| Trump sees 'hard days' ahead in coronavirus fight, with as many as 240,000 Americans dead Posted: 31 Mar 2020 08:05 PM PDT  Nearly a quarter million people in the United States could die as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Trump administration officials said Tuesday.
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| First he had brain cancer. Then the coronavirus struck his city. One patient’s perilous journey. Posted: 01 Apr 2020 02:33 PM PDT  When Ronnie Kresel went in for his most recent checkup following chemotherapy on March 21, it wasn't anything like the ones he'd had before. Upon his arrival at the Southhampton Stony Brook Hospital in Long Island, N.Y., a doctor met Kresel in a hazmat suit in a large tent outside the facility, where he was asked "a series of rapid-fire questions" and then sent to a negative-pressure room, which prevents cross-contamination, for his visit.
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| The US intelligence community has reportedly concluded that China intentionally misrepresented its coronavirus numbers Posted: 01 Apr 2020 10:39 AM PDT  US officials have accused China of spreading disinformation, and even some Chinese residents have expressed skepticism about the numbers.
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| Trump: US to deploy anti-drug Navy ships near Venezuela Posted: 01 Apr 2020 11:55 AM PDT  President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Navy ships are being moved toward Venezuela as his administration beefs up counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean following a U.S. drug indictment against Nicolás Maduro. "The Venezuelan people continue to suffer tremendously due to Maduro and his criminal control over the country, and drug traffickers are seizing on this lawlessness," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said after the president's announcement. The deployment is one of the largest U.S. military operations in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama to remove Gen. Manuel Noriega from power and bring him to the U.S. to face drug charges.
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| Liberty University students choose sides after fallout from coronavirus reporting Posted: 31 Mar 2020 03:30 PM PDT  The New York Times reported this week that almost a dozen Liberty University students have come down with COVID-19 symptoms since the school reopened last week. But Liberty University officials have since pushed back on these claims, calling the Times story "fake news". Now, students are choosing sides in who they believe is telling the truth.
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| Seth Meyers to Elizabeth Warren: Why Haven’t You Endorsed Bernie for President? Posted: 01 Apr 2020 12:53 AM PDT  On Tuesday night, one day after welcoming Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) to the program—and witnessing him go in on "grotesque" Republicans for nickel-and-diming the poor in the recent coronavirus stimulus bill—Seth Meyers brought on Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), his former rival candidate for the presidency. When the Late Night host asked her whether either of the remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination for president, Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden, has asked her to serve as their running mate, she said no. "I have not talked with people about it. Look, I'm focused right now on this [COVID-19] crisis," she explained. "Last week, we were negotiating a record $2 trillion bill to try to support health-care workers and to try to support our economy, and now I'm trying to push hard for this oversight part of it, sending letters to Secretary Mnuchin. That's just where my attention is focused right now, and frankly I think it'd be presumptuous for me to be doing anything else."Meyers then pressed her a bit on why she has yet to endorse a candidate—something that's proven particularly odd given how much her policy positions align with Sanders, and how much he could use her support. Bernie Sanders Goes Off on 'Grotesque' Republicans Over Coronavirus Stimulus BillJohn Oliver Rips Into Trump for 'Failed' Coronavirus Response in Triumphant Late-Night Return"You haven't endorsed a candidate yet, and it certainly seems like your positions line up more in lockstep with Senator Sanders than they do with Joe Biden. Are you going to endorse, or is this something you're considering to wait on?" asked the comedian. Warren dodged the question. "You know, again, I really want to say that, right now, it's less about the politics and much more about the crisis that our country is in, and I think that's really where our focus has got to be at this moment," she replied. "So that's where I'm keeping my attention right now. We don't get to do any political rallies at this moment anyway." Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| One country is refusing to shut down to stop the coronavirus Posted: 31 Mar 2020 09:35 AM PDT  "It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees!" Lukashenko, who hit the ice for a weekend hockey game, said.
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| Feds Find Smuggling Tunnel Linking San Diego to Tijuana, Seize $29 Million in Drugs Posted: 31 Mar 2020 12:27 PM PDT  Federal immigration authorities have discovered a drug smuggling tunnel leading from San Diego under the U.S.-Mexico border and seized nearly $30 million worth of drugs found inside.Federal agents on the San Diego Tunnel Task Force discovered the "sophisticated" tunnel on Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a release Tuesday. The discovery resulted from a joint investigation by members of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney's Office.The tunnel extends more than 2,000 feet underground from a warehouse in Tijuana to a warehouse in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego. Authorities found an estimated $29.6 million in drugs in the tunnel, seizing 1,300 pounds of cocaine, 86 pounds of methamphetamine, 17 pounds of heroin, 3,000 pounds of marijuana and more than two pounds of fentanyl.Investigators estimated the passageway is several months old based on "advanced construction" in parts of the tunnel, including reinforced walls, ventilation, lighting and an underground rail system. U.S. investigators worked with the Fiscalia General de la Republica and Secretaria de la Defensa Naciona to find the tunnel's entrance on the Mexico side.The discovery comes two months after authorities in January discovered the "longest cross-border tunnel" yet in the same area, a 4,309-foot passage running from Tijuana to San Diego."Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, DEA employees continue to work tirelessly to serve and protect the community," DEA special agent in charge John W. Callery said in a statement."I hope this sends a clear message that despite the ongoing public health crisis, [Homeland Security Investigations] and our law enforcement partners will remain resilient and continue to pursue criminal organizations responsible for the cross-border smuggling of narcotics into the United States," Homeland Security Investigations San Diego acting special agent in charge Cardell T. Morant said.
