his caucus to refrain from joining the House effort. Source: Sen. Josh Hawley 

The World Health Organization lists the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. (Reuters) 

The Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong orders pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to return to prison on national security law grounds, after a ruling by a lower court released him on bail. Chinese state media had labeled Lai’s release as “unbelievable”. (Bloomberg) 

China approves the country’s first homegrown vaccine, made by Sinopharm. It comes after the vaccine is deemed to be 79.34% effective. (CNN) 

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. The patient is a 23-year-old woman from Shanghai who arrived from the United Kingdom on December 14 and tested positive for COVID-19. (France 24) 

Tokyo reports a record 1,337 new cases in the past 24 hours, surpasses 1,000 daily cases for the first time in any prefecture since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Asahi Shimbun) 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a change, effective January 1, to the wording of the country’s national anthem to no longer refer to the country as “young and free” in an attempt to reflect its long indigenous history. (BBC) 

The United Kingdom reports a record 55,892 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,488,780. (ITV) 

The Czech Republic reports a record 16,939 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 718,661 as the positivity rate reaches 52%. (Irozhlas) 

 

Nationwide, a record 4,515 new cases are reported in Japan in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 4,000 daily cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (NHK World) 

South Korea imposes the highest level of social distancing measures at prison facilities nationwide. These restrictions will remain in effect until January 13. (Yonhap News Agency) 

Florida confirms its first new case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that originated in the United Kingdom. The individual is a Martin County man with no history of travel. (The Hill) 

More Below the Fold

in two years either Trump or Harris will be president. and it doesn’t matter

Great second half of video where some Navy personnel demonstrate their lack of skill. The drone boat is not a barn door but it is orange.

 

Thursday,  Aug 13th, 2020

Palaeontologists at the University of Southampton report the discovery of a new species of theropod dinosaur called Vectaerovenator inopinatus on the Isle of Wight, England. The species belongs to the same group as the Tyrannosaurus and modern-day birds. It lived roughly 115 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. (BBC)

Lithuania allows “unrestricted entry” to all Belarusians “for humanitarian purposes” amid anti-government protests and political repression in neighboring Belarus. Existing COVID-19 restrictions will also not apply to Belarusians. (The Baltic Times)

Iraq cancels a ministerial meeting and summons the Turkish ambassador as Iraq blames Turkey for a drone strike that killed two high-ranking Iraqi military officers. Officials called it a “blatant Turkish drone attack” in the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. (Al Jazeera)

Jordan announces to close its only land trade border crossing with Syria for a week begin on Thursday morning after a drastic spike in COVID-19 cases coming from its northern neighbor. (TRT World)

U.S. commander is ‘concerned’ over ISIS regrouping in western Syria  Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, shared a stark warning on Wednesday about the Islamic State in Syria. McKenzie participated in a virtual United States Institute of Peace forum, and said that in parts of western Syria, “conditions are as bad or worse” than they were prior to the terror group’s rise in 2014, and “we should all be concerned about that.” This region is controlled by the Syrian government, and insurgents there have a degree of freedom to move around. There is barely a U.S. presence in western Syria, McKenzie said, and the United States does not believe the regime will do anything to try to push back against the militants. Source: The Associated Press

The United Kingdom’s economy officially enters recession for the first time since 2009, according to Chancellor Rishi Sunak. (BBC)

France reports the highest rise of COVID-19 cases since the lockdown was lifted in May, with 2,524 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. (BBC)

France cancels the rescheduled 2020 Paris Marathon, which would have taken place on November 15, due to coronavirus pandemic. (BBC)

The number of COVID-19 cases in Germany rises by 1,226, which is the biggest daily rise since May, according to the Robert Koch Institute, as the health minister warns of outbreaks in nearly all parts of the country due to vacation returnees and partygoers. (Swiss Info)

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu issues a mask mandate for gatherings with more than 100 people. Masks will be required at the Laconia Motorcycle Week, which is expected to be held on August 22 and 23. The move comes after few attendees of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota appeared to wear masks. (CBS News)

Australia suffers the deadliest day of the pandemic when Victoria reports 21 deaths in the last 24 hours. (9 News)

 

Clashes between armed civilians and soldiers in Tonj, Warrap, South Sudan, during a disarmament exercise leave 127 dead since Saturday, an army spokesman says. A total of 45 of those killed were part of the security forces while the rest were youths from the area. (AFP via Al Arabiya)

 

President of Peru Martín Vizcarra bans family gatherings and extends a lockdown to five more states, following a 75% surge in COVID-19 cases among children and adolescents. (Reuters)

Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Jimmy Lai and Agnes Chow are released on bail. Lai makes no comment while Chow says that her arrest amounts to “political persecution and political suppression”. (Al Jazeera)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delays dissolution of Parliament until 17 August, due to resurgence of COVID-19. (ABC News Australia)

 

Biden and Harris appear at 1st joint event  Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his new vice presidential pick, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), appeared at their first joint event on Wednesday afternoon in Delaware. Biden introduced Harris as an inspiration to young women of color, and hailed her as a “strong” woman who is “ready to do the job on day one.” Harris thanked Biden for selecting her, and said she’s “ready to get to work” as vice president. The Trump campaign quickly attacked Harris on Tuesday, asserting she is inconsistent. Biden said it’s “no surprise” Trump is “whining” and making such attacks. Harris lauded Biden as a strong leader who has fought for “equality and justice,” also hammering Trump for his coronavirus response. Source: The New York TImes

U.S. health officials report nearly 1,500 COVID-19 deaths, highest total since May  On Wednesday, health officials in the United States reported 1,493 deaths due to the coronavirus, the highest total since mid-May. According to data compiled by The Washington Post, the nationwide seven-day average of newly reported deaths has been above 1,000 for 17 days in a row, after steadily going up for most of July. Texas on Wednesday reported 324 new COVID-19 deaths, the state’s highest single-day total. Over the last four weeks, the seven-day average death toll has more than tripled in Washington and doubled in Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Georgia, where this week the average daily case count has also been slowly increasing. Source: The Washington Post

Republicans reportedly believe they have upper hand in COVID-19 aid stalemate  Negotiations for the next coronavirus relief bill have been at a stalemate for weeks, but Republican leadership and the Trump administration reportedly feel they have the upper hand over Democrats in hashing out a deal for unemployment benefits, state and local aid, and a host of other aid items. Talks are on hold because White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is “out for the week but mostly because the administration feels confident they have the upper hand politically,” thanks to President Trump’s executive orders, Politico reports. “One official said the White House feels it has Democrats in a ‘real pickle.'” The impasse has left millions of jobless Americans without the $600 weekly unemployment boost, and has put a $100 billion school aid package on hold. Republicans have sought to reduce the weekly payments, and Meadows has reportedly held a hard line, reportedly contributing to the breakdown. Democratic leadership has reportedly “adopted hardball negotiating tactics” moving forward. Source: Politico

Watchdog: U.S. ambassador to Britain made inappropriate, insensitive remarks  The State Department’s inspector general has found that during his tenure, Ambassador to Britain Woody Johnson has made inappropriate and insensitive comments about religion, race, and sex. In a report released Wednesday, the office wrote that “offensive or derogatory comments, based on an individual’s race, color, sex, or religion, can create an offensive working environment and could potentially rise to a violation of Equal Employment Opportunity laws.” The office also said it found that Johnson’s “demanding and hard-driving” management style hurt morale. Johnson, the co-owner of the New York Jets, had no diplomatic experience when he took on the role in August 2017. The inspector general’s office said it has asked the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to conduct a further review and to take action, but the agency responded and said it doesn’t think this is necessary. Source: Reuters

The End

 

Wednesday,  Aug. 12th, 2020 

Biden selects Kamala Harris as running mate Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced on Tuesday he has selected Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. Harris, who was previously a presidential candidate herself, was considered a top contender as Biden’s vice presidential pick, alongside Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), former U.N. ambassador Susan Rice, and nearly a dozen others. Harris was previously the attorney general of California. She is now the first Black and South Asian American woman on a major party presidential ticket. Biden and Harris will hold their first appearance together on Wednesday during an event in Wilmington, Delaware. Source: CBS News

Putin says Russia has registered 1st approved coronavirus vaccine Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia has become the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, claiming victory in a global race to conquer COVID-19. The vaccine was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute, and Putin said one of his two daughters is among the Russians already inoculated with the vaccine, joining a small group that includes the researchers who developed it and about 50 members of Russia’s military. Medical experts expressed concerns that the Kremlin aggressively and dangerously rushed the vaccine approval process, putting global prestige over public health. Russian officials said Phase III trial of the vaccine will be conducted as thousands of Russian medical workers, teachers, and other groups are inoculated. The World Health Organization lists the Gamaleya vaccine trial as in Phase I. Source: The Associated Press

The total number of worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpasses 20 million. The United States remains the global leader of case numbers, accounting for more than 25 percent, cumulative. (CNN)

Israel launches multiple airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after incendiary balloons launch from Gaza into Israel. (Haaretz)

The Office for National Statistics reports the worst job losses in the United Kingdom since the financial crisis of 2007–2008. (BBC)

Singapore enters technical recession for the first time in a decade after its economy contracts by 13.2% in the second quarter, which translates to a record 42.9% plunge in its annualised GDP. (The Straits Times)

Natick, Massachusetts issues town-wide water restrictions, limiting water use by Natick residents, in response to an ongoing drought affecting most parts of New England. (Patch)

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen warns that attacks on newly freed prisoners will drive them back to the battlefield despite orders from their leaders. The government denies attacking, or re-arresting them without cause. (The Hour)

Facebook introduces new regulations blocking American publishers with political ties from running ads masquerading as news articles in its news section. (Reuters)

Fiji suspends its seasonal ban on the harvest, sale, and consumption of coral trout and grouper to fight economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. (RNZ)

New Zealand reports its first cases of community transmission in 102 days, four cases in a single family. Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 from August 12 at 12 noon until midnight on August 14. The rest of the country will move to Alert Level 2. (New Zealand Herald)

Greece imposes midnight until 7 am local time curfew on bars, restaurants, and cafés in several regions following a spike of COVID-19 cases. (ITV)

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya flees Belarus to her family in Lithuania, according to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevičius. Tsikhanouskaya had gone into hiding after the disputed election, which she accuses President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says the activists and protesters have “gone too far” with their 10 demands that include the reform of the monarchy, as the country is subject to the strictest lèse majesté laws in the world. The royal family declines to comment. (Reuters)

Anti-government protests resume in the Malian capital of Bamako, as thousands take to the street demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta after talks between the government and the protesters stalled. (Al Jazeera)

French privacy watchdog group CNIL launches a preliminary investigation into TikTok, as part of a European Union-wide taskforce monitoring the app’s operations. (Reuters)

U.S. ‘may have missed a window’ in coronavirus treatment development Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the U.S. “may have a missed a window” to scale up production of coronavirus treatments, which “could have been an important bridge to a vaccine.” On Tuesday, Gottlieb discussed the strategy of ratcheting up vaccine production even before federal approval to get a stockpile ready. He said the focus on vaccine development means less emphasis on a potential treatment known as monoclonal antibodies. The treatment, made of genetically engineered antibodies, is reportedly a promising method in fighting COVID-19, and two separate clinical trials are in progress. The speed has been focused on vaccines, though Gottlieb said the antibody treatment could serve as a “hedge in the event vaccines are delayed or don’t work.” Because of the slow progress, Gottlieb said, “we just don’t have enough doses to realize that goal.” Source: Stat News

DNC speaker list unveiled The list of speakers at the Democratic National Convention next week was announced on Tuesday. Former President Barack Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are scheduled to speak. The DNC will largely be held virtually, and speakers are expected to appear via livestream or pre-recorded videos. Other speakers include former first and second ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, as well as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to speak via video from Delaware to accept the presidential nomination, and his newly-announced running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), is slotted to speak on Wednesday night. The DNC will run from 9-11 p.m. ET, Monday through Thursday. Source: CNN

Three men are fined by a court in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, for hijacking the oil tanker MV Elobey VI off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and holding the crew hostage for US$200,000 in March. They are the first people to be convicted under Nigeria’s new anti-piracy law. (Reuters)

The violent clashes took place in eastern Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Thw violence cause the death of at least 3 people in police firing while injuring 60 police personnel during the clashes. (The Indian Express)

 

Tuesday,  Aug. 11th, 2020

A shooting involving the Secret Service occurs on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. A civilian, identified only as a 51-year-old man, has been transported to a local hospital. (ABC News)

Nineteen people are killed in massacres in three villages in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)

McDonald’s files a US$40 million lawsuit against former CEO Steve Easterbrook, equal to the worth of his severance package, for allegedly lying to investigators about the extent of his sexual relationships with three employees. (CNN)

Toshiba exits the personal computer (PC) market after 35 years, by selling its final stake in PC manufacturer Dynabook Inc. (BBC)

