| White House misses congressional deadline to explain intelligence watchdog's firing Posted: 14 Apr 2020 02:50 PM PDT  The White House is still refusing to give Congress a reason for firing Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, as required by law, missing a deadline set by a bipartisan group of senators.
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| McDonald's apologises after China store bans black people Posted: 14 Apr 2020 04:53 AM PDT  US chain McDonald's has apologised after a sign telling black people they were banned from entering a branch in southern China prompted outrage online, following reports of discriminatory treatment towards Africans in the city. Tensions have flared between police and Africans in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou after local officials announced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in a neighbourhood with a large migrant population. As the row escalated, posts widely shared online showed a sign at fast food chain McDonald's saying black people were not allowed to enter the restaurant.
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| Cuomo says "no time for politics" as virus death toll jumps Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:45 AM PDT  778 more people have died from the coronavirus in New York.
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| Armed men seize, release tanker off Iran by Strait of Hormuz Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:21 AM PDT |
| Chinese ship returns to waters off Vietnam amid virus 'distraction' charges Posted: 13 Apr 2020 09:27 PM PDT |
| China Vows Equal Treatment for Africans After Abuse Reports Posted: 13 Apr 2020 08:47 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- China pledged to ease health measures on Africans in the southern city of Guangzhou, as the country sought to resolve a dispute that could set back Beijing's diplomatic outreach during the coronavirus pandemic.The government has treated foreigners equally and attaches great importance to their life and health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a statement posted late Sunday. "We reject differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination," Zhao said. African leaders alleged discrimination against their citizens by city authorities in measures to stem the spread of imported coronavirus cases, saying Africans were mistreated, evicted from hotels, and forcefully tested for the virus. Meanwhile, McDonalds China apologized Monday after one of the chain's Guangzhou restaurants refused to serve black customers.African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed "extreme concern" to Chinese Ambassador Liu Yuxi about "allegations of maltreatment of Africans" in Guangzhou. In a tweet Saturday, he said the African Group in Beijing was engaging with the Chinese government.South Africa, the current African Union chair, separately expressed concern about "alleged ill-treatment of African nationals in China, including the forceful testing, quarantining for COVID-19, and other inhuman treatment." The country called for an investigation into the matter, according to a statement from the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation.McDonald's China said that it had closed a restaurant in Guangzhou for a half day of diversity and inclusion training Sunday after an investigation confirmed social media reports that it was barring black customers. "We apologize unreservedly to the individual and our customers. The restaurant has been ordered to stop immediately such actions," McDonald's China said Monday.The episode underscores the complexity of Beijing's challenge to manage the fallout from a disease first discovered in December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. China has dispatched medical supplies and shared expert advice to assist Africa, where Beijing's fiscal and infrastructure support has long been a source of both praise and criticism.Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong told more than 20 ambassadors from African countries Monday that authorities in Guangdong would ease "health management" measures -- an apparent reference to quarantines -- of Africans. The province planned to gradually remove the restrictions, except for confirmed patients, suspected patients and others with close contacts, Chen said, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website late Monday. Zhao, the foreign ministry spokesman, separately hit back Monday at the U.S. State Department for a statement Saturday saying that the incidents involving Africans in China were "a sad reminder of how hollow" Beijing's ties to the continent were. "The U.S. is immoral and irresponsible to sensationalize the situation and it won't succeed in sabotaging China-Africa relations," Zhao told a regular briefing Monday in Beijing.Guangzhou has confirmed a total of 119 imported cases of Covid-19, with 25 being foreign nationals, Mayor Wen Guohui told a news conference Sunday. Wen said the Guangzhou government has treated all foreigners equally."Guangzhou is an open-minded metropolis," he said. "It's our consistent principle to have zero tolerance for discriminatory comments and behavior."(Updates with Chinese response in first and eighth paragraphs.)