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| Great Recession showed countries can’t fight the coronavirus economic crisis alone Posted: 01 Apr 2020 03:02 PM PDT  Trade represents close to 60% of world GDP, and national economies can't thrive in isolation. We needed a global response in 2008 and we need one now.
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| Trump Threatens ‘Heavy Price’ If Iran Attacks U.S. Troops Posted: 01 Apr 2020 10:37 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump warned Iran against what he said was a possible "sneak attack" the Islamic Republic was planning against U.S. troops in Iraq.Trump indicated in a tweet that the U.S. had "information" about a possible attack but didn't elaborate. He said Iran would pay a "very heavy price" if there's an attack.Tensions have soared this year between Washington and Tehran after a top Iranian general was killed by American forces at the start of the year, prompting a missile barrage on an Iraqi base used by American forces. There have since been strikes in Iraq by Iranian proxy groups, and the U.S. has seized shipments of allegedly Iranian weapons bound for Yemen.More recently, Iran and some other countries have called on the U.S. to ease sanctions to allow for faster importation of humanitarian goods needed to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, which has hit Iran particularly hard. The U.S. argues that its sanctions already allow for the importation of critical goods.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Chinese county goes into coronavirus lockdown amid fear of second wave Posted: 01 Apr 2020 12:05 PM PDT  Authorities order residents of Jia county to stay home after reports of cases linked to the area's hospital.
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| China is bracing for a second wave of coronavirus Posted: 01 Apr 2020 01:59 PM PDT  A Chinese county that was largely unscathed by the novel COVID-19 coronavirus went into lockdown Wednesday, signaling fears of a possible second wave in the country where the virus originated, The South China Morning Post reports.The county of Jia in Henan province, home to 600,000 people, is now in lockdown after infections reportedly spread at a local hospital. There were previously only 12 confirmed cases in Henan, despite it being situated just north of Hubei province, where China's epicenter, Wuhan, is located. However, U.S. intelligence reportedly believes China under-reported the actual number of cases.Either way, the new lockdown, which shuts down all non-essential business and requires people to carry special permits to leave their homes, and wear face masks and have their temperature taken when out and about, comes at a time when the country clearly wants to get its economy up and running again. It's unclear if such measures will be limited to the county or if it's a sign of things to come for the rest of the world's most populous country, but President Xi Jinping has warned that China must return to normal gradually in the hopes of preventing a full-scale COVID-19 return. Read more at The South China Morning Post.More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like How the coronavirus fight might end up at the Supreme Court Trump is incapable of taking the coronavirus outbreak seriously
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| New disclosure reveals Sen. Kelly Loeffler and her husband dumped retail stock and bought shares in a company that manufacturers medical supplies Posted: 01 Apr 2020 09:54 AM PDT  Loeffler and her husband have come under scrutiny for dumping hundreds of thousands in stocks before the market dropped over the coronavirus outbreak.
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| Defense lawyer in death of 7 motorcyclists: Biker at fault Posted: 31 Mar 2020 10:33 AM PDT  One of the motorcyclists in a crash that killed him and six fellow bikers on a north woods highway was drunk and actually was the one who hit a pickup and caused the accident, the lawyer for the truck driver charged with homicide said in a document made public Tuesday. A New Hampshire State Police account of the June 21 crash in the community of Randolph "was deeply flawed," the lawyer for truck driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 24, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, said in a motion filed Friday that seeks a hearing to set him free on bail. State police initially determined that the flatbed trailer he was hauling was 1 1/2 feet over the center line at the time of impact, the motion said.