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas announces via Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19. (CNN)

An explosion at a gas station in Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia, leaves at least 13 people injured and creates a 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft)-sized blaze. It is believed that it was caused by an electrical fire. (The Independent)

Hong Kong entrepreneur and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and his son are arrested under the national security law for allegedly conspiring with foreign powers. He is so far the most high-profile figure to be charged under the law. The police also search the offices of his newspaper Apple Daily shortly after his arrest. (The Guardian)

Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow is arrested in late afternoon, according to Nathan Law. (Reuters)

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announces the resignation of the entire government as protests grow over their handling of the Beirut explosions on 4 August. (Reuters)

California judge orders Uber and Lyft to classify drivers as employees A California judge on Monday ruled that the ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft have to classify their drivers in the state as employees, not independent contractors. On Jan. 1, a new California labor law, AB5, went into effect, which makes it harder for companies to misclassify workers who should be considered employees, and thus eligible for minimum wage and overtime. California is the largest market in the United States for Uber and Lyft, and in May, the state filed a lawsuit against the companies, accusing them of violating AB5. Judge Ethan Schulman said there was an “overwhelming likelihood” the companies have been wrongly classifying drivers as contractors instead of employees, and issued a preliminary injunction. He delayed the order by 10 days so Uber and Lyft can have the opportunity to appeal. Source: The Guardian

Lebanese government steps down following deadly explosion Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his Cabinet resigned on Monday, following an explosion in Beirut that killed at least 160 people last week. The government was facing protests and accusations it didn’t do enough to prevent the blast, which was apparently caused by explosives that were stored in a Beirut port warehouse and neglected for seven years. However, analysts say the mass resignation may not bring about the systemic change protesters are calling for, since several top officials like President Michel Aoun remain in power. Source: CNN

 

Monday, Aug. 10th, 2020

State-run oil company Saudi Aramco reports that profits in the first half of 2020 plunged by 50% compared to the same period last year, with decreased demand in oil caused by COVID-19 cited as the main reason by CEO Amin H. Nasser. The company plans to uphold its promise of paying out US$75 billion in annual dividends in spite of this. (AP)

A teenager is killed and 20 others are shot, including an off-duty police officer, in a mass shooting at a large gathering in Southeast Washington, D.C. Police are searching for at least three shooters. (CNN)

A state television exit poll shows President Alexander Lukashenko winning 79.7% of the vote. These results have been dismissed by the main opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who criticized them has “massively rigged”. (BBC)

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, declares a landslide victory against the opposition, as riot police clash with protesters in the capital Minsk. Protests in reaction to the disputed results have been reported in at least 20 other Belarusian cities. Fifty civilians and thirty-nine police officers were injured, while at least 3,000 protesters are arrested across the country, one-third of them in Minsk. (BBC)

NetBlocks reports that the internet has been “significantly disrupted” in Belarus, with a near total blackout in Minsk. (NetBlocks)

Six French aid workers, their driver, and a local guide are shot dead by gunmen in an attack on a group of aid workers in Kouré, Tillabéri, Niger. (BBC)

The End

 

 

Start watching at 12:min 00:sec

Trenton

On War and Ketamine – Carl von Clausewitz

 

Thursday,  August 6th, 2020 

SpaceX Starship prototype SN5 successfully carries out a 150-meter (500ft) flight test at the SpaceX South Texas Launch Site. (BBC)

Google shuts down 2,500 channels on its video sharing platform YouTube, that were linked to a Chinese disinformation campaign. (Reuters)

Report: Deutsche Bank complied with subpoena from New York prosecutors over Trump’s finances  In 2019, New York prosecutors subpoenaed Deutsche Bank, President Trump’s longtime lender, seeking financial records that Trump and his company had given the bank, four people familiar with the matter told The New York Times. The bank complied with the subpoena and turned over to the Manhattan district attorney’s office financial statements and other documents Trump submitted while trying to get loans, two people with knowledge of the matter told the Times. The criminal inquiry into Trump’s business practices at first appeared to be focused only on hush money payments made in 2016 to two women who said they had affairs with Trump, the Times reports, but the subpoena indicates that their investigation is wider in scope than previously known. Source: The New York Times

Former Guatemalan Economic Minister Acisclo Valladares Urruela is charged by American prosecutors for laundering US$10 million on behalf of drug traffickers, and using the profits to bribe officials back home. (Reuters)

The Indonesian economy contracts 5.32% in second quarter of 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the worst economic contraction in the country since the first quarter of 1999. (Kompas)

The death toll from the explosions in the Port of Beirut rises to 135 people, with more than 5,000 injured and dozens still missing. (Al Jazeera)

In response to the explosions, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon delays the pronouncement of the verdict in the criminal case concerning the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri from August 7 to August 18. (Reuters)

Several Beirut port officials are placed under house arrest as an investigation starts into how 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was left unsecured at a warehouse at the port for six years. (ITV)

Spain reports 1,772 new cases of COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number since nationwide state of emergency was lifted in June. (The New York Times)

France reports 1,695 new cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest number since the end of May. The seven-day moving average stood above the 1,300 threshold for the first time since the end of April. (Reuters)

Iran executes a man for killing a member of the Revolutionary Guards during anti-government unrest in 2017. His execution was carried out as a retribution sentence demanded by the victim’s family. (Reuters)

 

Zhang Yuhuan is acquitted of murdering two boys in October 1993 and freed after serving 27 years in prison. He is China’s longest longest-serving wrongfully convicted inmate after spending 9,778 days in prison in Jiangxi. The killer of the boys remains unknown. (BBC)

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar travels to Taiwan for a multi-day official visit. He is the highest U.S. official to visit the country in 40 years. The U.S. stopped recognising Taiwan in 1979 and has had unofficial ties since then. The PRC, which claims Taiwan as a breakaway province, condemns the visit. (Reuters)

Beirut customs reportedly tried for years to remove explosive material from port  Officials in Beirut have launched an investigation into Tuesday’s explosion that killed at least 135 people and wounded 5,000, and the probe could leave hundreds of thousands without a home for a month. The blast is not being considered an attack, but Lebanese officials believe people bear responsibility for mismanaging and neglecting 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a port warehouse since 2013 that likely caused the explosion. Lebanese customs officials reportedly tried for years to get rid of the explosive material and warned of its dangers, but were unsuccessful. Lebanon’s President Michael Aoun on Wednesday vowed to punish those responsible after the investigation, and later his Cabinet placed an unspecified number of Beirut port officials under house arrest pending the investigation. Source: The Associated Press

Facebook removes Trump post due to coronavirus misinformation  For the first time, Facebook has removed a post on President Trump’s personal page that spread misinformation about the coronavirus. The post featured a clip of Trump’s interview with Fox News that aired on Wednesday morning, during which Trump claimed that children are “almost immune” or “virtually immune” from COVID-19, and as such should be able to go back to school in the fall. Children can in fact transmit the virus and have died of it. Andy Stone, a Facebook policy spokesman, told NBC News the video “includes false claims that a group of people is immune from COVID-19 which is a violation of our policies around harmful COVID misinformation.” Source: NBC News

Iowa ends lifetime voting ban for people with felony convictions  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Wednesday signed an executive order ending the state’s lifetime voting ban for anyone who has a felony conviction, giving them the ability to vote after they complete their sentences. The move comes after activists spent months protesting outside the state capitol. The nonprofit Sentencing Project estimated in 2016 that about 52,000 Iowans weren’t able to vote because of their felony convictions, with almost 24,000 finished with their criminal sentences. “Today we take a significant step forward in acknowledging the importance of redemption, second chances, and the need to address inequalities in our justice system,” Reynolds said in a statement. “The right to vote is the cornerstone of society and the free republic in which we live. When someone serves their sentence, they should have their right to vote restored automatically.” Source: The Guardian

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asks people “not to create chaos at this time” as protests grow amid demands to rewrite the constitution, dissolve parliament, hold new elections and reform the monarchy. (Reuters)

Wednesday,  Aug. 5th, 2020

Early vaccine trial produces strong antibody response with minimal side effects  Maryland-based Novavax released released a preliminary study Tuesday showing all 130-some recipients of its coronavirus vaccine trial produced COVID-19 antibodies that could reduce their chance of infection. Of them, 56 produced a high level of antibodies without any dangerous side effects. More than 60 percent of recipients had minor side effects, and eight people had to be hospitalized, though not for life threatening reasons. John Moore, a virologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, said these were some of the most promising vaccine results he has seen yet. Bipartisan state attorneys general are meanwhile seeking to use a federal patent law to increase the supply of the drug remdesivir and lower its price, as it has proven to be a promising coronavirus treatment but is only made by the biopharmaceutical company Gilead. Source:  USA Today

Officials say deadly Beirut explosion caused by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate  Lebanese officials believe Tuesday’s enormous explosion in Beirut’s port was likely caused by 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse, and Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed that those “responsible for this catastrophe will pay the price.” The blast killed at least 78 people and injured nearly 4,000, Lebanon’s health ministry said, with many people still missing. The explosion leveled buildings, flipped cars, and blew out windows, and was so strong that it registered as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. Beirut’s hospitals, already under stress due to the coronavirus pandemic, are now overwhelmed by patients, and medical facilities are asking for blood donations and generators. The city’s governor, Marwan Abboud, told reporters he has “never in my life seen damage this enormous … this is a national catastrophe. This is a disaster for Lebanon.” Source: The Guardian

Several explosions in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, kill more than 70 people, injure more than 4,000 others and send shock waves that damage homes as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) away. Prime Minister Hassan Diab, whose wife and daughter are among the injured, declares Wednesday a national day of mourning. The shockwave was felt in a few nearby countries. (BBC)

Finnish diplomats confirm that Finland’s Embassy in Beirut, located 2km from the port, has been “completely destroyed”. No Finnish casualties are known at this time, according to Deputy Ambassador Aki Kauppinen. (Newsnow Finland)

UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic declares itself bankrupt and files for Chapter 15 Bankruptcy Protection in New York amid a decline in international flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)

The Philippines posts a single-day Southeast Asian record, with 6,352 new coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours, as well as 11 deaths. More than 66,000 people have recovered. (The Straits Times) 

Poland reports a single-day record of 680 new cases in the last 24 hours, as well as six deaths. More than a third are in the southern Silesia region, largely amongst coal miners. (Voice of America)

The Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia in a unanimous decision orders former President Álvaro Uribe to be placed under house arrest, claiming he may obstruct justice for his fraud and witness tampering case. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asks people “not to create chaos at this time” as protests grow amid demands to rewrite the constitution, dissolve parliament, hold new elections and reform the monarchy. (Reuters)

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa calls his opponents “terrorists” and vows to continue a crackdown on them. In recent days, several opposition members and activists have been arrested and human rights groups allege that security forces are conducting illegal abductions. Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf posted a tweet in favor of the opposition. (Al Jazeera)

The Congress of the Republic of Peru votes 54–37 no confidence against Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano, forcing all 19 government ministers to resign. President Martín Vizcarra has 48 hours to form a new cabinet. (Reuters)

 

Tuesday,  Aug. 4th, 2020

Authorities announce the arrest of a 48-year-old man two days earlier in San Antonio, Texas, US, for threatening to commit a mass shooting at Fort Hood in retaliation for the killing of Vanessa Guillén there in April. He is being charged with making terroristic threats. (San Antonio Express-News)

Newly leaked bodycam footage shows George Floyd pleading with police officers not to lock him up in a police vehicle, as well as saying that he is claustrophobic. (NBC News)

President Donald Trump vows to sue Nevada over legislation signed by Governor Steve Sisolak that, amid the coronavirus pandemic, requires election officials to send all active, registered voters a mail-in ballot ahead of the November election. This also would apply to any others that happen in the wake of a statewide emergency or disaster directive. (Reuters)

The End

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews orders the temporary closure of many businesses and retail stores in Melbourne under stage four lockdown restrictions for six weeks to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria. Only essential services such as supermarkets, food stores, liquor shops, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other essentials that can remain open. (9 News)

BBC News reports that the number of deaths and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iran are about three times higher than what was reported by the government, according to a data leak. (BBC)

Catalonia exceeds 100,000 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (La Vanguardia)

The military retake a prison in Jalalabad, Nangarhar, that came under attack yesterday by the ISIL, resulting in a mass jailbreak and shootout between Afghan forces and jihadists that ended today. At least 29 people are killed and 50 injured, among them civilians, prisoners, guards, and Afghan security forces. (AP)

Israeli Air Force helicopters strike Syrian military observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft batteries and command-and-control bases in Quneitra Governorate, in response to yesterday’s incident along the Purple Line border fence in the Golan Heights, in which four militants were killed after attempting to plant an IED where Israeli soldiers patrol. (Reuters)

 

Brazil’s Chief of Staff of the Presidency Walter Souza Braga Netto tests positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)

A UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea report concedes that North Korea has “probably developed miniaturized nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles”. (Reuters)

Thailand’s digital minister threatens action against Facebook for not complying with the government request of restricting content illegal in the country, including insults to King Vajiralongkorn. Facebook responded by disabling English-to-Thai automatic translations. (Reuters)

The Spanish Royal Household communicates that Emeritus King Juan Carlos I has informed King Felipe VI that he is leaving the country motivated by “the public repercussion that certain past events are generating”. His finances are being judicially investigated by a Swiss judge and Spanish Prosecutor’s Office for alleged financial dealings from Haramain high-speed railway construction and his accounts in tax havens.  (BBC)

U.S. President Donald Trump vows to sue Nevada over legislation signed by Governor Steve Sisolak that, amid the coronavirus pandemic, would send mail-in ballots to every voter ahead of the November presidential election. The bill requires election officials to send all active, registered voters a mail-in ballot ahead of the November election, and any others that happen in the wake of a statewide emergency or disaster directive. (Reuters)

President Donald Trump says he has the right to issue an executive order on mail-in voting but hasn’t gotten to it yet. (Reuters)

Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigns over the government’s slow pace at reforms, warning the country is at risk of becoming a failed state. Diplomatic affairs advisor Charbel Wehbe takes his place. (Al Jazeera)

Two anonymous sources confirm to Reuters that the classified United Kingdom–United States trade documents leaked ahead of the UK parliamentary election last year was caused by Russian hackers hacking the email account of former International Trade Secretary Liam Fox. (Reuters)

Lawmakers remain gridlocked on coronavirus relief The Trump administration and congressional leaders remained at a stalemate on Monday after resuming negotiations for the next round of coronavirus relief. Democrats have pushed to renew the $600 per week in extra jobless benefits that expired Friday, although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the sum could be reduced as unemployment falls. Senate Republicans have proposed lowering the figure to $200 per week, and have argued payments should be tied to a percentage of wages rather than a flat amount. On Monday, Pelosi conceded a deal was not likely this week, and said lawmakers were still far from agreeing on major aspects of a large-scale bill that could include unemployment boosts, SNAP benefits, and aid for altering election processes amid the pandemic. Source: Politico

Trump under investigation for fraud in New York, court filing suggests Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance’s recent court filing reportedly suggests President Trump and his company, The Trump Organization, may be under investigation for possible bank and insurance fraud. The filing was made in response to a lawsuit by Trump’s attorneys who have argued prosecutors were acting in “bad faith” by issuing a “wildly overbroad” subpoena seeking Trump’s personal and corporate tax returns. Without naming specifics, the filing argued the subpoena wasn’t too broad, since that notion is based on the “false premise” that the probe is limited to “hush-money” payments made by the president’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in 2016. Instead, the filing claimed “there were public allegations of possible criminal activity” at the company “dating back over a decade.” Source: The New York Times

 

Monday, Aug. 3rd, 2020

In rare talks, Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held a video call to discuss various regional issues, including combating COVID-19 in their respective countries. (Al Jazeera)

Mexican Drug War

Guanajuato state officials announce that Mexican security forces captured former Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel leader José Antonio Yépez Ortiz alongside five other people. (Al Jazeera)

Hundreds of people gather and protest in Portland, Oregon, marking the 66th night of protests in the city. (CNN)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the media of instigating anti-corruption protests against him and downplaying incidents of violence by the protesters. Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ordered his son Yair to take down a Tweet doxing the leaders of the protests. (Times of Israel)

Crew Dragon Endeavour makes its first splashdown after successfully completing the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission. (Space.com)

The End

boston after the “protests”

South Station, Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020, 4pm

Thursday, June 4th, 2020

Los Angeles officials announce an end to the county-wide curfew amid continuing protests. (Los Angeles Times)

The mass annual vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests at Victoria Park, Hong Kong, is banned by the city police for the first time, citing concerns of local COVID-19 transmissions. Local commemorations are held across the city instead. (Hong Kong Free Press)

4pm

New unemployment claims shrink again, to 1.8 million in the past week  Around 1.88 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, according to numbers released Thursday by the Department of Labor. The number, in line with economists’ expectations, brings the total number of people who’ve filed new jobless claims to 42.6 million over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also continues a downward trend that could signify the worst of the coronavirus economic crash is over. At the unemployment boom’s peak in late March, 6.9 million people filed claims. Still, 21.5 million people filed continuing claims — claims filed for at least two weeks in a row — in a sign that some people aren’t getting their jobs back even as parts of the economy reopen.  Source: NBC News

4pm

The Government of National Accord (GNA) says they are in full control of the capital, Tripoli, after forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA), loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, retreat from the territory after months of intense fighting in the city. (Reuters)After violent protests erupt across the country against a lockdown imposed to combat the virus, the government announces it will “relax” the restrictions. Interior Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye says the curfew will be shortened and inter-regional travel ban lifted. (Reuters)

North Korea issues warning that it would end a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement if South Korea fails to stop defectors and activists from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the demilitarized zone (DMZ). (DW).

4pm

One of the suspects involved in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery testifies that the gunman who shot and killed Arbery had shouted a racial slur at the victim moments after his death. The allegation opens up the possibility for hate crime charges. (The Washington Post)

A court in Russian-controlled Crimea jails a Jehovah’s Witness for 6 years for practicing an outlawed religion in the territory. (Reuters)

GOP lawmakers split in response to Mattis’ criticism of Trump  Republican lawmakers were divided in their reactions on Thursday when asked about former Defense Secretary James Mattis’ criticism of President Trump. Mattis on Wednesday denounced Trump’s response to peaceful protests, saying Trump “tries to divide us.” Mattis, who resigned in 2018, said watching protesters get tear-gassed in Lafayette Square and hearing Trump threaten to use the military to crush demonstrations left him “angry and appalled.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Mattis had been duped into disliking Trump by “liberal media,” and several other Republican senators had no comment. Others, like Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) simply said Mattis was “free to express” his “opinion.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), meanwhile, said “Mattis’ words were true and honest and necessary” and said she’s now “struggling” over whether to continue to support Trump.  Source:  Politico

4pm

Former Defense Secretary Mattis denounces Trump: ‘He tries to divide us’  Former Defense Secretary James Mattis has denounced President Trump’s response to peaceful protests, saying he is “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.” Mattis, a retired Marine general, resigned in 2018. He told The Atlantic in a statement that watching protesters get tear gassed in Lafayette Square and hearing Trump threaten to use the military to crush demonstrations left him “angry and appalled.” The protesters are “insisting that we live up to our values — our values as people and our values as a nation,” he said, and the forceful removal of demonstrators in Lafayette Square for Trump’s “bizarre” photo op in front of St. John’s Church was an “abuse of executive authority.” The country, Mattis continued, must “reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” Source: The Atlantic

Obama: Protests offer ‘opportunity for people to be awakened’ to systemic racism Former President Barack Obama spoke on Wednesday to address the nation regarding the ongoing protests over police brutality that broke out following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Obama called the protests “an incredible opportunity for people to be awakened to some of [the] underlying trends” of systemic racism. He also specifically addressed young people of color, saying, “I want you to know that your lives matter. Your dreams matter.” Obama previously published a blog post calling the protests largely “peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring,” and has called on protesters to determine specific demands for criminal justice and police reform.  Source: ABC News

Virginia governor expected to announce removal of Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond  Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) will announce on Thursday plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Monument Avenue in Richmond, an administration official told The Washington Post. The statue, erected in 1890, will be put into storage. There are several monuments to the Confederacy along the avenue, and all have been spray painted during this week’s demonstrations against racism and police brutality. Only the Lee statue is under state control, but Virginia’s General Assembly passed a bill earlier this year that gives localities the authority to choose what happens to Confederate monuments on their property, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney on Wednesday said his administration will introduce an ordinance on July 1 to remove all such statues on Monument Avenue. Source: The Washington Post

4pm

Trump administration to block passenger flights from China  The Trump administration is planning to block Chinese passenger carriers from flying into the United States, the Department of Transportation announced Wednesday, saying China is still “unable” to say when it will “allow U.S. carriers to reinstate scheduled passenger flights.” China has essentially stopped U.S. airlines from being able to resume service to the country in March, China’s regulators limited foreign carriers to one flight per week. The Transportation Department says China “effectively precludes U.S. carriers from reinstating scheduled passenger flights to China,” and says it will block flights “to restore a competitive balance.” The ban is reportedly set to go into effect on June 16, though the Transportation Department says that it could “revisit” the decision if China changes its policies.  Source: Reuters

 

Wednesday,  June 3rd, 2020

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti pledges to cut the budget of the Los Angeles Police Department by up to $150 million in the wake of allegations of police misconduct during protests. (Los Angeles Times)

A Mw 5.5 aftershock to the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes of July 2019 takes place. It is the third-largest earthquake of the sequence, taking place only 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the Garlock Fault. (NBC Los Angeles)

Russian President Vladimir Putin declares a state of emergency after 20,000 tons of oil leaked into the Ambarnaya River near the Siberian city of Norilsk within the Arctic Circle on May 26, 2020. The spill happened when a fuel tank in a Nornickel NTEK power plant collapsed. Putin lambasted the company for not reporting the incident. The World Wildlife Fund said the accident is believed to be the second-largest in modern Russian history. (BBC)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that the United Kingdom will change its immigration laws to offer a pathway to UK citizenship for all Hong Kong citizens who are eligible for BN(O) status, if the government of China imposes new security laws on the territory. (BBC)

African-American former police captain David Dorn is shot and killed while trying to protect a pawn shop in St. Louis. (CNN)

Vallejo police announce that Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old Hispanic resident of San Francisco, was shot and killed by police the day before at a Walgreens. Police allege that a hammer in his pocket was mistaken for a gun. Monterrosa was on his knees. (The San Francisco Chronicle)

Texas State University President Denise Trauth announces on social media that a 20-year-old African-American student protestor, Justin Howell, had been critically injured by a bean bag round fired by Austin police on Sunday. Police maintain that Howell was not the intended target. (Austin American-Statesman)

The criminal charge for former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd is upgraded to second-degree murder, while the three officers who helped restrain Floyd are charged with aiding and abetting murder. (CNBC)

Former President of Ecuador Abdalá Bucaram is arrested for illegal possession of weapons during a raid on his home against corruption. (CNN Español)

SpaceX successfully launches and deploys 60 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to 482. (Space.com)

The End

shoot those motherfuckers

 

Wednesday,  June 3rd, 2020

‘They gonna blame that on us’: Videos show white protesters smashing windows and defacing stores as black protesters tell them they’re endangering black lives

The Minneapolis Putsch
C.J. HOPKINS • JUNE 1, 2020 • 1,500 WORDS

shoot those motherfuckers

Call them the coronavirus riots – Noah Millman

DOD chief Esper, countering Trump, says protests don’t warrant military action  Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that active-duty U.S. military forces should only be deployed in a domestic law enforcement role “as a matter of last resort” and “in the most urgent dire of situations.” In his view, breaking with President Trump’s, the protests against brutality taking place across the country do not meet that criteria. “We are not in one of those situations right now,” Esper said. Therefore, he does not support invoking the Insurrection Act — which allows the president to deploy troops to suppress civil disorder — despite Trump’s threats to do so. Esper said he has always believed the National Guard, which has been supplementing local police in some states, “is best suited for providing domestic support to civil authorities in these situations.” Source: NBC News

Rosenstein testifies to Senate Intelligence Committee Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday to discuss his role in the beginning of the investigation into the Trump campaign’s previously alleged collusion with Russian election interference. Rosenstein said if he could go back, he would not sign the document that allowed surveillance on Trump’s former campaign staffer, but defended the investigation as a whole, saying at the time there were questions that needed to be answered. Source: CNN

Protests continue across U.S. despite Trump’s threats to deploy military Protests against police brutality continued through Tuesday, one day after President Trump warned he would dispatch troops to restore order in states that don’t stamp out the demonstrations. A growing number of cities have enacted curfews, and several pushed the curfews to as early as 2 p.m., seeking to prevent further clashes between police and protesters. The protests are mostly peaceful, although some took a turn on Monday night after law enforcement officials used pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Trump on Monday told governors during a phone call that they should use force to “dominate” protesters. Demonstrations began after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in police custody in Minneapolis last week. Source: NPR

Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King loses primary Nine-term Republican Rep. Steve King (Iowa), stripped of his committee assignments in 2018 after questioning why white nationalism is bad, lost a five-way Republican primary on Tuesday night to state Sen. Randy Feenstra (R). King, a hardline conservative, has a long history of making controversial and incendiary remarks about immigrants, Muslims, and other issues, but his former supporters in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District jumped ship after he was booted off the House Agriculture Committee, and to a lesser extent the Judiciary Committee. National Republicans had warned King might lose the district in November. Iowa Democrats selected Des Moines businesswoman Theresa Greenfield as their nominee to take on Sen. Joni Ernst (R) in November. Source: The Associated Press

