| Colombian death squads exploiting coronavirus lockdown to kill activists Posted: 23 Mar 2020 04:26 PM PDT  Three social leaders were killed last week after quarantine measures were introduced Death squads in Colombia are taking advantage of coronavirus lockdowns to murder rural activists, local NGOs have warned.When cities across the country introduced local quarantine measures last week, three social leaders were killed, and as the country prepares to impose a national lockdown on Wednesday, activists have warned that more murders will follow.Marco Rivadeneira, a high-profile activist, was murdered in the southern Putumayo province, Alexis Vergara was shot dead in the western Cauca region, and Ivo Humberto Bracamonte was killed on the eastern border with Venezuela.Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for activists and community leaders, who often fall foul of armed groups fighting for territory.Since a historic peace deal was implemented in early 2017 with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a leftist rebel group, 271 activists have been killed. Now, with the government focused on the pandemic, activists say they are even more at risk."I've been getting more death threats since everyone started talking about coronavirus," said Carlos Paez, a land rights activist in a cattle-ranching region near the northern border with Panama. "One message said that they know who I am – and that now is the time to take me out."Some of the armed groups are dissident Farc fighters who refused to hand in their guns; others belong to smaller rebel armies and rightwing paramilitary militias.Whatever their purported ideology, all make their money in drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion rackets, and all view social social leaders as an obstacle to those lucrative economies.And as the government focuses its resources on stemming the coronavirus outbreak – which has now claimed three lives in Colombia amid 277 confirmed cases – normal security protocols have been thrown into disarray."They are playing with our lives because they know that our bodyguards, the police and the justice system are going to be even less effective they usually are," said Paez. "It's horrible. I'm scared for my life."Colombia's war with Farc and other armed groups has claimed at least 260,000 lives and forced 7 million people from their homes. Now, with much of the country confined indoors ahead of a 19-day nationwide quarantine that begins on Wednesday, non-state actors are operating more brazenly.Activists fear that a nationwide quarantine – to be imposed on Wednesday – has put them in a deadly bind. Moving around puts them at risk of infection, but staying in one place makes them sitting targets."We are being killed, like always," said Héctor Marino Carabali, a rights activist in Cauca, who usually travels in an armoured car with a security detail provided by the government. "The government has taken drastic measures to fight the virus, but done nothing to protect us now or to tell us about how we can do our work. Curfews and lockdowns always affect the most vulnerable."The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights last week reported that armed groups were continuing to commit brutal human rights abuses in Chocó, the province where Paez leads a community. Three people were beheaded, with one executed in front of their village, and a pregnant woman was murdered.A coalition of local NGOs and over 100 rural communities called for a ceasefire among armed groups during the outbreak. "The emergency situation deserves our focus as a country and as a society to take on this challenge," the communique read.Many leaders and watchdogs have accused president Iván Duque of not doing enough to quell the bloodshed. They are not optimistic that will change as the virus spreads."Unfortunately, all critical issues in Colombia are being surpassed by the coronavirus health crisis," said Gimena Sánchez, Andes director at the Washington Office on Latin America, a thinktank. "Coronavirus gives the Duque government more elements to excuse themselves from properly protecting social leaders and investigating cases of killings."
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| Testing blunders crippled US response as coronavirus spread Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:45 PM PDT  A series of missteps at the nation's top public health agency caused a critical shortage of reliable laboratory tests for the coronavirus, hobbling the federal response as the pandemic spread across the country like wildfire, an Associated Press review found. President Donald Trump assured Americans early this month that the COVID-19 test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "perfect" and that "anyone who wants a test can get a test." In the critical month of February, as the virus began taking root in the U.S. population, CDC data shows government labs processed 352 COVID-19 tests — an average of only a dozen per day.
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| Loss of smell, taste, might signal pandemic virus infection Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:37 PM PDT  A loss of smell or taste might be an early sign of infection with the pandemic virus, say medical experts who cite reports from several countries. The idea of a virus infection reducing sense of smell is not new. Respiratory viral infection is a common cause of loss of smell, because inflammation can interfere with airflow and the ability to detect odors.
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| Free Flow Of Ocean Cargo At Rising Risk From Coronavirus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:21 PM PDT  Ocean shipping is passing through multiple stages of coronavirus fallout, and the journey appears far from over.Stage one combined a containerized-goods supply shock and bulk-commodity demand shock, both centered in China and driven by temporary closures of factories, mills, plants, land transport and terminals.Stage two, now underway, features a containerized-goods demand shock centered in developed Western nations, driven by social distancing and quarantines. China's containerized-goods export system is generally back up and running. The question has turned to whether China will receive enough new orders.What might stage three look like? One plausible scenario entails an extension of the demand shock as the quarantine segues into a global recession, combined with a cargo supply shock driven by coronavirus restrictions on ocean shipping itself.So far, the ocean-shipping network has held up reasonably well. Commercial vessels have continued to be able to move their cargo. But unimpeded operations are far from guaranteed. Following is an overview of the risks ahead: Inability to change crewCrew aboard oceangoing ships work multimonth contracts, after which they are repatriated free of charge and replaced by new crew. After several months off, the crew on leave rotate back on board. This process, which involves around 100,000 crewmembers monthly, has gone completely off the rails due to coronavirus travel restrictions.Several shipping companies, including Maersk Line, have announced temporary halts to crew changeovers. But the situation is unsustainable beyond the short term. Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), warned that "limitations on crew changes have the potential to cause serious disruption to the flow of trade."Underscoring the severity of the issue, the world's largest shipping groups, led by the ICS, conferred last Thursday and later that day the ICS, together with the seafarers' union, the International Transport Workers Federation, sent a joint plea to the United Nations. Shipping groups urged that countries designate ship crew as "key workers" and grant them exemptions from travel restrictions, as they already do for airline and medical workers.Potential for crew infectionsThere have been no confirmed cases yet of a commercial crewmember testing positive for coronavirus, either due to lack of testing (there are no testing labs at sea) or an actual lack of infection due to isolation from outbreaks on land.There have been frequent infections of crew confirmed aboard cruise ships, where workers interact with thousands of potential virus carriers, i.e., passengers, and are more prone to be tested. Cargo-ship crew members have limited interactions with those at ports who might infect them. In addition, the travel restrictions preventing crew changes may have helped keep infections low by limiting new personnel coming aboard.There could be a highly negative effect on global trade flow if commercial shipping crew infections become commonplace. If a captain reports to the port of arrival that a symptomatic crew member is aboard, the vessel is likely to be quarantined and unable to discharge its cargo.Cruise ships with ill passengers or crew onboard have been repeatedly denied permission to call at ports.Port restrictionsCountries around the globe are closing their borders as coronavirus fears intensify. While they continue to allow passage of cargo, there is evidence of increasing restrictions on that front as well.The maritime safety authority of Queensland, a state in northeast Australia, ruled last Wednesday that no new ship could enter its harbors until 14 days had passed since its last visit to an overseas port. There are conflicting reports about some Chinese ports implementing a similar rule.According to Frode Mørkedal, managing director of research at Clarksons Platou Securities, "Several countries have instituted or are in the process of potentially instituting limitations for ships arriving at their ports after previously calling at COVID-19 stricken ports. These limitations are being discussed at 14 days, which has a minimal impact on medium- and long-haul trades, but shorter trades, particularly of short-range products and feeder containers, would be affected."Yet another port-related threat involves landside workers testing positive and terminals being closed as a precaution, preventing cargo discharge.This situation occurred on Thursday, when the Port of Houston closed its Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals after a port worker tested positive. Houston's terminals reopened the following day.Canal transit risksOne of the world's most critical shipping "chokepoints" is the Panama Canal. When vessels pass through the original smaller locks, they're towed by shoreside locomotives known as "mules." To pass through the new larger locks, however, a specially trained Panamanian pilot must come on board and interact with bridge officers.The theoretical risk is that large container ships using the canal to bring cargo from Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf coasts might be denied passage if they have an ill crew member aboard, or from the Panamanian side of the equation, that a canal pilot is infected while onboard a transiting ship, spreading COVID-19 in the country.The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) further tightened rules for ship owners last week, requiring them to report any crew changes within the past 14 days, as well as whether they have anyone ill on board, even if symptoms were not those associated with coronavirus. If a ship owner's representative provides false information, the vessel will be "subject to penalties and/or restrictions," the ACP warned. More FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Greg Miller See more from Benzinga * Isolation On 18 Wheels: How Drivers Are Dealing With The Coronavirus (With Video) * How Coronavirus Affects US River-Barge Market * Boeing Shuts Down Assembly Lines In Response To Pandemic(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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| Analysis: Trump struggles to adjust to crisis presidency Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:25 PM PDT  President Donald Trump has never been known for his patience or long attention span. Now, as the coronavirus crisis threatens his presidency, and upends his campaign for reelection, Trump is rapidly losing patience with the medical professionals who have made the case day after day that the only way to prevent a catastrophic loss of life is to essentially shut down the country — to minimize transmission and "flatten the curve" so hospitals aren't overwhelmed with critical patients. Beyond the crisis, he has been agitated that he can't run the campaign he wants against Democrat Joe Biden, and he has used daily, hour-long briefings as near proxies for his campaign rallies, guaranteed to attract attention and to maintain the backing of his fervent political case.
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| UN chief calls for immediate 'global ceasefire' to fight coronavirus, calls pandemic the 'common enemy' Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:21 PM PDT  "Pull back from hostilities. Put aside mistrust and animosity. Silence the guns, stop the artillery, end the airstrikes," the United Nations said.