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| Kellyanne Conway Keeps Attacking Joe Biden for Staying Inside Posted: 01 Apr 2020 01:48 PM PDT  While leaders across the country are urging Americans to stay in their homes to stop the spread of the coronavirus, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway is openly mocking former Vice President Joe Biden for setting that example. "Why doesn't Vice President Biden call the White House today and offer some support? He's in his bunker in Wilmington," Conway said Wednesday morning on Fox & Friends. In her next breath she added, "I have to tell you, we're not talking about politics here at the White House at all. We're talking about ventilators and vaccines, not Biden and Bernie."And yet Conway continued to attack Biden for criticizing President Donald Trump's response to the crisis from inside his home later in the day.During a press gaggle outside the White House, Conway called it "completely unhelpful" to have the former vice president "in his bunker in Wilmington just lobbing criticisms" at the current president. She called Biden's interviews "painful to watch" before adding, "He's got a lot of fans out there that can't get enough of Joe Biden in the bunker in Delaware."At that point, a reporter asked her, "When you say he's 'in his bunker,' are you suggesting Vice President Biden should be disregarding federal guidelines and be out there mixing with people?""You know I'm not," Conway shot back. "Let's not be silly. Let's not be silly about it." When the reporter said she just wanted to know what Conway was "implying" with her repetition of the "bunker" line, she replied, "I'm not implying anything. In fact, I'm not implying a single thing. I wonder what you're implying.""I'm not implying anything," she added again later. "He can stay in the bunker all he wants. He can cough into or sneeze into his hand all he wants. He can read from prepared notes all he wants. I'm yet to hear a single idea from Vice President Biden that would be helpful to the American people or is different from what we're doing." In a statement responding to Conway, Biden deputy communications director Kate Bedingfield said, "Vice President Biden has been extending his advice for months, and he did so again on the air last night." But as the presumptive 2020 nominee told MSNBC on Tuesday night, "I don't get a sense that the president wants to hear from anybody. It's all about, like, asking governors to thank him for what he's doing as president."Biden has repeatedly stated that he does not believe the coronavirus pandemic is Trump's "fault" but has pointed out that his lack of speed in trying to contain it within the United States has made the situation far worse than it needed to be. One of his biggest suggestions has been to let the medical experts handle the daily briefings and take the microphone away from the president. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| 'We are on the verge of a massive collapse': Ex-Energy Secretary Perry says COVID-19 will ravage oil industry Posted: 01 Apr 2020 04:53 PM PDT  "I'm telling you, we are on the verge of a massive collapse," Perry said of the impact the plunge in oil prices could have on U.S. operators.
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| 12 Buildings That Show the Beauty of Deconstructed Architecture Posted: 31 Mar 2020 03:59 PM PDT |
| Trump responds to questions about whether impeachment diverted his attention from the coronavirus outbreak Posted: 31 Mar 2020 04:56 PM PDT  President Trump on Tuesday responded to the idea that the impeachment trial kept his attention away from the growing coronavirus outbreak around the world.
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| ‘We have a life and death situation’: Trump lambasted for blaming slow coronavirus response on impeachment Posted: 01 Apr 2020 10:37 AM PDT  Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed as an "excuse" claims from Donald Trump and the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, that impeachment proceedings distracted the president from appropriately responding to the coronavirus pandemic during its initial outbreak."We have a life-and-death situation in our country, and they should not try to hide behind an excuse for why they do not take action," the California Democrat said. "That's an admission that perhaps the president and the majority leader cannot handle the job," she said.
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| New York scolds 'selfish' residents, California intensive care beds running out Posted: 01 Apr 2020 09:42 AM PDT  The governor of New York on Wednesday clamped down harder on public gatherings in the face of the coronavirus, calling residents "selfish" for refusing to stay home as California's governor warned his state may run out of intensive care beds and ventilators next month. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told New York City police to more aggressively enforce rules for social distancing as deaths in the state shot up to nearly 2,000. "Young people must get this message, and they still have not gotten the message, you still see too many situations with too much density by young people," said Cuomo in imposing new rules to close playgrounds, swing sets, basketball courts and similar spaces.
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| Meet Candy Sterling, a fierce drag queen at night and a corporate professional by day Posted: 31 Mar 2020 11:26 AM PDT  This is Candy Sterling – a fierce drag queen who lights up the New York City nightlife while maintaining a professional day job. Get to know her both in and out of drag on this week's episode of Behind the Drag.
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| China under-reported coronavirus cases and deaths, U.S. intelligence reportedly concludes Posted: 01 Apr 2020 09:06 AM PDT  There has been some skepticism about China's reporting on the novel COVID-19 coronavirus for some time, especially as smaller countries like Italy surged past the world's most populous nation in both overall cases and deaths. On Wednesday, U.S. intelligence officials told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity that the skepticism is valid.Per Bloomberg, the U.S. intelligence community reportedly concluded in a classified document that China, where the pandemic originated, has under-reported its totals. The officials didn't reveal any of the reports contents, but said the gist of it is China intentionally left death and cases reports incomplete — two officials reportedly said the numbers out of China are fake.Officially, China has tallied more than 82,000 cases and 3,300 deaths, whereas the U.S. already has more than 189,000 cases and 4,000 deaths. Beijing somewhat acknowledged their stats were skewed after they changed their methodology to include some asymptomatic cases, but it's unclear how many more asymptomatic infections were discounted overall. Thousands of urns outside funeral homes have reportedly led people to doubt the Chinese government's death total, as well. Read more at Bloomberg.More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like China is bracing for a second wave of coronavirus How the coronavirus fight might end up at the Supreme Court
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| Woodworking Can Bring Solace in Times of Uncertainty Posted: 01 Apr 2020 12:00 PM PDT |
