| Will heat stop the spread of new virus? No one really knows Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:15 PM PDT  As outbreaks of the new coronavirus that first emerged in China continue to spread in more than 100 countries — particularly those experiencing winter — one of the biggest unanswered questions is how it will behave in warmer weather. The virus has reached every continent except Antarctica but has yet to cause major outbreaks in the Southern Hemisphere. WILL THE VIRUS RETREAT IN HOT WEATHER?
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| Guinea Bissau: A deadly mix of guns, cocaine and cashew nuts Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:11 PM PDT  Guinea-Bissau, which has a long history of coups, briefly had two presidents following disputed elections.
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| Ethiopia's Ambo city: 'From freedom to repression under Abiy Ahmed' Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:09 PM PDT  Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed hailed Ambo as "our New York", but now residents complain of police brutality.
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| Lawyers: Chelsea Manning attempts suicide in Va. jail Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:08 PM PDT  Chelsea Manning's legal team said Wednesday that the former intelligence analyst tried to take her own life Wednesday, but was transported to a hospital where she is recovering. Manning has been in jail since May 2019 for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. In the motion filed last month, Manning's lawyers argued that Manning has shown during her incarceration that she can't be coerced into testifying before a grand jury.
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| Congress passes Iran war limit, baiting Trump veto Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:19 PM PDT  The U.S. House approved a bipartisan measure Wednesday aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran.
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| US Congress votes to restrain Trump on Iran Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:09 PM PDT  The US Congress on Wednesday gave its final approval to a bid to restrain President Donald Trump from attacking Iran, a sign of lawmakers' alarm after soaring tensions. A month after the resolution cleared the key hurdle of the Senate, which is controlled by Trump's Republican Party, the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted 227-186 to approve the measure that bars any military action against Iran without an explicit vote from Congress.
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| UN condemns increasing threat from terrorism in Africa Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:54 PM PDT |
| 'Remain in Mexico' is just one US response to asylum-seekers Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:39 PM PDT  The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to continue making asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for their U.S. court hearings. It may be the most far-reaching measure in a series of policies the government has put in place over the last year amid an unprecedented surge of asylum-seeking arriving at the border, many from Central America. The Trump administration has enacted at least five policies since the beginning of last year that officials contend are designed to address asylum claims that don't have merit and to confront a sharp increase in border arrests to a 13-year high in May. Here is a look at the policies and what they do.
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| US Congress passes final resolution to restrain Trump on Iran Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:11 PM PDT The US Congress on Wednesday gave its final approval to a resolution to restrain President Donald Trump from attacking Iran after months of soaring tensions. The House of Representatives voted 227-186 to join the Senate in support of the resolution, which bars any military action against Iran without an explicit vote from Congress.
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| House votes to curtail Trump's Iran war powers, setting up veto fight Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:02 PM PDT  The resolution calls for end to military hostilities against Iran without congressional authorization.
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| Congress acts to limit Trump on military action in Iran Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:54 PM PDT  Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran. The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his "hands were tied, Iran would have a field day."
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| Rocket attack on Iraq base leaves two Americans and one UK soldier dead Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:40 PM PDT  * 12 others injured by fusillade of Katyusha rockets * Soon after, airstrikes reported on base used by Iran-backed militiaTwo Americans and a British soldier are reported to have been killed and 12 others injured by a rocket attack on a coalition base in Iraq, according to US defence officials.Within hours airstrikes were reported on an area of the Iraqi-Syrian border used as a base by an Iran-backed militia, raising fears of a fresh round of US-Iranian escalation that brought the countries close to war in January.Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, was hit by between 15 and 30 Katyusha rockets on Wednesday evening. The French Press Agency said that three dead were a US soldier, a US contractor and a British soldier.Col Myles Caggins, a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the counter-terrorism mission in Iraq and Syria, confirmed on Twitter that "more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq's Camp Taji base hosting coalition troops, March 11 at 7.35 pm."Boris Johnson described the attack on the Taji base as "deplorable"."Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region – their presence makes us all safer," the prime minister said. "The foreign secretary has spoken to the US secretary of state and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack."Soon after the Taji attack, airstrikes by unidentified warplanes were reported south-east of the Syrian town of al-Bukamal, near the border with Iraq. Iraqi state media reported there was only material damage, with no casualties. Reuters quoted western intelligence sources as pointing out that al-Bukamal lies on a strategic supply route for Iranian-backed militias who constitute the Iraqi Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces.The last time an American was killed in a rocket attack on a coalition base, the Trump administration held Iran responsible and the subsequent tit-for-tat escalation led to the US drone assassination of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, Qassem Suleimani, on 3 January, bringing both countries to the brink of war. At the height of the resulting tension, Iranian air defence mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner, killing 176 people.Congress passed a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday evening requiring the president to seek congressional authorization before entering a conflict in Iran. Trump has threatened to veto the resolution – a veto which would need a two-thirds majority in the Senate to overcome.There were no immediate claims of responsibility for Wednesday night's rocket attack, which came on what would have been Qassem Suleimani's 63rd birthday. The US administration has repeatedly warned that it would treat an attack by any Iran-backed group in Iraq as a direct attack by Iran itself.Iran's immediate response to the Suleimani killing was to launch a volley of missiles at an Iraqi base hosting US soldiers. Since then, Iraq's parliament has voted to expel foreign soldiers from the country, but the decision has yet to be executed by the government.
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| Q&A: What the WHO pandemic declaration means Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:35 PM PDT  The head of the World Health Organization, which made the declaration Wednesday, said the U.N. health agency is deeply concerned about the alarming levels of spread. WHAT DOES THE DECLARATION DO? Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO emergencies chief, cautioned that use of the word pandemic to describe the outbreak "is not a trigger for anything other than more aggressive, more intensive action."