A US$5 billion class action lawsuit is filed against Alphabet Inc. and Google, alleging the company violates users’ right to privacy by tracking them in Chrome’s Incognito mode. (BBC)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the United Kingdom will change immigration laws to offer a pathway to UK citizenship for all Hong Kong citizens who are eligible for BN(O) status, if the government of China imposes new security laws on the territory. (BBC)

Former Lesotho First Lady Maesaiah Thabane is arrested on charges of murder. Her husband, former Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane, is also accused of murder but not formally charged. (Reuters)

A court in France orders Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga to be handed over to a United Nations tribunal for trial. Kabuga’s lawyers said that their client would not receive a fair trial at a UN tribunal and that his health was too fragile to be transferred amidst a pandemic. However, French justice said his transfer is “not incompatible” with the decision. (Reuters)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/will-the-protests-spread-coronavirus-it-s-too-soon-to-tell?srnd=premium

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-how-many-more-jobs-will-be-lost/?srnd=premium

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/pandemic-hits-switzerland-s-economy-harder-than-financial-crisis

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/oil-price-today-reaction-opec-looks-to-extend-production-cuts-2020-6-1029275716

 

 

Tuesday,  June 2nd, 2020

India approves the use of remdesivir to treat emergency COVID-19 cases that require immediate attention. (The Jakarta Post)

President Rodrigo Duterte suspends for six months the termination of the Philippines–United States Visiting Forces Agreement. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. says the decision comes due to “political and other developments in the region”. (Al Jazeera)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces sanctions on four shipping firms for transporting oil to Venezuela. Three firms are based in the Marshall Islands and another in Greece. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza responds by saying Pompeo has a “criminal obsession” with Venezuela. (Reuters)

James N. Miller, former U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, announces his resignation from the Defense Science Board, citing disagreement with the Trump administration’s actions against protestors in Washington, D.C. (The Washington Post)

Protests continue across U.S. despite Trump’s threats to deploy military  Protests against police brutality continued through Tuesday, one day after President Trump warned he would dispatch troops to restore order in states that don’t stamp out the demonstrations. A growing number of cities have enacted curfews, and several pushed the curfews to as early as 2 p.m., seeking to prevent further clashes between police and protesters. The protests are mostly peaceful, although some took a turn on Monday night after law enforcement officials used pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Trump on Monday told governors during a phone call that they should use force to “dominate” protesters. Demonstrations began after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in police custody in Minneapolis last week.  Source: NPR

Former Joint Chiefs chairman ‘sickened’ by actions against protesters  Mike Mullen, the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a retired Navy admiral, wrote in The Atlantic on Tuesday that he was “sickened” by security personnel “forcibly and violently” clearing out peaceful protesters on Monday evening so President Trump could stand outside St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C. “Our fellow citizens are not the enemy, and must never become so,” he said. “This is not the time for stunts. This is the time for leadership.” Mullen is “confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform,” but is “less confident in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief, and I am not convinced that the conditions on our streets, as bad as they are, have risen to the level that justifies a heavy reliance on military troops.”  Source: The Atlantic

Nearly one-third of unemployment benefits owed to Americans haven’t been paid  Over the course of the last three months, the Treasury Department has disbursed $146 billion in unemployment benefits to Americans who have lost their jobs throughout the coronavirus pandemic. That’s more than in all of 2009, when unemployment peaked following the financial crisis, but it’s still reportedly only two-thirds of what’s actually owed. The total bill should have reached $214 billion by now, which means millions of Americans have yet to receive their benefits. Millions still haven’t had their jobless claims processed, and reported numbers are likely understated. A spokesperson for the Labor Department told Bloomberg that “states are struggling to keep up with demand and some have backlogs they are working through,” even as some have expanded call centers and brought in other government workers to help with the claims. Source: Bloomberg

More Below the Fold

total fucking panic dead people and bullshit

This Week In Virology

Saturday,  May 2nd, 2020

Lebanon’s banking association rejects a plan proposed by the government to secure emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund, claiming they weren’t consulted and the the plan will “further destroy confidence” in the country’s financial system. (Reuters)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a ban on assault-style weapons, which includes buying, selling, transporting, importing or using the designated weapons. The legislation is said to be motivated by the recent killing spree in Nova Scotia. (Reuters)

Protests against the Chilean government in commemoration of the International Workers’ Day are suppressed by the police, citing social distancing laws established due to the coronavirus pandemic. (BBC)

FDA approves emergency use of remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment  The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the emergency use of the antiviral remdesivir on COVID-19 patients. Gilead Sciences revealed promising study results involving remdesivir on Wednesday, and the Trump administration announced the authorization, which sidesteps the usual testing required to approve a drug’s usage, during a Friday Oval Office meeting between President Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar, FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, and Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day. In Gilead’s trial, at least 50 percent of patients treated with remdesivir improved, though the study wasn’t evaluated against a control group, and it’s unclear if those recoveries were natural. As clinical trials continue, doctors can use remdesivir on some patients. O’Day said Gilead is working to rapidly increase its supply. Source: NBC News

Biden denies Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegation  Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday addressed for the first time former staffer Tara Reade’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her in 1993. “I want to address allegations by a former staffer that I engaged in misconduct 27 years ago,” Biden said in a statement. “They aren’t true. This never happened.” Biden said Reade’s story “has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways,” and he said he is asking the National Archives to identify a record of a complaint Reade says she filed in the Senate and release it to the press “if there was ever any such complaint.” Biden had been facing calls to personally address Reade’s allegation after his campaign previously denied it. Source: The Washington Post

North Korean state media: Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance in 20 days  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made his first public appearance in 20 days on Friday, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reports, citing state media. Kim reportedly made his appearance for the completion of a fertilizer plant north of Pyongyang. Kim was out of the public eye for weeks, sparking rumors he was in ill health or even dead. CNN reported in April that the U.S. was monitoring intelligence that Kim was “in grave danger after undergoing a previous surgery,” though South Korean officials disputed that report, saying he was “alive and well” and likely simply mildly sick or “being isolated because of coronavirus concerns.” While North Korean state media reported Kim’s appearance, few details were verifiable regarding his presence or his health. Source: Yonhap News Agency, The Associated Press

Canada bans all assault-style weapons  Canada on Friday banned the use and sale of all assault-style weapons, effective immediately, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced. The ban comes after a deadly shooting in Nova Scotia in April that ended with 22 people dead. The Associated Press writes the ban affects “over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, including two weapons used by the [Nova Scotia] gunman as well as the AR-15.” Trudeau said the weapons are unnecessary for hunting, and said “There is no use — and no place — for such weapons in Canada.” It is “no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade, assault weapons in this country,” said Trudeau, but it is not illegal to own the weapons. Source: The Associated Press

U.S. intelligence debunks conspiracy theories claiming COVID-19 is ‘manmade’  The Director of National Intelligence’s office released a statement Thursday concluding the coronavirus is not manmade or a bioweapon, as some conspiracy theories have claimed. However, the DNI’s office is still investigating to figure out exactly where the coronavirus came from. “The Intelligence community concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified,” the DNI office’s statement read. But it will continue to “rigorously examine … whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.” The White House has also reportedly ordered U.S. intelligence to probe whether China hid information about the virus from the rest of the world in its early days. Source: NBC News

NBC News has reported that U.S. intelligence agencies saw early warning signs of a health crisis in Wuhan as far back as November and that the National Center for Medical Intelligence predicted that the coronavirus would cause a global pandemic in February, well before the WHO declared one.

Well if they didn’t get the word out to the public than this is the biggest intelligence failure in history. The intelligence agencies along with half of congress was trying to impeach the President and not focusing on actual national security.

Notice the vague sentence structure. Did they make that prediction in February or was the prediction that it would become a pandemic in February?This is more than a little important.

Netflix Recommendation of the Day : White Chamber (2019)

This is actually pretty good. At least the first thirty minutes have been. Or maybe I’m just losing my fucking mind with lock-down fever. Dystopina future, drugs, civil-war, torture. Hitler and Stalin could have used one of these. What’s not to like? It gets 4.4 out of 10 stars on IMDB. So there’s that.

 

Friday, May 1st, 2020

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin temporarily steps down after being diagnosed with COVID-19; he will be replaced by Andrey Belousov. (Reuters)

NASA officially selects SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics to build its next-generation lunar lander to carry American astronauts to the Moon by 2024. (Reuters)

Jobless claims during coronavirus crisis surpass 30 million  The Labor Department said on Thursday that more than 3.8 million additional Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, which brings the six-week total to about 30.3 million. Last week’s total officially meant that all of the job gains since the Great Recession had been wiped out. The latest 30 million number represents roughly 18 percent of the workforce. Thursday’s report came in above the 3.5 million filings economists were expecting, CNBC reports, but is a decrease following the previous week’s 4.4 million new filings. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department said the economy during the first quarter of this year experienced its biggest contraction since the Great Recession, but the worst is expected to come in the second quarter. Source:  NBC News

U.S. intelligence debunks conspiracy theories claiming COVID-19 is ‘manmade’  The Director of National Intelligence’s office released a statement Thursday concluding the coronavirus is not manmade or a bioweapon, as some conspiracy theories have claimed. However, the DNI’s office is still investigating to figure out exactly where the coronavirus came from. “The Intelligence community concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified,” the DNI office’s statement read. But it will continue to “rigorously examine … whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan.” The White House has also reportedly ordered U.S. intelligence to probe whether China hid information about the virus from the rest of the world in its early days. Source: NBC News

Macy’s announces ambitious plan to reopen 775 stores in 6 to 8 weeks  More than a month after all of its stores were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Macy’s announced on Thursday it plans on reopening each one within the next six to eight weeks. Macy’s is one of the largest department store chains in the United States, and the goal is to reopen 775 Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury stores. The company said it is only reopening in areas where state and local governments have lifted restrictions on nonessential businesses, and is expected to open 68 stores in Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas on Monday. There will be social distancing guidelines, and employees will have to wear masks. Beauty counters will not be able to give consultations or have testers out, and a limited number of fitting rooms will be open. Source: The New York Times

FEMA will send PPE to nursing homes  The Federal Emergency Management Agency is preparing to send a week’s worth of personal protective equipment to 154,000 nursing homes around the country, the Trump administration announced Thursday. The shipments of surgical masks, gloves, eye protection, and gowns — supplies nursing homes have struggled to obtain amid the COVID-19 pandemic — will begin the first week of May. But some advocates are calling the shipments “too little, too late,” with Mark Parkinson, the head of a major nursing home lobby, saying “the inability of long term-care facilities to obtain equipment … has proven to have tragic results.” Nursing homes have seen major outbreaks of COVID-19, though it’s been hard to put an exact number on those who died of the virus in those facilities. Source: Politico

California closes Orange County beaches and parks  California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday announced an order to temporarily close state beaches and parks in Orange County, effective Friday, to curb spreading of the COVID-19 coronavirus.The move comes after crowds gathered at many Southern California beaches last weekend, and as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that his city would offer coronavirus testing for anyone who wants it, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms. Los Angeles County and Orange County have been the hotbed for coronavirus infections in California. “We can reopen very, very quickly but … we’ve got to make sure we get this right,” said Newsom, pledging to work with local officials, some of whom have criticized the move as government overreach. Source: Los Angeles Times

Congressman Justin Amash joins the Libertarian Party and announces his bid for the presidency. This also makes him the first Libertarian in Congress in the party’s 48-year history. (Reason)

 

Thursday,  Apr 30th, 2020

A fast radio burst is detected from the Magnetar SGR 1935+2154, the first ever detected inside the Milky Way, and the first to be linked to a known source. (Astronomer’s Telegram)

(52768) 1998 OR2, a 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) wide near-Earth asteroid, makes a close approach of 0.042 AU (6.3 million km; 16 LD) to Earth. It will not approach closer than this until 2079. (SKY News)

American movie theater chain AMC Theatres states it will no longer host movies produced by Universal Studios, in response to The Wall Street Journal reporting that NBCUniversal plans to release its movies simultaneously in cinemas and streaming moving forward. (Reuters)

Protests erupt in major cities across Lebanon for the second day over the country’s continuing economic problems. Banks and vehicles are set on fire, and clashes between the protestors and the army in Tripoli leave around 40 soldiers wounded. (Reuters)

FDA reportedly to authorize emergency use of coronavirus treatment drug  The Food and Drug Administration will reportedly authorize the emergency use of the antiviral remdesivir on COVID-19 patients as soon as Wednesday. Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences revealed promising study results involving remdesivir on Wednesday, but the FDA’s reported move would still sidestep the usual testing required to authorize a drug’s usage. Gilead said its trial, as well one overseen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, met its goals. The Gilead study found at least 50 percent of patients treated with remdesivir improved. The overall mortality rate of the study was 7 percent, and few patients developed bad side effects. The study wasn’t evaluated against a control group, and it’s unclear if those recoveries were natural. A separate study concluded remdesivir was “safe and adequately tolerated” but “did not provide significant benefits over placebo.” Source: The New York Times

