| Ethiopia's missing students: Families' pain and the unsolved mystery Posted: 15 Mar 2020 05:08 PM PDT  The government has been slow to resolve the issue linked to the country's ethnic tensions.
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| The Latest: Sanders, Biden highlight economic differences Posted: 15 Mar 2020 05:02 PM PDT  The top Democrats vying for their party's presidential nomination are using a question on the economic crisis prompted by the coronavirus outbreak to highlight the contrasts on how their campaigns would approach the issue. Asked how he as president would alleviate the strains, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said during Sunday night's debate in Washington that the crisis further shows the need for a holistic overhaul of the country's economic system. Saying, "People are looking for results, not a revolution," former Vice President Joe Biden stressed he would focus on meeting "immediate needs" like helping Americans make sure not to miss mortgage payments.
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| Government official: Coronavirus vaccine trial starts Monday Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:26 PM PDT  A clinical trial evaluating a vaccine designed to protect against the new coronavirus will begin Monday, according to a government official. The first participant in the trial will receive the experimental vaccine on Monday, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the trial has not been publicly announced yet. The National Institutes of Health is funding the trial, which is taking place at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, the official said.
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| Israel takes step toward monitoring phones of virus patients Posted: 15 Mar 2020 03:44 PM PDT  Israel has long been known for its use of technology to track the movements of Palestinian militants. Now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to use similar technology to stop the movement of the coronavirus. Netanyahu's Cabinet on Sunday authorized the Shin Bet security agency to use its phone-snooping tactics on coronavirus patients, an official confirmed, despite concerns from civil-liberties advocates that the practice would raise serious privacy issues.
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| Coronavirus: New York mayor tells diplomats everyone has been exposed, as governor calls for Trump to deploy army Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:17 PM PDT  The New York Mayor's Office has told United Nations diplomats that coronavirus has already spread widely through the city and could linger as a health threat until as late as September, diplomatic sources have told Foreign Policy."Everyone in New York should assume that they have been in contact with Covid-19," city officials said.
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| New York City schools to close Monday to fight coronavirus Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:05 PM PDT  New York City will close the nation's largest public school system on Monday, sending over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus, the city's mayor announced Sunday, calling it a "very troubling moment" as he suggested ominously that more restrictions were inevitable. A somber Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the decision to close schools through at least April 20 and possibly for the school year as school closures occurred in communities and entire states nationwide and pressure mounted in New York from residents, City Council members and others. "I have no words for how horrible it is, but it has become necessary," de Blasio said.
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| Hospitals fear any surge of virus cases, supply shortages Posted: 15 Mar 2020 01:28 PM PDT  Government and hospital leaders are increasingly sounding the alarm about the health care system in the U.S. and its readiness to absorb waves of patients in the worst-case scenario involving the new coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Health's infectious diseases chief, said it's critical that steps be taken now to prevent the virus from spreading quickly. "The job is to put a full-court press on not allowing the worst-case scenario to occur," said Fauci, who appeared Sunday on several network news shows.
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| U.S. Screening Snarls Travel; Airlines Cut Flights: Virus Update Posted: 15 Mar 2020 01:17 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Airlines are halting flights, and other business are grinding to a stop. People around the the world face more draconian restrictions on gatherings and travel.Europe now reports more daily coronavirus cases than China did at its peak in February. Cases jumped 20% in the U.K., which faced criticism for its approach to the virus. Currencies seem headed for more volatile swings after a turbulent week, early trading shows. New Zealand's central bank slashed its benchmark rate.Key Developments:Cases top 164,000 worldwide, as deaths exceed 6,400Italy adds 368 deaths in one day, raising total to 1,809The U.S. totals 3,125 cases and 61 deathsIreland asks pubs to closeFrance tightens controls at German borderSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg's Prognosis team here.Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus and here for maps and charts. For analysis of the impact from Bloomberg Economics, click here. To see the impact on oil and commodities demand, click here.Ohio Shuts Bars, Restaurants (3:50 p.m. NY)Ohio is closing all bars and restaurants indefinitely after reports of crowds still gathering as St. Patrick's Day faces the limitations imposed by the spread of coronavirus. Carry-outs and delivery will still be allowed, Governor Mike DeWine announced at a press conference in Columbus."This is a very, very crucial time," DeWine said. "Delay means more people will die."Travel Limits Roil Airports (3:15 p.m. NY)Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was among facilities overwhelmed this weekend with passengers, including many coming from Europe, who faced new screening measures.As pictures of lines and stories from travelers were shared on social media, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said the White House failed to prepare for the influx of returning passengers in response to President Donald Trump's new travel restrictions.New Zealand Cuts Rates (3 p.m. NY)The New Zealand central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points as strict border controls look set to tip the economy into recession. In an emergency move, the Reserve Bank cut its cash rate to 0.25% from 1% and said it will remain there for at least the next 12 months.U.S. Airlines Slash Flights (2:50 p.m. NY)American Airlines will slash long-haul international flights by 75% through early May as demand collapses and governments impose restrictions to slow the virus's spread. Delta Air Lines further cut its international flights. United Airlines earlier said it would cut April domestic capacity 10% and international 20%, but warned additional reductions could follow.D.C. Shuts Night Clubs (2:20 p.m. NY)Washington, D.C., ordered nightclubs and multi-purpose facilities to close and told restaurants to remove bar seats and stop serving patrons who are standing. The district also limited indoor gatherings to 250 people. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said restaurants and bars must set tables and booths to ensure patrons are at least six feet apart.South Africa Declares Disaster (2 p.m. NY)South Africa declared a national state of disaster, closed 35 ports of entry, banned gatherings of more than 100 people and shut schools starting the middle of this week. Flights will be halted from Italy, Iran, the U.S., U.K. and South Korea, the government said.President Cyril Ramaphosa in a televised speech discouraged citizens from non-essential domestic travel.N.Y. May Be 'Overwhelmed' (1:45 p.m. NY)New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned that the state's health-care system is about to be "overwhelmed," but he stopped short of ordering schools or businesses to close.Instead, he asked companies to close voluntarily and let employees work from home. Schools will remain open, he said, because many families rely on them for food and child care.New York has 729 cases -- the most in the U.S. -- with three deaths.Ireland Asks Pubs to Close (1:40 p.m. NY)The Irish government asked pubs to close for at least two weeks after video of bars jammed with drinkers in defiance of guidelines appeared on social media. Industry groups say it's impossible to police social-distancing guidelines.The government also pleaded with citizens not to replace pub visits with house parties.Europe Outpacing China at Peak (1:30 p.m. NY)Europe is reporting more new cases each day than China did when the disease peaked in that country, the head of the World Health Organization said. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said canceling sporting events can help slow the spread.The situation will worsen in many countries before it improves, said Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist. While the situation is improving in Asia, countries where the disease has peaked could experience relapses, she said.SAS Idles 90% of Staff (1:15 p.m. NY)Scandinavian airline SAS AB is idling up to 10,000 employees, or 90% of staff, to cope with fallout from the coronavirus and related government measures that have restricted international air travel.The airline will also cancel most flights staerting Monday, according to a statement. SAS said it will maintain certain routes in order to enable flights to return from various destinations.Dutch Schools, Bars to Close (1:15 p.m. NY)The Dutch government ordered schools, gyms, restaurants and bars to close until April 6. Suspending classes puts the Netherlands in line with most other European countries, though it's a reversal from Prime Minister Mark Rutte's insistence last week that schools will stay open.Manhattan Project Approach Urged (12:20 p.m. NY)U.S. hospitals are preparing for a surge in patients as testing becomes more prevalent, revealing the extent of Covid-19's spread, which led one administrator to urge more action."We need to think about this in almost like a war-like stance," Peter Slavin, president of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."He urged the government to wage a Manhattan Project-type effort, as it did in World War II on the atomic bomb, to spur the health-care industry to make more surgical masks, eye protection gear and gowns.Portugal Limits Crowds (12:10 p.m. NY)Portugal is banning events with more than 100 people, Internal Administration Minister Eduardo Cabrita said in a broadcast on SIC Noticias. The government had already blocked events with more than 1,000 people.U.K. Cases Rise 20% (11:43 a.m. NY)The U.K. said 1,372 people have tested positive for coronavirus, up from 1,140 a day earlier. An additional 14 deaths brings the total to 35. Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the government, which hasn't closed schools or halted mass gatherings as have many other nations.Hash tags including CloseTheSchoolsNow and lockusdown were trending on Twitter in the U.K. Sunday. People over age 70 will be asked to stay home in "the coming weeks," Hancock told Sky News.Health Insurers Drop Copays (11:20 a.m. NY)U.S. health insurers are dropping coronavirus testing copayments and requirements that treatments be approved in advance. The America's Health Insurance Plans trade group posted details of the emergency steps taken related to Covid-19. Insurers include Aetna, Anthem, the 36 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association plans, Cigna, and Humana.Kroger Offers Paid Time Off (10:55 a.m. NY)The Kroger Co. will allow paid time off for workers who have Covid-19 or are placed under mandatory quarantine, it said in a statement. Two employees -- in Colorado and Washington state -- tested positive. The grocer said it is seeking workers for immediate positions in stores, manufacturing plants and distribution centers.Nike Shuts Stores for 2 Weeks (10:45 a.m. NY)Nike Inc. will close all U.S. and western Europe retail stores through March 27 to help slow the outbreak. The closures, which include Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will take effect Monday. Nike will continue to pay employees during the shutdown, the company said.The company said Nike-owned stores in South Korea, Japan and most of China -- which were closed in February -- are currently open.Europe Cases Surge (9:09 a.m. NY)Spain's diagnosed cases of the coronavirus jumped 35% to 7,753 on Sunday and the death toll more than doubled to 288, the Health Ministry said. In Switzerland, 2,200 cases marked a 62% increase. The number of deaths in the Netherlands rose by eight to 20, while confirmed cases increased by 176 to 1,135, according to a daily update from the RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment on Sunday. Several countries cautioned that fewer tests are being performed as more people fall ill.Mnuchin Sees No Recession (9:03 a.m. NY)Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he doesn't expect the coronavirus pandemic to tip the U.S. economy into recession, even though growth will slow. "Later in the year, obviously the economic activity will pick up as we confront this virus," Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."Goldman Confirms Cases (9 a.m. NY)Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has confirmed to staff its first two cases of coronavirus as the Wall Street bank steps up plans to split up teams and allow more employees to work from home.In a memo seen by Bloomberg News, Goldman Sachs told staff that it had received confirmation that an employee from its London office who was off sick with suspected coronavirus had tested positive and was at home in isolation. The other case is in Sydney.Ski Resorts Shut (7:50 a.m. NY)Vail said it will halt all of its North American resorts from March 15-22 and "use that time to reassess our approach for the rest of the season," the company said in a statement. Alterra Mountain Co., which operates resorts including Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado, Squaw Valley in California and Vermont's Sugarbush, said it will suspend operations from today until further notice.Iran Deaths Leap (7:45 a.m. NY)Iran's deaths from the virus rose to 724 over the past 24 hours, with 113 new fatalities reported since yesterday. Total confirmed cases now stand at 13,938, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV.Singapore Says U.K. Cases to Surge (7:18 a.m. NY)The U.K. and Switzerland are effectively not trying to combat the coronavirus and cases are likely to surge in the coming weeks, a Singapore minister said. "These countries have abandoned any measure to contain or restrain the virus," Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said at a press briefing Sunday.The city-state said Sunday it added 14 new cases, the biggest one-day jump.France Limits Domestic Travel (7 a.m. NY)France will gradually reduce domestic transport links by air, rail and bus in a bid to limit travel and fight the coronavirus epidemic. The move comes a day after the government closed restaurants, cafes and non-essential stores.European Cases Climb (6:30 a.m. NY)Belgium's health ministry reported 197 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total of confirmed infections to 886. Finland, which has implemented tighter testing criteria, had 240 cases. Poland's cases rose 63% from Friday to 111 cases of coronavirus and three deaths. The count is rising as the nation is now testing all those who are in quarantine. Full border controls are in place as of today, and cafes, restaurants and shopping malls are closed. Slovakia reported 54 cases, an increase of 10.Austria Bans All Gatherings (6 a.m. NY)Austria's chancellor said the country is widening restrictions to ban all public gatherings of more than five people. "We're aware those are massive restrictions but they are necessary," Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter. Austrians are asked to isolate themselves and have no social contact outside their households. The number of confirmed cases jumped to 800 on Sunday, from 602 on Saturday. In neighboring Slovenia, public transportation has been temporarily shut down.EU Medical Exports Eased (6 a.m. NY)Germany and France will lift restrictions on the export of medical equipment, allowing for deliveries to Italy, the EU commissioner for the internal market said. Germany will send 1 million masks to Italy.\--With assistance from Boris Groendahl, Yudith Ho, Thomas Penny, Tara Patel, Golnar Motevalli, Harry Wilson, Macarena Munoz, Thomas Mulier, Joost Akkermans and Hanna Hoikkala.To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Steve Geimann in Washington at sgeimann@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: James Ludden at jludden@bloomberg.net, Ian Fisher, Linus ChuaFor 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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| South Africa Declares State of Disaster Over Coronavirus Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:58 PM PDT |
| Arc of Trump's coronavirus comments defies reality on ground Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:56 PM PDT  In the course of a few weeks, President Donald Trump veered from confidently assuring Americans his administration had the coronavirus outbreak "very well under control" to declaring a national emergency and tweeting ALL CAPS caution about the pandemic that has upended every facet of American life. Trump meandered from denial to grudging acceptance, and in his words, he seeded conflicting, inaccurate and eyebrow-raising commentary to a country desperate for unvarnished, even shock-to-the-system guidance. As he confronts the most serious national crisis of his presidency, the lack of precision has cut into Trump's credibility at a moment when he needs it more than ever, analysts say.