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| US officials say US troops killed, injured in Iraq attack Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:31 PM PDT |
| Editorial Roundup: US Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:57 PM PDT |
| WHO labels coronavirus a 'pandemic' as Europe scrambles to contain it Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:41 PM PDT  The World Health Organization called the new coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday, issuing a grim warning that the global spread and severity of the illness was due to "alarming levels of inaction". The declaration came as Europe faced a mounting number of cases -- including a slew of new countries clocking first deaths -- prompting governments to roll out increasingly tough measures to slow the rapid spread of the virus. The number of cases across the globe has risen to more than 124,000 with 4,500 deaths, including a jump in fatalities in Iran and Italy in particular, according to an AFP tally.
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| Nancy Pelosi Calls Out Kevin McCarthy For Racist Tweets About Coronavirus Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:37 PM PDT  In the middle of the coronavirus outbreak, racism is running rampant — from pictures of Asian people used to represent infected areas, to labelling the virus' origin in Wuhan, China, representation of the actual pandemic is becoming more and more staggering. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the issue head on Wednesday when she tweeted, "Bigoted statements which spread misinformation and blame Asians and the Asian American community for coronavirus make us all less safe." Pelosi's tweet came in response to one from House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), which called COVID-19 "the Chinese coronavirus."Rep. McCarthy's tweet contained a link to the Center for Disease Control's website, presumably so his constituents can keep up-to-date regarding information about the developing public health crisis. People are now calling for him to apologize, including Pelosi, who said McCarthy must "must delete this tweet and apologize immediately." The tweet is still up and no apology from McCarthy has been made. Instead, he doubled-down by explaining why the name is appropriate, tweeting that coronavirus is "a China-born disease" that was "made worse by a Communist Party that rejected America's help to contain it."> Bigoted statements which spread misinformation and blame Asians and the Asian American community for coronavirus make us all less safe. @GOPLeader must delete this tweet and apologize immediately. pic.twitter.com/twzCcVAWDH> > — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 10, 2020McCarthy is not the first GOP member or right wing pundit to make racist remarks about COVD-19. President Trump shared a tweet from Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk that called it the "China Virus." Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has repeatedly tweeted about it with the name "Wuhan virus," as has Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Fox News even called it a hoax and an "impeachment scam."The media has perpetuated this perception by continually using photos of Asian people wearing face masks or pictures of Chinatowns to accompany stories about the outbreak, spreading both misinformation and stereotyping. In one case, a story about the first reported cases in New York City ran alongside a photo of a man riding a subway in Hong Kong.The director of the CDC said it was wrong to apply the label "Chinese" to the coronavirus during a hearing on Tuesday, noting the virus was also widespread in South Korea, Iran, and Italy. Even still, the racist comments from the right do not appear to be stopping, causing harm to Asians and Asian-Americans in the U.S. who bear the brunt of the impact.Related Content:Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Why Mike Pence Is Unfit To Tackle CoronavirusWhat To Know About Coronavirus College ClosuresWhat Is A State Of Emergency?
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| U.S. gives details on Iran sites under scrutiny of U.N. nuclear watchdog Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:27 PM PDT |
| Zimbabwe crisis: Parents of school dropouts face jail Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:08 PM PDT  The rising number of children failing to attend classes is blamed on the poor state of the economy.
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| Last Meals: Feasting on a Death Row Ritual Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:01 PM PDT  At some point last Oct. 1, Russell Bucklew was served a gyro, a smoked brisket sandwich, two portions of fries, a cola and a banana split. We know this because, shortly after he was executed at 6:23 p.m. that day, the Missouri Department of Corrections gave details of the condemned man's final meal request to a small group of journalists.I read about Bucklew's food choices courtesy of a British tabloid. It was a banal but compelling detail at the end of a wretched drama that started with a homicide and rape in 1996, involved multiple appeals that advanced all the way to the Supreme Court and concluded with Bucklew's death by lethal injection.It is also the grim reality behind the parlor game that those of us with an overly developed interest in our lunch have long loved to play: Just what would your last meal be?Over my two decades as a newspaper restaurant critic in Britain, I have regularly been invited to imagine myself on death row, and not just by aggrieved chefs. So what would I choose? I've always told my interviewers that I would have lost my appetite. The obvious candidates -- anyone on the edge of death -- for last meals are equally less than suited to eating them.Nevertheless, the notion of a collection of dishes that might sum up who you are, that could represent your fondest of food memories, is a hugely appealing one. Eventually I decided I should go in pursuit of mine and write a book about it, while I was still fit and healthy enough to enjoy the outcome.But before setting out on the culinary adventure to end them all, I thought it only proper that I investigate the real last meals of the condemned -- that I put some bitter meat on the bare bones of the game.One thing became clear. While more than 50 nations have the death penalty and continue to use it, only the United States appears to have acquired highly developed literature on its culinary aspect, both popular and scholarly: There are countless accounts of orders for fried chicken and burgers, for ice cream and chocolate chip cookies; for the food of a great childhood day out, ordered by men -- and it is mostly men -- about to be executed by the state.There are academic papers with titles like "Final Meals: The Theatre of Capital Punishment," by Christopher C. Collins, a doctoral candidate at Southern Illinois University when he wrote it in 2009. The article cast the serving of such food as part of the dramatic ritual of state-sanctioned death.There was the 2007 paper "Last Words, Last Meals, and Last Stands: Agency and Individuality in the Modern Execution Process," by Daniel LaChance, then of the University of Minnesota. He argued that the practice of allowing the condemned to choose a last meal -- a selection then amplified by the news media -- portrayed death row inmates as "autonomous actors, endowed with agency and individuality."In short, he said, it helped signify them as "self-made monsters who are intrinsically different by choice." That, in turn, helped sustain the death penalty by emphasizing the notion that they deserved it.Yet another paper, published in 2012 by the journal Appetite, is a detailed analysis of what the authors refer to as "death row nutrition." One of the authors was Brian Wansink, who resigned his professorship at Cornell University in 2018 after questions were raised about the methodology used in many of his studies of consumer food choices. Nevertheless, the paper is still regularly quoted, perhaps because of the granular detail it offers.It analyzes 247 last meals, all of them ordered by condemned prisoners in the United States from 2002 to 2006. The average meal came in at 2,756 calories, but four requests, from Texas and Oklahoma, were