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| Global emergency efforts ramp up as pandemic deaths soar Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:08 PM PDT  A global push to slow the spread of the coronavirus ramped up Monday with more governments imposing emergency lockdowns that have put more than 1.7 billion people confined to their homes. In the face of the relentless march of the virus, the United Nations appealed for an immediate ceasefire in the world's conflict zones, and France and China called for urgent talks of the G20 major economies to coordinate an international response to the escalating crisis. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the pandemic was clearly "accelerating" as the number of deaths surged close to 16,000, with over 350,000 declared infections, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.
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| Coronavirus Live Updates: Tokyo Olympics Will Be Postponed Because Of Coronavirus Pandemic Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:52 AM PDT  The coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines for the better part of 2020. Keep up to date by checking this live blog every day for major updates related to COVID-19 and its impact on the world economy, U.S. markets and the health of the global population. > Subscribe For Free Coronavirus Updates > > Benzinga is covering every angle of how the coronavirus affects the financial world. For daily updates, sign up for our daily Coronavirus Special Edition newsletter.All times are in Eastern Daylight Time.The Latest News On Coronavirus: US surgeon general warns 'this week, it's going to get bad'March 23, 1:15 p.m.: The war against coronavirus has intensified across the country as more workers are laid off, medical supplies dwindle, and states enact new rules to get Americans to stay home."I want America to understand -- this week, it's going to get bad," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told NBC's "Today" show Monday. "We really, really need everyone to stay at home. I think that there are a lot of people who are doing the right things, but ... we're finding out a lot of people think this can't happen to them."March 23, 12:17 p.m.: Senators and senior Trump administration officials were scrambling on Monday to strike a deal on a $1.8 trillion measure to bolster the economy, after Democrats blocked action on the package on Sunday, demanding stronger protections for workers and restrictions for bailed-out businesses.The vote on Sunday shook markets around the globe and threatened to derail bipartisan talks that had yielded substantial compromises over the outlines of the package, which is emerging as the largest economic stimulus measure in modern history.March 23, 11:30 a.m.: The hunt for masks, ventilators and other medical supplies consumed the U.S. and Europe, as more than 1.5 billion people -- one-fifth of the world's population -- were asked or ordered to stay home on Monday to try to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. Political paralysis stalled efforts for a quick aid package from Congress, and U.S. stocks fell at the opening bell even after the Federal Reserve said it will buy as much government debt as necessary and lend to small and large businesses and local governments to help them cope with the economic damage from the outbreak.March 23, 4:00 a.m.: According to the data from Germany's influential Information and Forschung research, the outburst of coronavirus could cost the economy from €255 to €729 billion in the year 2020.The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus is 22,672, with 86 fatal cases at press time.March 23, 3:16 a.m.: The parent company of Primark announced that it would be closing all of its stores across the world, which would lead to a monthly loss of around $760 million worth of net sales. It added that it would stop placing new orders with suppliers. The company estimates that it will be able to recover around 50% of total operating costs.March 23, 2:50 a.m.: Norway's foreign ministry announced on Monday that the United Nations would be creating a fund to support the treatment of coronavirus patients worldwide. The Fund will support developing countries with weak health systems and also handle the long-term consequences.Across the world, almost 340,000 people have been infected by COVID-19, and more than 14,500 have died.March 23, 2:22 a.m.: On Monday, Airbus announced a €15 billion credit facility to strengthen its liquidity access amid the pandemic's impact on the global aerospace industry. To protect the future of the company, the aircraft manufacturer added that it would pull out its 2019 dividend proposal with a total cash value of almost €1.4 billion. March 23, 1:55 a.m.: The South Korea auto industry, which employs almost 12% of the country's workforce, will be supported by the government amid the outbreak of the coronavirus. It would provide logistical and financial support, speed up customs clearance, arrange freight transportation, and liquidity support.With a warning of disruptions to supply chains from Europe and the United States, South Korean exports are expected to diminish in April and May after rising 10% year-on-year in the first 20 days of March.March 22, 10:19 p.m.: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated for the first time on Monday that he may consider postponing the Summer Olympics 2020 from its earlier scheduled date of July 24. The announcement comes amid many countries and athletes seeking for the games to be postponed.March 22, 10:11 p.m.: Canada is the first country to withdraw its athletes from the Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for the summer of 2020. Amid the rising coronavirus fears, unless the games are postponed, the country would not send their athletes, The Canadian Olympic Committee said."This is not solely about athlete health - it is about public health," Team Canada said in a statement.March 22, 9:47 p.m.: The Federal government has activated the National Guard to aid the three worst-hit states in the U.S. - New York, California, and Washington, against the COVID-19 impact, President Donald Trump announced. March 22, 8:59 p.m.: Led by the deep impact of the coronavirus epidemic, a record 30.1% drop is expected in the U.S. gross domestic product in the second quarter, as estimated by Morgan Stanley economists.With economic activity coming to a halt, unemployment is also expected to come in at an average of 12.8% for the quarter.March 22: A more than $1-trillion coronavirus relief bill failed a procedural vote in the Senate Sunday evening.Democrats had objected to the bill's provisions, with CNBC reporting that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the legislation had "many, many problems" and benefited corporations more than hospitals, health care workers, cities and states. Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, announced Sunday that he tested positive for the virus. > Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person.> > -- Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020March 22, 6:51 p.m.: S&P 500 futures fell by 5% and hit limit down Sunday. Dow Jones futures were down 5.01% at the time of publication and Nasdaq futures were down 4.88%. March 22, 3:18 p.m.: The U.S. unemployment rate could reach 30% in the second quarter and the gross domestic product could fall by half, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said in an interview published Sunday by Bloomberg. "This is a planned, organized partial shutdown of the U.S. economy in the second quarter," he told the publication. "The overall goal is to keep everyone, households and businesses, whole."March 22, 12:58 p.m.: 3M Co (NYSE: MMM) Chairman and CEO Mike Roman said more than 500,000 respirators are en route from the company's South Dakota plant to New York and Seattle.The company has ramped up N95 respirator production levels to the max and doubled output to a rate of 1.1 billion per year, Roman said in a statement. Of the 35 million respirators being produced per month in the U.S., 90% are designated for health care workers, and the remainder are going to other critical industries such as energy, food and pharmaceutical companies, he said. "Like everyone, I see the pleas from our heroic doctors, nurses and first responders for the respirators and other equipment they desperately need. I want people to know we are doing all we can to meet the demands of this extraordinary time and get supplies from our plants to where they're most needed as quickly as possible."March 21: The FDA said Saturday that it issued an emergency use authorization for the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test. The test will give Americans results in hours rather than days, and Cepheid is planning to roll the test out by March 30, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. "With new tools like point-of-care diagnostics, we are moving into a new phase of testing, where tests will be much more easily accessible to Americans who need them."March 20, 2:50 p.m.: Olympic Swimmer Jacob Pebly Calls To Suspend Olympic Swimming Trials> View this post on Instagram > > Links: - Study: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf - Implications of study, per the UM Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/modeling-study-suggests-18-months-covid-19-social-distancing-much> > A post shared by Jacob Pebley (@jacob.pebley) on Mar 19, 2020 at 1:22pm PDT March 20: 4 Senators Dumped Millions In Stock Weeks Before Coronavirus Pandemic Hit U.S.Republican senators Richard Burr, Kelly Loeffler and James Inhofe, along with democrat Dianne Feinstein, dumped stocks worth millions ahead of the financial markets plunge in the United States in February, multiple reports suggested Thursday.March 20, 2:02 a.m.: According to the National Health Commission, China recorded 39 new imported cases on Friday. Out of these, 14 were found in Guangdong, eight in Shanghai, and six in Beijing.China's current focus is to protect the mainland from foreign cases as the coronavirus Europe and North America spread is spreading at an unprecedented pace.March 20, 2:00 a.m.: Whole Foods employee was detected positive with the coronavirus and was placed under quarantine. The store located in New York City was closed early Wednesday for additional cleaning and disinfection.Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh said that they continue to be operational nationwide, with deliveries being limited due to increased demand.March 20, 1:38 a.m.: According to the data compiled by AFP from official sources, Italy (3,405 deaths) has surpassed China (3,245 deaths) with the biggest deaths from coronavirus. On Thursday alone, 427 fatalities were recorded.As the toll surged in Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the national lockdown would be extended till April 3.March 20, 1:23 a.m.: Four republican senators are being accused of offloading millions of dollars in stocks after being briefed on the coronavirus outbreak, The Sun reported. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, and Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe are the four names.March 19, 10:17 p.m.: In order to support U.S. businesses, its employees and the American public, Senate Republicans on Thursday formally announced a trillion economic stimulus plan.The package would include direct payments to Americans under a certain income threshold, $200 billion in loans to airlines and distressed industry sectors, and $300 billion in forgivable bridge loans for small businesses.March 19, 10:04 p.m.: California Governor has issued a statewide stay-at-home order starting Thursday evening for its 40 million residents. Similar orders have been issued in the past few days across the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles. Residents are ordered to leave home only for essential activities.As of Thursday, confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. stood at 11,500.March 19, 9:55 p.m.: The U.S. Department of Energy plans to buy up to 30 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by the end of June.This is in accordance with President Donald Trump's directive to fill the emergency stockpile supporting domestic crude producers.