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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| Biden tells Sanders in endorsement live stream, 'You don't get enough credit, Bernie' Posted: 13 Apr 2020 12:45 PM PDT  Former Vice President Joe Biden praised Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a live stream Monday after officially securing his endorsement, telling the Vermont senator he doesn't "get enough credit."Sanders remotely joined Biden for a live stream after Sanders announced last week he was suspending his campaign for president. Sanders offered Biden his endorsement, something Biden called a "big deal" while telling Sanders "you just made me" the Democratic nominee and heaping praise on his former primary competitor."You've been the most powerful voice for a fair and more just America," Biden told Sanders. "...You don't get enough credit, Bernie, for being the voice that forces us to take a hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves, 'Have we done enough?' And we haven't."Biden, who during the stream said it's not "good enough" to go "back to the way things were before" after the coronavirus crisis, also embraced Sanders' 2020 campaign slogan of "not me, us" and asked the senator's supporters to join him."Thank you for being so generous," Biden told Sanders. "I give you my word, I'll try my best not to let you all down."After the live stream, the Trump campaign in a statement said this endorsement news is "further proof that even though Bernie Sanders won't be on the ballot in November, his issues will be." Meanwhile, Briahna Joy Gray, former national press secretary for the Sanders campaign, tweeted that because Biden doesn't support issues like Medicare-for-all, "With the utmost respect for Bernie Sanders, who is an incredible human being and a genuine inspiration, I don't endorse Joe Biden." > NEW: Joe Biden praises Bernie Sanders: "You don't get enough credit, Bernie, for being the voice that forces us to take a hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves: 'Have we done enough?' And we haven't." https://t.co/35Zg7cQ9nU pic.twitter.com/Ebb5UAlTTS> > -- ABC News (@ABC) April 13, 2020More stories from theweek.com Trump's frightening claim of 'total' authority MLB employees to participate in 'first study of national scope' on coronavirus antibodies The world's dominant ideology is breaking. What will replace it?
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| As deaths mount, delivery workers say they're kept in the dark over who's sick Posted: 14 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT  "How are any of us supposed to get ahead of a virus when we don't even know who's sick?" asked one UPS employee.
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| About 25% of Marriott hotels shuttered worldwide due to coronavirus Posted: 14 Apr 2020 12:42 PM PDT  About 25% of Marriott's 7,300 hotels around the world are temporarily closed as a result of the new coronavirus, according to the company.
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| Trump claims 'total' authority, uses coronavirus briefing to try to prove 'everything we did was right' Posted: 13 Apr 2020 05:11 PM PDT  President Trump devoted Monday's briefing of the coronavirus task force to countering the growing public perception that his administration was slow to respond to the virus that has sickened more than 572,000 Americans and killed more than 23,000.
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| Navy officers on a coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier wanted to sign a dire letter about the outbreak, but the ship's captain wouldn't let them Posted: 12 Apr 2020 07:17 PM PDT  US Navy Capt. Brett Crozier reportedly feared for their careers and denied their request to sign his letter.
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| After Putin's bravado, COVID-19 is starting to hit Russia hard Posted: 14 Apr 2020 12:06 PM PDT  A month after Putin declared the situation "under control," Moscow's hospitals are running out of beds and ambulances are waiting hours to deposit the sick.
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| IMF: Global economy will suffer worst year since Depression Posted: 14 Apr 2020 05:32 AM PDT  Beaten down by the coronavirus outbreak, the world economy in 2020 will suffer its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s, the International Monetary Fund says in its latest forecast. The IMF said Tuesday that it expects the global economy to shrink 3% this year — far worse than its 0.1% dip in the Great Recession year of 2009 — before rebounding in 2021 with 5.8% growth. In its previous forecast in January, before COVID-19 emerged as a grave threat to public health and economic growth worldwide, the international lending organization had forecast moderate global growth of 3.3% this year.
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| Zimbabwe president threatens 20 years jail over fake lockdown statement Posted: 14 Apr 2020 04:46 AM PDT  Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday threatened 20 years in jail to the author of a statement purporting to bear his signature that said the lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak had been extended. Mnangagwa, who was speaking at his farm after touring Gweru city in central Zimbabwe, told state broadcaster ZBC he had not extended the 21-day lockdown. National police spokesman Paul Nyathi said more than 5,000 people had been arrested for venturing outside their homes without permission but denied security forces had abused residents.