| Lindsey Graham Calls on IG Horowitz to Testify in Further FISA Hearings after Scathing New Report Posted: 31 Mar 2020 12:50 PM PDT  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) plans to call DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz to testify before congress regarding his office's audit of the FBI's FISA application process, which was released Tuesday and revealed potentially systematic abuses of the transparency measures required of the Bureau when agents interact with the FISA court."I have just been briefed on Inspector General Horowitz's audit of FISA applications involving American citizens. This random audit shows discrepancies regarding verification of the information under the Woods Procedures," Graham said in a press release. "I intend to have Inspector General Horowitz come to the Committee to explain his findings and receive his recommendations about how to change the program."Horowitz's latest report revealed that the FBI included "apparent errors or inadequately supported facts" in all 29 FISA surveillance applications filed between 2014 and 2019 and reviewed as part of the audit.The Woods Procedure dictates that the Justice Department verify the accuracy of and provide evidentiary support for all facts stated in its FISA application. The FBI is required to share with the FISA Court all relevant information compiled in a Woods file when applying for a surveillance warrant.Four of the 29 applications lacked Woods files entirely, while the other 25 had "an average of about 20 issues per application reviewed, with a high of approximately 65 issues in one application and less than 5 issues in another application.""FBI and NSD officials we interviewed indicated to us that there were no efforts by the FBI to use existing FBI and NSD oversight mechanisms to perform comprehensive, strategic assessments of the efficacy of the Woods Procedures or FISA accuracy, to include identifying the need for enhancements to training and improvements in the process, or increased accountability measures," the report states.Horowitz recommended that the FBI begin to "systematically and regularly examine" its Woods reviews to uncover abuse, beginning with a "physical inventory to ensure that Woods Files exist for every FISA application submitted to the FISC in all pending investigations."In a statement after the audit's release, the DOJ said that it is "committed to putting the Inspector General's recommendations into practice and to implementing reforms that will ensure all FISA applications are complete and accurate."> DOJ statement on today's report from IG Horowitz identifying concerns with the FBI's handling of procedures related to FISA applications. pic.twitter.com/DAiB61IoSk> > -- KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ) March 31, 2020The findings are the latest in a growing trail of FBI abuses involving the FISA Court. Horowitz appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in December after finding "basic and fundamental errors" in the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign, and blamed the FBI chain of command for lacking oversight in the FISA applications used to surveil Trump-campaign adviser Carter Page."The circumstances reflect a failure, as we outline in the report, not just by those who prepared the applications, but also by the managers and supervisors in the Crossfire Hurricane chain of command, including FBI senior officials who were briefed as the investigation progressed," Horowitz said in his statement to Graham and the other senators.Later in the hearing, Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) said Horowitz's findings showed how the "the FBI effectively meddled in an ongoing presidential campaign," while other Republicans acknowledged that they had not realized FISA abuse was a serious threat."As a national security hawk, I've argued with Mike Lee in the four-and-a-half or five years that I've been in the Senate that stuff just like this couldn't possibly happen at the FBI and at the Department of Justice," Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said. " . . . Mike Lee has warned me for four-and-a-half years the potential for abuse in this space is terrible and I constantly defended the integrity and the professionalism of the bureau and of the department that you couldn't have something like this happen."Senator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) echoed Sasse in recognizing Mike Lee's past criticisms of FISA."Because we've now seen the abuses we were warned about, you can smirk again, you were right," Tillis told the Utah Republican.
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| How the coronavirus death toll compares to other pandemics, including SARS, HIV, and the Black Death Posted: 01 Apr 2020 10:14 AM PDT  So far, COVID-19 has killed four times as many people as the Ebola outbreak of 2014, but far fewer than the swine flu pandemic in 2009.
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| Sweden's 'free will' coronavirus strategy alarms some scientists Posted: 01 Apr 2020 01:09 AM PDT  "The material presented by the public health authorities is weak, even embarrassing," one professor who is critical of Sweden's strategy, said.
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| California governor warns of social distancing "fatigue" Posted: 31 Mar 2020 11:17 PM PDT  "I worry that people say 'You know what, we got this. Let's have that birthday party and let's mix some of the extended cousins together.' If we do that too soon, we're in trouble," Newsom said
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| Trump threatens Iran – again – if it attacks U.S. interests in Iraq Posted: 01 Apr 2020 03:32 PM PDT  The latest threat comes as both Iran and the United States battle the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
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| U.S. records 700 coronavirus deaths in a single day for first time Posted: 31 Mar 2020 02:01 PM PDT  The U.S. government raced to build hundreds of makeshift hospitals to ease the strain on overwhelmed healthcare systems as the United States marked 700 deaths in a single day from COVID-19 for the first time on Tuesday. Nearly half those deaths were in New York state, still the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded for reinforcements from the Trump administration, saying the worst may still be weeks away. De Blasio, a Democrat, said he had asked the White House for an additional 1,000 nurses, 300 respiratory therapists and 150 doctors by April 5 but had yet to receive an answer from the Trump administration.
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| Indonesia Bans Entry of Foreigners to Curb Spread of Virus Posted: 31 Mar 2020 12:32 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia barred foreign nationals from entering the country as the world's fourth-most populous country stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.The travel ban, to be effective soon, will also cover foreigners transiting through the country, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Jakarta Tuesday. The curbs will not apply to holders of work permits, diplomats and other official visitors, she said.The curbs on foreign citizens is the latest in a raft of measures taken by Indonesia to combat the deadly virus that's sickened more than 1,400 people and killed 122. President Joko Widodo's administration previously banned flights to and from mainland China and some of the virus-hit regions in Italy, South Korea and Iran. The president on Monday ordered stricter implementation of social distancing and health quarantine amid calls for a lockdown to contain the pandemic.Indonesia Plans to Limit People's Movement to Combat Virus Jokowi, as Widodo is known, has also ordered officials to step up screening of Indonesian workers returning from overseas to prevent the virus from spreading further. Thousands of workers have been returning from neighboring Malaysia by sea and more residents working in cruise ships may also be coming back soon, the president said. The government also plans to mobilize volunteers to fight the spread of coronavirus in coastal villages and the vast hinterlands of the archipelago with part of a $4.4 billion rural budget to be used to fund the initiative, said Eko Sri Haryanto, an official at the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration.(Updates with plans to form village squads in final paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Top Marine ‘signaling’ to industry that F-35 cuts are on the table Posted: 01 Apr 2020 02:28 PM PDT  "I'm signaling to the industry, we have to be prepared to adjust as the operating environment adjusts," said Marine Commandant David Berger.