estimated to have gone beyond 7,000. The choices headed deep into diner territory -- 70% of the prisoners asked for fried food. Many requested specific brands: 16% ordered Coca-Cola, and three inmates wanted Diet Coke.These academic studies sit alongside popular representations, like the stark photographic re-creations of last meals by Jacquelyn C. Black, or the 2004 cookbook by Brian D. Price, a former Texas prisoner who prepared many of the last meals where he was incarcerated and wanted to share the recipes. He called it "Meals to Die For."In 2011, Texas abandoned the custom last meal for death row inmates after killer Lawrence Russell Brewer placed a vast order -- two chicken-fried steaks, a pound of barbecue and so on -- but ate none of it. New Zealand-born photographer Henry Hargreaves was struck by the news and began researching the subject."For me the death penalty was no longer an abstract thing," Hargreaves said. "The detail of death row meals brought home the human aspect. I thought, if I can empathize with these people through their last meals, other people can, too."He set about re-creating last meals in his Brooklyn, New York, apartment and shooting them. Here was Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's order for mint chocolate chip ice cream. Here was the bucket of fried chicken requested by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, once a KFC manager. And here was the meal requested by Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian immigrants executed in 1927 for killing two men in an armed robbery; their case elicited protests around the world, and 50 years later, the governor of Massachusetts proclaimed that they had not been given a fair trial."With these images, I didn't want to preach right or wrong," said Hargreaves, whose collection, titled "No Seconds," was exhibited at the 2013 Venice Biennale. "I wanted people to look at them and think about the issues involved. That's what art should be about."Except perhaps for "Last Supper," a 2005 documentary by Swedish art filmmakers Mats Bigert and Lars Bergstrom that includes testimony from prison guards in Thailand, South Africa and Japan, all of this material is American. This may be because many of the other countries that impose the death penalty, like China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, do not have news media free enough to report the details of executions.The fascination in the United States stems in part from a well-established true-crime culture, said Ty Treadwell, an author of the book "Last Suppers: Final Meals From Death Row," published in 2001 and still in print. "The line between news and entertainment in the U.S. has become somewhat blurred," he said in a phone interview. "And people are interested in lives very different from their own, be they the Kardashians or death-row inmates."Michael Owen Jones, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Los Angeles, interrogated the subject in his thoughtful 2014 paper "Dining on Death Row: Last Meals and the Crutch of Ritual."Reporting about death row meals is not new, he wrote, quoting from an 1891 editorial in The Fort Worth Gazette that railed against the fascination: "Someday some newspaper will forget to report the articles of food comprising the last meal eaten by a murderer under sentence of death and then the whole bottom will fall out of newspaper enterprise." It continued, "There is too much attention paid to sickly details in setting forth the fact of the execution of a man too dangerous to live."Jones wrote in an email that the interest in death row meals was born merely of a desire "to think about one's own last meal and what it would consist of, wondering what if anything could be inferred about the personality of the executed person from the requested final meal." It could also be used, he said, to justify support or opposition to the death penalty.Kristina Roth, senior program officer for criminal justice programs at Amnesty International USA, which opposes capital punishment, contended that "the publicity around condemned prisoners' last meals sometimes means the general public are made to think about the grim reality of facing execution at a predetermined hour.""The 'ordinariness' of the last meal is a sort of connection between the macabre world of death row and everyday life," she said in a statement.Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which supports capital punishment, disagreed. "The 60% who support the death penalty don't care either way," he told me.Robert Dunham is executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit group that provides analysis and information about capital punishment but does not take a position on it. He described the interest in death row meals as "voyeuristic sensationalism.""It has nothing to do with the merits or flaws of capital punishment," he added.It is, he said, a "vestigial hangover" from the days when hangings and lynchings were public events. "The fact that executions have been moved indoors hasn't eliminated the salaciousness that accompanied them in the past," he said.It seems that, because we're no longer able to huddle around the steps of the gallows to watch executions up close, we make do with a litany of familiar dishes reported from afar. From that, we attempt to understand a little more about the person behind the terrible crime they may have committed and, in turn, try to imagine the terrible punishment that follows.It's a curious obsession, given that these death row requests probably tell us little about either. They also happen to be a long way from our idle fantasies of the one meal that we hope might define us when we ourselves are a long way from death.This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2020 The New York Times Company
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| Lebanon suspends flights after second coronavirus death Posted: 11 Mar 2020 11:23 AM PDT  Lebanon on Wednesday suspended flights from countries hit hardest by the novel coronavirus after announcing its second death from the pandemic in two days. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Lebanon would suspend all trips to and from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China, the hardest hit countries. After four days, all trips from those countries would be suspended, Diab said, without specifying the precise date.
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| More children face immigration judges through video screens Posted: 11 Mar 2020 11:14 AM PDT  Seven children stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a Texas immigration facility. At multiple points, a woman's voice broke through the audio into the Atlanta courtroom, translating the testimony of an asylum seeker in a separate hearing. The Trump administration this week expanded the use of video hearings for immigrant children, having dozens of them held in Houston appear before a judge based in Atlanta.
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| Justices allow 'Remain in Mexico' asylum policy to continue Posted: 11 Mar 2020 11:06 AM PDT  The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would allow the Trump administration to continue enforcing a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings, despite lower court rulings that the policy probably is illegal. The justices' order, over a dissenting vote by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, overturns a lower court order that would have blocked the policy, at least for people arriving at the border crossings in Arizona and California. The lower court order was to have taken effect on Thursday.
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| AP Exclusive: Inside massive DEA raid targeting drug cartel Posted: 11 Mar 2020 10:58 AM PDT  Moments later, a reputed member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is walked out in handcuffs. In early-morning raids Wednesday, agents fanned out across the United States, culminating a six-month investigation with the primary goal of dismantling the upper echelon of CJNG and hoping to get closer to capturing its leader, one of the most wanted men in America. It is so violent that members leave piles of bodies in streets and hanging from overpasses in Mexico, and they fill the city of Guadalajara with mass graves.