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Fox Business that amid dropping prices due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he would tell Trump to take advantage of low oil prices and ask Congress for $10 billion to $20 billion to fill up the SPR for the long term.March 19, 9:10 p.m.: Amid the already plunging stock markets led by the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump's administration has ordered state labor officials to delay the release of the exact unemployment figures.Protecting the public and financial market sentiment, the Labor Department has been instructed to provide information using generalities to describe claims levels like - very high, large increase.March 19, 9:06 p.m.: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) announced that it would immediately donate 6 million doses of malaria med hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets through wholesalers to U.S. hospitals in order to support the medication for COVID-19. The company expects to ship these by the end of March, and it would ship more than 10 million tablets within a month's time.March 19, 7:06 p.m.: As per the White House statement, President Donald Trump has annulled the in-person G7 summit amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The summit, which was scheduled for June at the David Camp, will now be conducted through a video teleconference.As of Thursday, confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. stood at 11,500.March 19, 4:06 p.m.: The U.S. State Department is warning American citizens to avoid all international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.> JUST IN: The US State Department is warning American citizens to avoid all international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is the department's highest-level travel alert. https://t.co/JpUP9ETvFR> > -- CNN Business (@CNNBusiness) March 19, 2020March 19, 3:04 p.m.: The federal government is preparing for the possibility the coronavirus pandemic could last up to 18 months or longer and "include multiple waves of illness," a report obtained by CNN shows, as the number of the cases in the US surpassed 11,000. While the document does not say the Trump administration believes the pandemic will last that long, it indicates officials have to assume a longer timeline to ensure preparedness.March 19, 11:46 a.m.: Headlines From President Trump's Press Conference * Trump Says Will Be Able To Make Malaria Drug 'Almost Immediately' By Prescriptions Or Through States * Trump Says U.S. Is Also Pursuing Anti-Viral Therapies In Addition To Vaccines * Trump Discusses Melaria Treatment Hydroxychloroquine, Sold Under Brand Name Plaquenil (Among Others) By Teva (NASDAQ: TEVA) As Potential Treatment For Coronavirus * Trump Mentions Regeneron At Coronavirus Task Force Presser, Discusses Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) As Near Approval Via FDA, Then Highlights Regeneron Trial (NASDAQ: REGN)March 18, 11:52 p.m.: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut interest rates to a record low 0.25% after slashing the rate to 0.5% earlier this month. It also announced a money-printing program for the first time in its history to combat the coronavirus-driven recessionThe RBA will buy Australian government bonds as part of its first-ever quantitative easing program, and provide a three-year funding facility to provide cheap loans for Australian banks.March 18, 11:12 p.m.: As per the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications data, Japan's core consumer price index (inflation), which includes oil products but excludes volatile fresh food prices, grew 0.6% in February.Amid falling energy prices and the coronavirus outbreak, the pace was slower than an 0.8% rise in January and matched economists' median estimate for a 0.6% rise.March 18, 11:04 p.m.: New York City now has 1,871 cases of the COVID-19 with 11 deaths, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an interview on Wednesday. He also clarified his stance on sheltering in place after telling New Yorkers on Tuesday that they should be prepared to do so in order to stem the spread of the virus.March 18, 10 p.m.: For the first time since the coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan, China reported no new cases on Wednesday and Hubei has had no new infections for almost two weeks. As per the state-backed China Daily, the city at the epicenter of the outbreak is expected to see new coronavirus infections dry up by mid-to-late March and the lockdown of the city may be lifted once there are no new cases for 14 days.March 18, 9:50 pm: Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG) said it is suspending production at its factories effective Wednesday through March 29. The move, which came in after one of its workers was infected with the coronavirus, will impact around 2,000 employees at its U.S. factories. Employees will be temporarily laid off but would still receive medical benefits.March 18, 5:10 p.m.: Italy recorded 475 deaths due to the coronavirus in a single day, the highest since the outbreak. Italy is the world's most affected country after China, with almost 3,000 deaths to date.Italy has a total of 35,713 confirmed cases. More than 4,000 people there have recovered. March 18, 4:46 p.m.: After two people tested positive for the coronavirus at NYSE screenings set up this week, the exchange decided that effective March 23 it will temporarily close its historic trading floor and move fully to electronic trading.This is the first time the physical trading floor of the Big Board has ever shut independently while electronic trading continues.As of Wednesday, confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. surged to 7,324 in total, with the death toll climbing to 115, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.March 18, 8:45 p.m.: Trump signed a bill providing paid sick leave, free testing and other benefits. A relief package to provide sick leave, unemployment benefits, free coronavirus testing, and food and medical aid to people affected by the pandemic, was signed into law by Trump Wednesday evening after the Senate passed it by a wide margin. It was approved by the House last week.March 18, 8:45 p.m.: Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ben McAdams have become the first members of Congress to test positive for coronavirus, a grim new indicator of the virus' aggressive spread. "On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms including a fever and headache. Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19," his office said in a news release. The Florida Republican said in a statement that he is "feeling much better" but urged the public to take the virus "extremely seriously."March 18, 4:12 p.m.: The Senate passed the House's coronavirus aid package on Wednesday, sending it to President Trump, who is expected to sign it. Senators voted 90-8 on the bill that passed the House in a middle-of-the-night Saturday vote but needed dozens of pages of corrections and changes, which cleared the chamber on Monday. The measure, which the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates will cost $104 billion, is the second package that Congress has passed amid growing concerns about the widespread coronavirus outbreak in the United States that has already bludgeoned the economy.March 18, 2:27 p.m.: The Big 3 Detroit car companies have agreed to temporarily shut down factories in the U.S. to protect workers against the rapidly spreading coronavirus, according to people familiar with the matter, in an unprecedented work stoppage that will affect more than 150,000 factory employees.March 18, 2:15 p.m.: Vice President Pence said during a White House press conference Wednesday that hospitals should move to delay elective procedures, as the nation's medical system scrambles to deal with those sickened by the coronavirus.Also: The White House is asking Congress for a $1 trillion coronavirus relief and economic stimulus plan that would include industry-specific bailouts and payments to individual taxpayers.March 18, 12:49 p.m.: President Donald Trump said during Wednesday's White House press briefing that he will be invoking the Defense Production Act to help make up for potential medical supply shortages as the US battles the coronavirus pandemic.March 18, 11:22 a.m.: Cannes Film Festival has been postponed until October, according to a statement by Cannes organizers. The festival, originally scheduled for June 22 through 26, said it now plans to reschedule to October 26 through 30. Conference organizers said earlier that passes, sponsorship arrangements, and bookings will roll over and remain valid.March 18, 10:01 a.m.: The U.S. and Canada will mutually close their borders for non-essential travel, as announced by President Trump on twitter.> We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!> > -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020March 18, 2:55 a.m.: Chinese medical authorities have revealed that a drug - favipiravir, used in Japan to treat new strains of influenza appeared to be effective in coronavirus patients. The drug, which was developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm Toyota Chemical, had produced encouraging outcomes in clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzhen involving 340 patients.Patients, with mild and moderate symptoms of the coronavirus, given this medicine, turned negative in a median of four days as compared to 11 days without the drug. Japanese health ministry source suggested the drug was not as effective in people with more severe symptoms.March 18, 12:27 a.m.: According to the International Air Transport Association, the global airline industry needs government aid and bailout measures totaling between $150 billion and $200 billion in order to survive the coronavirus crisis.The warning came as governments around the world indicated that they're actively exploring proposals to save airlines, with Italy's plans to re-nationalize Alitalia among the most advanced. March 18, 12:21 a.m.: As per Goldman Sachs Research estimates, the global GDP growth forecast for 2020 was cut to 1.25%, implying a recession worse than the one seen in 1991 and 2001. Amid the coronavirus spread, disruptions to the global economy are increasing.The bank now sees the U.S. economy contracting by 5% in the second quarter and has slashed China's first-quarter estimate to -9% year-on-year from +2.5% previously.March 17, 11:43 p.m.: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday declared a "human biosecurity emergency" and said the country's citizens should abandon all overseas travel because of the coronavirus epidemic. The formal declaration gives the government the power to close off cities or regions, impose curfews, and order people to quarantine, if deemed necessary.Australia has recorded around nearly 500 coronavirus infections and six deaths.March 17, 11:26 p.m.: Amid the rapidly spreading coronavirus, department stores Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Saks Fifth Avenue are closing all stores while keeping online stores open. All the stores would remain closed for two weeks unless otherwise instructed by the government or public health officials.Macy's said it would close all stores, including Bloomingdale's locations, through March 31 and provide benefits and compensation to its impacted workforce.March 17, 11:00 p.m.: Finance Ministry data released on Wednesday revealed that Japan's February exports slipped 1% year-over-year for the 15th consecutive month. This was mainly due to a decline in U.S. and China-bound shipments of cars and metal processing machinery, respectively, amid the coronavirus epidemic.Imports from China slumped 47.1% from the previous year, seeing their biggest drop since August 1986. This led to Japan's trade balance recording a surplus of $10.34 billion, largest since September 2007.March 17, 10:51 p.m.: After the Philippines closed its financial markets on Tuesday, the country exempted its financial trading platforms from strict coronavirus quarantine procedures and paved the way for stock trading resumption from Thursday.The currency and bond markets were allowed to reopen as early as Wednesday, although they are yet to announce an exact date.March 17, 10:35 p.m.: Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) on Tuesday sought for $60 billion in government loan guarantees and other assistance for the struggling U.S. aerospace manufacturing industry, which faces huge losses from the coronavirus pandemic.It further added that it needs significant government support to meet liquidity needs as it cannot raise that in current market conditions.March 17, 10:30 p.m.: According to a report by Jack Myers, the coronavirus outbreak is likely to