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| Coronavirus: Millions will be left in poverty, World Bank warns Posted: 31 Mar 2020 04:30 AM PDT  "Significant economic pain seems unavoidable in all countries", the World Bank warns.
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| Open coffins are left on roads to remind people to stay inside while soldiers shoot disinfectant from water cannons. Here's what lockdown for 57 million people in the Philippines looks like. Posted: 30 Mar 2020 08:12 PM PDT  Despite the lockdown, on Sunday the Philippines reported a daily increase of 343 new coronavirus cases — its highest one day increase yet.
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| New York Gov. Cuomo says it's 'not likely' recreational marijuana will be legalized in New York's budget this year as the coronavirus outbreak is the focus in Albany Posted: 31 Mar 2020 03:19 PM PDT  Recreational marijuana legalization likely won't be included in New York's 2020 budget, Cuomo said.
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| Stabbing of Asian-American 2-Year-Old and Her Family Was a Virus-Fueled Hate Crime: Feds Posted: 31 Mar 2020 12:03 PM PDT  The vicious stabbing of an Asian-American family, including a 2-year-old girl, at a Sam's Club in Texas earlier this month has been deemed a hate crime by the feds, as authorities continue to raise alarm bells about a potential surge in racially motivated crimes amid the coronavirus outbreak.Jose L. Gomez, 19, confessed to authorities that he attempted to murder three Asian-American family members, including the toddler and a 6-year-old, on March 14 at the Midland, Texas store, according to the Midland Police Department. Gomez, who stabbed the individuals and a Sam's Club employee, is now facing several charges, including three counts of attempted capital murder and one count of aggravated assault. He is being held on several bonds totaling $1 million."The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with coronavirus," according to an FBI analysis report obtained by ABC News.Inside the Ugly Uber and Lyft Driver Freakout Over CoronavirusThe Texas incident was used in the report as one example of a recent surge in hate crimes and racially fueled violence targeting Asian-Americans as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the United States. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Midland Reporter-Telegram, Gomez attempted to kill the Asian-American family of four inside the wholesale store at about 7:30 p.m. When a Sam's Club employee and another patron intervened, Gomez allegedly stabbed the patron in the leg and fingers with a knife. At one point, the customer was able to knock the knife away from Gomez during the struggle before the teenager was finally subdued by Border Patrol Agent Bernie Ramiez, who was off-duty and just leaving the store after shopping for groceries, the affidavit states.Ramirez later told CBS7 that during the altercation, he saw the store employee had managed to put Gomez in a chokehold after he had stabbed multiple people."My initial thought was it was just the shortage of items that they were fighting over," Ramirez told the local outlet. "So I just started making my way over there to break it up."The agent added, "I've got close to 19 years in law enforcement. It's crazy and it's sad the way certain individuals think, their mindset. It's a sad deal."When authorities arrived at the Sam's Club, investigators immediately began to question Gomez. The teenager then admitted to trying to kill the family and assaulting the patron with a knife, the affidavit states. Ramirez did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment and a spokesperson for Midland Mayor Patrick Payton's office declined to comment, stating that the case has now been turned over to the FBI. According to the intelligence report that was compiled by the FBI's Houston office and distributed to local law enforcement agencies across the nation, federal officials believe hate crimes will only increase as COVID-19 continues to spread.'We're Scared': Doctors in New Coronavirus Hotspots Brace for 'Tsunami' of Patients"The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease... endangering Asian American communities," the report states. "The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations."To date, more than 3,416 people have died and 174,467 individuals have been infected with the virus nationwide—a death toll that has eclipsed China's official count and put much of the United States on lockdown.Since then, several political and media commentators, including President Donald Trump, have adopted the practice of calling the pandemic the "China virus" or the "Wuhan virus.""It did come from China," Trump said at a March 19 White House briefing. "It is a very accurate term."Many experts and political figures believe that officials using racial terms for the virus has contributed to discrimination against members of the Asian-American community. "This is a global emergency that should be met with both urgency and also cultural awareness that COVID-19 is not isolated to a single ethnic population," Jeffrey Caballero, executive director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, said in a statement to The Daily Beast. "Xenophobic attacks and discrimination towards Asian American communities are unacceptable and will not make our families safer or healthier."California Gov. Gavin Newsom reiterated the FBI's report findings, stating he has seen a "huge increase" in assaults targeting the Asian-American community in his state. In New York, Attorney General Leticia James launched a hotline for victims of coronavirus-related bias crimes. Since the surge, even Trump tried to backtrack on his language, tweeting on March 23, "It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!"'This Is a War': Cuomo Pleads for Help From Doctors Across U.S. as Coronavirus Death Toll SurgesAccording to one New York City medical social worker, racism is also rampant in the health-care system as Asian-American doctors and nurses struggle to care for patients who don't want to be touched. "I get yelled at down the street coming into work from people in their cars saying all these really nasty things and telling me I should be punished for bringing the virus here," the social worker told The Daily Beast last week. "Inside the hospital, I have heard from several Asian-American doctors and nurses that some patients don't want to be treated by them because they think they already have the virus. It's like we are the virus or something.""It's scary and it's dangerous. We're already putting ourselves on the line to help others. Don't make it harder for us than it is," she added. Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| McConnell: Impeachment 'diverted attention' from coronavirus Posted: 31 Mar 2020 09:21 AM PDT  President Donald Trump's impeachment trial distracted the federal government from the coronavirus as it reached the United States in January, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, despite warnings at the time from public health experts and members of Congress about the spread of the deadly virus. The Trump administration has been severely criticized for its slow response to the pandemic, especially for the shortage of coronavirus testing kits when the infection first spread to the U.S. from China.