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| Worshippers go online, those at services keep a distance Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:37 PM PDT  Pastors across the United States delivered sermons to empty pews Sunday as houses of worship adjusted to the reality of the coronavirus pandemic, with the Vatican indicating that the holiest week on its calendar will look vastly different next month. While many religious institutions around the country took to the internet to stream their services this week – including one megachurch that President Donald Trump tweeted he was tuning in to – some tried to take extra precautions while maintaining a semblance of their Sunday routine amid mounting public anxiety over the outbreak. Trump, who had declared Sunday a special national day of prayer, said he would watch a livestreamed service by Jentezen Franklin, a Georgia-based pastor and long-standing evangelical ally of the president.
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| S.Africa to close borders to all citizens from high-risk countries Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:31 PM PDT  President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said South African would close its borders from Wednesday to all foreigners from countries highly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. "We are imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China from 18 March 2020," Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation. Public gatherings of more than 100 people will be been banned and mass celebrations cancelled to limit contact.
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| Iran urges people to stay home as virus claims 113 more lives Posted: 15 Mar 2020 11:27 AM PDT  Iran on Sunday urged its citizens to stick to guidelines and stay at home to stop the new coronavirus spreading, as it announced another 113 deaths from the outbreak. People "should cancel all travel and stay at home so that we may see the situation improving in the coming days," ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference. Jahanpour also reported 1,209 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed infections to 13,938.
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| Sudan will mediate Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute, general says Posted: 15 Mar 2020 10:21 AM PDT  A top Sudanese general on Sunday said his country would mediate a deal on an escalating dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over Ethiopia's controversial dam on the Nile River. The deputy head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said his country would work to bridge the gap and "reach an agreement" in the years-long dispute. Tensions are rising in east Africa because of the impasse between Ethiopia and Egypt over the $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
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| Tony Blair: nominating Bernie Sanders would be 'an enormous gamble' Posted: 15 Mar 2020 09:17 AM PDT  * Former PM doubts 'appetite for socialist revolution' * Debate: 'Sledgehammer on Trump, scalpel on Sanders'Tony Blair has warned Democrats in the US that nominating Bernie Sanders to face Donald Trump for the presidency would be "an enormous gamble", risking defeat on a similar scale to that suffered by the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.The former prime minister told CNN's Fareed Zakaria: "When I hear the rhetoric around Bernie Sanders, who by the way is obviously a very capable guy, it's eerily familiar to anyone who's just watched the debacle unfold in the British Labour party and our election defeat in the UK which is essentially the worst in our 120-year history."In December, in an election primarily centered on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, Corbyn's Labour Party was beaten heavily by Boris Johnson's Conservatives.Reaction to Blair's comments on social media was swift, with many pointing out that Sanders' signature policy – universal healthcare – has been a feature of life in Britain since the setting up of the publicly funded National Health Service in 1948. Critics also point out that the British left gained support after Blair began introducing limited privatisation into the NHS.Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who describes himself as a democratic socialist, surged in the early stages of the Democratic primary and was a clear frontrunner after the Nevada caucuses in February.But Joe Biden has mounted a stunning comeback, dominating the Super Tuesday primaries and subsequent contests.Amid the growing chaos of the coronavirus outbreak and Trump's attempts to contain it, the senator and the former vice-president will debate behind closed doors in Washington on Sunday night. The next votes will be held in Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Illinois on Tuesday.A NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released on Sunday showed Biden way ahead with Democratic voters and performing better than Sanders in a notional race against Trump.But the Vermont senator has said he will not drop out, aiming instead to shape the ideological outlook of the party on issues such as healthcare, student debt and the minimum wage and perhaps to surge back into contention should Biden stumble or fall.Like establishment figures and moderates in Democratic ranks, Blair doubts the wisdom of that decision."I just don't think there's an appetite for socialist revolution," he said. "There wasn't in Britain, I'd be surprised if there was in the US. And so I think … if they go down that path it's an enormous gamble."Put it like this: you're essentially saying, 'Put aside the middle ground, we're not really going to try to reach that, instead we're going to up the turnout and that's exactly the strategy of Corbyn's Labour party in the UK and it failed, drastically."Biden has attracted moderates, independents, suburban voters and a huge percentage of African Americans, many seemingly motivated to simply choose the candidate most likely to beat Trump in November.Sanders has done well among the young but hopes of a surge in turnout from such voters have not borne fruit."That's why I'm a skeptic about him," Blair said."Now on the other hand I think what is important to recognise is that progressive politics has got two big challenges."First of all, my view of the populism is you've got to be very careful when you're from the liberal or progressive side of politics, because if you're not careful you tend to say that, 'These people who are voting for Donald Trump or Brexit, they're just irrational people, I don't understand why they're doing it and you've just got to hope this is a moment that passes.'"No, they're doing it for reasons, and whereas populism can exploit grievances they don't invent them. The grievances are real."Blair said he knew Biden well and thought him "highly capable and decent", but said the challenge if he did win the White House would be to effect real change while in office.Blair also said he was "a passionate believer that if the left goes down the path of trying to fight a culture war with the right, it will lose comprehensively and it really should not do that."