erode as much as billion from the advertising and marketing budgets in 2020. Myers, who has been tracking the ad spend market since the 1980s, has tripled his forecast from the earlier estimated $1 billion.With people forced to spend more time at home, streaming video platforms like Hulu, Pluto, Roku, and Direct TV could see ad spending grow 42% higher than the earlier estimated 38% growth.March 17, 10:22 p.m.: European football's governing body UEFA said that it would be delaying the European Championship until 2021, due to be played in June-July 2020.The announcement came after UEFA held crisis talks with national associations as well as clubs and players bodies via videoconference, as Europe is combating the coronavirus pandemic. With the postponement, all domestic competitions currently on hold due to the can now be completed as they have a commitment to finish club seasons by June 30.March 17, 10:15 p.m.: The global dairy auction saw prices plunging to their lowest level in more than a year as the coronavirus outbreak disturbed buying. The average price at the overnight auction fell 3.95 to $2980 a tonne, following the 1.2% fall in the previous auction two weeks ago.March 17, 9:52 p.m.: World Bank on Tuesday said that it had increased its fast-track financing for members to combat the global coronavirus epidemic by $2 billion, taking the total amount to $14 billion.A significant portion of the funding would be used by client financial institutions so that they can continue to offer trade financing, working capital, and medium-term financing to private firms struggling with disruptions in supply chains.March 17, 9:37 p.m.: With the coronavirus outbreak leading to the shift of dates in French Open, the U.S. Open also followed suit, saying it's open to the "possibility of moving the tournament to a later date." Roland Garros pushed its dates ahead by almost three months.The Open said it would make such a move only in "full consultation with the other Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP, the ITF, and its partners, including the Laver Cup."March 17, 9:21 p.m.: At its annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday, South Korea tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said that it expects higher demand and limited supply for computer chips despite the coronavirus pandemic and the U.S.-China trade war damaging major markets in Europe and the U.S.March 17, 9:00 p.m.: American Chamber of Commerce in South China survey shows 32% of firms in China's southern manufacturing hub are facing a supply shortage, while 15% have already run out of some supplies driven by the widespread coronavirus.Supplies from within China have been most disrupted, followed by the United States, Asia Pacific, and the European Union. However, the situation within China is expected to recover quickly, while global disruption is expected to worsen as the virus spreads.March 17, 7:25 p.m.: Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) suffered a massive bug in its News Feed spam filter that blocked links to legitimate websites, including Medium, Buzzfeed, and USA Today. The issue blocked shares of some but not all coronavirus-related content, while some unrelated links are allowed through, and others are not.A company spokesperson said that they are looking into the matter and working as quickly as possible to share information.March 17: 4:07 p.m.: Four Nets players test positive for COVID-19. "Of the four, one player is exhibiting symptoms while three are asymptomatic," the team added in a statement. "All four players are presently isolated and under the care of team physicians."March 17, 11:51 a.m.: UK confirmed coronavirus cases rise 26% to 1,950 in past 24 hours> UK confirmed coronavirus cases rise 26% to 1,950 in past 24 hours pic.twitter.com/RfgUrXMUwD> > -- Reuters (@Reuters) March 17, 2020March 17: Trump Administration Pitches 0-Billion Coronavirus Stimulus PackageU.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will ask Senate Republicans for an $850-billion stimulus package on Tuesday intended to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.This plan includes roughly $50 billion for the struggling airline industry, the newspaper said.March 17, 4:22 a.m.: Volkswagen confirmed on Tuesday that its European plants are preparing for a shutdown of at least two weeks, mainly led by supply-chain constraints amidst coronavirus outbreak.The carmaker confirmed that 31 of its 33 Chinese production sites were back up-and-running. The company refused to issue a precise outlook for 2020, saying, "it is virtually impossible to issue a reliable forecast."March 17, 3:26 a.m.: France Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday that the country's measures to help companies and employees fight the coronavirus storm would cost €45 billion. Also, ammunition would include €300 billion of French state guarantees for bank loans to businesses.Mr. Le Maire added that the French government was assuming the economy would narrow down by almost 1% in 2020, instead of growing more than 1% as earlier estimated.March 17, 2:00 a.m.: U.S. drugmaker Pfizer has signed a deal with Germany's BioNTech SE to co-develop a potential vaccine for the coronavirus using BioNTech's mRNA-based drug development platform, the companies said on Tuesday.March 17, 12:23 a.m.: Thailand recorded 30 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, taking the total to 177, an official from the Ministry of Public Health said. He further added that Eleven of the new cases are connected to a crowded boxing match that saw a large number of coronavirus cases, while other cases are those that worked closely with foreigners.March 17, 12:19 a.m.: Amazon.com announced that it would hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the U.S. in order to handle the rising online orders. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, many consumers have turned to the web to meet their needs.Like Amazon, U.S. supermarket chains Albertsons, Kroger and Raley's have sought new hires to staff busy sections and fulfill online orders.March 17, 12:17 a.m.: Tesla CEO Elon Musk told its employees in an email that they don't have to come to work if they're sick or concerned about the coronavirus. To his knowledge, Musk said that no Tesla employees have tested positive for COVID-19."Much is made of public gatherings, but please be cautious of family gatherings, too," he said. "What is relatively harmless to a child can be dangerous to grandparents."March 16, 11:45 p.m.: Japan's economy narrowed at a 7.1% annualized rate in October-December with economists expecting another contraction in the current period.According to the Reuters Tankan survey, Japanese business confidence plunged to decade lows in March amid the coronavirus outbreak. The sentiment index at manufacturers fell to minus 20 in March from minus 5 in the previous month, while the service-sector gauge dropped 25 points to minus 10, the poll showed. A negative figure means pessimists outnumber optimists.March 16, 11:18 p.m.: As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the globe and more governments lock down borders, there is a clear shift in the epicenter with cases outside China surpassing those inside it.The central Chinese city of Wuhan that was the former epicenter where the viral illness was first detected in December, was down to just one new case on Tuesday. Overall, China reported 21 new cases of the virus on Tuesday, 20 of them imported.China this week relaxed travel restrictions in Hubei, sending thousands of workers back to long-shuttered factories. March 16, 11:06 p.m.: According to the state planner, China's economy will return to normal in the second quarter as government support measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus epidemic take effect. Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) also told reporters during a briefing that China has ample policy tools and will roll out relevant measures at an appropriate time.March 16, 9:47 p.m.: In response to the wide impact of the coronavirus epidemic, the Philippines became the first country to halt its stock, bond and currency trading effective Tuesday, until further notice. The virus has infected at least 140 people in the Philippines and killed a dozen.The US-listed exchange-traded fund that tracks the Philippine market plunged 19.5% on Monday after the bourse announced it was shutting.March 16, 9:14 p.m.: As the coronavirus spreads rapidly across the U.S., The House unanimously passed a revised coronavirus emergency bill sending it to the Senate to take it up. The Senate could take up The House's multi-billion package as early as Tuesday.March 16, 9:33 p.m.: Amid the battle to combat the coronavirus outbreak, New Zealand has announced a .1 billion (representing 4% of GDP) economic rescue package. A major share of $5.1 billion will be for wage subsidies for affected businesses in all sectors and regions, effective Tuesday.A dedicated $500 million fund for health was also announced. It includes extra intensive care capacity and equipment for hospitals, support for GPs and primary care and improving video conferencing and telehealth consultations.March 16, 7:46 p.m.: To combat the coronavirus outbreak, the California Legislature approved up to billion in new spending on Monday and further suspended work for the next month amid efforts to contain the illness.Lawmakers agreed on Monday to stay away until April 13, the first unexpected work stoppage in 158 years. But legislative leaders in either chamber can decide to reconvene, and they can extend the recess if necessary.March 16, 4:00 p.m.: President Trump has advised to not hold gatherings of more than 10 individuals for the next 15 days. He also said the economy might already be in a recession and that the CDC has recommended people stop visiting bars and restaurants, but he didn't go as far as to mandate that they shut down.March 16, 2:45 p.m.: Actor Idris Elba announces he has tested positive for COVID-19> This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I'm doing No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ> -- Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020March 16, 2:00 p.m.: The MLB has announced it is suspending opening season:> MLB statement pic.twitter.com/kQ2YqEkBH1> > -- Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) March 16, 2020March 16, 12:56 p.m.: Coronavirus vaccine test opens as U.S. volunteer gets first shot, according to The Associated Press.March 16, 9:30 a.m.: Trading was halted at the market open as the S&P fell down 7% and triggered a ciruit breaker.March 16, 8:51 a.m.: Health and Human Services has suffered a cyber attack, according to Bloomberg. "The attack appears to have been intended to slow the agency's systems down, but didn't do so in any meaningful way, said the people, who asked for anonymity to discuss an incident that was not public"March 16, 4:24 a.m.: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Monday that the government would create a $4 billion anti-crisis fund to shield its economy from the coronavirus epidemic.He further added that new support measures would include tax breaks for tourism and airline companies and that Russia would expand its preferential loans program for businesses.Russia may miss its growth targets this year as a sharp drop in the oil price, the country's main export, has led the ruble sinking to four-year lows against the dollar.March 16, 4:00 a.m.: With retail, manufacturing sectors facing rising input costs, an outbreak of coronavirus is estimated to cost the Egyptian economy $6.4 billion in the first quarter.Tourism, aviation and real estate sectors were impacted the most, according to Abdel El Moneem El Sayed, Chairman of Cairo Centre for Economic and Strategic Studies. "If the economic impact spills over into the second quarter, this figure is expected to double," he further added.March 16, 3:03 a.m.: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday revealed a year-over-year dip of 13.5% in China industrial output for January - February, during the coronavirus outbreak. It's the fastest pace of decline in three decades, which reflects greater damage than the global financial crisis. China's jobless rate rose to 6.2% in February, compared with 5.2% in December and the highest since the official records were published.March 16, 3:00 a.m.: New York and Los Angeles city mayors ordered restaurants, gyms, theaters, bars and movie theaters closed in an effort to contain the epidemic. Only via delivery or take-out