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| UK's Prince Charles, recovered from virus, says it is distressing time for nation Posted: 01 Apr 2020 05:18 AM PDT  Britain's Prince Charles, who has recovered after testing positive for coronavirus, praised the selfless devotion of healthcare workers on Wednesday and said it was a strange and distressing time for the nation. Heir-to-the-throne Charles, 71, came out of self-isolation on Monday after suffering what he said were "luckily ... relatively mild symptoms" and his office said he was now in good health. Britain is in a state of virtual lockdown, with the public told they must stay at home other than for essential trips, such as to buy food.
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| Netanyahu reportedly mistook a Hallmark series clip for proof of an Iranian coronavirus coverup Posted: 01 Apr 2020 02:49 PM PDT  Everyone gets duped now and then. That goes for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well.Netanyahu recently showed his cabinet a video he claimed was evidence Iran was engineering a novel coronavirus coverup, Axios reports. Tehran has reported more than 47,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,000 deaths, but those figures have been eyed with suspicion by much of the rest of the world, including Israel, which, to put it gently, does not get along with Iran.The video showed people dumping bodies into garbage dumps, two cabinet ministers told Axios. They said Netanyahu's national security adviser, Meir Ben Shabbat, showed him the video, but he probably should've checked his source. Upon further review the clip turned out to be a scene from the 2007 Hallmark Channel miniseries, Pandemic. The Israeli government certainly did a bad job of vetting the clip, but the fact it made its way up the flagpole wasn't completely random. Iranians were reportedly sharing the footage on social media last week. Read more at Axios.More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like China is bracing for a second wave of coronavirus How the coronavirus fight might end up at the Supreme Court
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| Delaying 'nonessential' abortions during coronavirus crisis endangers women's health and financial future Posted: 01 Apr 2020 03:14 PM PDT  Several U.S. states are blocking health clinics from providing abortions, declaring the procedure to be "nonessential" during coronavirus business closures. Other services deemed medically unnecessary during the crisis include dental exams, colonoscopies and cataract surgeries. The inclusion of abortion on this list is controversial and legally contested. Judges in recent days struck down such abortion bans in Texas, Ohio and Alabama, allowing abortions to continue. However, on March 31, a Texas appeals court overturned the district court's ruling. Abortions that are not "immediately medically necessary" may now be prohibited in the state.Officials in these states argue restricting abortions will free up medical supplies and personnel by postponing elective procedures until the crisis is over. That will be at least a month, according to the Trump administration, if not several.Abortion is a time-sensitive procedure – in the majority of states, one cannot be performed after 24 weeks of pregnancy. As I've explored in my research on the adverse effects of restricting reproductive health care, forcing pregnant women to delay an abortion is a dangerous gamble for both their physical health and their economic future. Abortions already hard to getWhile abortions have been legal under U.S. federal law since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, many states have legally managed to curtail abortion access, with increasingly severe restrictions in the past decade.New anti-abortion policies include requiring parental consent for minors who seek the procedure – as in Ohio and Missouri – and requiring abortion facilities and doctors to meet the same strict requirements as hospital surgical centers and their staff. In 34 states, those wishing to terminate a pregnancy must receive counseling about the procedure and fetal development. Twenty-seven of those states then require women to wait between 24 and 72 hours afterwards to have an abortion. These laws and regulations have contributed to service reductions and clinic closures nationwide. Today, 89% of U.S. counties have no abortion provider within their borders – up from 77% in 1978. In 27 American cities, women must travel more than 100 miles to reach an abortion clinic. In Texas, both Lubbock and Midland – which have a combined population of 382,000 people – are a five-hour drive from the nearest abortion provider. States such as Kentucky and Mississippi where women have extremely limited access to abortion are generally Republican dominated and have a strong Christian right influence. They also have fewer women legislators than states with more liberal abortion access, such as New Jersey and New York. Health risks and povertyMany of the same states that have enacted restrictive abortion policies in recent years are now moving to declare abortion a nonessential service during the coronavirus crisis. As of April 1, officials in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Iowa, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Kentucky have made executive declarations effectively halting abortion procedures until the crisis abates. But delaying an abortion can be dangerous. Women who have this medical procedure in the second trimester of a pregnancy face a greater risk of hemorrhage and other complications like uterine perforation, which may require further surgery or even a hysterectomy to address. Delays could also extend the pregnancy to the point of fetus viability, after which most states prohibit abortions except to protect the life and health of the woman.There are financial consequences when women are forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. Recent evidence from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco shows that women denied an abortion because of restrictive state laws are less likely to be employed full-time for years afterwards than women who got the abortion they needed. They are also more likely to live in poverty after being denied an abortion. The economic fallout from an unwanted pregnancy would likely be severe and long-lasting for a new mother in an economy already decimated by coronavirus-related layoffs and business closures. Keeping abortion safe during coronavirusAbortion remains an essential service in numerous states hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, including New York, New Jersey, and Michigan. In principle, women in states with coronavirus-related abortion bans could get the procedure in neighboring states. But distance as a barrier to abortion disproportionately affects poor women, who lack the financial resources and time to travel. These days, shelter-at-home laws and new restrictions on travel across state lines could make it difficult for even wealthier women to travel for an abortion. Easing existing restrictions on medication-based abortions – that is, non-surgical procedures – could resolve the tension between keeping people home and getting women the treatment they need. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration requires that mifepristone, the first of the two drugs used in medication abortions, be dispensed in a clinic, hospital or medical office. Allowing women to receive the drug by mail would limit their exposure to coronavirus and reduce doctors' workloads. Coronavirus is a national emergency. But U.S. states that bar abortions until the pandemic ends will merely compound the health and financial harms of the crisis. [Get facts about coronavirus and the latest research. Sign up for our newsletter.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * A concise history of the US abortion debate * When religious ideology drives abortion policy, poor women suffer the consequencesYana Rodgers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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| 'It is ungodly': students react to Liberty University reopening Posted: 31 Mar 2020 10:32 AM PDT  Jerry Falwell Jr, the evangelical institution's president, faced criticism for downplaying coronavirus risks when inviting students to return to campus * Coronavirus – latest US updates * Coronavirus – latest global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageWith cases of Covid-19 rising rapidly across the US, last week was a strange time for Jerry Falwell Jr to decide to reopen Liberty University.Originally, in keeping with other universities in Virginia, Falwell, the institution's president. said that only international students or those with nowhere else to go would remain. But on Sunday he welcomed over a thousand students back to campus housing.Falwell Jr had previously compared Covid-19 to the flu, posited that there has been an "overreaction" to the pandemic intended to hurt Donald Trump, and insinuated that the virus was a "Christmas present" from North Korea and China.Falwell Jr told Fox News last Tuesday that students wanted to be there – indeed, some have spoken up in favor of his decision. But others are watching events unfold with a heavy heart."I'm a pro-life advocate for all ages," said Jess Schama, a 24-year-old history major at Liberty University.Referencing Falwell's comments in a Twitter thread, in which he said that young people are unlikely to die from contracting Covid-19, Schama said: "I don't think that people, even at my age, should be subjected to a virus that could potentially kill. It is so hypocritical that people who would advocate pro-life are OK with this."> I don't want to become one of these college presidents who are pushing this problem off on someone else by sending 20 year olds with near zero mortality risk to sit at home for the rest of the semester, often with grandparents in the house who truly are at risk. (2/4)> > — Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) March 15, 2020Schama has an underlying health condition and said she would have feared for her life every day if she remained on campus. Furthermore, while the mortality rate for those under 50 is much lower than for the elderly, a CDC report last week confirmed that with regard to US hospitalizations, of those admitted to intensive care, 36% were aged 45-64 years and 12% were aged 20-44 years.Lauren Lynch, 27, said she was upset by Falwell's assertion that the population in Lynchburg is less vulnerable than elsewhere. As part of her studies, she works as a mental health clinician in Lynchburg. "A lot of [people here] are at risk. [Many] live in poverty – especially in downtown Lynchburg. A lot of people don't know that, when they come here, all they see is the Liberty campus," she said.Furthermore, while states such as New York have thousands of intensive care units, Lynchburg hospitals have 1,174 beds in total – only 55 of which are for intensive care. For that reason, Schama thinks the decision to allow students to return after periods at home during spring break is particularly irresponsible."You're putting those people at risk: those who don't have healthcare, some who are already sick, while these students [come back] from all over the country – from highly populated areas like New York, New Jersey, everywhere," she said.There is no obligation for students to return to campus, and Falwell has claimed that the school is "completely online" – despite medical, aviation and other practical classes still happening in person. He has described Liberty as being "more like an apartment complex" than a university, with the canteen only open for takeout; but the library is open, as are computer labs. Falwell said that signs remind students not to sit next to each other, and that only every third computer works to prevent students from doing so. Liberty University was contacted for comment, but did not respond in time for publication.Liberty University's code of conduct, known as the "Liberty Way", includes not listening to lewd music, engaging in sexual relationships, disobeying faculty members or putting others at risk.Lynch believes that Falwell has been hypocritical and does not practice what the college preaches – for example, the Liberty Way advises against name-calling, and yet, when one parent with concerns contacted Falwell on Twitter ("I'm as right wing as they get, bud. But as a parent of three of your students, I think this is crazy," said the parent), Falwell responded by calling him a dummy."I don't believe he has conducted himself in a very professional manner … He is bringing a horrible name to Christianity," said Schama.Schama said Falwell's decision compromises students who want to do the right thing without being insubordinate. She says students have been advised when speaking to the media to remember that Liberty students "are champions for Christ, we are all Christ's children, and we need to promote ourselves in a godly way". Schama empathizes with those principles, and believes students should respect authority. However, as a Christian, she feels she has a duty to speak out."At this point it doesn't come down to how I think I should be conducting myself on social media. It comes down to what I think is right, and giving a voice to those who can't speak up because of the potential backlash," she says. And for her, there is a clear line when it comes to her Christian values: "Absolutely – it is ungodly to allow people to keep spreading an infection that could potentially kill people," she says.On Sunday, the New York Times reported that one Liberty University student had tested positive for Covid-19 of three that were referred to local hospital centers for testing, while an additional eight were told to self-isolate.Schama believes the New York Times is propagating fake news, and said she had instead been going to the faculty website for updates. Still, she keeps on looking – mainly out of fear for her teachers. "I'm terrified for my lecturers. I really don't feel like anyone's safety has been taken into consideration," she says.What will she do, then, if she finds out later that the numbers are correct?"A lot of people, including myself will be very upset that the university did not speak up sooner. Timing is everything. It would mean it was just putting more people at risk," she says.