U.S. economy contracts 4.8 percent in 1st quarter  The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the U.S. economy contracted 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the largest decline since the Great Recession. This first quarterly drop in six years, which comes after businesses around the country closed their doors and consumer and business spending fell during the crisis, is expected to be followed by a far worse contraction during the second quarter of the year, with experts foreseeing a decline of more than 30 percent. Data from the Labor Department recently showed that more than 26 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims over five weeks, wiping out all of the job gains since the Great Recession. Source: The Washington Post

Mass workplace, rent strikes planned for May 1  This Friday, employees from major U.S. corporations are staging a mass strike, and asking customers to join in by boycotting their employers. As the coronavirus pandemic rolls on, employees have chosen May 1, International Workers’ Day, to walk out of their jobs at Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart, Walmart, Target, and Shipt, demanding they be provided with paid leave, protective gear, and hazard pay. Other strikes planned for May 1 include student protests and rent strikes. “May Day is the day you don’t go to work or buy things or pay rent,” Vanessa Bain, a lead organizer of the Instacart walkout, told Vice. “To consumers, we’re saying: ‘Don’t buy from these companies on May 1. Don’t empower them with your dollars.'” Source: Vice News

A fire at a four-story warehouse under construction in Icheon, South Korea, kills 38 construction workers and injures 10 others. It is one of the worst fires in the country’s recent history.  (The Guardian)

Yemeni authorities in Aden report five cases of COVID-19, the highest toll to date, amid fears that the disease could be spreading undetected in a country where millions face famine and lack medical care. (Reuters)

Over 500 Venezuelan migrants block a major toll road in the northern section of Bogotá, Colombia, demanding they return home after the coronavirus pandemic caused economic opportunities to dry up. (Reuters)

Michigan governor introduces a GI Bill for frontline workers  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Wednesday unveiled what she’s calling “Futures for Frontliners.” It’ll provide a tuition-free college education or technical certification to essential workers who stayed on during the COVID-19 pandemic, much like what the GI Bill does for military members, veterans, and their dependents. Workers “staffing our hospitals and nursing homes, stocking the shelves at grocery stores, providing child care to critical infrastructure workers, manufacturing PPE, protecting public safety, picking up trash or delivering supplies” are among those who’d be eligible for the program, Whitmer said. Whitmer didn’t announce when it’ll take effect or how workers will apply. Federal grant money will be used to cover the program’s costs, she said. Whitmer also indicated support for hazard pay of an additional $13 an hour. Source: Detroit Free Press

 

 

Wednesday,  Apr 29th, 2020

Mayor of Prague’s sixth municipal district Ondřej Kolář announces on Prima televize that he is under police protection after a Russian man made attempts on his life, possibly due to his removal of a statue of World War II-era Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev from the city’s square. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš condemns this as foreign interference, while Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov dismisses allegations of Russian involvement as “another hoax”. (Reuters)

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemns the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom after the Commission in its annual report recommends placing India on the “countries of particular concern” blacklist over the Citizenship Amendment Act, the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and controversial comments made by Home Minister Amit Shah, among others. (Al Jazeera)

A suicide bombing, using a fuel tanker, detonates at a busy market killing at least 53 civilians, including 11 children, in Turkish-occupied Afrin, Syria. The Turkish defense ministry accused the U.S.-backed People’s Protection Units (YPG) of carrying out the attack. Afrin Liberation Forces (HRE) claimed responsibility for the attack.  (Al Jazeera)

The End

Arguably Wrong

Ron Unz bets his website on the batshit crazy conspiracy theory that the COVID-19 outbreak is an American/Israeli Deep-State BioWeapons Attack. Read the comments on this one:

Arguably Wrong: Potential American Deaths Range from 5k to 5 Million
STEVE SAILER • MARCH 12, 2020

Pepe Escobar and Jim Kunstler are never right in their predictions thank God, but they are on the money with analysis frequently, I think, … who knows ….

How Black Swans Are Shaping Planet Panic
PEPE ESCOBAR • MARCH 11, 2020

Things Take a Turn
ClusterFuck Nation
March 9th, 2020

Thursday, Mar 12th, 2020

The DJIA futures indicate a 1,100 point drop before opening. (Fox News)

Poland suspends all schools and universities, closes all theatres, operas, cinemas and museums for two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mass events are also banned, and the Polish Football Association announces that the two friendly matches scheduled later this month with Finland and Ukraine will be played behind closed doors. (PAP) (Daily Mail)

The Republic of Ireland suspends all schools, colleges and childcare facilities until March 29 in response to the coronavirus, while indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people are banned until further notice, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. (The Irish Times)

European Union condemns Trump’s travel ban The European Union’s governing body on Thursday criticized President Trump’s decision to suspend travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the European Commission said the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is a “global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.” The European Union, the statement went on to say, “disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation.” Trump announced the ban, which exempts the United Kingdom, in an Oval Office speech, and it will go into effect Friday. It applies not to American citizens but to foreign nationals who had traveled through the restricted countries. Source:  The Washington Post

WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a pandemic The World Health Organization officially declared the new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak a pandemic Wednesday. After holding off on the label for some time, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus said the organization is “deeply concerned” by the virus’ rapid spread, as well as by the lack of action being taken to confront it across the globe. Gebreyesus also said it was the first time a coronavirus ever led to a pandemic. Source: World Health Organization

NBA suspends season after player tests positive for coronavirus The NBA is suspending its season until further notice, after a member of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Jazz game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed Wednesday night just prior to tipoff. In a statement, the NBA said it will “use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.” Before the season was suspended, the NBA and its owners were discussing whether to still play, just without fans in attendance. Earlier in the day, the NCAA announced it would bar everyone but essential staff and family from attending its championship events, including the Divison I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, after consulting with public health officials.

Supreme Court allows Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy to continue The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to allow the Trump administration to continue carrying out its “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forces asylum-seekers from other countries in Central America to stay in Mexico while they await court hearings in the United States. The order overturns another from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which said the policy was illegal U.S. law because it risks sending people to countries where their lives and freedom could be threatened because of race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in a social group. Advocacy group Human Rights First said it found more than 1,000 public reports of kidnappings, torture, rape, and assaults of asylum-seekers who have been returned to Mexico under the policy. Source: The Associated Press

 

Wednesday,  Mar 11th, 2020

American film producer Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 23 years in prison for two felony sex crimes. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Oculudentavis khaungraae, the world’s smallest dinosaur, is discovered by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (Newsweek)

Scientists discover WASP-76b, an exotic planet that has a 100% chance of having hot liquid iron. (NBC News)

The patient zero in Italy has been identified as a man from Germany who arrived in the country at the end of January. (Tgcom24)

The death toll in Italy rises to 827, as nearly two-hundred more people were confirmed dead today, the largest daily increase in deaths since the outbreak began, while the number of confirmed cases rises to 12,462, according to Protezione Civile. (National Post)

British MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Health Ministry Nadine Dorries becomes the first UK MP to test positive for COVID-19. (BBC)

President Alberto Fernández issues an order saying that all people coming from hard-hit countries will have to self-quarantine for 14 days; failure to do so will be considered a crime. In addition, he analyses the possibility of banning all mass gatherings. (Infobae in Spanish)

Hungary declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, closing all university campuses and banning large gatherings, while anyone from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran will be refused entry into the country. Senior minister Gergely Gulyás says “These measures are unprecedented in the three decades since the fall of communism”. (Bloomberg)

Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education reports 958 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 63 more deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date. All Iranians are now warned to stay indoors. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cancels his annual speech marking the Iranian new year on March 20. (Reuters)

Spanish Ministry of Culture orders in Madrid the closing of all ministry dependent centers, including the museums of El Prado, Reina Sofía, Royal Palace, National Library and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. (El País)

Qatar announces 238 new cases of confirmed coronavirus in a single day. (Al Jazeera)

President Donald Trump gives a prime-time statement about the coronavirus during which he announces a 30-day ban on travel from European countries with the exception of the United Kingdom. (ABC News)

The Taliban rejects the government’s conditional prisoner release order announced by President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban demand 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the government be released before intra-Afghan dialogue can be initiated. (Al Jazeera)

A rocket attack on Camp Taji, Baghdad Governorate, housing coalition and Iraqi troops, kills two Americans and a British service member; 12 other people are injured. (BBC)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 1,400 points and enters a bear market. (Fox News)

The world’s largest annual video game industry event E3 2020 is offically cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus. The highly anticipated event was scheduled to take place on June 9, ahead of major console launches for Microsoft and Sony. (BBC)

Four people have died and 30 have been hospitalised with listeria in the United States after consuming recalled enoki mushrooms. (CNN)

Spain’s top association football division La Liga and France’s Ligue 1 announce that all matches will be played behind closed doors until April 15 in response to the coronavirus. (BBC)

The NCAA announces that all postseason tournaments in its winter season—not only the college basketball tournaments, but also its bowling, fencing, gymnastics, ice hockey,  rifle, skiing, swimming & diving, track & field, and wrestling championships—will be held without fans in attendance. (The Washington Post)

The NBA has announced that its 2019–20 season is on hiatus “until further notice” after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested a presumptive positive.(ESPN)

 

Tuesday,  Mar. 10th, 2020

InfoWars founder and radio host Alex Jones is arrested for driving under the influence. (CNN)

After a 2,000-point drop on Monday, the DJIA futures gain 1,100 points before the NYSE opening bell. (CNN)

Iran reports 881 new confirmed cases and 54 more coronavirus deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period in the country to date, bringing the total to 8042 cases and 291 deaths. (TRT World)

Denmark reports a sharp increase in coronavirus patients, with 174 new cases in the past 24 hours, totaling 264 cases in the whole country. (BNO News)

Poland’s Ministry of National Defence tweets that General Commander Jarosław Mika has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Germany, and becomes NATO’s highest-ranking member of armed forces infected. (Reuters)

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, is postponed for the first time ever. The festival has been moved from April 2020 to October 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Los Angeles Times)

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announces an European 25 bilion euro fund to face the coronavirus crisis. (Euronews)

Italy enters the first day of the nationwide lockdown as the number of infected reaches 10,149. (BBC)

The Canadian government presents a bill that would impose a nationwide ban on conversion therapy that would include minors. (BBC)

Riot police repels Venezuela’s opposition march downtown Caracas that aimed to regain control of the national legislature. (NBC News)

The End 

Panic

MOTHERF*CKING MONDAY #21: THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY SEEM

Tuesday,  Mar. 10th, 2020 

Vladimir Putin backs a constitutional amendment that allows him to remain in power after 2024. (NBC News)

All of Italy on coronavirus lockdown Italian Prime Minister Giusseppe Conte instituted a travel ban across the whole country as the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise. Mandates barring public gatherings of any size and any nonessential travel will go into effect Tuesday morning, Conte announced Monday. People will only be allowed to leave their homes for family emergencies, essential work, and to seek health care — an unprecedented step for a democratic country. Conte’s “I Stay Home” decree bars weddings, funerals, all sporting events, and any other kind of public gathering. Schools will remain closed until April 3. Italy’s death toll from the new coronavirus has rocketed from 97 to 463. These strict conditions had previously been in place in northern Italy, where COVID-19 first spread in the country. Source: BBC News

Italy enters first day of the nationwide lockdown as the number of infected reaches 9,100. (Fox News)

The number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 9,172, while the death toll rose to 463. (Corriere della Sera)

Riots continue at several prisons in Italy after family visitations were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Inmates took two prison guards hostage in Modena during an attempted escape, while inmates at San Vittore Prison in Milan overpowered guards and occupied the roof. Prisons in Pavia and Rebibbia are set on fire, allowing some prisoners to escape. (Business Insider)

Trump says White House to seek possible payroll tax cuts to aid markets President Trump said Monday evening he will speak with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans about a possible payroll tax cut that he said would provide “very substantial relief” amid the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. “We have a great economy, a very strong economy, but this has blindsided the world,” Trump said. Worries about the coronavirus epidemic and Saudi Arabia cutting oil export prices and ramping up production sent U.S. stocks plummeting more than 7 percent, in the Dow’s worst day since 2008. Trump said he wants to meet with McConnell on Tuesday and plans to also bring up “hourly wage earners getting help so they can be in a position where they are not ever going to miss a paycheck.” Source: The Week

After a 2000-point drop on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gain 1,100 points before the NYSE opening bell. (CNN)

