Thursday,  July 2nd, 2020

The Guardia di Finanza seizes over $1.2 billion (~€1 billion) worth of fenethylline tablets at a port in Salerno, Italy. It is believed that the amphetamines were manufactured by ISIL and originated in Syria. The haul, amounting to 14 metric tonnes of contraband, is the largest drug bust in history. (CNN)

Gunmen storm a drug rehabilitation facility in the central Mexican city of Irapuato, Guanajuato, killing at least 24 people, according to a federal official. (Reuters)

With 52,788 coronavirus cases reported, U.S. sets new daily record  For the first time, daily reported coronavirus infections in the United States surpassed 50,000, with 52,788 new cases recorded on Wednesday. Arizona, California, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas all set new state highs, with California reporting 9,740 new coronavirus cases. A Washington Post analysis found that in 45 states, seven-day averages of new infections are higher now than they were a week ago. In June, coronavirus cases rose by almost 50 percent, with states that reopened their economies first, like Texas and Arizona, seeing the biggest spikes. At least 2.67 million coronavirus cases have been reported in the United States, and more than 125,000 people have died. Source: The Washington Post 

HHS planning to ‘surge test’ for coronavirus regardless of symptoms  With coronavirus infections rising in several regions across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services is planning to incorporate “surge” testing for people under 35 in some places, Adm. Brett Giroir, HHS’ assistant secretary for health said Wednesday. The goal of the testing “blitz” is to suss out asymptomatic carriers since many cases in the current spike appear to be in younger people. It’s likely many have mild or non-existent symptoms allowing them to spread the virus unknowingly as states attempt to reopen certain sectors of their economies. HHS is working with state health officials in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, to implement the strategy. It’s unclear when the testing would begin, who would be targeted, and how compliance would be enforced.  Source: The Dallas Morning News

 

The COVID-19 death toll in Brazil passes 60,000. (Reuters)

California Governor Gavin Newsom restricts the indoor operations of certain businesses in 19 counties for a minimum of three weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Los Angeles Times)

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf says that masks will be required inside and outside. (The Hill)

Dayton becomes the first city in Ohio to mandate masks. (Cincinnati.com)

Miami-Dade County is expected to mandate masks as it deals with surging cases. (Miami Herald)

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, responding to recent criticism about the lack of racial diversity among the nominees in major Oscar award categories, invites 819 people to become new members. As a group, 49 percent of the the invitees are from outside the US, 45% are women and 36% are non-white. (BBC)

Police in Hong Kong arrest over 300 people on the previously banned 1 July march and after the passing of the new national security law. The new law punishes crimes considered as subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. It also allows extradition to the Mainland for trial. (Reuters)

 

 

 

Wednesday,  July 1st, 2020

A vandalized statue of former King Leopold II of Belgium is removed from public display in the city of Ghent amid anti-racism protests. (ABC News)

Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson orders residents to wear masks in public as cases surge. (The Hill)

Massachusetts reports no COVID-19 deaths for the first time in months. (Boston Globe)

The COVID-19 death toll in Mexico reaches to 28,000, surpassing Spain. (Reuters)

Vietnam’s civil aviation authority grounds all Pakistani pilots flying for Vietnamese airlines, as global aviation regulators respond to revelations by Pakistani authorities that more than 250 pilots obtaining licences fraudulently. (Al Jazeera)

 The End