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| Coronavirus Travel Restrictions, Across the Globe Posted: 15 Mar 2020 08:46 AM PDT  Nations around the world have imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Here, the current list of countries limiting entry.AMERICASArgentinaStarting Tuesday, Argentina is halting all flights from Europe and the United States for at least 30 days.People arriving to Argentina from areas with a significant number of cases -- including the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan and Iran -- will be required to go into quarantine for 14 days.BrazilAs of Saturday, Brazil had not imposed travel restrictions. Its health ministry recommended that all passengers who arrive on international flights remain at home for at least seven days and seek medical help if they develop coronavirus symptoms.CanadaCanada has not banned the entry of any foreigners. But it has required that anyone arriving in Canada from Italy, Iran or Hubei province in China "self-isolate and stay at home" for 14 days and contact public health authorities within 24 hours of arrival.The government added that all other passengers returning from overseas consider self-isolating for 14 days.ColombiaThe government announced on Friday that it would shut down the seven border crossings along its border with Venezuela. Starting Monday, Colombia will bar entry to any foreigner who has been to Europe or Asia within the past 14 days. Colombians who return from affected areas will be subject to a mandatory quarantine for 14 days.El SalvadorOn Wednesday, El Salvador announced it would bar entry to all foreigners, except accredited diplomats and legal permanent residents.GuatemalaEffective Monday, Guatemala will bar the entry of citizens of the United States, Canada, South Korea, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, China and Iran.MexicoAs of Saturday, Mexico had not imposed any travel restrictions.PeruPeru on Thursday announced it would halt all flights from Asia and Europe, but it did not specify when the measure would take effect.United StatesOn Wednesday, the United States barred the entry of all foreign nationals who had visited China, Iran and a group of European countries during the previous 14 days.The ban applies to countries in the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.Effective Monday, the ban will apply to foreign nationals departing from the United Kingdom and Ireland.As of Friday, all American citizens and legal permanent residents who have been in high-risk areas and return to the United States are required to fly to one of the following 13 airports:-- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts-- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois-- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas-- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan-- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii-- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia-- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York-- Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California-- Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida-- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey-- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California-- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington-- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), VirginiaUruguayOn Friday, Uruguay announced that all passengers arriving from China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran, Spain, Italy, France and Germany must go into quarantine for 14 days.VenezuelaOn Thursday, Venezuela announced it would suspend all flights from Colombia and European countries for at least a month.ASIAChinaTravelers in China who have recently visited South Korea, Japan and Italy -- countries with "severe outbreaks" -- and are headed toward Beijing or Shanghai, or provinces such as Guangdong and Sichuan, will be quarantined for two weeks in a Chinese facility.Singapore As of Sunday, "all new visitors with recent travel history to France, Germany, Italy and Spain within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into or transit through Singapore," according to officials.Singapore residents and pass-holders who have been to those countries in the past 14 days will be issued a "Stay-Home Notice," which will require them to quarantine for two weeks.South KoreaSouth Korea has restricted the entry of travelers with passports from China's Hubei province as well as anyone who has visited that region in the past 14 days. Additionally, Korean visas that were issued to travelers in Hubei are canceled.Visa-free entry to Jeju Island for all foreigners, and visa-free entry for Chinese nationals and travelers who are headed to China, are suspended.VietnamAs of Sunday, Vietnam is refusing visitors from Europe's Schengen Area and Britain, according to officials.NEW ZEALANDNew Zealand on Saturday announced tight border-control measures that include requiring all incoming travelers, including New Zealand citizens, to self-isolate for two weeks.ISRAELSince Thursday, foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, who arrived in Israel from any country have been "required to remain in home quarantine until 14 days have passed since the date of entry into Israel."The quarantine also applies to Israeli citizens and residents. Self-quarantine in a hotel or dormitory is not allowed.EUROPEAustriaCitizens from countries outside the European Union who have been in coronavirus hot spots, which the Austrian Foreign Ministry currently lists as France, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and parts of China in the past 14 days will have to present a medical certificate confirming a negative test result for the new coronavirus upon entry to the country. The Austrian government also announced that all passengers, regardless of citizenship, will also have to provide a certificate confirming a negative test result if they're entering Austria from Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein (from March 16).The certificate, which must be dated within four days of arrival, needs to be signed by a licensed medical practitioner and be in English, German, Italian or French.CroatiaTravelers arriving in Croatia from specific hard-hit areas, such as Italy, Iran and China's Hubei province, must spend two weeks in government quarantine facilities at the expense of the traveler, according to officials.The Croatian government also implemented health monitoring for passengers from several countries affected by the virus like Spain, the United States and Sweden. Travelers from these countries should self-isolate for two weeks, according to officials, "and report their condition to the nearest epidemiologist for further instructions."Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic, which declared a state of emergency, has banned passengers from "high-risk countries" and prohibited Czech citizens from visiting these places.As of Saturday, bus, train and boat transport from the Czech Republic to Germany and Austria was also banned. Air travel was also partially restricted, according to officials.DenmarkDenmark on Saturday closed its borders to most foreign travelers for the next month."All tourists, all travel, all vacations, and all foreigners who cannot demonstrate a credible reason to enter Denmark will be denied entrance at the Danish border," Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister, said at a news conference, according to Reuters.ItalyIn Italy, where the virus has taken hold and already killed more than 1,000 people, government officials implemented strict orders placing the country on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spreading infection.As of March 3, passengers with a temperature higher than 99.5 degrees were not allowed to board flights to the United States.All travelers flying into Italy are subject to temperature screening in Italy's major airports, and the country has suspended flights from China and Taiwan.NorwayOn Thursday, the Norwegian Directorate of Health said that regardless of whether they have symptoms, anyone coming into Norway from outside Nordic countries should be quarantined at home for two weeks from their arrival. The measure is set to last through March 26.On Friday, Oslo, the nation's capital, said on its website that "foreign travelers from countries outside the Nordics arriving at Oslo airport will have to return home," Reuters reported.PolandStarting Sunday, Poland banned foreigners from the country, suspended international air and rail services for citizens and temporarily restored border controls, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland said on Twitter. All Polish citizens returning from abroad must voluntarily quarantine for two weeks, according to officials.RussiaThe Russian government banned entry of Chinese nationals, except for transit, on Feb. 20, and on Feb. 28 it banned the entry of all Iranian citizens. On March 1, Russia restricted travel by South Koreans, mandating they enter the country only via Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. As of Friday, the government banned Italian citizens from entry into Russia."Effective March 16, air travel between Russia and countries of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland will be limited to flights between Moscow and capital cities," according to officials.On Saturday, Russian officials announced plans to close the country's land border with Poland and Norway to foreigners, according to Reuters.UkraineUkraine closed 70% of its land ports of entry Friday, and international train service between Ukraine and Slovakia has also been suspended.Officials are screening temperatures for all arriving passengers, and if someone is found to have a temperature of 100.4 or higher or is exhibiting flulike symptoms, then "they may be referred to a hospital in Kyiv for additional testing and possibly up to 14 days of quarantine."This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2020 The New York Times Company
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| Shuttered Europe Cracks Under the Coronavirus Strain Posted: 15 Mar 2020 08:35 AM PDT  PARIS–The sad, shuttered cafés of Paris are just the latest symptom of the coronavirus pandemic here in Europe, which is now more than a health crisis and an economic crisis. It is changing traditional ways of life even as the fear that surrounds it threatens values and institutions. Whether these developments are transitory or the shape of things to come is for now, like so much else associated with COVID-19, an open question. In Coronavirus Lockdown, the Living Are Trapped With the DeadIn a separate story, The Daily Beast's Barbie Latza Nadeau tells us what it's like to live, and die, in locked-down Rome. Yesterday, Jamie Ross wrote about the phenomenally dangerous gamble of the Brexit British government, which has been encouraging the spread of the virus on the quasi-scientific hunch that such a policy will build up "herd immunity," even as it kills off the old and infirm.Over the last few hours, the gravity of the situation and the threat it poses to the unity of the European Union have become clear as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Denmark have, to varying degrees, shut their borders.How Britain's Insanely Risky Coronavirus Experiment Will Affect the U.S.What follow are accounts of the specific situation in Denmark, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area of open borders, that is now attempting to seal its frontiers while giving the government the power to seize private property. And Spain, where only a week ago the government was encouraging millions of people to gather in the streets to mark International Women's Day, but now is shutting down the country, with a growing number of top government officials and those close to them testing positive for the virus.Finally, we'll come back to France, where President Emmanuel Macron has projected a solid image of commitment and control–while pursuing contradictory and sometimes confusing policies. SOMETHING ROTTENDaily Beast contributor Florian Elabdi reports that at the week's end the coronavirus was spreading faster in Denmark than any place in Europe, and the Danish government implemented the most severe restrictions on its citizens since World War II, curbing some fundamental freedoms of democracy. Many political experts are worried, but most Danes support the government. Only seven hours after the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned member states against closing their borders to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did just that.Starting on Saturday, the Danish government closed all its borders and prohibited its citizens from leaving the country unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners will not be allowed to enter Denmark, unless they have a "worthy" reason. The prime minister further called on all Danish citizens around the world to return home immediately, creating panic among many of the 100,000 Danes abroad. The coronavirus disease, COVID-19 killed its first Danish victim on Saturday, an 81-year old pensioner. Since March 2, coronavirus infections in Denmark have soared from four confirmed cases to 827 as of March 14, which made the Scandinavian welfare state the country in Europe where the pandemic is spreading at the fastest pace, according to Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke. But severe restrictions on traveling are not the only extreme measures taken by Danish authorities. Parliament passed a series of emergency laws giving authorities the right to expropriate citizens' private property and suspending freedom of assembly. Gatherings of more than 100 persons, including protests, are forbidden. Already on Thursday all public schools and public workplaces were closed for two weeks.Further, the new laws give authorities the right to force people "suspected of carrying a disease" into treatment and vaccination, making it a breach of the law to resist being tested for the virus. Another controversial proposal, which would have given the police the right to search people's property without a warrant, was removed from the bill after opposition from the Red-Green Alliance and the Social Liberal Party. Political observers have said that under normal circumstances these measures would be a grave violation of Denmark's constitution and basic democratic rights, but maintain that the current emergency situation justifies many of the encroachments on our freedoms. "These are very far-reaching laws, but this is an emergency situation and for that reason it is presumably legitimate," Danish political commentator Anne Sofie Allarp told The Daily Beast, noting that the laws are due to expire a year from now. Still, she fears that it is a slippery slope in a political climate where shifting Danish governments have for years attempted to restrain personal freedoms. "We have a fundamental right in Denmark to refuse treatment, we have autonomy over our own body and now this is suspended," Allarp said. "This is an emergency situation, so I think most people support it, but it comes at a time where personal freedoms are already under pressure from the state." In recent years Danes have been subjected to increased surveillance and a number of controversial laws targeting citizens in government-defined "ghetto areas." Prominent Danish political analyst Lars Trier Mogensen goes even further, suggesting these measures give the government "draconian authority". "Many of the most basic freedoms of our democracy and constitution have now been temporarily suspended and the military has been deployed to close our borders, already turning away German citizens. This has never happened before in peacetime. It's a militarization of our society," Mogensen told The Daily Beast. "It is extremely drastic to limit some of our most fundamental freedoms such as our right to demonstrate and the sanctity of private property," he said, expressing concern that the government may exploit this opportunity to keep certain restrictions in place, even after the laws' natural expiration next year. Saturday, further questions were raised about the government's decision to close the borders, when the executive director of the Danish Health Authority, Søren Brostrøm—perceived by many as Denmark's official spokesman during the crisis—stated bluntly that the government's decision to close the borders was a political decision, not a scientific one. For years, it has been a cornerstone of Danish right wing parties' political agenda to increase border control and seal the border off completely at times. The left wing government of Mette Frederiksen has been criticized for adapting key right wing policies such as border control to capture voters from the anti-immigration Danish People's Party. This is not the first time that Denmark has received international attention for its handling of the corona pandemic. Earlier this month, the government asked mayors to stop citizenship ceremonies because a mandatory handshake is required—a regulation targeting some Muslims reluctant to shake hands with the opposite gender. Since handshakes are now to be avoided according to health authorities, thus immigrants of all beliefs will have to wait for naturalization for an uncertain amount of time. Moreover, several parliament members of