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

Wednesday,  July 1st, 2020

Massachusetts reports no coronavirus deaths for 1st time in months For the first time in months, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported zero new coronavirus deaths in the state. The first coronavirus death in Massachusetts was reported on March 20. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) reminded people in a press conference Tuesday to continue to wash their hands, wear face masks, and practice social distancing, especially during the 4th of July weekend. “We do not want to take one step forward and two steps back as we keep climbing out of this horrific pandemic,” he said. The news comes as other states, including Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, report spikes in coronavirus cases. There are 108,882 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, and 8,054 deaths. Source: The Boston Globe

EU to reopen borders to 14 countries, U.S. excluded The European Union announced Tuesday that it will open its external borders Wednesday after finalizing a list of 14 countries — including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Canada — whose residents will now be able to travel to the bloc for non-essential reasons amid the coronavirus pandemic. The United States, along with Russia, Brazil, and India, has been left off the list (with exceptions) for at least 14 days due to a rising number of infections, while China’s inclusion is “subject to confirmation of reciprocity.” The policy, which is based on country of residence rather than nationality, isn’t legally binding. Member states could theoretically allow travelers from non-approved countries, but the EU could retaliate by closing borders within the bloc, stymieing efforts to reopen the free trade and travel zone. Source:  The Associated Press

Fauci warns new U.S. coronavirus cases could rise to 100,000 per day Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned Congress on Tuesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States could rise to 100,000 a day. Fauci said it’s clear from the numbers that the U.S. is “going in the wrong direction” as many Americans flout social distancing and mask guidelines. If this situation doesn’t “turn around,” Fauci said he “would not be surprised” if the number of new coronavirus cases reported in the United States each day rises from around 40,000 to around 100,000. While Fauci wouldn’t make a specific prediction about what the final U.S. death toll from the coronavirus pandemic will be, he guaranteed it would be “very disturbing.” Source: MSNBC

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer orders the “partial dissolution” of the country’s elite Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) special forces command over its suspected ties to the far-right. The KSK also has a “toxic leadership culture”, according to the Defence Minister. (BBC)

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

A large explosion at a medical clinic in Tehran, Iran, kills at least 19 people, mostly women, according to Iranian authorities. A gas leak is suspected as being the cause of the blast. (BBC)

In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, King Philippe of Belgium addresses the atrocities in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II : “I would like to express my deepest regrets for the wounds of the past, the pain of today, which is rekindled by the discrimination all too present in our society.” (The Guardian)

 

A court in Iran sentences former journalist and activist Ruhollah Zam to death for fueling anti-government unrest in late 2017 on social media. He was convicted of being corrupt on Earth. (Reuters)

Facebook bans groups affiliated with the boogaloo movement, which was linked to a pair of attacks in California, US, that left two dead and three injured earlier this month and late last month. (AP via WEYI-TV)

 

China passes the controversial Hong Kong national security law. (The New York Times)

The political party Demosistō of social activist Joshua Wong is disbanded following the passing of the law. Wong urges the international community to keep “speaking up for Hong Kong people”. (Reuters)

The End