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| US asks Juan Guaido to renounce claim to Venezuela leadership – for the time being Posted: 31 Mar 2020 01:46 PM PDT  The United States has called on Venezuela's Juan Guaido to temporarily renounce his claim to the presidency as it recalibrates its strategy to oust leader Nicolas Maduro.The shift came after more than a year of faltering US-led efforts to oust the leftist Mr Maduro.
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| 'Reckless': Louisiana pastor arrested for holding services with up to 1,000 attendees Posted: 01 Apr 2020 07:00 AM PDT  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran called Spell's decision to hold service despite the social distancing orders "reckless and irresponsible."
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| Iran warns U.S. over Iraq deployment amid virus Posted: 01 Apr 2020 07:06 AM PDT  On Wednesday Iran warned the U.S. it was "warmongering during the coronavirus outbreak," after it deployed Patriot air defense missiles to Iraq.
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| Dow closes with decline of 950 points as coronavirus continues to shake markets Posted: 01 Apr 2020 01:03 PM PDT  "This is going to be a very bad two, and maybe three weeks. This is going to be three weeks like we've never seen before," President Donald Trump said at a news briefing.
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| Tokyo records most new coronavirus cases in a day as pressure for lockdown builds Posted: 30 Mar 2020 07:06 PM PDT  Japan's capital recorded more than 70 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday for its highest tally in a single day, as pressure mounted on the prime minister to order a lockdown. Japanese cases topped 2,000, and public broadcaster NHK said 78 cases in Tokyo took its tally of infections past 500. "This is the greatest increase up to now and is certainly of high concern, and I'm worried about what tomorrow's figures might show," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said.
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| An influencer, her husband, and their 5 kids broke quarantine to flee NYC in an RV. A wave of backlash followed. Posted: 31 Mar 2020 02:26 PM PDT  Naomi Davis is a parenting blogger with nearly half a million Instagram followers. She has since explained more about her decision to leave New York.
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| Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public' Posted: 01 Apr 2020 12:53 PM PDT  Officials are debating their advice on face masks as a CDC memo says simple cloth masks would help.
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| The coronavirus is spreading quickly through Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities Posted: 30 Mar 2020 11:07 PM PDT  In Israel, the coronavirus is spreading in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities up to eight times faster than anywhere else in the country.Ultra-Orthodox Jews account for 12 percent of Israel's population, but they make up 40 to 60 percent of coronavirus patients at four of the country's largest hospitals, officials told Israeli media. Health experts said the virus is moving so quickly in these communities because the ultra-Orthodox have large families, don't trust the government, and pay little to no attention to secular media. Many are also still gathering for prayers and funerals, despite all Israelis being ordered to stay home.Bnei Brak is a suburb of Tel Aviv, and 95 percent of the population is ultra-Orthodox. On Friday, there were 267 confirmed coronavirus cases, and by Monday, that number climbed to 508. Several hundred mourners gathered in Bnei Brak on Saturday night for the funeral of a rabbi, prompting furious secular Israelis to call on the government to place Bnei Brak under curfew. On Monday, a New York Times journalist and photographer were told to leave a synagogue in the suburb where morning services were being held, and they walked past several groups meeting furtively for prayers.Bnei Brak has just one hospital, and its director general, Dr. Moti Ravid, told the Times he would like authorities to prohibit residents from leaving for at least one week, to slow down the coronavirus' spread. There are lots of small children living in the town, and "if they help to infect others, the result will be that many old people will die," he said.More stories from theweek.com Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like Trump rejects reopening ObamaCare enrollment as millions lose jobs during pandemic Trump shifted on COVID-19 after seeing New York morgue trucks on cable news, listening to Dr. Fauci
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