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| India Suspends Most Visas as WHO Says Coronavirus Is Pandemic Posted: 11 Mar 2020 10:54 AM PDT |
| U.K. Confirms Plans to Support Carbon Prices After Brexit Posted: 11 Mar 2020 10:43 AM PDT |
| It's cloudy with a chance of iron rain at hot, faraway world Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:43 AM PDT  This mega planet is so hot on the sunny side — 4,350 degrees Fahrenheit (2,400 degrees Celsius) — that iron vaporizes in the atmosphere. The iron likely condenses on the cooler night side of the planet, almost certainly turning into rain. "Like droplets of metal falling from the sky," said Christophe Lovis of the University of Geneva who took part in the study.
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| Ounce Of Prevention May Avoid Pounds of COVID-19 Pain In Supply Chains Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:30 AM PDT  What struck Philip J. Palin, a veteran supply chain resiliency author and researcher, was how the executive suites of some of his clients — mostly healthcare companies — seemed to pooh-pooh the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.Their supply chain folks spotted trouble early on, Palin said. They were certain that the virus, now known as COVID-19, would be traveling west from China before too long. Yet they, and the issue, couldn't get on the radar screens of their top executives, he said. As the virus began to spread, the C-suite belatedly started paying attention. That kicked off a mad and mostly futile scramble to avoid the inevitable supply chain disruptions.The shoulder-shrugging attitude of top executives may not have been a total shock. Over the past decade, there have been tsunamis, floods and volcanic eruptions. Each time, global supply chains took nasty hits, and the response needle from the upper corporate echelons didn't move much. But COVID-19 is different in that it has presented supply and demand challenges, the latter caused by quarantines, social distancing, and postponements or cancellations of public events.Palin said it is wildly misplaced to label COVID-19 a "black swan" event that came entirely out of the blue. Pandemics and epidemics are thousands of years old, and they will occur for centuries to come, he said. COVID-19 "was a predictable surprise," he told an overflow crowd during a Tuesday panel session at the MODEX material handling, logistics and supply chain conference in Atlanta.Companies sharing that mindset found themselves better positioned than most when the virus hit U.S. shores. David Shillingford, chairman of DHL Resilience 360, a DHL unit that helps companies prepare and protect their supply chains against unexpected events, told the story of two Tier 1 suppliers to the U.S. automotive industry. One began building a resilience strategy following the 2011 tsunami that devastated parts of Japan, while the other didn't make resiliency a priority. The former developed a "risk-adjusted" just-in-time model in which it could quickly shift suppliers and supply sources if trouble arose. It also built a robust visibility platform that could detect which supply partners needed attention. The latter, by contrast, behaved reactively and was unprepared for disruptions. Not surprisingly, the first company has gained competitive advantage in recent weeks, Shillingford said. He declined to identify either firm.The takeaways from the two scenarios are threefold, according to Shillingford. First, supply chain resiliency doesn't necessarily mean that firms are required to buy and store inventory. Second, companies should behave as if problems will occur at any time. "Don't worry about predictions. Assume something bad is going to happen and plan for it," he said. Third, resiliency is not a binary event but rather a long, multistep process, he said.China, the factory floor of so much global commerce, is slowly returning to normal. President Xi Jinping on Tuesday toured Wuhan, the city at the center of the epidemic, for the first time since the outbreak. The surrounding province of Hubei announced plans to loosen mobility restrictions that have affected millions of people. Millions of workers who were away from their jobs for the Lunar New Year holiday and were stuck there due to travel restrictions have begun a cautious return to work.But challenges remain. As supply chains get back on their feet, U.S. importers will need to brace for a near-avalanche of Chinese imports, which could create a whole new type of disruption. "What if a month's worth of parts show up at the same time," asked John Paxton, chief operating officer of MHI, the organization that holds MODEX. In Europe, only Italy has been subject to a complete lockdown; Shillingford said he was concerned about the impact should the virus spread to the industrial centers of Germany and France. The U.S., which has been testing fewer potential cases than other affected countries, is likely to see far more positive cases, which could result in quarantines, event cancellations and a ban on large gatherings. The supply disruptions here and abroad "will be significant for a period of time, Shillingford said.The prospect of a ripple effect is all the more reason, Palin said, to prepare for what is tantamount to the viral equivalent of war. "Don't wait until the gun is pointed at your head," he said.Image Sourced from PixabaySee more from Benzinga * Making Supply Chains Sustainable During Times Of Emissions Limit Advocacy * Spring Driving Safety * Commerce Extends Huawei Export License Privilege(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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| Allies back Putin as critics denounce plan to 'usurp power' Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:04 AM PDT  President Vladimir Putin's allies on Wednesday backed reforms that could allow him to stay in the Kremlin until 2036, but critics accused him of seeking to usurp power and called for protests. A day after voting for a package of Putin-backed constitutional amendments -- including a last-minute addition to "reset" his presidential terms -- the lower house State Duma gave its final approval on Wednesday. The votes followed months of speculation about Putin's political future after he shocked the Russian establishment by announcing constitutional reforms in January.
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| As the number of coronavirus cases rises, why is Italy being hit so hard? Posted: 11 Mar 2020 08:31 AM PDT  The country of Italy is on lockdown as the number of cases of COVID-19, the official name for the novel coronavirus, soars. With more than 10,000 cases and counting, Italy has the second-highest reported death toll and number of confirmed infected cases, behind only China. With 630 deaths, Italy's death toll is significantly higher than the next three hardest-hit nations combined, with deaths in Iran, France and South Korea totaling under 380.
