May the fourth be with you.

 

Saturday,  July 4th, 2020

New U.S. coronavirus cases hit another daily record The United States confirmed 55,220 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, another single-day record. More than 10,000 of those cases were in Florida. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) became the latest to issue a statewide order requiring people in most counties to wear masks to bring surging coronavirus infections under control. Abbott ordered face coverings for anyone inside a business or other buildings open to the public, or in an outdoor public space where social distancing is impossible. The order takes effect Friday. Cases are rising in three dozen states and some, such as Tennessee, on Thursday joined a growing number that have rolled back reopening plans. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who issued a statewide mask order last week, vetoed a bill calling for letting gyms and amusement parks reopen. Source:  The Texas Tribune

Trump to start July 4th weekend at Mount Rushmore celebration President Trump will start the three-day Independence Day weekend at Mount Rushmore, where 7,500 people are expected to attend a fireworks display Friday. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), a Trump ally, said masks will be optional and social distancing won’t be required at the event. That prompted objections from local officials, including the Republican mayor of nearby Rapid City, Steve Allender. Leaders of several Native American tribes in the region also warned the event could result in a coronavirus spike among their members. “The president is putting our tribal members at risk to stage a photo op at one of our most sacred sites,” said Harold Frazier, chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Source: The Associated Press

German lawmakers agree to a deal to end nuclear power by 2022 and the use of coal by 2038. (AP via Seattle Times)

Scotland’s Court of Session fines Greenpeace £80,000 for breaching an injunction against the occupation of a Transocean oil rig in the North Sea. (The Guardian)

The European Union approves the use of the drug remdesivir to treat severe cases of COVID-19. (DW)

An investigation led by the Federal University of Santa Catarina uncovers traces of SARS-CoV-2 in Florianópolis sewage samples drawn on November 27, two months earlier than the first official confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Americas on January 21, and much earlier than the first reported case in Brazil at the end of February. (CGTN) (Web24)

The University of Cambridge accepts the resignation of historian David Starkey and strips him of his honorary fellowship, following controversy over his remarks about slavery. (BBC)

 

China appoints Zheng Yanxiong to head up the newly formed Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR; Yanxiong is best known for his suppression of protests in Wukan in 2011. (BBC)

Government watchdog says unemployment won’t recover until 2030 America’s unemployment rate won’t reach its pre-pandemic low for at least a decade, the Congressional Budget Office predicted in a report released Thursday. Unemployment was at a 50-year low of 3.5 percent before the coronavirus hit, and the CBO projects a tough road for the U.S. to get back to that point. It’s projecting a 7.6 percent unemployment rate at the end of 2021, 6.9 percent at the end of 2022, and a 4.4 percent unemployment rate by the end of 2030. Still, the CBO noted there’s “an unusually high degree of uncertainty” when it comes to predicting America’s economic future after an unprecedented shutdown. Thursday’s jobs report saw the U.S. unemployment rate lower to 11.1 percent in June, but it could rise again as COVID-19 grows in more states. Source: CNN

The Los Angeles Clippers close their training facility after one of the players who is expected to play in Orlando tested positive for COVID-19. (Los Angeles Times)

The End

 

Thursday, July 2nd, 2020

States pause reopening plans, impose mask requirements as virus surges Texans are now required to wear masks in public to help stem the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced on Thursday. The mandate, required in any county with more than 20 cases of COVID-19, comes as confirmed cases surge in the state. Texas reported more than 8,000 new cases on Wednesday alone. The move is a reversal for Abbott — he previously blocked local governments from mandating masks. Meanwhile, Nashville, Tennessee, announced it would move back into Phase 2 of its reopening plan. In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed legislation to reopen gyms and amusement parks. Several states and organizations are rolling back plans to loosen coronavirus restrictions as cases spike. The U.S. recorded 52,788 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, a new single-day high. Source: The Washington Post

Government watchdog says unemployment won’t recover until 2030 America’s unemployment rate won’t reach its pre-pandemic low for at least a decade, the Congressional Budget Office predicted in a report released Thursday. Unemployment was at a 50-year low of 3.5 percent before the coronavirus hit, and the CBO projects a tough road for the U.S. to get back to that point. It’s projecting a 7.6 percent unemployment rate at the end of 2021, 6.9 percent at the end of 2022, and a 4.4 percent unemployment rate by the end of 2030. Still, the CBO noted there’s “an unusually high degree of uncertainty” when it comes to predicting America’s economic future after an unprecedented shutdown. Thursday’s jobs report saw the U.S. unemployment rate lower to 11.1 percent in June, but it could rise again as COVID-19 grows in more states. Source: CNN

In a Europe-wide operation, police penetrate EncroChat, a top-secret communications system used by criminals to sell drugs and plan attacks. (BBC)

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on suspicion of grooming victims of Epstein. She has also been charged with assisting Epstein’s abuse of minors by helping to recruit and groom victims known to be underage. (BBC)

David Clark resigns as New Zealand’s Minister of Health after security mistakes at quarantine facilities just days after the country had been declared free of COVID-19. Clark also received strong criticism for personally breaching lockdown rules twice. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had refused calls to sack the minister. (Reuters)

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announces there will be $100 fines for people and businesses that do not wear masks. (The Hill)

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issues an executive order mandating citizens wear facemasks in public and at their workplace. (AP via United States News & World Report)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott orders citizens must wear face coverings when in public. This follows yesterday’s reported state record daily high of more than 8,000 virus cases. Those who do not comply will receive an initial warning; those who refuse will face a fine of up to $250. (BBC)

275 elephants are confirmed dead in the Okavango Delta due to an unknown cause. Both poaching and anthrax have been ruled out by authorities. (CBS)

 

 

Wednesday,  July 2nd, 2020

Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests

The monument of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is removed from Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. (ABC News)

The End

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