Dow, S&P 500 rise after worst day since 2008 The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 began to recover on Tuesday following their worst day since the 2008 financial crisis. The Dow and S&P 500 both rose about 3 percent on Tuesday morning after on Monday plunging more than 7 percent amid ongoing fears over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as Saudi Arabia’s oil price war with Russia. The Dow on Monday also experienced its biggest point drop ever. The market rebound on Tuesday came after President Trump in a press conference Monday evening promised “significant relief” by way of a payroll tax cut. Source: CNN

 

The Cabinet of Japan passes a bill that allows Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus if necessary. (NHK)

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Wuhan, the epicenter and origin of the global outbreak after an unprecedented lockdown of the central city of 11 million people. (Reuters)

The Ministry of Transports announces the cancellation of all flights between Spain and Italy. (El Mundo)

Iran reports 881 new confirmed cases and 54 more coronavirus deaths, bringing the total to 8042 cases and 291 deaths, the highest number of deaths in a single 24-hour period. (TRT World)

The Czech Republic suspends all schools and bans all events hosting more than 100 people indefinitely in order to contain the virus, according to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. (U.S. News)

Venezuela’s opposition marches downtown Caracas with the aim of regaining control of the national legislature. (NBC News)

Nearly 40 Syrian mercenaries recruited by the Turkish Army have fled to Italy, raising the number of Syrian fighters who fled from Libya to Europe to nearly 200. (SOHR) 

Biden, Sanders face off in Michigan, 5 other states Five states hold presidential primaries on Tuesday — Michigan, Washington, Missouri, Mississippi, and Idaho — and North Dakota holds its caucus, marking the first time Democrats are voting since Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) dropped out of the race, leaving a two-man race between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Biden has a 96-delegate lead over Sanders, and 352 are up for grabs on Tuesday. The most heavily contested prize is Michigan, where Sanders has made five campaign stops since last Friday. Biden leads in most Michigan polls, but Sanders won an upset victory in the state in 2016 and is hoping a repeat win will stem Biden’s momentum. Washington’s primary is also expected to be close. Source: The Associated Press

Voters in six U.S. states cast their ballots in the 2020 primary elections. (CNBC)

 

 

 

 

 Monday,  Mar 9th, 2020 

Oil prices plummet after Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices over the weekend. (CNN)

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the lockdown from Northern Italy to the whole country. (CNN)

The infection rate is reduced, but Moon Jae-in said it was “too early to be optimistic”. (The Independent)

In order to combat the spread of coronavirus, Israel orders all arrivals from abroad, regardless of country, to self-quarantine. (Times of Israel)

The French Minister of Culture Franck Riester announces he is infected by coronavirus, as five members of the National Assembly join the 1,412 cases in the Republic. (Reuters)

Ireland cancels all the Saint Patrick’s Day parades. (BBC)

Ashraf Ghani is sworn in as the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan amidst a rocket attack claimed by ISIL. Abdullah Abdullah proclaims himself as President as well. (AFP via Geo News)

Two United States troops are killed in a raid against ISIL in Iraq. (ABC)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 1,800 points on opening, 500 points lower than pre-market futures trading. (MSNBC)

The United Kingdom’s largest retailer Tesco say they will be restricting the sale of essential food and household items in response to fears of mass panic buying. (BBC) (Daily Mirror)

The Grand Princess cruise ship, with at least 21 people aboard who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, has docked at the Port of Oakland, California, to continue to the next step in the quarantining measures process. The ship was carrying more than 2,000 passengers, as well as 1,100 crew members. The Grand Princess had been idling about 10 miles (16 km) offshore since Thursday (March 5). Disembarking American passengers are being put under mandatory 14-day quarantine at military bases in California, Texas or Georgia. Foreign passengers are being sent to their home countries for the completion of the quarantine. (Fox News)

North Korea fires three projectiles from the coast of Sondok into the sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Reuters)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit confirms a 2016 ruling that Led Zeppelin’s 1971 song “Stairway to Heaven” was not unlawfully copied from Spirit’s instrumental “Taurus”, overturning the so-called inverse ratio rule test. (UPI)

 

 

Seattle’s Patient Zero Spread Coronavirus Despite Ebola-Style Lockdown

 

Saudi-Russia oil price war roils markets After Russia refused Friday to participate in an OPEC price-boosting oil production cut, Saudi Arabia announced late Saturday that it’s slashing oil export prices and ramping up production. When markets opened Monday, investors fled to safety en masse. Demand for oil was already falling amid the global coronavirus outbreak, and as the market took stock of the Russian-Saudi price war, crude oil futures fell more than 20 percent, the biggest one-day tumble since a record plunge in 1991 at the start of the Gulf War. U.S. stock futures fell the maximum allowed 5 percent, and trading was halted on futures tied to the S&P 500 for the first time since President Trump’s election. This crash in oil prices will be almost certainly make gas cheaper, which is good news for drivers, but it could significantly harm U.S. shale oil producers. Source: The Wall Street Journal

Saudi Arabia suspends all schools, universities and other educational institutions until further notice in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. (Al Arabiya)

Two blasts are heard while separate presidential inaugurations are held in the presidential palace complex by rivals Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. The Taliban say “nothing is more important to the slaves than their personal interests”. (AFP via Geo News)

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok survives an assassination attempt in the capital Khartoum, according to state media. Hamdok has been moved to a safe location. (Haaretz)

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Paul Gosar self-quarantine themselves after having made contact at CPAC with a man confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus. (USA Today)

State Department warns Americans to avoid cruise ships due to coronavirus The State Department issued a warning on Sunday, telling Americans, especially those with underlying health issues, they should not travel by cruise ship amid the coronavirus outbreak. Illnesses can spread quickly in close quarters, and 21 people on board the Grand Princess cruise ship, now being held off the coast of California, have tested positive for COVID-19. In February, nearly 700 people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus, and eight died. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the government’s coronavirus task force, said on Fox News Sunday that elderly Americans with health conditions should “absolutely” not board a cruise ship at this time. Source: The New York Times

 

South Korea: North Korea fires 3 unidentified projectiles  Three unidentified projectiles were fired off the eastern coast of North Korea early Monday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The South Korean military is monitoring the situation and waiting to see if North Korea conducts any more launches. The projectiles were fired from a town in the South Hamgyong province. North Korean state media has said that over the last 10 days, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised two rounds of live-fire artillery exercises, the first such tests since late November, The Associated Press reports. South Korea and several European countries condemned North Korea’s March 1 missile launches, saying they undermined security and peace in the region; in response, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday threatened to conduct another “momentous” action. Source: The Associated Press

SpaceX successfully launches a Dragon spacecraft in orbit to resupply the International Space Station. This marks the last launch of a Dragon spacecraft, soon to be replaced by Dragon 2, and the 50th successful recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage booster. (Space.com)

 

Sunday, Mar 8th, 2020

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extends the quarantine lockdown, to cover all the region of Lombardy and 14 other northern provinces, affecting over a quarter of the national population. (BBC)

Inmates at several prisons in Italy revolt with reports of riots at prisons in Modena, Foggia, Naples, Frosinone and Alessandria due to fears the coronavirus lockdowns will end visits from relatives. At least eight inmates, six of whom in Modena, have died of overdose after assaulting the prison’s pharmachy, while about twenty escaped in Foggia. (Open)

Chief of Staff of the Italian Army Salvatore Farina tested positive of coronavirus and self-isolates, as well as President of Piedmont Alberto Cirio. (BBC)

California U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris endorses Former Vice President Joe Biden in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. (RT)

 

 

Saturday,  Mar 7th, 2020

Lebanon says it will default on a eurobond repayment and pursue restructuring its debt. The country has never before defaulted. Lebanon’s government debt is about 170% of its yearly gross domestic product. (The Guardian)

A hotel being used for quarantining those with coronavirus collapses in Quanzhou, China. Ten people were killed and twenty-three are trapped. Thirty-eight have been rescued alive. (CNN)

Twenty-two people are killed and more than 70 are injured when a tank truck, two buses and another vehicle collide in the road between Damascus and Homs, in Syria. (Reuters)

A 50-year-old man is arrested for breaching quarantine and travelling to two crowded bars in Gamagōri after testing positive for the coronavirus the day prior. He reportedly told family members he intended to spread it and bragged to bar employees that he had tested positive. (Tokyo Reporter)

A spokesman for politician Abdullah Abdullah announces he will hold a parallel presidential inauguration ceremony next week after he declares himself the winner of the election. Incumbent President Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner. (Reuters)

 

Friday,  Mar 6th, 2020

At least 32 people are killed and 81 are injured when gunmen attack a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghan politician Abdullah Abdullah was present and escapes unharmed. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. (Reuters)

Two suicide bombers on a motorcycle detonate their explosives near the United States embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, killing a policeman and wounding five others. (Middle East Eye)

 

The End

The Sixth Petition

Wednesday,  Mar 4th, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW_7h8_CZp0

Biden stuns with 9 Super Tuesday wins as Sanders gets 4  Former Vice President Joe Biden was projected on Tuesday night to win the Democratic primaries in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Texas while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was projected to win Vermont, Colorado, Utah, and California, the biggest prize. Maine is the only race that hasn’t been called. Voters in 14 states headed to the polls on Tuesday, with 1,357 delegates up for grabs. That’s 34 percent of the total number of delegates and a far bigger share than the number allotted to states that previously conducted their primaries and caucuses. Biden’s wins in Minnesota and Oklahoma were especially significant, as Sanders won both states in 2016. Source: The Associated Press, The New York Times

 

Trump says he had a ‘very good talk’ with Taliban leader  President Trump spoke with one of the co-founders of the Taliban on Tuesday, just days after the United States signed an agreement with the militant organization calling for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Trump is believed to be the first U.S. president to ever directly talk with a Taliban leader, The Associated Press reports. The Taliban’s spokesman tweeted that Trump had a 35-minute conversation with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the Taliban’s co-founders. Trump said they had “a very good talk,” adding, “the relationship is very good that I have with the mullah. We had a good long conversation today and, you know, they want to cease the violence.” On Saturday, the U.S. and Taliban signed an agreement outlining commitments the Taliban must meet in order for the U.S. to withdraw 13,000 troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. Source: The Associated Press

 

 

Tuesday,  Mar 3rd, 2020

Iran says it will release 54,000 prisoners in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in overcrowded jails. Only inmates who test negative for the virus will be allowed to leave prison and those sentenced to longer than five years will not be freed. (BBC)

Turkish interior minister says over 130,000 refugees have crossed into Greece in the past four days. (TRT Haber)

A court in Kazakhstan orders the early release of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former CEO of state nuclear firm Kazatomprom, who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption in 2010. Upon his release he will have served more than 11 years in prison. (Reuters)

Former Vice President Joe Biden is the night’s big winner with victories in nine states, while Senator Bernie Sanders wins three. Senator Elizabeth Warren and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg win no states and face calls to drop out; Warren comes third place in her own state, Massachusetts. (CNN)

A Syrian Air Force L-39 jet aircraft is shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16 near the Syria–Turkey border. (SOHR), (RT)

Turkey says it will deploy its domestically produced surface-to-air missile, HISAR to Syria’s Idlib next week. (Star)

Syrian government sources say a Turkish drone was shot down by Syrian Air Defense near Idlib, subsequent footage shared by the source shows drone to be a Bayraktar TB1.(Muraselon)

Four Turkish soldiers are killed and seven are wounded in Tranbeh, west of Saraqeb by Syrian Army shelling, some are transfered to Turkish hospitals by helicopter. (SOHR)(SOHR)

In an emergency move, its first since 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve cuts the federal funds rate by 0.5%, to a range between 1 and 1.25%. (Yahoo Finance)

U.S. stocks extend their drop in response to the cuts. (The Wall Street Journal)

Three tornadoes, two at least EF 3 in strength, rip through downtown Nashville and surrounding towns, killing 22 people. (WKRN) (USA Today)

South Korea declares “war” on the coronavirus. (NBC)

Turkish interior minister says over 130,000 refugees have crossed into Greece in the past 4 days. (TRT Haber)

A court in Kazakhstan orders the early release of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former CEO of state nuclear firm Kazatomprom, who had been sentenced to 14-years in prison for corruption in 2010. Upon his release he will have served more than 11 years in prison. (Reuters)

Voters in 14 U.S. states, American Samoa, and Democrats Abroad go to the polls in this year’s Super Tuesday. (Vox)

Hardball host Chris Matthews out at MSNBC  Longtime MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews on Monday night said he is retiring from the network, announcing his departure at the beginning of his show Hardball. Last month, Matthews, 74, was criticized for comparing Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) campaign victories to the Nazi invasion of France, and over the weekend, a journalist accused Matthews of making inappropriate comments to her while she was in the makeup room preparing to go on his show. Matthews said he decided to retire after speaking with his bosses, and apologized for his previous remarks. “Compliments on a woman’s appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were okay were never okay,” he said, “not then and certainly not today, and for making such comments in the past, I’m sorry.” Source: The New York Times

 