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| 21 Products to Set Up Your Bathroom Sanctuary Posted: 14 Apr 2020 03:07 PM PDT |
| Poll: Trump approval rating rises, but more Americans support Biden for president Posted: 14 Apr 2020 04:34 PM PDT  The number of Americans who approve of President Trump rose by 5 percentage points over the past week, but registered voters still favored Democrat Joe Biden for president by a small margin, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.
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| Florida man charged with murder after wife disappears amid suspicious coronavirus messages Posted: 13 Apr 2020 02:45 PM PDT  Texts from Gretchen Anthony's cell phone said she had COVID-19 but there's no medical record of it
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| Obama endorses Biden for president in attempt to unite Democratic party Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:43 AM PDT  Former president announces support for presumptive nominee, his former VP, in statementBarack Obama has endorsed Joe Biden for president, casting his former vice-president as the experienced statesman and unifying leader that will be needed to confront the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic that will probably be the defining issue of the 2020 presidential election.Obama's endorsement, a 12-minute video published on Tuesday, came just one day after Biden's one-time rival Bernie Sanders threw his weight behind him and appealed to progressives to unify against Donald Trump. Ahead of what is certain to be a historically divisive general election fight, the former president called for "Americans of all political stripes" to come together in a "great awakening" behind the presumptive Democratic nominee."Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery," Obama said in his endorsement video.> I'm proud to endorse my friend @JoeBiden for President of the United States. Let's go: https://t.co/maHVGRozkX> > — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2020The announcement was Obama's most extended public commentary on the 2020 election to date. In his remarks, he emphasized Biden's preparedness to lead the country in this perilous moment, delivered a blistering attack on Republicans, and sought to unify the party in the wake of a fractious primary."Pandemics have a way of cutting through a lot of noise and spin to remind us of what is real, and what is important," Obama said. "This crisis has reminded us that government matters. It's reminded us that good government matters."The former president remains incredibly popular among Democrats and his active support for Biden could play a key role in energizing and consolidating the party around Biden's candidacy, which still lacks a spark of enthusiasm even as he racked up a string of commanding primary victories.Obama declined to play a public role in the primary, which Sanders' departure from the race last week in effect ended, elevating Biden to presumptive nominee. In his remarks, he praised the rivals Biden defeated in the Democratic primary, which he said featured "one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever". Singling out Sanders, Obama said the Vermont senator was an "American original" who would be critical to defeating Trump in November.When Sanders exited the race, Trump tried to sow discord by questioning why Obama had not yet endorsed Biden."It does amaze me that President Obama hasn't supported Sleepy Joe," the president said during a coronavirus briefing, speculating that his predecessor "knows something that you don't know, that I think I know, that you don't know."In a statement on Tuesday, the Trump campaign suggested Obama was somehow reluctant to support his former vice-president, with whom he shared an uncommon friendship and whom he awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 2017."Obama has no other choice but to support him," said Brad Parscale, Trump's 2020 campaign manager. "Even Bernie Sanders beat him to it."In 2008, Obama assembled a coalition of African Americans, suburban women, white working-class voters and, crucially, young people in what many Democrats remember as one of the most inspirational campaigns in modern history.Biden has drawn support from similar constituencies but is missing a key part of that coalition: young people, who remain deeply skeptical of his candidacy.To the dismay of some Democrats, Obama has mostly continued the tradition of former presidents by not criticizing his successor, even as Trump has dismantled his legacy on everything from healthcare to climate change. In the midst of a pandemic, Trump has sought to deflect criticism by blaming his predecessor.On Tuesday Obama did not mention his successor by name, instead assailing the party Trump leads and implicitly criticizing him with praise of Biden."One thing everybody has learned by now is that the Republicans occupying the White House and running the US Senate are not interested in