options would be available for selling food.Separately, New York City would shut the U.S. largest public school system as early as Tuesday, sending over 1.1 million children home. MGM resorts announced that all Las Vegas casinos would be closed until further notice.March 16, 1:30 a.m.: After the U.S. interest rate cut overnight, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided on additional easing measures at a policy board meeting on Monday amid coronavirus outbreak.BOJ decided to raise the annual corporate bond purchase target by ¥2 trillion and to introduce a new corporate loan plan.March 16, 1:15 a.m.: Turkey Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Monday that the country had recorded 12 new cases making it the highest daily rise since it announced its first case last week.March 16, 12:34 a.m.: While Google is still working on a coronavirus screening and tracking website, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Bing team has already launched a web portal for tracking COVID-19 infections worldwide.The COVID-19 Tracker, accessible at bing.com/covid, currently lists 168,835 as total confirmed cases, 84,558 active cases, 77,761 recovered cases and 6,516 deaths. March 16, 12:07 a.m.: A clinical trial for a vaccine against the coronavirus will begin on Monday at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. The first participants (45 young, healthy volunteers) will be funded by the National Institutes of Health, and it would take 12 to 18 months to fully validate any potential vaccine.At the same time, Israeli scientists are on the verge of developing a vaccine themselves, The Jerusalem Post reported. They have been for the last four years already developing a vaccine against infectious bronchitis virus, which affects poultry.March 15, 11:15 p.m.: Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google has partnered with the U.S. government to launch a nationwide website on Monday dedicated to coronavirus health information, education, prevention, and local resources.Also, Alphabet's life sciences company Verily is collaborating with the California Governor's office, federal, state and local public health authorities to launch a pilot of a COVID-19 testing website in the San Francisco Bay Area Monday. The pilot program will begin in the Bay Area because it has the highest volume of known cases.March 15, 10:25 p.m.: The hardest hit in European countries, Italy recorded 368 new coronavirus deaths - its largest number of fatalities in a day since the start of the outbreak.March 15, 9:44 p.m.: The Financial Services Forum, which represents eight of the nation's largest banks, agreed to stop buying back their own shares through the second quarter.Amidst the coronavirus epidemic, the banks said that they would focus on supporting individuals, small businesses and the broader economy through lending and other important services. The eight banks, which include JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), had earlier decided to repurchase $119 billion of shares in the four quarters.March 15, 9:35 p.m.: The Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe made a statement that "the bank stands ready to purchase Australian government bonds in the secondary market to support the smooth functioning of that market, which is a key pricing benchmark for the Australian financial system."March 15, 9:13 p.m.: In the early stages of the 2020 Democratic debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, coronavirus dominated with the White House hopefuls portraying to be better equipped to handle the crisis than President Donald Trump.March 15, 6:56 p.m.: With 14 new cases of the coronavirus in Australia's capital Victoria reported overnight, a state of emergency has been declared to contain the spread. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and South Australia also declared a state of emergency as total cases in the continent stand at 300.Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the national 14-day isolation sanction for all travelers into Australia.March 15, 5:14 p.m.: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates to 0-0.25% amid coronavirus pandemic.March 15, 3:53 p.m.: According to Public Health England (PHE), every four in five are expected to contract the coronavirus in the U.K. With the epidemic rising, almost 80% of the population is estimated to be infected in the next 12 months. It may lead to 7.9 million (15% of the population) people requiring hospitalization lasting until next spring. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, says, " it will dip in the summer, towards the end of June, and come back in November, in the way that usual seasonal flu does. I think it will be around forever, but become less severe over time, as immunity builds up."March 15, 2:20 p.m.: President Trump tested negative for the novel coronavirus. "Last night, after an in-depth discussion with the President regarding COVID-19 testing, he elected to proceed," Sean Conley, the physician to the president, said in a statement released by the White House. "This evening I received confirmation that the test is negative."March 15, 9 a.m.: Nike (NYSE: NKE) will close its retail stores across the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand through March 27.March 14, 5 p.m.: Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) will shorten hours at its retail outlets and also suspend yoga classes and run clubs.March 14, 12:31 p.m.: President Trump, at a Saturday White House press conference, says he has been tested for the coronavirus and the test will be completed in the next few days.The Trump administration also confirmed it will be adding Ireland and the U.K. to the list of countries on the coronavirus travel ban.March 14, 11 a.m.: Apple announced it will be closing all retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27.March 13, 3:33 p.m.: President Trump declares national emergency over coronavirus. The emergency declaration will make $50 billion available for states, Trump said from the White House Rose Garden The money can be used for a variety of needs, such as paying for tests, supplies, vaccination and extra help from medical workers, he said.March 13, 1:32 p.m.: Louisiana becomes first state to postpone Democratic primary.> BREAKING Louisiana 1st US state to postpone Democratic primary over virus: official pic.twitter.com/hKPEo4QOEt> > -- AFP news agency (@AFP) March 13, 2020March 13, 11:07 a.m.: President Trump announced he will hold a press conference at the White House at 3 p.m. EST to address the coronavirus pandemic.> I will be having a news conference today at 3:00 P.M., The White House. Topic: CoronaVirus!> > -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2020March 13, 10:06 a.m.: The PGA has cancelled The Masters and has posted a statement to their official Twitter account.> Statement from Chairman Ridley:> > "Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone @TheMasters, @anwagolf and @DriveChipPutt National Finals."> > Full details at https://t.co/FX2AN1MLsY pic.twitter.com/Z2DjS5TYdG> > -- The Masters (@TheMasters) March 13, 2020March 13, 9:10 a.m.: The FDA has granted "emergency use" to a new coronavirus test that could prove to be up to 10-times faster than current tests, as reported by Bloomberg.Also, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has reopened all its stores in China as cases of the virus steadily decline.March 13, 3:48 a.m.: Kenya's Minister of Health Mutahi Kagwe announced that the first case of the coronavirus has been confirmed in the country, reported Reuters. The patient, who was diagnosed March 12, had traveled to Kenya from the U.S. via London.Kagwe said that the government has taken preventative measures and is monitoring the patient who is stable, reported Standard Media. They are also in the process of tracing all the people who've been in contact with the patient. March 13, 2:45 a.m.: Australia's Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton announced on Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus.March 13, 2:08 a.m.: Google reported that an employee from one of its South India offices, in Bengaluru, has been confirmed positive with COVID-19. Employees from the office have been requested to work from home.March 13, 12:50 a.m.: China's Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has recorded five new cases on Friday with no locally transmitted infections in the rest of the country, reported ABS-CBN News.National Health Commission reported that for the second time in a row, the count is less than 10 with the previous day recording 8 cases. "Broadly speaking, the peak of the epidemic has passed for China," commission spokesman Mi Feng said, according to Reuters.March 12, 10:00 p.m.: Italy's Civil Protection Agency said that the country's death toll from the coronavirus has surged 23% to 1,016 in the past 24 hours, with a total of 5,113 people infected.March 12, 5:38 p.m.: The opening race of the 2020 Formula One season, Grand Prix in Melbourne scheduled for Sunday, has been canceled amid rising coronavirus fears.McLaren pulled out of the race after a member of its crew tested positive for coronavirus while in Melbourne.March 12, 4:45 p.m.: Disneyland (NYSE: DIS) California and California Adventure will close through April starting Saturday.March Madness has been officially cancelled.> Turner Sports and CBS Sports Joint Statement on Cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament: pic.twitter.com/pBpzxUs5fL> > -- March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) March 12, 2020March 12, 3:00 p.m.: The U.S. Federal Reserve announced a new plan to pump trillion in additional liquidity into the financial system."These changes are being made to address highly unusual disruptions in Treasury financing markets associated with the coronavirus outbreak," the Fed said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.March 12, 1:35 p.m.: The National Hockey League said it is pausing its 2019-20 regular season due to coronavirus concerns, with 189 games remaining. March 12, 1:15 p.m.: Intercontinental Exchange Inc (NYSE: ICE), which owns the NYSE, adopted early precautions to preempt the spread of the coronavirus. It called off tours, blocked visitors and cancelled the traditional executive bell-ringing.March 12, 12:30 p.m.: Dr Robert Redfield, head of CDC, has committed the department to cover the full cost of testing and isolation for any and all Americans regardless of insurance.March 12, 12 p.m.: The Big 10 has cancelled the remainder of the Big Ten tournamentThe Big Ten Conference announced today that it will be canceling the remainder of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, effective immediately.> The Big Ten Conference announced today that it will be canceling the remainder of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, effective immediately.https://t.co/MeQMNScXKQ> > -- Big Ten Conference (@bigten) March 12, 2020March 12, 11:15 a.m.: Coronavirus expert Dr. Fauci and CDC head Dr. Redfield testify before HouseMarch 12, 11 a.m.: Joe Biden To Address Coronavirus From HometownBiden plans to deliver a speech Thursday from his hometown in Wilmington, Del., on the coronavirus pandemic, an effort to show leadership on an issue that has become central to the campaign while President Trump faces criticism for having played down the severity of the global crisis.March 12, 9 a.m.: Carnival Corp's (NYSE: CCL) Princess Cruises has taken the initiative and announced a voluntary pause of worldwide cruises for 60 days due to the coronavirus spread.Princess Cruises says it plans to be back in operation by May 11.March 12, 7 a.m.: The global coronavirus pandemic is likely to be over by June, according to Zhong Nanshan, the Chinese government's senior medical adviser.Also: What You'll Need To Have At Home In Case Of Quarantine March 11, 9:31 p.m.: The NBA suspends its season until further notice after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.March 11, 9:14 p.m.: Actor Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife Rite have contracted the coronavirus.March 11, 9:05 p.m.: President Donald Trump declared a 30-day travel ban from Europe to the United States, effective March 13.March 11, 4:45 p.m. ET: NCAA President Mark Emmert said NCAA Division I basketball tournament games will be played without fans in the arenas.March 11: The World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus as a pandemic. The organization defines a pandemic as a disease that has become widespread around the world. WHO is "deeply concerned" by the "spread and severity" of the virus, said director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom.All The Major Events Canceled By Coronavirus The Latest: The Latest: MLB and NHL Suspends Seasons Also: Sandler Joins Chorus Of Entertainers To Postpone/Cancel Tours Adam Sandler decided to postpone his March tour dates. The will offer refunds, but promised that tickets will still be honored at a later date if they are not returned.Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus has called off a trip to Australia; Madonna shows in Paris have been cancelled after French authorities banned large gatherings; Pearl Jam postponed its U.S. and Canada tour.For the latest on events cancelled due to coronavirus, go here.How Coronavirus Has Grown In The U.S. Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 17Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 13Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 12Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 11Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 10Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 9Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 6Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 5Below is a snapshot of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North America as of March 4. Screenshot courtesy of Johns Hopkins University.See more from Benzinga * PreMarket Prep Stock Of The Day: Boeing * Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Gold Rises 5%; Signet Jewelers Shares Plummet * Evercore ISI Upgrades Square's Stock, Says Valuation Is 'Fair & Square'(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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| Economic Shutdown Is Estimated to Save 600,000 American Lives Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:25 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump is considering easing health directives that prevent the spread of the coronavirus in an attempt to contain economic fallout. A new analysis suggests that those measures are helping to save hundreds of thousands of lives.Economists led by Northwestern University's Martin Eichenbaum wrote that keeping social-distancing measures in place before the number of new virus cases declines -- in other words, before a peak in the infection rate -- could limit infections and prevent as many as 600,000 additional U.S. deaths.While the economic damage is deeper when optimal health measures are taken, a recession is unavoidable even without them, as infected people would stay at home to recover and millions die, the report shows."There is an inevitable trade-off between the severity of the recession and the health consequences of the epidemic," the economists wrote in a working paper distributed this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research.Under a worst-case scenario, with stores remaining open and no social isolation policies, as many as 215 million Americans could become infected and 2.2 million could die from the spread of the virus, the economists' data shows.That's based on an estimate from German Chancellor Angela Merkel that up to 70% of that country's population could become infected without a vaccine. It also matches the worst-case global estimate from Harvard University epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch.The Trump administration issued guidelines March 16 for Americans to follow in combating the spread of the coronavirus for 15 days, and that period ends at the end of the month.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Online posts falsely claim census response will lead to cash Posted: 23 Mar 2020 11:03 AM PDT |
| The new town hall: Anxiety, fear and few satisfying answers Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:34 AM PDT  A Michigan woman recounted for her congressman how she and her feverish 82-year-old husband were sent away from an almost empty emergency room after a fruitless, dayslong effort to get him tested for COVID-19. "That doesn't help me today," the man, identified only as William, told Rep. Andy Biggs on a telephone town hall on Thursday night, his voice rising. Across the country, anxious Americans are finding an audience for their questions -- if few answers -- in telephone town halls with their senators and representatives.
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| Vital meals help Holocaust survivors amid coronavirus crisis Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:31 AM PDT  Brooklyn caterer Israel Frischman is continuing to prepare dozens of meals for elderly Holocaust survivors even though the Jewish community center that provides them owes him money. The Nachas Health and Family Network in Brooklyn has been forced to suspend its counseling services, exercise classes and Torah lessons due to the coronavirus outbreak. Frischman and volunteer Freida Rothman are united by their roots and their cause.
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| Attacks in Libya kill 5 despite calls for pause in fighting Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:24 AM PDT |
| Mozambique jihadists seize key town in Cabo Delgado Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:21 AM PDT  Security forces are trying to retake the town where militants raised their flag at an army base.
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| Middle East pummeled by frequent rounds of flooding rain, severe weather Posted: 23 Mar 2020 10:03 AM PDT  As people around the globe battle the coronavirus pandemic, rounds of deadly flooding have gripped parts of the Middle East.The latest in a series of storms moved into the Middle East on Friday and swept across the region into Monday. The storm spread periods of rain and thunderstorms from the eastern Mediterranean coastline to the northern Arabian Sea.> کشته های سیل در ۲۴ ساعت گذشته به یازده نفر رسید > > سخنگوی سازمان مدیریت بحران: > ��کشتههای سیل ۲۴ ساعت گذشته در کشور به یازده نفر رسید. > ��از این تعداد از کشته شدگان ۲ نفر مادر و فرزند در بندر عباس، ۳نفر در استان فارس، ۳ نفر در کنارگ ،۳ نفر هم در قم و یک نفر در بوشهر جان خود را از... pic.twitter.com/bokw633L9l> > -- jonoub_fouri (@Jonoub_fouri) March 23, 2020The frequent rounds of heavy rain caused rivers to swell and floodwaters to fill streets in parts of the Middle East into the beginning of the week.Rainfall totals of 50 mm (2 inches) through the duration of the storm were common across the region with higher amounts reported in areas that endured prolonged and repeated downpours.CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APPKahnooj, Iran, reported 144 mm (5.67 inches) of rain from Sunday into Monday. In Kandahar, Afghanistan, 170 mm (6.69 inches) of rainfall was recorded in just 24 hours.Floodwaters rushed through Iran's southern provinces on Sunday, including Hormozgan, Fars, Bushehr, Qom, Gilan, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan. Iran's emergency spokesperson, Mojtaba Khaledi, announced that at least four people were killed and another three are still missing.Thunderstorms that developed along the Persian Gulf turned severe throughout the weekend and into the beginning of the week.A severe thunderstorm rolled through Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday evening and unleashed heavy downpours, strong winds, frequent lightning and hail.> A couple of shots during the sudden thunderstorm tonight in Dubai pic.twitter.com/UZToleyrzX> > -- مطر (@emadmutter) March 21, 2020After a couple of stray thunderstorms on Sunday, a heavy thunderstorm moved through Birjand, Iran, Monday afternoon and evening. The storm brought periods of heavy rainfall and a wind gust of 100 km/h (62 mph).Wind gusts up to 69 km/h (43 mph) in Zabol, Iran, picked up dust and dropped visibility as low as 1.4 km (less than 1 mile) late in the day on Monday.> �� خسارات سیل در بندر کنگان - بوشهر > �� @Jonoub_Fouri pic.twitter.com/mewZK3nz9E> > -- jonoub_fouri (@Jonoub_fouri) March 23, 2020On the northern side of the storm, colder air brought periods of accumulating snow to parts of eastern Turkey into the beginning of the weekend.Just days before the arrival of this storm, floodwaters swept through parts of Iraq.Outside of a few stray showers and thunderstorms, this week is forecast to be dry across the Middle East. However, by the end of the week, a storm is forecast to bring another round of rain and storms to the region.Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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| Syria's Assad discusses Idlib truce with Russian minister Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:43 AM PDT  Syria's president hosted Russia's defense minister on Monday to discuss a recent cease-fire in rebel-held northwestern Syria, which ended rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops. The cease-fire deal was brokered between Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. The deal halted a three-month Syrian government offensive into the country's last rebel stronghold.
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| U.N. chief calls for global truce so world can focus on coronavirus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:38 AM PDT  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic. "It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives," Guterres told a virtual news conference. The spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus has drawn comparisons with painful periods such as World War Two, the 2008 financial crisis and the 1918 Spanish flu.
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| UN chief urges immediate global cease-fire to fight COVID-19 Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:32 AM PDT  U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for an immediate cease-fire in conflicts around the world to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The U.N. chief said: "It is time to put armed conflict on lock-down and focus together on the true fight of our lives."
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| German Chancellor Merkel’s Initial Virus Test Is Negative Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:30 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel tested negative for the coronavirus according to an initial result, allaying concern over Germany's leadership as Europe confronts the spiraling pandemic."Further tests will be taken in the coming days" to confirm Merkel's health, her chief spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Merkel was in good health and, like many others, doing the job from home, he said earlier.Merkel quarantined herself late Sunday after learning that she had contact with a doctor who later tested positive for the virus. The doctor had administered a precautionary immunization against bacterial pneumonia for Merkel, 65, on Friday.The chancellor is leading by example as she tries to persuade Germans to take the threat of the virus seriously. While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also self-isolating, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his deputy Pablo Iglesias have both continued to attend cabinet meetings after their partners tested positive.Via video link, the German leader on Monday chaired an emergency cabinet meeting that signed off on an unprecedented package worth more than 750 billion euros ($800 billion) to buoy the economy.Shortly before she went into isolation, Merkel spoke at a news conference following consultations with regional leaders. She detailed new restrictions to try to contain the spread of the virus and was asked how she is dealing personally with the situation."I've canceled almost all appointments where people would have come into the chancellery or where I would have gone to people," she said Sunday. "So my life has also changed fundamentally and consists mainly of telephone and video conferences."For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Virus sends a nation of restaurant-goers back to the kitchen Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:28 AM PDT  Last Tuesday night in Tennessee, bluegrass musicians David and Virginia Blood were busy making sandwiches. In Pittsburgh, real estate agent Michelle Bushee was stirring a pot of homemade black-bean chili in her kitchen instead of shepherding curious buyers through potential dream homes. Marty Prudenti, whose nights are usually spent working backstage at New York City's Lincoln Center, was in his Long Island backyard grilling burgers for his twins.