Monday,  Mar 2nd, 2020

The Taliban announce the end of the period of reduction in violence. They say they will not attack foreign troops, but continue their operations against Kabul government troops. According to Belga news agency, it is unclear what the announcement means for the U.S.–Taliban agreement signed on February 29. (Belga via Het Laatste Nieuws)

Hellenic Police border guards open fire on migrants attempting to illegally enter Greece by crossing the border from Turkey, killing a Syrian man. (France 24) (Middle East Monitor)

The Hellenic Army’s IV Army Corps announces a 24-hour snap military drill on the border with Turkey, and warns civilians to stay away from the area. (Anadolu Angency)

The Japan Sumo Association announces its spring tournament in Osaka will take place with no spectators. (News On Japan)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounds 1,294 points to end its seven day decline. (CNN)

Two dozen more cases are reported in the US bringing the number of infected to 89. A second death has occurred also. The states of Florida and Washington issue state emergencies. (CNN)

The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salamé resigns citing stress and health concerns. In a statement on Twitter, Salamé says he has been frustrated with foreign powers, particularly France and Russia for covertly backing Khalifa Haftar’s forces in the civil war. (The Guardian)

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar suspends her presidential campaign, and joins fellow former contenders Pete Buttigieg and Beto O’Rourke in announcing their endorsement of Joe Biden. (The New York Times)

MSNBC political anchor Chris Matthews resigns over criticism of making sexist comments and comparing Bernie Sanders’ campaign to the Nazi invasion of France. (The New York Times)

https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vietnam-bakery-uses-66000-pounds-of-unsold-dragon-fruit-2020-3

Rumours of China’s collapse were premature. China will eradicate Corona Virus in the next 60 days and then they will be coming for us

Roman Polanski wins three César Awards, also for best director, for his movie An Officer and a Spy (French: J’accuse). Several women walk out in protest. Les Misérables wins four Césars, one of them for best film. (Reuters) (Variety)

Coronavirus death toll hits 2 in U.S., tops 3,000 worldwide Washington State reported the second U.S. death from the COVID-19 coronavirus Sunday night, as the global death toll rose above 3,000 and several countries reported their first cases, including the Dominican Republic and Czech Republic. The vast majority of the world’s 89,000 cases are is in China. The U.S. has more than 80 known coronavirus cases, including the first cases reported in Florida, Rhode Island, and New York on Sunday. Both fatalities in the Seattle area were men with underlying health conditions who were treated at the same hospital in Kirkland. Researchers in Seattle said Sunday the coronavirus has likely spread undetected in Washington State for six weeks. In Iran, a member of an advisor council to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei died of the coronavirus, and Paris shut down the Louvre museum amid fears of its spread. Source: USA Today

Turkish President Recep Erdoğan says 18,000 refugees have crossed into Europe as of this morning and that 25,000–30,000 more may cross today. Erdoğan reiterates that Turkey cannot handle another refugee wave from Syria and that it will keep its borders open. (TRT Haber) 

Astronomers discover the largest known explosion ever in the history of the Universe, which occurred in the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster. It replaces MS 0735.6+7421. As space and ground telescopes that study radio emissions improve (which are better than X-ray observations for detecting these), more similar explosions, or “giant radio fossils”, may be found. (Phys) (CNN) (Astrophysics via arXiv at Cornell University)

 

Monday,  Mar 2nd, 2020

Syrian rebels backed by Turkey recapture 30 towns and villages from the Syrian government forces in Idlib. (SOHR)

Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes recapture the city of Saraqib 4 days after its capture by the rebels. (SOHR)

The Taliban say there will be no intra-Afghan talks if about 5,000 of their prisoners are not released. (Reuters)

The Taliban announce the end of the period of reduction in violence. They say they will not attack foreign troops, but continue their operations against Kabul government troops. According to Belga news agency, it’s unclear what the announcement means for the US-Taliban agreement signed on 29 February. (Belga via Het Laatste Nieuws)

Houthi forces capture the city of Al Hazm, the capital of Al Jawf Governorate in Yemen. (Middle East Monitor)

Two dozen more cases are reported in the US bringing the number of infected to 89. A second death has occurred also. The states of Florida and Washington issue state emergencies. (CNN)

The Japan Sumo Association announces its spring tournament in Osaka will take place with no spectators. (News On Japan)

The United Kingdom and the European Union start post-Brexit trade talks. Last week, each side publicly set its negotiating mandate. (The Economist)

North Korea fires two short-range projectiles from the coast of Wonsan before landing in the sea dividing the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japan’s Defence Ministry says it had not detected any projectile landing in its territory and that no ship or aircraft in the area had been damaged. (The Guardian)

Israelis head to the polls for the third time in less than a year. (Reuters)

Former GE chief Jack Welch dies at 84 Jack Welch, the former CEO and chair of General Electric, died late Sunday at age 84, his wife confirmed Monday. Welch died of renal failure, per his wife; he retired from GE in 2001. Welch oversaw GE for two decades as its market value ballooned from $12 billion to $410 billion, for a time the world’s second-most valuable company. He was also known as the “neutron bomb” for his aggressive cuts to the workforce and willingness to make major changes beneficial to the company’s bottom line. Fortune magazine called Welch the “manager of the century” in 1999, lauding his quick action that helped raise the conglomerate’s global standing. Source: NBC News

 

Sunday, Mar 1st, 2020

Turkey launches an operation in Syria’s Idlib Governorate codenamed Operation Spring Shield. (Daily Sabah)

Two Syrian Air Force Su-24 jet aircraft are shot down by Turkish Air Force F-16s using air-to-air missiles over the Syria–Turkey border, while a Turkish drone is shot down by Syrian government forces in Idlib. (Reuters) (SOHR) (SOHR)

Syrian state media says the Syrian Air Defense Force has downed three Turkish drones used to hit Syrian Army and air bases. (Reuters)

Turkish drone and artillery strikes target Aleppo International Airport. (SOHR)

Turkish drone strikes target the Hama Military Airport. (SOHR)

Turkish drone strikes kill 19 Syrian Goverment troops in the past 24 hours, raising the total killed by Turkey in the past 3 days to 93 Syrian Government troops and 14 Hezbollah fighters. (SOHR)

The Syrian Army launches an operation in the southern city of Al-Sanamayn, Daraa Governorate, after “armed militants” attempted to take over the majority-Sunni city. The operation is reportedly still ongoing as gunmen still hold western parts of the city. (Al Masdar News)

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani rejects a clause in the U.S.–Taliban deal setting the release of Taliban prisoners ahead of intra-Afghan talks scheduled for March 10. (BBC)

South Korea halts religious services and closes churches as the infected toll surpass 3,700. (BBC)

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu says 76,358 migrants have left Turkey from Edirne Province as of this morning towards Europe. (Aksam)

Greece deploys its military on the border with Turkey to prevent thousands of migrants from entering the European Union, and suspends all asylum applications for a month while also vowing to deport any migrants who enter Greek territory illegally. (New York Times)

Syria and Libya’s Tobruk-based government led by Aguila Saleh Issa agree to establish diplomatic relations following a high level visit to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. Both governments agree to counter “Turkish aggression” in the region. (Xinhuanet)

Muhyiddin Yassin is sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, succeeding Mahathir Mohamad. (CNA)

Former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg suspends his presidential campaign. (The New York Times)

Parliamentary elections are held in Tajikistan. (The New York Times)

 

Saturday,  Feb 29th, 2020

The U.S. and the Taliban sign a deal. (Reuters)

American and Afghan Taliban leaders will meet at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Doha, Qatar, ahead of a signing ceremony to bring an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan, which is now the longest war in U.S. history. Taliban deputy leader Sirajuddin Haqqani says “everyone is tired of war, it has exhausted everyone”, while the longest-serving NATO Commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, describes the situation as a “stalemate”. (Al Jazeera)

A Turkish soldier is killed and six more are wounded by Syrian government artillery shelling near Taftanaz. (SOHR)

Turkish bombing overnight kills 48 Syrian government troops and 14 members of the Lebanese Hezbollah, and also destroys 13 military vehicles. According to local sources, among the killed were 11 officers including a general, a brigadier general, and a colonel. (Haber 7) (SOHR)

Turkey says it has destroyed a chemical warfare facility at a scientific research center in As-Safira, south of Aleppo with surface-to-surface missiles. Syrian Government said Turkish statement regarding the chemical warfare facility was not true. (SOHR) (Al-Masdar)

Turkey releases footage of targeting Syrian equipment including a Pantsir-S1. (The Drive)

Turkish media said that drone and missile strikes targeted Syrian Kuweires and Abu al-Duhur military airbases in Aleppo Governorate, saying a hangar was destroyed. (STAR)

The first death from coronavirus in the United States is confirmed after a man dies in a hospital in the Seattle area. (NY Times) (AP News)

The U.S. announces new travel restrictions to Iran and increased warnings against traveling to South Korea and Italy. (NBC News)

Eighty migrants cross to Aegean Islands Lesbos and Samos overnight after Turkey opens its border with Greece. (Hürriyet)

Former Vice President Joe Biden wins the South Carolina primary. (NPR)

Businessman Tom Steyer suspends his presidential campaign, after coming in a distant third. (NBC News)

 

Friday,  Feb 28th, 2020

Turkey calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria. (Yeni Safak)

NATO holds an emergency meeting after Turkey formally triggers Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. (Euronews)

Turkish MoD states that last night 329 Syrian Army troops were “neutralized” and asserts that five helicopters, 23 tanks, 10 armored vehicles, 23 artillery and howitzers, five ammunition trucks, one SA-17 and one SA-22 air defense systems, three ammunition depots, two inventory depots and one headquarters building belonging to Syria’s military were destroyed. (NTV)

Russia deploys two frigates, Admiral Makarov and Admiral Grigorovich, armed with Kalibr cruise missiles to the Eastern Mediterranean off the Syrian coast. (Reuters) (The Moscow Times)

Turkey deploys MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missiles to its border with Syria. (STAR)

A Turkish drone strike kills 11 Syrian government soldiers on the M5 highway near Idlib. (SOHR).

Syrian attacks on Marat al-Nasan leave more Turkish soldiers wounded, some of them seriously. (SOHR).

Global stock markets have lost US$6 trillion in value over the last six days. (CNBC)

The Geneva Motor Show is cancelled due to the Swiss ban on gatherings larger than 1000 people. (Fox News)

American investment management firm Elliott Management Corporation buys a significant stake in Twitter, and announces it will seek to make several changes to their management, including possibly replacing CEO Jack Dorsey. (Bloomberg)

464 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 888. Four more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 21. (Il Sole 24 Ore)

Nearly 300 migrants including Syrians arrived in Edirne province, Turkey, on the border with Greece in a bid to go to Europe. Another group of migrants arrived on the coast of Ayvacik in Çanakkale, western Turkey, and wanted to go to the Greek island of Lesbos by boats. Turkish officials announced that the security forces will not intervene to prevent the crossing of any migrants, including those from Syria and other countries like Afghanistan and Iran. (France 24) (Daily Sabah)

Chinese Olympic Swimmer Sun Yang is banned from swimming for eight years after being found guilty of doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (News AU)

Hong Kong Police arrest entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, owner of the newspaper Apple Daily, and former lawmakers Yeung Sum and Lee Cheuk-yan for their involvement in anti-government protests. (CNN)

Pope Francis, in tandem with IBM and Microsoft, calls for AI technologies that risk violating human rights, such as facial recognition software, to be regulated. (Reuters)

A meteor explodes over Croatia. The Croatian Astronomical Union say the meteor disintegrated at an altitude of at least 30 kilometers above sea level. The meteor was likely roughly 2 meters across. (Xinhuanet) (The Dubrovnik Times) (JPL)

 

 

Thursday, Feb 27th, 2020

A senior Turkish official tells Reuters that Turkey “will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe”. (Reuters)

Syrian opposition groups backed by Turkey recapture the strategic city of Saraqib, lift the siege on four Turkish observation points and cut the M5 highway. (SOHR)

A Turkish sniper kills a Syrian lieutenant colonel in Syria’s Tell Abyad countryside. (SOHR)

Three Turkish soldiers are killed in Syrian Army attacks in Idlib, bringing the number of Turkish soldiers killed in Syria to 21. (The Jerusalem Post)

36 Syrian Army troops and 25 Turkish-backed rebels are killed, bringing the total death toll in Idlib since December to 1,186 opposition fighters and 1,136 Syrian goverment soldiers. (SOHR)

Airstrikes kill at least 33 Turkish troops and injures 39 others in Jabal Zawiya, Idlib Governorate.  (BBC)

Turkey says it has ‘neutralized’ 1,709 Syrian government elements in Idlib since 10 February 2020 and that it has destroyed 55 tanks, 3 helicopters, 18 armored vehicles, 29 howitzers, 21 military vehicles, 4 Docka anti-aircraft guns, 6 ammunition depots and 7 mortars in the operations. (Anadolu Agency)

Turkey opens its border with Syria and allows Syrian refugees free passage to Europe effective immediately for the next 72 hours. (Middle East Eye)

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hold talks amid the escalation in Idlib with Syria and Russia. (AP)

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are blocked in Turkey, while YouTube and WhatsApp are partially restricted. It is understood that the measures are intended to protect details surrounding troop and equipment deployments. (Netblocks)

A cyber attack in Australia forces the cancellation of wool sales across the country. (ABC AU)

Markets are on pace for their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. (Market Watch)

Vice President for Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar is infected with the novel coronavirus. (Washington Post)

A woman is diagnosed with the coronavirus after a possible person-to-person transmission. It would be the first case of transmission in the United States with no known contacts to overseas cases. (NBC)

 

 

The End Monday

Don’t Believe The Hype

Bernie Sanders, aged 111, of New England, is named the oldest living man in the world after the death of Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan at the age of 112. (The Guardian)

planet is screwed

Thursday, Feb 27th, 2020

Starbucks reopens most stores in China, citing ‘early signs of recovery’ from coronavirus

CDC: California coronavirus case may be 1st with no ties outside U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday night that a person in California who tested positive for coronavirus may be the first case of the virus spreading organically in the United States. This person did not recently travel out of the country or come into contact with anyone known to be infected with the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. The case was “detected through the U.S. public health system,” the CDC said, and “picked up by astute clinicians.” The CDC said this could be an “instance of community spread of COVID-19,” which means the source of infection is unknown. There are 60 cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Source: Los Angeles Times

It is not clear how the person became infected, but public health workers could not identify any contacts with people who had traveled to China or other areas where the virus is widespread. That raises concern that the virus is spreading in the United States, creating a challenge for public health officials, experts say.