progress," Obama said. "They're interested in power."Biden's association with Obama helped propel him ahead of younger rivals. His eight years as Obama's No 2 contributed greatly to his support among African American voters, particularly in South Carolina, the foundation of a remarkable campaign turnaround.His time as vice-president was also central to his argument that he is a capable, experienced leader best positioned to beat Trump in November.Obama made a similar case in his endorsement video, citing Biden's leadership during the Great Recession, as well as his management of the H1N1 and Ebola crises.Healthcare proved to be a flashpoint during the primary, with candidates divided between expanding the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature achievement, or seeking universal health coverage.Biden has resisted Sanders' Medicare for All plan and advocated for building on the ACA, nicknamed Obamacare.In his video, Obama said it was time to "go further" and ensure that all Americans have access to healthcare, calling on Democrats to push for a public option, expand Medicare and "finish the job so that healthcare isn't just a right, but a reality for everybody".Biden, who has pledged to choose a woman for his vice-president, told donors on a fundraising call that Obama advised him to choose someone who is not afraid to disagree with him and who will "always tell me the truth"."The most important thing – and I've actually talked to Barack about this – the most important thing is that there has to be someone who, the day after they're picked, is prepared to be president of the United States of America if something happened," Biden said at the virtual fundraiser.
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| New York governor says 'worst is over' as virus toll tops 10,000 Posted: 13 Apr 2020 04:30 PM PDT  New York's governor declared Monday that the "worst is over" for its coronavirus outbreak, despite deaths passing 10,000, as several states began devising a plan to reopen their shuttered economies. The governor, a Democrat, said 671 people had died in New York in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in America's hardest-hit state to 10,056. It was the lowest single-day toll in New York since April 5.
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| Sailor on USS Roosevelt, whose captain was fired after pleading for help, dies of coronavirus Posted: 13 Apr 2020 09:30 AM PDT  The ship's captain was fired after pleading for help for his crew of 4,800. The sailor is the first active-duty service member to die of the disease.
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| Democratic bills call for racial breakdown of COVID-19 cases Posted: 14 Apr 2020 12:39 PM PDT  Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday introduced legislation to compel federal health officials to post data daily that breaks down COVID-19 cases and deaths by race and ethnicity. The lawmakers say the demographic data is needed to address any disparities in the national response to the coronavirus outbreak, which is taking a disproportionate toll on African Americans and other nonwhite populations. "Because of government-sponsored discrimination and systemic racism, communities of color are on the frontlines of this pandemic," Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of several sponsors of the legislation in the Senate, said in a statement.
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| Russia says it's ready for hypersonic missile talks with U.S. Posted: 14 Apr 2020 02:52 AM PDT  Russia is ready to discuss hypersonic missiles and other arms control issues with the United States as part of wider discussions about strategic stability, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. Cold War-era arms control agreements have been in jeopardy as Russia's relations with the West have soured in recent years. In August 2019, the United States pulled out of a landmark strategic arms accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), citing Russian non-compliance.
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| The rich have fled New York City. I’m sick of being told that I need to stay, because I want to escape too. Posted: 14 Apr 2020 12:03 PM PDT  People with second homes and with funds to spare left NYC when the coronavirus hit. Those who couldn't afford to go are being lectured to stay put.
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| American Airlines, United, and other carriers have agreed to bailout terms with the US Treasury that will avoid layoffs until October Posted: 14 Apr 2020 05:12 PM PDT  The Treasury confirmed that American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue were among the airlines that had applied for bailout aid.
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| Why it's suddenly more difficult to get a mortgage Posted: 14 Apr 2020 05:47 AM PDT  Some banks are now requiring a credit score of at least 700 and a 20 percent down payment.