the populist Danish People's Party have none too subtly blamed immigrants for the spread of the disease, suggesting all asylum seekers should be detained to stop the spread. This despite the well-established fact that the virus was brought to Denmark by well-to-do Danish vacationers coming back from skiing trips in Austria and Italy over the holidays. Denmark's Scandinavian neighbor, Sweden, has been highly critical of the effort to seal off the country. Its state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell calling the Danish move "completely meaningless." Sweden has taken an approach almost diametrically opposite Denmark's. Schools and workplaces are still open and the wheels of society keep turning almost as if nothing is happening. The most severe restriction so far has been to cancel all events with more than 500 participants. "Either Swedish authorities are underestimating the situation and risk unnecessary deaths, or else Mette Frederiksen is overreacting, risking extensive economical damage to no avail," one Danish daily wrote in a front page editorial Saturday. "The significant difference between Denmark's and Sweden's approach reflects the different political cultures," Lars Trier Mogensen told The Daily Beast. "In Denmark we tend to believe that we can isolate ourselves from the outside world to keep out a pandemic, Sweden is a much more internationalized society, accepting that global problems have to be dealt with differently. But with regards to what is most effective approach to disease control, time will show which of the two countries were right." THE NEW 'SPANISH FLU'The latest news out of Spain is that the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The wife of his number two has tested positive as well, meaning the most powerful figures in the Spanish government should go into quarantine—although it's not clear they are actually following the rules. But that is an easy headline compared to the deeper institutional maladies of the country's government, which became all too apparent as it tried to ignore, then scramble to address, the novel coronavirus threat to the population. After furious fighting within the cabinet, which is less a team of rivals than a coalition of outright enemies, a "state of alert" finally was declared on Saturday. It is due to last more than two weeks, and gives the government the power to confine people and order evacuations. The military has been called out as well. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are shut down in and around Madrid. Schools and some other public spaces had been closed earlier. Correspondent Itxu Díaz writes that at the end of the week, Spain's government seemed incapable of taking quick, effective measures in an emergency due to the extreme decentralization of its governmental system; for example, health policies are determined by each of the country's 17 autonomous communities. The national "state of alert," designed for epidemics allows the Madrid government to take charge to try to deal more coherently with the situation. Yet even with almost 200 dead and more than 6,000 infected, the President of Catalonia, Quim Torra, refused to apply the central government's state of alert, alleging that it is an attempt by Sánchez to nationalize the powers of health, safety and transport with "the excuse" of the coronavirus. Torra also called the president of the Basque Country and obtained his support. In case the situation was not crazy enough, the far-right-wing VOX party offered to lend its votes to the Socialist Sánchez. With Spain taking over from Italy as a major focus of coronavirus concern in Europe, with health workers taking shifts of up to 24 hours and having to resort to triage to save younger lives while letting the old go, and with a government much criticized this week for its slowness in applying measures against the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish, who have finally taken the situation seriously and are confined to their homes, are stunned by the political turmoil.Some political voices from the right and the left have begun to ask for the mediation of the King of Spain. Others already are calling for the formation of a government of national unity bringing together the two major parties of left and right, or a technocratic government. Finally, Sánchez won over the ministers from the far-left Podemos party as well as the Catalans and Basques, but without reaching agreement on what measures should be taken to support the economy and workers unable to go to their jobs. Those contentious issues have been pushed back to Tuesday.The alert was activated on Saturday. When the announcement came, the sense among the public was, "Finally, we have a damn plan." People went out on their balconies to cheer the doctors who have been struggling without sleep to meet the demand for care. The plan as outlined is much the same as Italy's a couple of weeks ago and similar to what France put in place on Saturday as well: 1st phase: social distancing, stay at home except to shop for what you need (but hair dressers, clothing, etc. all open).2nd phase: all stores close but coffee shops, essential (computer, hardware, grocery), and pharmacy.3rd phase: closure of everything but grocery and pharmacy and factories, some hardware and computer stores open on limited hours.4th phase: factories close, public transportation stops—this is where we are today in Spain.5th phase? God only knows. FRENCH DISCONNECTIONSThe most famous avenue in Paris, the Champs-Élysées, was not empty on Sunday. Hundreds of people were out strolling on a beautiful, breezy spring morning. But all the famous stores—Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and so on—were closed, and so were the trademark sidewalk cafés like Fouquet's. Even MacDonald's was locked up tight, with hastily printed pieces of paper in the windows that announced, in English, "The request to close until further notice." Like all the rest of the restaurants and bars in France, these places got only a few hours' notice before the decree closing them went into effect.Yet, for the moment, even these drastic measures strike many in the French capital as more of an inconvenience than a sign of impending and extreme difficulties.Tourists Olivia Lipton, 26, and Maciej Naworski, 33, had just popped over from London this weekend on the almost empty Eurostar and discovered there wasn't much to do aside from riding electric scooters around town to see the sights. But Lipton, a civil servant, also was disturbed by British "herd immunity" policy based on the idea that 60 percent of the population will be infected and should be as soon as possible, a critical mass needed to protect society, theoretically, in the long run. "It's frightening," she said.Meanwhile, France went ahead with nationwide municipal elections which, for reasons not entirely clear, the Macron government declined to postpone. Turnout was low, lines were short, and at the polling places visited by The Daily Beast, voters were quite conscious of social distancing. So the epidemiological impact might be limited. But the political message was strange on a day, keeping the polls open when so much else in the country was shut down.Macron told the nation on Thursday that his government would meet the demands of the pandemic "whatever the cost," yet one of the most critical needs—widespread testing—has lagged way behind other countries, including Italy, Germany, and especially South Korea, where massive testing appears to have helped stanch the spread of the disease. Already the vaunted French medical system appears to be under strain, and that does not bode well if the progression of the disease in France is similar to that in Italy.Macron was asked after he left a polling station Sunday morning if he had been tested, and he said no. He has no symptoms, he said, and therefore no need for a test. Only people with symptoms should be tested, he said.But, as many experts have said, that is most likely too late to avoid infecting other people.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Pope goes on Roman walkabout, prays for end to pandemic Posted: 15 Mar 2020 07:14 AM PDT  Pope Francis left the Vatican to make a surprise visit Sunday to two churches in Rome to pray for the end of the coronavirus pandemic — a move that came even as Italian health authorities insisted people stay home as much as possible to limit contagion in the heart of Europe's outbreak. Francis who recently had a cold, headed first to a Rome basilica, St. Mary Major, where he often stops to give thanks after returning from trips abroad. There he prayed before an icon of the Virgin Mary dedicated to the "salvation of the Roman people."