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| Commerce Extends Huawei Export License Privilege Posted: 11 Mar 2020 08:17 AM PDT  The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will announce in a Federal Register notice on Thursday that it will extend a temporary general license for certain U.S. exports to Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and 114 overseas affiliates through May 15.The department's current temporary general license related to Huawei was set to expire April 1.Since May 16, 2019, Huawei and 114 overseas affiliates have been placed on the Commerce Department's Entity List, which imposes significant restrictions on U.S. goods and technology exports to the Chinese company and requires any U.S. company or organization to obtain an export license from BIS.The Commerce Department established its temporary general license policy for certain continued export business to Huawei on May 22, 2019. The department has subsequently extended the policy.So-called "authorized transactions" under the temporary general license include the continued operation of existing networks and equipment, support to handsets acquired before Huawei's placement on the Entity List, cybersecurity research and vulnerability disclosure, and "engagement as necessary for development of 5G standards by a duly recognized standards body.".In addition, BIS on Thursday will publish a second Federal Register notice seeking public comments to "assist the U.S. government in evaluating whether the temporary general license should continue to be extended, to evaluate whether any other changes may be warranted to the temporary general license, and to identify any alternative authorization or other regulatory provisions that may more effectively address what is being authorized under the temporary general license."Those comments are due to the agency by May 26.Until last year, Huawei was a large customer for the U.S. semiconductor industry. However, the Trump administration and certain congressional lawmakers have continued to demand restrictions on U.S. technology exports to the telecom equipment manufacturing giant."Huawei was added to the Entity List after the U.S. government concluded the company poses a significant risk of involvement in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, including by engaging, among other things, in alleged violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), conspiracy to violate IEEPA by causing the export, reexport, sale and supply of goods, technology, and services to Iran, and obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation of those alleged violations of U.S. sanctions," the Commerce Department said in a statement.Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from PixabaySee more from Benzinga * Cybersecurity Guide For Container Shipping Now Online * Commentary: Walking The Tightrope Of Antitrust Immunity * Coronavirus Will Test Supply Chain Partnerships(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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| Islamist Militant Attacks Surged Most in Emerging LNG Giant Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:58 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Mozambique suffered the biggest increase in attacks by Islamist militants globally last year, with violence centered around the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province, according to a security report.Islamic State in June started claiming responsibility for incidents that began in 2017 and have killed more than 800 people and forced 100,000 to flee their homes. Attacks more than tripled in 2019 from the previous year, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project's annual report released last week. Globally, Afghanistan remained the most affected by skirmishes, while clashes also surged in Burkina Faso.Not only has the violence in Mozambique killed hundreds of people, it's occurring in the region where companies like Total SA and Exxon Mobil Corp. are building what will be Africa's largest-ever investments. The liquefied natural gas projects in the far north have largely been unscathed, although a contract worker was killed last year, delaying work."Mozambique also registered one of the greatest increases in reported fatalities last year, with 438 more fatalities in 2019 than in 2018, or an increase of 197%," ACLED said in the report. "This rise is linked to the worsening insurgency in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado."The frequency of attacks has continued to increase this year, and violence is getting closer to the provincial capital of Pemba, according to Tristan Gueret, an analyst at Risk Advisory Group in London."The security situation in Cabo Delgado continues to deteriorate," he said. "Militants have also increased their area of operation further south and inland in the province."While the violence probably won't threaten the viability of nearly $60 billion in LNG projects planned, it could complicate logistics. A surge in road ambushes could disrupt transport lines, according to Gueret. There have also been reports of insurgents posing as members of the security forces and setting up fake checkpoints, he said."We continue to monitor security developments in the Cabo Delgado region and work closely with the government regarding appropriate safeguards to protect people, operations and facilities," Exxon Mobil spokesman Todd Spitler said in an emailed response to questions. "The safety and security of our employees, contractors and the people who work and live around our operations is a top priority."Total and Mozambique's defense ministry didn't respond to emails seeking comment on the attacks.Flooding that's destroyed key bridges has also made conditions more difficult. For now, damage to bridges connecting the city of Pemba and the Afungi peninsula, where the projects are, mean that most cargo is being barged by sea.The crash in oil and gas prices this week increases execution risks. LNG projects yet to be approved, including Mozambique's, face the biggest threat this year and next, Wood Mackenzie Ltd. research director Giles Farrer said in a note on Wednesday. Total's Mozambique LNG project was approved last year, but Exxon is yet to sanction its bigger development.Who's Behind The Attacks?Local residents refer to the groups carrying out the attacks as "al-Shabaab," yet there is no clear link to the Somali Islamists that use the nameIS has claimed at least 26 incidents in Cabo Delgado, according to Jasmine Opperman, Africa analyst at ACLED. Still, there is no evidence the group provides material support, said Ryan Cummings, director at Signal Risk in Cape TownIS in Somalia is the command center for what it calls its Central Africa Province, or ISCAP, comprising affiliates in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a United Nations Security Council reportISCAP includes 2,000 locals and a "large contingent" of foreign fighters, the report saidThe group's leadership structure remains blurry, it said(Updates with analyst comment in paragraph above Who's Behind The Attacks? sub-headline)To contact the reporters on this story: Matthew Hill in Maputo at mhill58@bloomberg.net;Borges Nhamire in Maputo at bnhamire@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: John McCorry at jmccorry@bloomberg.net, Hilton Shone, Karl MaierFor 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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| Suit filed over Sandy Hook-inspired law limiting gun rounds Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:42 AM PDT  Gun rights supporters are suing Connecticut officials over part of a 2013 state gun control law passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, saying it unconstitutionally bans people from loading more than 10 rounds of ammunition into their firearms. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court cites the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the ability of people to better defend themselves with more bullets in their guns. "Law abiding gun owners in Connecticut are left more susceptible to harm or death by being limited in their means of self-defense," Holly Sullivan, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said in a written statement.