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| Bloomberg Quashed 2013 China Exposé over Concerns CCP ‘Will Probably Kick Us Out of the Country’ Posted: 14 Apr 2020 08:36 AM PDT  Bloomberg editors and news executives prevented reporters from following up on an award-winning 2012 investigation into China's wealthy elite over concerns that the Chinese Communist Party could retaliate by kicking the outlet out of the country, according to audio recordings obtained by NPR.In late October 2013, Bloomberg's founding editor-in-chief Matthew Winkler explained in a conference call with members of his China-based investigative team — which had been working for over a year on a story exposing the corruption surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping and his family — that their efforts were not "justified.""It is for sure going to, you know, invite the Communist Party to, you know, completely shut us down and kick us out of the country," Winkler explained in the recording, comparing the situation to Nazi-run Germany. " . . . The inference is going to be interpreted by the government there as we are judging them, and they will probably kick us out of the country. They'll probably shut us down, is my guess."At the time, Winkler publicly pushed back on claims that he was killing the story over fears of Chinese repercussions, telling The New York Times — which cited the call but did not report its exact contents — that "what you have is untrue. The stories are active and not spiked."The team, which included Mike Forsythe, a former Beijing correspondent for Bloomberg News who now works at The New York Times, had won a George Polk Award a year earlier for its reporting on the corrupt financial holdings of China's ruling class. "We are grateful to be recognized by our peers for reporting that advanced the public interest by providing transparency in China," Winkler said in a statement following the award.Michael Bloomberg also responded to reports of the 2013 call while serving as New York City mayor, saying at a City Hall press conference. "Nobody thinks we are wusses and not willing to stand up and write stories that are of interest to the public and that are factually correct," he stated.But after he had left office two months later, Bloomberg admitted in a town hall for his global newsroom that the story was an example of "shoot the messenger.""If a country gives you the license to do something with certain restrictions, you have two choices," Bloomberg told his staff in the January 2014 recording. "You either accept the license and do it that way, or you don't do business there."He stood by his assessment in a May interview with CNBC. "In China, they have rules about what you can publish. We follow those rules. If you don't follow the rules, you're not in the country," he said.Bloomberg drew criticism during his 2020 presidential run for being reticent to criticize China out of a desire to protect his financial interests in the country. (Bloomberg's main source of revenue, the sale of expensive financial terminals, is heavily dependent on access to the Chinese market.)"This is the kind of stupid you can't script," Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said in a statement after Bloomberg argued in a September interview that "Xi Jinping is not a dictator" and "the Communist Party wants to stay in power in China and they listen to the public."In the February Democratic debate, Bloomberg claimed India "is even a bigger problem" then China to the global effort to slow climate change, even as China remains the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
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| Trump calls CBS reporter "disgraceful" in tense briefing exchange Posted: 14 Apr 2020 04:39 AM PDT  President Trump lashed out at what he called unfair reporting during a Monday coronavirus task force briefing at the White House. Adamant that neither he nor his administration did anything wrong in their response to the pandemic, Mr. Trump played reporters a campaign-style video that went on for more than three minutes and showed a timeline suggesting his response was ahead of the curve. Paula Reid shares a tense exchange she had with the president after the video was presented.
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| Chicago man charged with murder after pushing Marine veteran into passing train, police say Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:07 AM PDT  Ryan Munn of Chicago was charged with first-degree murder after pushing a Marine veteran into the path of a passing train, according to police.
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| Navy reports first coronavirus death from Roosevelt crew Posted: 13 Apr 2020 06:50 AM PDT  A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt died Monday of complications related to the disease, 11 days after the aircraft carrier's captain was fired for pressing his concern that the Navy had done too little to safeguard his crew. The sailor was the first active-duty military member to die of COVID-19. The Navy also announced that an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Harry S. Truman, which had been heading home to Norfolk, Virginia from a monthslong deployment in the Middle East, will instead be kept in the Atlantic for now as a way to protect the ship's crew from coronavirus.
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| Republicans warn coronavirus aid program running out of cash Posted: 14 Apr 2020 07:38 AM PDT  Republicans in the U.S. Senate and the Trump administration on Tuesday warned that a key program to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic was running out of money, pressuring Democrats to agree on an emergency infusion of aid. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned that the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program could run out of money this week unless Democrats agree to let a Republican bill adding $250 billion in forgivable loans pass by unanimous consent. Republicans oppose the Democratic measure.