“It’s the first signal that we could be having silent transmission in the community,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. “It probably means there are many more cases out there, and it probably means this individual has infected others, and now it’s a race to try to find out who that person has infected.”

On Tuesday, the CDC offered its most serious warning to date that the United States should expect and prepare for the coronavirus to become a more widespread health issue.

“Ultimately, we expect we will see coronavirus spread in this country,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “It’s not so much a question of if, but a question of when.”

But public health leaders have repeatedly reminded residents that the health risk from the novel coronavirus to the general public remains low.

According to the CDC’s latest count Wednesday morning, 59 U.S. residents have tested positive for the new strain of coronavirus — 42 of whom are repatriated citizens from a Diamond Princess cruise. That number has grown by two since Messonnier’s last count Tuesday, although the CDC was not immediately available to offer details on the additional cases.

“While COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low mortality rate,” the state Department of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday. “From the international data we have, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, approximately 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would require hospitalization. There have been no confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States to date.”

Trump puts Pence in charge of coronavirus response President Trump delivered a briefing on the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday evening, telling Americans that the “risk remains really low” and “we’re very, very ready for this.” Trump also announced that Vice President Mike Pence will lead the government’s response to the coronavirus. During Pence’s time as governor of Indiana, the state reported the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States, and Trump said he has “a certain talent” for dealing with health emergencies. There are 81,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, with 60 in the United States. Nearly 3,000 people have died from the virus. Source: The Week

Iranian Vice President for Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar is infected with the novel coronavirus. (Washington Post)

One hundred and four more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 524. Two more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to fourteen. Thirty-seven people recovered from the disease. (Sky Tg24)

Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends entry to the kingdom for the Umrah Islamic pilgrimage and visits to al Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina due to fears over the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. (Reuters)

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe announces that all junior and high schools will be asked to close from March 2 until their upcoming spring break to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. (Reuters)

Syrian opposition groups backed by Turkey recapture the strategic city of Saraqib, and attempt to cut the M5 highway. (SOHR) (Xihuan.net)

A Turkish sniper kills a Syrian Army lieutenant colonel in Syria’s Tell Abyad Countryside. (SOHR)

Three Turkish soldiers are killed by Syrian attacks in Idlib, bringing to 21 the number of Turkish soldiers killed, President Erdogan announced.(JerusalemPost)

The decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport is found to be unlawful by the Court of Appeal because the British government did not take into account its commitments under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. (BBC)

Stock market slides into correction territory

Coronavirus fears sent U.S. markets into correction territory on Thursday, down 10 percent from record highs after days of losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 600 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite plummeted 2.5 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. President Trump has sought to reassure investors that the coronavirus outbreak, which has affected countries around the world, is only a small worry for the stock market. He said Wednesday the market would recover, claiming the U.S. is “really prepared” for the virus and blaming Democratic presidential candidates for the dip. The Dow has lost more than 2,000 points this week. Source: CNBC

Obama demands South Carolina networks pull ‘misleading’ anti-Biden ad

Representatives for former President Barack Obama on Thursday sent a cease-and-desist letter to a Super PAC behind an anti-Joe Biden ad that uses a clip from Obama’s 1995 audiobook Dreams from My Father. The TV ad, created by the pro-Trump Committee to Defend the President, has been playing in South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s Democratic primary. In the clip, Obama is recalling a conversation he had with a barber in Chicago about “plantation politics,” the barber describing anti-black policies not dissuading black voters from voting “the straight Democratic ticket.” Attorney Patchen Haggerty said it’s “clearly intended to mislead the target audience of the ad.” The Committee to Defend the President said “we have every right to use [Obama’s] own words.”  Source: CNN, The Washington Post

Lori Loughlin’s attorney claims new evidence proves her innocence

Lori Loughlin’s attorney claimed on Thursday that new evidence exonerates her in the college admissions scandal. The Full House star was charged last year, with prosecutors saying she and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, paid $500,000 in bribes to pass their daughters off as rowers to get them into the University of Southern California. Loughlin and Giannulli have pleaded not guilty. Their lawyer argues they thought the payments weren’t bribes but donations to the school or the purported charity of Rick Singer, the mastermind of the scheme. “Singer’s notes indicate that FBI agents yelled at him and instructed him to lie,” the lawyer claims. Singer, who agreed to cooperate with the investigation, has pleaded guilty.  Source: NBC News, The Associated Press

 

Wednesday,  Feb 26th, 2020

Turkey’s MoD says two Turkish troops were killed in an airstrike in Syria’s Idlib Governorate. (Middle East Monitor)

Turkey’s MoD says 114 Syrian Government troops were neutralized in retaliation. And an air defense system, a ZU-23-2 AA gun, an antitank weapon, 3 Tanks, an ammunition vehicle and 2 engineering vehicles were destroyed, and that 3 tanks were captured. (Aksam)

Bob Weighton, aged 111, of Alton, Hampshire, England, is named the oldest living man in the world after the death of Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan at the age of 112. (The Guardian)

102 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 424. Another virus-related death is confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 12. (Sky Tg24)

In California, San Francisco declares a public emergency. Santa Clara and San Diego counties have made similar declarations. (News AU)

Germany repeals its 2015 ban on advertisements for professional assisted suicide practices, after finding that its prohibition violated the German Constitution. Passive human euthanasia itself has been legal in the republic since 2014. (BBC)

Six people, including the shooter, are killed in a mass shooting at the Molson Coors Beverage Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The perpetrator, who committed suicide, was an employee who was fired earlier in the day. (USA Today) (WGN-TV)

The re-election campaign of U.S. President Donald Trump files a libel suit against The New York Times over a 2019 editorial piece that accused the Trump campaign of striking a deal with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. (Reuters)

The U.S. House of Representatives votes 410–4 to pass the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which designates lynching a federal crime. This is the first time that anti-lynching legislation has ever passed Congress. (NPR)

Astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, United States, say an object known as 2020 CD3 has been captured by Earth’s gravitational field and has been in orbit since 2017, becoming a temporary natural satellite of Earth. The Minor Planet Center confirms the findings and says “no link to a known artificial object has been found”, implying the object is an asteroid. (New Scientist)

Duffy reveals she was raped, drugged and held hostage over some days resulting in her disappearance from the limelight in recent years. (The Guardian)

 

Wednesday,  Feb 26th, 2020 

San Francisco declares public emergency. (News AU)

CDC: Americans should prepare for ‘disruption’ from coronavirus outbreak  Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the head of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on Tuesday that Americans should be prepared for a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., warning the “disruption to everyday life could be severe.” “It’s not so much a question of if this will happen any more, but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness,” she said. The coronavirus, which originated in China, has quickly spread to several countries, including Iran, Italy, and Japan, raising the CDC’s “level of concern and expectation” that it will also spread in the U.S. Source: NBC News

S&P 500 suffers 2-day drop not seen since 2008  The markets took a dive Tuesday, one day after President Trump tweeted the stock market is “starting to look very good to me.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 879 points after the Centers for Disease Control came out with a dire warning about the coronavirus, saying its spread in the U.S. appears inevitable and Americans should be ready for major disruptions in their lives. Additionally, the S&P 500 fell about 3 percent, and CNBC notes that “the last time the S&P 500 fell more than 3 percent two days in a row was in November of 2008 during the financial crisis,” citing Bespoke Investment Group. This came after the Dow on Tuesday plunged 1,031 points in what NBC notes was its worst performance in two years. Source: CNBC

American soldier in South Korea tests positive for coronavirus A 23-year-old American soldier based in South Korea has tested positive for the new coronavirus COVID-19, the U.S. military announced Tuesday. The soldier is stationed at Camp Carroll in Waegwan, and is the first U.S. service member to come down with the virus. He is under quarantine at his home, which is off base. There are 1,146 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, with more than half of the patients living in the city of Daegu. The soldier visited a military base in Daegu on Friday, and then returned to Camp Carroll. There are 28,500 U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea, and the military said health professionals are “actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether any others may have been exposed.” Source: The New York Times

52 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 374. Another virus-related death is confirmed, bringing the death toll in the country to 12. (Sky Tg24)

The first case in Latin America is confirmed by the Ministry of Health of Brazil in São Paulo. (Al Jazeera)

A 62-year-old man in Seville becomes the first non imported infected case of coronavirus in Spain. (La Vanguardia)

Violent clashes in North East Delhi, India, between Hindu and Muslim protesters over the Citizenship Amendment Act continues leaving 21 people dead and at least 180 injured. (NDTV)

Death toll rises from Hindu-Muslim clashes in India’s capital  At least 21 people have died and 189 injured in street clashes that began Sunday between Hindus and Muslims in northeastern New Delhi, India’s capital. The violence stems from months of protests against a divisive citizenship law pushed through by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which offers legal status to every prominent religious minority except Muslims. As Modi pleaded for peace on Wednesday, Delhi’s top elected official asked Modi’s government to send in the army. Indians have been protesting the citizenship law for weeks, but the worrisome sectarian violence only started when a local BJP leaders threatened to clear the demonstrators with force. The violence was an embarrassment for Modi as he hosted President Trump, but Muslims said they fear it will increase after Trump’s departure late Tuesday. Source: BBC News

Six prisoners are shot dead by Papua New Guinea Police as they escape from prison in Western Highlands Province. They were among 100 inmates who escaped during a mass breakout. Scores of others are captured. (RNZ)

Democrats engage in chaotic final debate before Super Tuesday Democratic presidential candidates participated in what turned out to be a chaotic debate Tuesday night in Charleston, South Carolina, making their final cases before voters go to the polls in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, where former Vice President Joe Biden is favored. It was also the last debate before voters in 14 states, including California and Texas, head to the polls next Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has emerged as the national frontrunner after winning primaries in New Hampshire and Nevada, was the subject of some fierce criticism by his competitors, but the night was mostly defined by the candidates interrupting or talking over each other in a final push to get their messages out. Source: CNN

 

 

Tuesday,  Feb 25th, 2020 

93 more coronavirus cases are confirmed in Italy, bringing the number to 322. Four more virus-related deaths are confirmed, bringing the death toll to eleven. (Agenzia ANSA)

Canada’s largest airline Air Canada suspends all flights to China until April in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (CBC)

As fighting continues in the Idlib Governorate, the Syrian Army takes control of rebel-stronghold Kafranbel for the first time since 2012, and 18 nearby villages including Sheikh Dames and Sheikh Mustafa. (RFI)

Turkish-backed rebels recapture the village of Nayrab, west of Saraqib, after days of heavy fighting which has left dozens dead, according to Turkish state media. (Al Jazeera)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirms the first Turkish Armed Forces casualties in Libya since beginning a military operation in support of the GNA government after two troops are killed. (BBC)

Steve Hasker, former company president of American data firm Nielsen Holdings, is appointed CEO of Thomson Reuters effective March 15. (Reuters)

Bob Iger steps down as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and is succeeded by Bob Chapek, former chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Iger will continue to serve the company’s “creative endeavors” as executive chairman. (Reuters)

A man was revealed to have been arrested the previous day for attempting to blow up a car in The Pentagon parking lot. (NBC)

The End