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| Not exactly gloating, stockpiling 'preppers' have a moment Posted: 15 Mar 2020 06:44 AM PDT  Curt La Haise has put up with plenty of razzing from friends over the years who have called him paranoid for stockpiling an eight-month supply of food in his basement and having enough fuel to power his generator for almost an entire winter. — Get your finances in order.
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| Virus forces closure of key Shiite tomb in Iran's Mashhad Posted: 15 Mar 2020 06:24 AM PDT  The tomb of Imam Reza in Iran's holy Shiite city of Mashhad has been closed to pilgrims until further notice in line with measures to stop the new coronavirus, a spokesman said Sunday. Mashhad's Imam Reza shrine receives many devout Iranians every year, especially around the Persian new year holiday of Nowrouz, which starts this year on March 20. "In the absence of pilgrims this year, the New Year's ceremonies will be broadcast on television and radio," the spokesman said.
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| Turkey-Russia patrols start amid protests on Syrian highway Posted: 15 Mar 2020 05:40 AM PDT  Turkish and Russian troops began joint patrols Sunday on a key highway in northwestern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said, while both the Russian government and Syrian opposition activists said the patrols were shortened because of protests. Patrols on the highway known as the M4, which runs east-west through Idlib province, are part of a cease-fire agreement between Turkey and Russia signed earlier this month.
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| Dream of a lifetime: Transgender man yearns to join military Posted: 15 Mar 2020 05:30 AM PDT  Nic Talbott keeps himself busy, working as a substitute teacher, studying for a master's degree, helping with chores at his grandmother's farm. For now, that door is closed to him by the Trump administration for one reason: He's transgender. Talbott, 26, was elated in 2016 when the Pentagon — with a green light from then-President Barack Obama — announced that transgender people already serving in the military would be allowed to do so openly.
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| How national security surveillance nabs more than spies Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:58 AM PDT  The case against Nassif Sami Daher and Kamel Mohammad Rammal, two Michigan men accused of food stamp fraud, hardly seemed exceptional. It meant that the men, unlike most criminal defendants, were never shown the evidence authorities used to begin investigating them or the information that the Justice Department presented to obtain the original warrant. The case is among recent Justice Department prosecutions that relied on the same surveillance powers, known by the acronym FISA, that law enforcement officials acknowledge were misused in the Russia investigation.
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| How it spreads, infects: Coronavirus impact comes into focus Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:46 AM PDT  The medical impact of the new coronavirus is coming into sharper focus as it continues its spread in what is now officially recognized as a pandemic. Its true fatality rate isn't yet known, but it seems 10 times higher than the flu, which kills hundreds of thousands around the world each year, the United States' top infectious disease expert told lawmakers last week. Most people have had mild to moderate illness and recovered, but the virus is more serious for those who are older or have other health problems.
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| Syria's brutal war enters 10th year Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:29 AM PDT  Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle. "We've lost everything," said one of the displaced, Hala Ibrahim, a rights activist from Aleppo who now lives in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold. Assad, with the military support of Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has clawed back control of over 70 percent of the war-torn country.
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| Iran says worsening outbreak could strain health facilities Posted: 15 Mar 2020 04:21 AM PDT |
| Iran's death toll from coronavirus reaches 724 - health official on twitter Posted: 15 Mar 2020 03:34 AM PDT |
| Mali backs singer Rokia Traoré after French arrest Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:56 AM PDT  She is accused of kidnapping her five-year-old daughter after she lost her custody battle.