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| Kabul bans motorbikes to stem Taliban killings and crime Posted: 14 Apr 2020 06:18 AM PDT  Authorities in Kabul will ban motorcycles and scooters in the Afghan capital in a bid to control rampant crime and stop assailants on two-wheelers from conducting targeted killings, officials said Tuesday. The ban, which takes effect Wednesday, comes after a string of assaults by armed men on motorbikes. Delivery riders, who are seeing heavy demand amid Kabul's coronavirus lockdown, will be exempted.
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| Angry shoppers slam new rules preventing Walmart, Target, and Costco stores from selling 'nonessential' items such as toys and clothing in certain parts of the US Posted: 14 Apr 2020 08:37 AM PDT  Vermont and Michigan states are among those to have enforced new regulation that prevents big-box stores from selling "nonessential" items.
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| More Americans OK with businesses not serving gays based on religion, survey finds Posted: 14 Apr 2020 02:40 PM PDT  Solid majorities of all age groups and parties support same-sex marriage and prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination.
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| GOP Sen. Josh Hawley introduces legislation targeting China for withholding coronavirus info Posted: 14 Apr 2020 11:03 AM PDT  Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced new legislation Tuesday targeting the Chinese Communist Party for its role in the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.> Today I'm announcing legislation to hold China accountable. My bill would strip China of its immunity in US courts and create a private right of action against the Chinese Communist Party for silencing whistleblowers & withholding critical information about COVID19> > -- Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 14, 2020From Hawley's perspective, Beijing needs to pay up -- figuratively and literally -- for not alerting the rest of the world in a truthful and timely manner about the virus during the early stages of its spread after it originated in the city of Wuhan. The bill, which is called the Justice for Victims of COVID-19 Act, would strip the Chinese government of sovereign immunity so Americans can sue "for any reckless actions it took that caused the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States."It would also establish a task force dedicated to investigating how Beijing's "decisions to distort and conceal" information about COVID-19 led to the pandemic, as well as securing compensation from the CCP.Unsurprisingly Hawley and some of his colleagues, like Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), have received pushback from Beijing over their criticism of the party, but some analysts in the U.S. have also expressed concern that their efforts to shift the blame to China are obscuring Washington's own failures. > It's easy to dismiss this as crazy, but the easiest way for the GOP to shift responsibility for their poor coronavirus choice is to whip up nationalism and blame China. > > This should scare you. https://t.co/p46dNRyhoG> > -- Emma Ashford (@EmmaMAshford) April 12, 2020More stories from theweek.com Trump's frightening claim of 'total' authority MLB employees to participate in 'first study of national scope' on coronavirus antibodies The world's dominant ideology is breaking. What will replace it?