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| Coronavirus fears ripple across every corner of US as spring break gets underway Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:40 AM PDT  With coronavirus cases spreading abroad and at home, United States officials and universities are issuing advisories and taking precautions as thousands prepare to embark on travel for spring break, some to escape winter's cold weather.People are listening to those suggestions as the demand for flights has fallen more due to coronavirus than after 9/11, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes reported on CNBC.While classes end for spring break, universities across the country are recognizing the logistical and health challenges that the virus will likely present when and if students return. Some U.S. universities are urging students, faculty and staff to reconsider travel plans, and countless colleges across the nation have announced plans to shift instruction online after the break.Institutions such as Harvard University have gone as far as asking students not to return to campus after the break and to complete their classes remotely.As cases of the coronavirus surge globally, the U.S. issued Level 3 travel health advisories for China, Iran, South Korea and Italy and also recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to those countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging anyone who traveled to those four countries to stay home for 14 days.Traveling anywhere else is a personal decision, the CDC said, and therefore many Americans are faced with the question of whether to continue with travel plans. An airline passenger wearing a mask makes his way through the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport Saturday, March 7, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) New recommendations from the CDC advise travelers, especially the elderly and those who have compromised health, to avoid long plane trips and especially cruises."CDC typically posts travel health notices for countries and other international destinations, not conveyances, such as ships, airplanes, or trains. Because of the unusual nature of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. government is advising U.S. travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, to defer cruise ship travel," the CDC said in a statement."Recent reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships highlight the risk of infection to cruise ship passengers and crew. Like many other viruses, COVID-19 appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships," the statement said.The State Department on Sunday also recommended against cruise travel.Numerous ships such as the Grand Princess and the Diamond Princess have already been quarantined amid the epidemic, leaving some passengers stuck aboard the ships for weeks.The Grand Princess cruise ship was left to idle for days off the Northern California coast as officials debated about where to send infected passengers. Among the more than 3,500 people aboard the ship, 21 were infected with the disease, according to Vice President Mike Pence.One of the largest groups of infected people outside of China was on the Diamond Princess cruise ship where more than 700 passengers contracted the virus, leading to a 14-day quarantine for all passengers on the ship followed by a 14-day quarantine when passengers arrived back in the U.S.Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will start new screening policies for its member cruise lines, including denying boarding to those who have traveled in Iran, South Korea, China and parts of Italy within 14 days prior. Additionally, cruise lines are conducting enhanced illness screenings for many passengers prior to departure. The quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess is anchored at the Yokohama Port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. The cruise ship will begin letting passengers off the boat on Wednesday after it's been quarantined for 14 days. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) In a press release from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the company advises that the decision whether to continue with travel plans is a personal one that must be made by the individual."Research is important to any traveler ahead of a trip. It's no different with the coronavirus," Senior Vice President of AAA Travel Paula Twidale said. "Become familiar with the Center for Disease Control's recommendations, consult your healthcare professional, talk to your travel provider about waiver policies and chat with a travel agent about travel insurance possibilities before making any decisions."AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano shared tips and suggestions for travelers in an AccuWeather interview."First and foremost if you are sick, we recommend you do not travel," Casselano said.AAA recommends that even if you are not sick, it is best to consult your healthcare provider about their medical recommendations, since your age and personal health may be a risk factor.CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APPUnfortunately, travel insurance generally excludes epidemics, according to AAA."Depending on when you booked your flight, if you booked it prior to the coronavirus being an epidemic and you purchased travel insurance, you could very well be covered and receive some of your money back," Casselano said. Passengers wait to exit the plane after landing in Tokyo on a flight from San Francisco Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Customers who purchased "cancel anytime" or "cancel for any reason" insurance prior to Feb. 3, when coronavirus was recognized as an epidemic, may be able to cancel their trip and receive some sort of reimbursement, according to AAA.However, if you did not purchase travel insurance or you recently booked a flight and travel insurance was not available to you, Casselano recommends contacting your travel providers and your travel agent to understand any waivers that are in place or what policies have been lifted to possibly provide refunds or credits for a later date."Being quarantined could very well be a possibility depending on where you go. If being quarantined for an extra 10-14 days is a concern of yours, that is something you need to take into account when you're making the decision whether you are going to travel or not," Casselano said.If you plan to travel, the AAA recommends that people traveling abroad should know the nearest location and contact information of the U.S. embassy or consulate.AAA also suggests having the following if travel is a must: * Necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards * Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with the CDC-approved 60% alcohol content * Disinfecting wipes * Extra supplies in the case that your return trip is delayed"AAA travel counselors are knowledgeable, caring and available to assist members if they have questions or concerns about cruises or other travel," said Twidale.Current daily briefings on the coronavirus can be found here.Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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| Putin’s Now Positioned to Be President for Life Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:39 AM PDT  MOSCOW—The deed is done. Russia's parliament voted Wednesday—383 to 0—to change the constitution so Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin can hold on to the presidency until 2036. That is to say, until he is in his 83rd year of life and 36th year in power.This is a shock to some, but not exactly a surprise. It feels so Soviet.Putin's Power Is Built on Spying, but It's Also His PrisonOn Tuesday the big pitch for the change was made by Valentina Tereshkova, an 83-year-old general and member of parliament, who has the distinction of being the first and youngest woman ever launched into outer space. That was in 1963, when Nikita Khrushchev was running the USSR."Putin knows much more than all of us," Tereshkova said, presenting a plan to reset the number of his presidential terms, thus dropping the legal barrier to his repeated reelections. "Why do we need to create some artificial constitutions? We should be honest, open, consider publicly, and cancel all limitations on the number of presidential terms in the Constitution. Or, if the situation demands and people want that, let the current president run again for this position." Putin spoke from the same tribune shortly afterward and said Tereshkova's idea to free him of any reelection limitations could be acceptable pending the plebiscite he announced at the end of February: "Obviously, only in case the citizens support such an amendment, say 'yes' during the all-Russia vote on April 22." Putin's opponents were furious. "That was a Brezhnev-era, poorly directed performance," ex-MP, opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov told The Daily Beast. "Putin must be feeling almighty, and hopes to live forever." The move further weakens such checks and balances as exist in Russia's government. "By 2024 he is going to be 72 years old, his shrinking popularity rating is going to be even lower than now, so the only way for him to stay is to turn into a brutal dictator or a monarch." Putin is always eager to show the world his importance and show his people his thinly gloved iron fist. In recent days he has made headline after headline. Most dramatically, he decided to break Russia's agreement with the Saudi-dominated Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries to limit production, thus launching an oil price war. And Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was only too happy to accept the challenge.One reason is to fulfill the Kremlin's long-held dream of ending the U.S. shale oil and gas revolution, which is uneconomical when prices are low. But the immediate effect was to crash world markets.U.S. President Donald Trump, who has courted Putin as a buddy and counted Saudi Arabia a "strategic partner," quickly blamed both, along with his usual scapegoat: "Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for the market drop!"For Putin, the oil price war is a risky strategy. Russian economists and businessmen have watched in shock—even panic—as has much of the rest of the world. But Russian newspapers bannered headlines like Nezavisimaya Gazeta's: "The low oil price becomes the Kremlin's geopolitical weapon." U.S. producers are "teetering on the verge of bankruptcy," it said. Last year Putin's close friend Igor Sechin, the chairman of Rosneft, Russia's leading oil company, called Russia's 2016 oil production agreement with OPEC "a strategic threat" that played into U.S. hands."Putin and Sechin were so eager to ruin American fracking companies, that they hit the entire Russian business," Gudkov told The Daily Beast. "That was an ultimately strange decision."But however erratic, even dangerous, his policies might appear, more than 60 percent of Russians support Putin, which may be one reason that the parliamentarians who disapproved of the changes to the constitution abstained rather than vote no. Putin continues to build his ideology on glorifying Russia's Victory in World War II and what he sees as the Russian character. Shortly after the seizure and annexation of Crimea in 2014, prompting major sanctions by Europe and the United States, Putin sought to soar above the controversy by comparing Russian values to those of the West in somewhat mystical terms: "A Russian man is not focused inside on his own beloved self. Our soul is broader." This might have come as a surprise to people who see the country's politics and economy dominated by the coterie of hugely self-indulgent oligarchs around Putin, but it still touched a chord.On May 9, the Kremlin is organizing a remarkable celebration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis in World War II with a huge military parade in Red Square. The Kremlin repeatedly and publicly invited Trump to join. But on Tuesday, Moscow announced that the U.S. leader turned down Putin's invitation to join the military parade on the Red Square. The Kremlin did not explain the reason for Trump's refusal, but according to the Associated Press, "White House officials and Trump allies feared that the trip to Moscow in an election year could be politically damaging."For Putin, it's certainly damaging. He made a big deal of the invitation. Earlier he said the anniversary is important for all the nations who fought in the anti-Hitler coalition. "We are waiting and we'll be glad if they come. If not—that is their choice. But I think that would be a mistake for them." But the political price is relatively small for a man who's now positioned to be, effectively, president for life. And Trump should pay attention whenever Putin refers to Trump's actions as "a mistake," especially now as Putin consolidates his authoritarian rule. The 'Puppet Master' of Putin's Kremlin Is Out, but His Sinister Policies Are Still InUntil recently, Kremlinologists believed that Putin wanted to balance between the technocrat dealing with the economy and the demands of the "siloviki" or "securocrats"—many of them former KGB officers and operatives like himself who have become very powerful and very rich thanks to his patronage. But last month Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet resigned after Putin set his sights on unending power. "Now Sechin, one of the powerful leaders of the hawks, does not have any opponents left," Kirill Kharatyan, founder and deputy editor in chief of Kommersant newspaper told The Daily beast. "The new PM Mikhail Mishistin is a servant, not a baron.""This time the state's strategy is reminiscent of North Korea," Kharatyan said. "Putin must be thinking: Russia has tons of money, there is no state debt, we should not be shy. But in fact, the reserve Russia has is about half a trillion dollars, almost the budget of the Pentagon. The attempts to destroy America's shale gas might succeed, but only for a couple of years."And still, Putin would be in power.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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| Up to 70 percent of Germans may get the coronavirus, Angela Merkel says Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:33 AM PDT  German Chancellor Angela Merkel is warning that a majority of the country's population may become infected with the novel coronavirus.Merkel said Wednesday that "we have to understand that many people will be infected" by the new COVID-19 coronavirus and that "the consensus among experts is that 60 to 70 percent of the population will be infected," The New York Times reports. More than 1,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Germany. Meanwhile, as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States passes 1,000, The Daily Beast reports that a former White House public-health official who works in the pharmaceutical industry recently told Republican members of Congress that most Americans will likely be eventually exposed to the coronavirus, although the Beast notes that not everyone exposed to it will become infected, and this view is in dispute. One member of Congress, though, described the assessment as "sobering."On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke to lawmakers at a House Oversight Committee hearing, and when asked if the worst is yet to come in the coronavirus outbreak responded, "yes," per CNN's Jim Acosta."Bottom line," he said, "it's going to get worse." More stories from theweek.com Coronavirus is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu, Trump's task force immunologist says Health analyst says slowing 'tidal wave' of coronavirus cases is key to avoid overwhelming hospitals A Seattle lab uncovered Washington's coronavirus outbreak only after defying federal regulators
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| Storm closes schools, suspends football in Egypt before heading to Turkey and Iran Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:15 AM PDT  As coronavirus fears spread across the Middle East, a storm will be the threat to cause school closures in Egypt this week.A strong storm will develop in western Egypt Thursday, and then move northeast to affect other countries such as Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia."This storm will usher in periods of rain and thunderstorms that could be heavy in the northern half of Egypt on Thursday," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.The heavy rainfall over a short period of time may create flash flooding, especially in urban and low-lying areas. Gusty winds are also expected with the storm, which could create dust storms.As the storm moves northeastward Thursday night and into Friday and Saturday, the threat for flooding will also navigate that direction."Areas of heavy rain may create the potential for flooding across Syria and Israel in particular," added Richards.On the northern extent of the storm, parts of Turkey and Iran, in the higher elevations, may have precipitation falling as snow. However, the storm will weaken by the time precipitation reaches this area, bringing less intensity.Ahead of the storm's arrival in Egypt, the government started making preparations.On Tuesday afternoon, local time, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly declared a suspension of schools across the country for Thursday because of the anticipated bad weather.> عاجل | رئيس الوزراء يقرر تعطيل الدراسة على مستوى الجمهورية الخميس المقبل لسوء الأحوال الجوية pic.twitter.com/iNJuiuFB5y> > -- الجزيرة مصر (@AJA_Egypt) March 10, 2020In response, Egypt's Ministry of Health announced it was preparing for more hospital patients and ambulances with the arrival of the storm, according to Al-Jazeera Egypt.More suspensions and cancellations followed on Wednesday. Authorities announced leave for public and private business sectors on Thursday. The Egyptian Football Association also suspended upcoming matches from Thursday through Saturday because of the adverse weather.On social media, some residents expressed concern that these suspensions came as a result of the weather, rather than the coronavirus outbreak. As of a report from the CDC on March 10, a total of 59 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Egypt, including one death.Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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| Serbs Cancel Election Rallies as Region Ups Virus Response Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:02 AM PDT |
| Myanmar MPs reject bid to allow Suu Kyi to become president Posted: 11 Mar 2020 06:32 AM PDT  Myanmar's parliament rejected on Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to officially become president. The rejection had been expected because the proposal was opposed by the military, which under the constitution adopted when it held power, holds enough parliamentary seats to block any constitutional change. The defeated motion was one of several constitutional changes proposed by Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy party, with most expected to be blocked.