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| UN Airline Carbon Ruling Could Add Cost Pressure Amid Pandemic Posted: 15 Mar 2020 02:31 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- The global aviation regulator's decision to toughen a new carbon market for airlines will cut supply of emission credits to offset greenhouse gases as the coronavirus slams ticket sales.Only credits from emissions-cutting projects beginning in the five years starting Jan. 1, 2016, will be allowed, the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization said on Friday. The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or Corsia, calls for airlines to compensate for their carbon growth beyond 2020 by buying emission credits.The rules will "dramatically reduce supply" available to airlines in Corsia, said David Antonioli, chief executive officer of Washington-based Verra, which manages the Verified Carbon Standard, the biggest program for voluntary carbon credits globally.ICAO's decision to restrict the pool of eligible offsets could boost costs at a time when the airline industry reels from the plunge in bookings caused by the viral outbreak as people scrap travel plans and countries place restrictions on flights from nations with the highest levels of infection.Read here for more on how the coronavirus is hurting airlinesThe regulator is seeking to address the omission of airlines from the 2015 Paris climate accord by adopting guidelines that call for offsetting emissions by planting trees or investing in cleaner technologies.Six programs were ruled eligible in Corsia, including the UN Clean Development Mechanism, where Certified Emission Reduction prices have been crushed because of a lack of demand.The Corsia restrictions won't save existing market prices because many of the credits traded in those were issued before 2016. But a new post-2016 Corsia market is now set to emerge.The 2016 cutoff will probably exclude about 90% of projects listed on Verra's database, and meeting demand is "probably going to take investment in new projects," Verra's Antonioli said.While credit prices could increase, there will still be enough supply to meet demand weakened by the coronavirus pandemic, researcher Ecosystem Marketplace said in a report published before ICAO's decision.Current and potential supplies of offsets are between two and four times higher than the demand estimated in the International Air Transport Association's latest coronavirus scenarios, Ecosystem Marketplace said.The Corsia rules will probably only be a problem for airlines if they can return to health next year. But if the current airline and travel industry crisis continues, demand for jet fuel and the need for offsets will fall.On the bright side for the industry, it won't need to account for its emissions until after the end of the compliance period, providing a chance for the market to boost supply of carbon credits.For Corsia, there may be an initial flurry of activity during the next few weeks, but "the real buying probably won't happen until the lead up to 2024, the year of the first compliance true up -- when airlines know their actual exposure," said Louis Redshaw, founder of London-based carbon trading company Redshaw Advisors Ltd.To contact the reporter on this story: Mathew Carr in London at m.carr@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net, Andrew Reierson, James AmottFor 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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| UN agency says over 400 migrants intercepted off Libya coast Posted: 15 Mar 2020 01:58 AM PDT |
| Coronavirus Lockdown Tightens Across Europe Posted: 15 Mar 2020 12:42 AM PDT |
| South Korea Wants to Show the World How to Tackle the Coronavirus Posted: 14 Mar 2020 11:59 PM PDT |
| Netanyahu rival Gantz chosen to form new Israeli government Posted: 14 Mar 2020 11:57 PM PDT  Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz will be given the first opportunity to form a new government after an inconclusive national election this month, the country's president said Sunday, raising questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. The decision by President Reuven Rivlin was announced by his office after he consulted with leaders of all of the parties elected to parliament. Netanyahu has been leading the country as it confronts a growing coronavirus threat, with over 200 cases diagnosed and the number quickly rising.
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| Iran reports more than 100 new virus deaths as fears mount Posted: 14 Mar 2020 11:31 PM PDT  The official leading Iran's response to the new coronavirus acknowledged Sunday that the pandemic could overwhelm health facilities in his country, which is battling the worst outbreak in the Middle East while under heavy U.S. sanctions. Elsewhere in the region, Lebanon ordered residents not to leave their homes except for urgent necessities and even closed down Beirut's famous Mediterranean boardwalk. Muslim authorities indefinitely closed the Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam, with prayers continuing to be held on the sprawling esplanade outside.
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| Syrian war, rumbling into 10th year, still has global impact Posted: 14 Mar 2020 11:10 PM PDT  In a world gripped by a pandemic, global unrest and a fast-moving news cycle, it can be difficult to remember that the war in Syria is still happening. Earlier this month, Turkish and Syrian troops were clashing in Syria's northwest. Arguing that it faces a potential new influx of refugees from Syria, Turkey announced it would no longer stop its vast migrant and refugee population from illegally entering Greece, touching off a new crisis for the European Union.
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| The virus claims a victim at the UN: personal diplomacy Posted: 14 Mar 2020 10:26 PM PDT  At the normally busy headquarters of the United Nations in New York, life is suddenly moving at slow speed -- very slow speed. This temple of multilateralism, with its daily meetings both large and small on world conflicts and almost every other subject, is reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with sweeping disruptions to work that depends heavily on diplomats seeking consensus through human contact. A day later, the headquarters of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), a short distance from the UN building, was abruptly closed after three employees developed flu-like symptoms -- even though there has been no confirmation of coronavirus.
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| Christchurch marks anniversary of mosque shootings Posted: 14 Mar 2020 10:02 PM PDT  People in the New Zealand city of Christchurch honored the 51 worshipers who were killed in a mass shooting a year ago in small but poignant ways Sunday, after a planned national memorial event was canceled due to fears it might spread the new coronavirus. Outside the Al Noor mosque, dozens of leather-clad bikers from the Tu Tangata club performed a traditional Maori haka. One of those who survived the shooting at the Linwood mosque was Mazharuddin Syed Ahmed, who said that marking anniversaries was not typically a Muslim tradition but they were doing it so the wider community could grieve and remember.
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| Former Chinese property exec who criticised Xi over virus handling is missing, friends say Posted: 14 Mar 2020 09:45 PM PDT |
| Biden and Sanders cast themselves as best leader amid crisis Posted: 14 Mar 2020 09:07 PM PDT  Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders sought in Sunday's debate to cast themselves as best-positioned to lead the nation through a global pandemic, with Biden pledging to deploy the military to help with recovery efforts and Sanders using the crisis to pitch his long-sought overhaul of the country's health care system. "That is not a system that is prepared to provide health care to all people in a good year, without the epidemic." Biden, who is leading Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination, argued that a pandemic was not a moment to attempt to push through an overhaul of the American health insurance system, a politically arduous endeavor.
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| Biden wins endorsement from NEA, nation's largest union Posted: 14 Mar 2020 07:26 PM PDT  The nation's largest labor union has lined up behind Joe Biden's presidential campaign, with the National Education Association on Saturday endorsing the former vice president for the Democratic nomination over his last remaining primary rival Bernie Sanders. The NEA's board of directors chose Biden following a recommendation from the organization's political action committee board, following months of surveying the organization's 3 million members and multiple presidential candidate forums held around the country. NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, whose union tops 3 million members, called Biden a "tireless advocate for public education" and "the partner that students and educators need now in the White House."
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| Smart move or grave mistake? NYC keeps schools open Posted: 14 Mar 2020 04:02 PM PDT  As schools across the U.S. shut down in hopes of helping to fight the coronavirus, New York City officials are arguing just the opposite: They're keeping the nation's largest school system open to ensure that health and emergency workers aren't tied down with kids at home. While many families elsewhere in the country spent Saturday making hasty plans for an unexpected school shutdown, New Yorkers debated the city's decision. "You're not going to have a functioning health care system if the folks in the medical field, the doctors, the nurses, the techs, everyone has to stay home with their kids," Mayor Bill de Blasio said on MSNBC.
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