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| First virus test negative for quarantined Merkel Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:12 AM PDT  Angela Merkel is "doing well" in self-imposed quarantine and awaiting further coronavirus testing after a first result came back negative, her spokesman said Monday. The veteran leader decided to self-isolate as a precaution after learning on Sunday that a doctor who vaccinated her last Friday was infected with the novel coronavirus. "The result of today's test was negative," her spokesman Steffen Seibert told DPA news agency.
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| Texas moves to ban most abortions due to virus outbreak Posted: 23 Mar 2020 09:06 AM PDT  The governor and attorney general of Texas are moving to ban most abortions in the state during the coronavirus outbreak, declaring they don't qualify as essential surgeries. Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday that the order issued over the weekend by Gov. Greg Abbott barred "any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother." Failure to comply with the order can result in penalties of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time, Paxton said.
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| G-20 Economy Chiefs Hold Emergency Call on Virus Action Plan Posted: 23 Mar 2020 07:39 AM PDT |
| Pompeo says Iran supreme leader 'lies' over virus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 07:02 AM PDT  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday accused Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of lying about the coronavirus pandemic as the Supreme Leader rejected US assistance for his hard-hit country. In a televised address Sunday, Khamenei described the United States as "charlatans" and charged that Washington could bring in a drug to keep the virus alive. Pompeo in a statement also used loaded language, accusing "Iran's chief terror airline" Mahan Air of bringing in what he called the "Wuhan virus" through its continued flights to China.
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| US, UAE troops hold major exercise amid virus, Iran tensions Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:45 AM PDT  AL-HAMRA MILITARY BASE, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. Marines and Emirati forces held a major military exercise Monday that saw forces seize a sprawling model Mideast city, a drill conducted amid tensions with Iran and despite the new coronavirus pandemic. Troops raced over the dunes of the Al-Hamra Military Base to take the model city, complete with multi-story buildings, an airport control tower, an oil refinery and a central mosque. Controlled explosions rang out as Emirati troops rappelled from hovering helicopters and Marines searched narrow streets on the Persian Gulf for "enemy" forces.
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| Germany Unleashes $800 Billion Package to Cushion Virus Blow Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:43 AM PDT |
| Australia Passes Massive Stimulus Measures as Virus Spreads Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:38 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Australia's parliament rushed through more than A$80 billion ($46.3 billion) in fiscal stimulus for the coronavirus-stricken economy at a special sitting in Canberra on Monday.Lawmakers passed the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Bill 2020, legislation aimed at saving businesses and jobs as the nation lurches toward its first recession since 1991. As the crisis continues, another injection is likely from the government."The Australian people can be reassured that tonight, their parliament reached across the political divide and passed the most significant set of measures since war-time," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a late night press conference. He added he was about to join a video conference call of Group of 20 finance ministers as the global economic response to the crisis ramps up.Australia's government and central bank have unleashed a massive shot of fiscal and monetary stimulus worth A$189 billion -- equivalent to 9.7% of the country's gross domestic product. The measures include cash payments of as much as A$100,000 to small businesses, loan guarantees, support for apprentices and a doubling of unemployment benefits. The worst-hit workers will also be allowed to access pension savings early.The legislation included an amendment that will allow some students access to coronavirus-related benefits, costing the budget at least an additional A$1.7 billion. The government on Monday also adjusted a discretionary spending fund that allows it to access as much A$40 billion for urgent matters, including extra health expenses.Earlier on Monday, a wave of newly unemployed workers rushed for financial aid and formed massive queues outside welfare-support offices, placing enormous pressure on government services. Non-essential services such as pubs, clubs and casinos have been ordered to close as the government tries to halt the spread of the virus.Preparing the country for at least six months of hardship, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all non-essential travel in Australia should now be canceled. He urged the country to heed social-distancing advice."The next few months are going to be a difficult journey," Morrison said. "But we all have a role to play to adapt to the changes we're facing, to cushion the impact of what is happening and to pull together so we can bounce back when we get to the other side."The Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates to a record 0.25% on Thursday and will aim to keep three-year government bond yields at the same level. The central bank has also announced a term funding facility of at least A$90 billion for the banking system to support business credit. In a complementary program, the government is investing up to A$15 billion to help smaller lenders support consumers and businesses.Morrison, who has described the coronavirus as a "once in a 100-year type of event," closed the nation's borders to non-residents on Friday and has banned indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.Cases of coronavirus in Australia reached 1,709 as at 3 p.m. on Monday, up 313 since 3 p.m. the day before.When parliament will sit again isn't clear. On Friday, Morrison announced the annual budget, originally due on May 12, is now scheduled for Oct. 6.(Adds Frydenberg announcing G-20 conference call in third paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Israeli high court orders parliament vote on new speaker Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:15 AM PDT  Israel's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the parliament speaker to hold an election for his successor by Wednesday, deepening a standoff between opponents and supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu's Likud party, the current speaker, had dismissed the court's call to hold a vote for his successor. In her decision, Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut said "the continued refusal to allow the vote in the Knesset plenum on the election of a permanent speaker is undermining the foundations of the democratic process."
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| How serious is the coronavirus crisis in Iran? Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:15 AM PDT  Even according to official figures, the coronavirus epidemic has killed over 1,800 people in Iran, prompting unprecedented measures that have included closing holy Shiite shrines. The crisis has come as the country faces one of its most troubled periods since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, with Iran increasingly estranged from the international community and its economy battered by American sanctions. Going by official data, Iran is the fourth-worst hit country after Italy, China and Spain.
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| In global fight vs. virus, over 1.5 billion told: Stay home Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:14 AM PDT  With masks, ventilators and political goodwill in desperately short supply, more than one-fifth of the world's population was ordered or urged to stay in their homes Monday at the start of what could be a pivotal week in the battle to contain the coronavirus in the U.S. and Europe. Partisan divisions stalled efforts to pass a colossal aid package in Congress, and stocks fell again on Wall Street even after the Federal Reserve said it will lend to small and large businesses and local governments to help them through the crisis. Warning that the outbreak is accelerating, the head of the World Health Organization called on countries to take strong, coordinated action.
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| Was Germany Right to Hoard Its Money After All? Posted: 23 Mar 2020 06:07 AM PDT |
| What you need to know today about the virus outbreak Posted: 23 Mar 2020 05:51 AM PDT  The head of the World Health Organization says the coronavirus outbreak is accelerating but insists "we can change the trajectory of this pandemic." The death toll from the pandemic has surpassed 16,000 people worldwide, and the virus has sickened more than 370,000. Partisan divisions stalled efforts to pass a colossal aid package in Congress, and stocks fell again on Wall Street even after the Federal Reserve said it will lend to small and large businesses and local governments to help them through the crisis.
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| German vice-chancellor says Merkel is healthy but working from home Posted: 23 Mar 2020 05:09 AM PDT |
| Iran reports 127 new coronavirus deaths, raising toll to 1,812 Posted: 23 Mar 2020 04:50 AM PDT Iran on Monday announced 127 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising the official toll to 1,812 in one of the worst hit countries along with Italy, Spain and China. Health ministry spokesman Kianouche Jahanpour said 1,411 new cases had been recorded in Iran over the past 24 hours, bringing the total of those infected to 23,049. All of Iran's 31 provinces have been hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
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| Africa Needs $100 Billion Stimulus to Combat Virus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 04:31 AM PDT |
| Spat Between China Diplomats Signals Internal Split Over Trump Posted: 23 Mar 2020 04:10 AM PDT |
| 10 things you need to know today: March 23, 2020 Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:44 AM PDT |
| Merkel Quarantine Further Complicates Europe’s Virus Efforts Posted: 23 Mar 2020 03:05 AM PDT |
| The People Hold the Key to Coronavirus Outcome Posted: 23 Mar 2020 02:55 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- As governments worldwide race to shut down their societies to stop the spread of coronavirus and prevent their health-care systems from collapsing, the decisive actor will be the individual.Italy, which surpassed China last week as the country with the most coronavirus deaths, is showing that no amount of forceful edicts from capitals to stay home will be effective unless citizens heed them.Governments will play a big role in keeping the world economy afloat, with massive fiscal interventions and by mobilizing the resources that hospitals need. They can call out their armies and police if needed to ensure compliance. And leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can set examples by putting themselves into self-isolation.But in the end, success or failure in slowing the virus is going to come down to us. It has weaponized the human race — it explodes when we gather in clusters.After its initial missteps, China showed the path to blunting the disease by sealing off its virus epicenter in Wuhan, and isolating everyone who came into contact with it. But with second waves menacing, the jury is still out on its long-term effectiveness.Yet many nations don't have Beijing's centralized control. The fate of the world's democracies is now somewhat out of their leaders' hands — it will come down to what people choose to do in the days and months ahead.Global HeadlinesRescue plan | Republicans and Democrats in Congress stumbled in their attempt to engineer a quick jolt to a sinking economy with a $2 trillion stimulus package. Negotiations over the legislation continued into the night — amid the rising virus death toll and predictions of a deep recession — after Senate Democrats voted to reject Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan because they say it's too focused on companies and not enough on individual workers.Two other Republican senators said they'll go into self-quarantine after Rand Paul of Kentucky tested positive for Covid-19.Aid operation | Russian President Vladimir Putin sent military planes carrying doctors and medical equipment including ventilators to help Italy combat the pandemic. The delivery, bearing a heart sticker and the words "From Russia with Love," was a PR coup for Putin amid resentment in Italy over European Union restrictions on exports of critical medical supplies. Russia may later "hint gently" that Italy can repay the favor by blocking the renewal of EU sanctions, one analyst said.Military matters | The U.S. National Guard ramped up its role with 7,300 troops deployed across the country as President Donald Trump ordered new force activations to aid California, New York and Washington state. The move affects the three states most impacted by the virus so far but could quickly be extended.Iran dilemma | As the coronavirus ravages Iran, the Trump administration is coming under pressure to ease U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic — so far to no avail. While Washington vows that it's ready to help Iran fight the virus, some aid groups say America's crushing "maximum pressure" campaign against the regime is worsening a humanitarian disaster.India's lockdown | The quandary facing India's informal workforce of 450 million people is one of the starkest examples of how social inequality threatens to undermine virus-containment efforts around the world, Bibhudatta Pradhan and Archana Chaudhary report. "Everyone is afraid — there's a terror that's spreading," said Mohibul Ansari, who lives in Dharavi, the sprawling Mumbai township described as Asia's largest slum, where social distancing is all but impossible.What to Watch This WeekThe German cabinet meets today to discuss plans for a 150 billion-euro emergency budget, with Merkel set to dial in by videoconference from her Berlin apartment. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz will speak to his EU counterparts by videoconference later today when they are expected to agree to invoke a crisis clause that eases spending restrictions. Tomorrow euro-area finance ministers will focus on how they can channel rescue money to the countries most affected by the pandemic. Joe Biden, who is all but certain to be the Democratic presidential nominee, is pushing back on suggestions the November election could be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is in Kabul to try and jump-start the Afghan peace process. Group of 20 leaders may hold a teleconference this week to discuss coordinated responses to the virus crisis.Thanks to all who responded to our pop quiz Friday and congratulations to reader Sunil Khandelwal, who was the first to name Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as the political leader who was out hugging and kissing supporters last week as the world went into lockdown. Tell us how we're doing or what we're missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.And finally ...The Tokyo Olympics look likely to be the first games postponed since the modern era launched in 19th century. Canada was the latest country to pull its national team, saying it won't send athletes unless the games, scheduled for July, are deferred until the coronavirus is under control. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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| The Russians Are Coming Again, and They’re Winning Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:31 AM PDT  On a warm fall evening in late 2018, I received a message on Twitter from a group of self-described "anonymous hackers" who claimed they'd swiped Special Counsel Robert Mueller's database."We are like hundreds of others, but we are the one and only who got the Special Counsel Mueller database," the message read, busted English and all. They claimed they'd tapped into a local Russian server, accessing all and sundry from what Mueller and his team had already compiled. The hackers passed along a series of files, a supposed good-faith offer of their findings, so that I could amplify Mueller's findings, Mueller's work, Mueller's accusations far and wide."You might wonder why we want to share all this information with you," the message giddily closed. "So, you're just one of the few who can handle it in the right way. You are the one who can tell people the truth!"Russian Trolls Release Fake Dirt on Robert MuellerAnd much of what they sent was "the truth," just not the whole truth or nothing but the truth. Much of the material in the files had come directly from Mueller's investigation into Russia's social-media interference efforts. There were the memes and photos, images of Hillary Clinton as Satan and Barack Obama as a Nazi-in-Chief, the garbled texts and histrionics all aimed at tearing Americans apart. As someone who'd spent far too many hours knee-deep in material published by Russia's Internet Research Agency trolls, all of the posts fit the mold we'd come to expect.Buried in the files, though, were other sites and other posts that no one—none of the researchers or journalists, none of the experts or policy analysts—had ever linked to Russian efforts. Popular Facebook pages like Occupy Democrats, popular Instagram accounts like Baller Alert, feeds with millions of followers were supposedly, per this database, fingered by the Mueller investigation as part of the Russian schemes.After bouncing the database off a number of other experts, it quickly became clear that these accounts were plants: honeypots, so to speak, designed to lure us into believing that Mueller had claimed these immensely popular feeds were also, at their core, Russian. It was, as one of the other researchers who received the files later said, "some galaxy brain stuff they wanted us to believe."It didn't take long to learn what the trolls' ultimate aim was. A few months later, Mueller's office filed court documents revealing that the self-described "hackers" had specifically attempted "to discredit the investigation" by trying to "make it appear as though the irrelevant files… were the sum total evidence" Mueller and his team had already uncovered. That is, these "hackers" had somehow gotten hold of Mueller's actual database, and then injected a slew of clearly non-Russian pages and accounts in the hopes of painting Mueller's investigation as a bumbling, McCarthyite operation, accusing any and all of being secret Russian accounts.And without saying as much, there was a clear implication in the prosecution's filings: that the Russian defendants in Mueller's case had funneled Mueller's database to the self-proclaimed hackers. And they'd hoped to use me, and the handful of others these "hackers" contacted directly, to disseminate that material far and wide.Thankfully, none of us bit, and Mueller's prosecution against Russia's troll-farm operators proceeded apace. While Mueller's other prosecutions faltered under pressure from the White House, the prosecution of the trolls who stoked Texas secessionists and racial fissures pushed on.Or it did, until last Monday, when the Justice Department dropped charges against a pair of the shell companies involved in Russia's social-media interference operations. The reason? Prosecutors were no longer confident that sensitive information shared with the defendants—information about sources, about investigative methods, about findings as a whole—would remain confidential, or for defendants' eyes only. And this was thanks in large part to questions about the relationship between the shell companies and the "hackers" who slipped their messages to me in late 2018.According to prosecutors, these companies—connected directly to sanctioned Russian figure Yevgeny Prigozhin, known colloquially as "Putin's chef"—"refused" to "comply with its obligations as a party to this litigation." The companies had "been eager and aggressive in using the judicial system to gather information about how the United States detects and prevents foreign election interference."The decision was, to say the least, a blow to Mueller's prosecutorial legacy, and to the broader efforts at holding Russian entities responsible for their election meddling in 2016. But it also pointed to another strain of Russian interference efforts that's gotten less acclaim, and less attention, than others over the past few years, centering on upending American judicial proceedings.These efforts are understandably less splashy than secretly organizing, say, armed white supremacists on the streets of downtown Houston, or whipping up support for neo-Confederates online. But they've nonetheless chipped away that much further at potential ramifications for those responsible for Russian interference efforts more broadly—and exposed holes in the American judicial system, calling into further question whether any costs will actually be incurred for those in Moscow and St. Petersburg.In 2018, for instance, the Atlantic Council's Anders Aslund detailed a raft of Russian efforts aimed at deflating or upending American judicial proceedings against Kremlin proxies and those in Moscow's good graces. Much of this has centered—like the Mueller proceedings—on obtaining information about the American prosecutions' methods, and even, in some cases, tracking down plaintiffs themselves.One 2017 case saw a U.S. federal subpoena issued against a former shareholder of a private Russian bank who'd fled to the U.S. after backing Russia's flagging opposition. When the defendant (accurately) detailed how sanctioned Russian figures had helped orchestrate the subpoena—which would have transmitted sensitive data back to pro-Kremlin forces—the American court nonetheless allowed it to proceed, no matter what sensitive information may come out. Another recent case saw a subsidiary of Russia's state-owned, and notoriously corrupt, Rosneft energy behemoth convince a U.S. court to permit discovery against an associate of a Russian national who'd fallen out of the Kremlin's favor. (The American court, Aslund wrote, "was not swayed by the evidence of rampant corruption by the Russian Federation and [the subsidiary's] affiliates.") And then, of course, there's the Kremlin's rampant abuse of Interpol's Red Notice system to try to convince American authorities to haul in dissidents and political opponents alike.The examples run on and on. Some have tossed cold water on the notion that this presents "interference," insofar as all of these moves remain technically legal. But the intent remains the same: capsizing judicial proceedings against Kremlin proxies and their supporters.It's unclear what the next steps for the prosecution may be, or what Mueller's ultimate legacy will be. But one thing appears certain: Russia's victory last week in our courts is only going to further embolden the trolls as we go through the 2020 election. Self-described "hackers" are going to accelerate their efforts to try to con support from those of us who can "tell people the truth!"—and who will continue to be the target of hacking, trolling, and interference operations that are pushing on and amping up, with little reason to stop now. 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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| India halts its crucial train network to try to stop virus Posted: 23 Mar 2020 01:11 AM PDT  As India expanded its virus-containment measures and halted its train network, the country's lifeblood, the federal government warned Monday of strict legal action for those who flout the rules. The wholesale shutdown of India's massive train system is unprecedented. "Please save yourself, save your family," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Hindi, calling for states to follow the preventive measures issued by the federal government to contain the spread of the virus.
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| Group: Egypt's security forces ‘disappear, torture’ children Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:59 AM PDT |
| 'Optimistic' Merkel not infected with coronavirus - chief of staff Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:48 AM PDT |
| Israeli forces open fire, killing Palestinian throwing rocks Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:42 AM PDT |
| War-torn Syria braces for lockdown after first virus case Posted: 23 Mar 2020 12:10 AM PDT  Syrians rushed to stock up on food and fuel Monday amid fears that authorities would resort to even stricter measures after reporting the first coronavirus infection in the country, where the health care system has been decimated by nearly a decade of civil war. The arrival of the global pandemic in Syria as well as the Gaza Strip has raised concerns it could run rampant in some of the most vulnerable areas in the Middle East. War-torn Libya and Yemen, which have yet to report any cases, are also a source of concern.
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| US slashes aid to Afghanistan after Pompeo visit to Kabul Posted: 22 Mar 2020 11:51 PM PDT  The Trump administration is slashing $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and threatening further reductions in all forms of cooperation after the country's rival leaders failed to agree on forming a new government. The decision to cut the aid was made on Monday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he made an unannounced, urgent visit to Kabul to meet with Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the rival Afghan politicians who have each declared themselves president of the country after disputed elections last year. Pompeo had hoped to break the deadlock but was unable to.
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