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| Turkey vows strong military action if Syria truce violated Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:30 AM PDT  Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Wednesday that his military would launch its harshest retaliation yet if the Syrian government breaks a fragile truce in Idlib province brokered last week. The cease-fire arranged by Turkey and Russia — which support opposing sides in the conflict — halted a three-month air and ground campaign by the Syrian government against the rebel-held province. The Russian-backed Syrian government offensive made significant gains in Syria's last rebel stronghold, and Turkey sent thousands of troops across the border to reinforce the rebels, leading to rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops.
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| U.S. officials brief Congress on election security Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:10 AM PDT  Top U.S. officials briefed Congress on election security Tuesday, telling lawmakers they had "nothing to support" the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin favored one candidate or another.
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| Merkel distances herself from fiscal policy of no new borrowing Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:09 AM PDT |
| Brexit trade talks may be cancelled as the coronavirus spreads rapidly across Europe Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:52 AM PDT  The next round of Brexit trade talks may be cancelled as the coronavirus epidemic grows.
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| On coronavirus, we'll spend what it takes, says Merkel Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:39 AM PDT |
| Merkel Says Germany Will Do Whatever It Takes to Fight Virus Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:36 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany will do whatever is required to limit the impact of the coronavirus on Europe's biggest economy, weighing in for the first time at length on her country's response to the growing crisis."We will do whatever is necessary," Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin, a day after the 27 EU leaders held a video conference to coordinate action with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.The German leader was referring to budget spending on health measures, on top of a pledge to provide ailing companies with liquidity and extend furlough pay for workers. She said she agreed with Lagarde that the situation must be taken "very seriously" and that without natural immunity against the virus, and a lack as yet of vaccination or therapy options, as much as 70% of the population is at risk.Merkel and her economic team are focused on providing liquidity to cash-strapped companies and haven't seen the need for classic stimulus measures until the economic fallout of the disease becomes more clear. Yet pressure has been growing for Germany to step up efforts to support growth.Some of the nation's leading economists on Wednesday urged the government to become more proactive and give up its balanced budget policy. While the economists rejected a broader stimulus package, they called for targeted measures to cushion the economic impact, such as tax cuts and better terms on tax obligations.Merkel, who rarely gives formal news conferences, announced her appearance Wednesday only a few hours ahead of time, highlighting the seriousness of Germany's plight. She has up to now allowed her health minister, Jens Spahn, to take the lead on briefing the public about the government's response to the virus.That has prompted criticism about her engagement with the crisis. The decision to appear with Spahn on Wednesday came after Bild newspaper, Germany's biggest-selling daily, accused her on its front page of failing to show leadership during the "corona chaos."Merkel commented briefly on the virus in a speech at a German-Greek forum on Monday and her spokesman issued a statement on her behalf after Tuesday's video conference. She also briefed lawmakers in her parliamentary caucus on Tuesday.Economic ShockEU member states must act in concert to slow the spread of the virus, Merkel said Wednesday, calling for the bloc to maintain economic life even as it mobilizes to fight the epidemic."The virus has arrived in Europe; it's here -- and everybody has to understand that," she said, adding that each EU nation will contribute what it can to counter the spread.Asked about Lagarde's assertion that Europe risks a major economic shock similar to the 2008 financial crisis, Merkel said that considerations such as recapitalizing banks were quantifiable, whereas the virus brings an unprecedented level of uncertainty, such as building immunity and the virus's reaction to temperature."We have to act with a far greater level of unknown factors, so that task is a different one," Merkel said. "But in all such crisis situations, the necessary elements are prudence and decisiveness."(Updates with Merkel comments)\--With assistance from Birgit Jennen and Daniel Schaefer.To contact the reporters on this story: Arne Delfs in Berlin at adelfs@bloomberg.net;Patrick Donahue in Berlin at pdonahue1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Iain Rogers, Raymond ColittFor 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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| Palestinians: 15-year-old killed in clash with Israeli army Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:24 AM PDT |
| Media in Iran are daring to question its official coronavirus death and infection counts, showing how the outbreak is challenging even the most authoritarian states Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:22 AM PDT  Iran on Tuesday said it had recorded 291 deaths and 8,042 cases of COVID-19. Many sources say the true figure is much larger.
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| China allows some firms to resume work at virus epicentre Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:20 AM PDT  Key companies can resume work in coronavirus-hit Wuhan, China announced Wednesday, in another sign authorities are confident they are winning the battle against the epidemic as they seek to revive the economy. The decision came a day after President Xi Jinping paid his first visit to the capital of Hubei province since it was placed under lockdown in late January after the outbreak became a national emergency. The number of daily new cases has fallen steadily in Wuhan in recent weeks, while all other cities in Hubei have reported zero fresh infections for several days in a row -- prompting Xi to declare that the spread of the virus has been "basically curbed" in the province.
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| Read the Fine Print on Boris Johnson's New Infrastructure Plans Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:04 AM PDT |
| News agency: Iran VP, 2 Cabinet members have new virus Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:59 AM PDT  Iran's senior vice president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354. The report by the Fars news agency, believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, comes as President Hassan Rouhani took control of the country's much-criticized response to the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes. Authorities announced that there were some 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus across Iran.
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