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| It’s Time to Rectify Taiwan’s Shameful Treatment on the International Stage Posted: 14 Apr 2020 09:56 AM PDT  'Will the WHO reconsider Taiwan's membership?" The question — asked by Radio Television Hong Kong's Yvonne Tong — caused Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and a leader in its response to the coronavirus, to put on quite the show. Initially, Aylward feigned as if he had not heard. When Tong offered to repeat her query, Aylward insisted it was "OK" and suggested that they "move on to another one." For a third time, Tong pressed the issue, only to have Aylward reach forward and hang up on the stunned journalist. In a follow-up call, Tong again raised the topic of Taiwan. Aylward demurred that they had already discussed "China."Incidents like this one clarify the corrupting threat that the People's Republic of China (PRC) represents to international institutions — to say nothing of its threat to the United States and to the broader project of human freedom and flourishing. The PRC's population of nearly one and half billion people, and the control that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) exerts over that population, afford it significant economic leverage that it uses to bully feckless individuals, organizations, and nation-states into ignoring and even defending its atrocious record on human rights and indefensible postures toward Hong Kong and Taiwan.Even in the U.S. — the PRC's chief competitor both economically and ideologically — we have borne witness to this frightening power. When Daryl Morey, the general manager of the NBA's Houston Rockets, tweeted out a message of support for Hong Kong's protesters last October, the league issued a statement condemning Morey's tweet as "regrettable" and "offensive." Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James blathered on about Morey and the public's need to be better "educated." Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr chastised Americans for worrying about China while gun violence remained an issue in the U.S.This inclination of international and American institutions to cower in the face of the PRC's economic power is unnerving. As it continues to flex its geopolitical muscles, crack down on protesters in Hong Kong, and commit an appalling cultural genocide against the Uyghurs in the province of Xinjiang, the prospect of anyone's standing up to the PRC seems decreasingly likely, even as the repercussions of acquiescence become increasingly apparent in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, apologists have taken to praising the PRC for its global leadership in combating the coronavirus instead of shining a spotlight on how its deception led to the pandemic's proliferation.But the U.S. can work to reverse this trend with an important symbolic measure: recognizing that Taiwan is and ought to be a free and independent state. This would be a fitting move for President Trump to make. He ran for office as a China hawk, denouncing past administrations for allowing the PRC to bully us in the international marketplace, steal our intellectual property, and endanger American jobs. But recognizing Taiwan would represent an even more important stand: a moral one.Taiwan, the small island off the southern coast of the PRC to which Chiang Kai-shek and his followers fled after their defeat in the Chinese Civil War, has turned into a model of democracy, freedom, and human flourishing. It has its own distinct culture and does not consider itself subject to President Xi Jinping's will or state-imposed Thought. Without the CCP running the show, Taiwan has thrived economically. As one of the four "Asian Tigers," it has achieved a GDP per capita of over $25,000 USD. The PRC manages to crack just $10,000. Its people enjoy broad free-speech rights and are not persecuted for the practice of their respective religions. In other words, it is not the PRC, and the time has come to dispel the fiction that Taiwan belongs to it.President-elect Trump took a step in this direction when he accepted a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in December 2016. The decision was criticized sharply by many in the foreign-policy establishment as a breach of protocol and a break with the U.S.'s "One China Policy." For those of us horrified by the world's persistent acquiescence to the PRC, it was a breath of fresh air. Today, with the brutality of Xi Jinping's regime made plain by its treatment of the Uyghurs and Hong Kong protesters, and the dangers of its long reach laid bare by the coronavirus crisis and the WHO's pathetic efforts to cover for the PRC's role in its spread, the time has come to take the next step. While the U.S. can and should continue to reprimand the Chinese for their actions in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, these lectures do little to deter the PRC, or inspire anyone to stand up to it. Recognizing Taiwan while still acknowledging the PRC's claim to the mainland, on the other hand, would represent a significant blow to the PRC and send a signal to the rest of the world that the days of pretending that the world is as the CCP says it is are over. Xi Jinping has said that Taiwan "must and will" be reunited with the PRC. The U.S. should say that it will remain an independent nation — and a beacon of hope to those suffering under authoritarian rule.Recognizing Taiwan would not come without assured consequences and the assumption of significant risks. The PRC would condemn the U.S. and attempt to use its economic power to get others around the globe to do the same. But the U.S is no stranger to being among a righteous remnant on issues of international importance — our hardline on Iran, support of Israel, etc. — and facing down the PRC and its influence would be the very point of such a move. Moreover, forecasts of graver ramifications, including the PRC's running away from the negotiating table on trade and intellectual property issues, becoming uncooperative in the effort to contain and control North Korea, or perhaps even taking military action against Taiwan are overstated. It is doubtful that the PRC will, in its current incarnation, truly commit either to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula or to pursuing a reciprocal trade relationship with the U.S. as it is. And were the PRC — amidst a global pandemic of their own creation — to invade or lob missiles at Taiwan, it would bring about the end of its legitimacy and influence around the world. It is time to weigh the consequences of continuing to play ball with the CCP and allowing the world's geopolitical reality to be shaped by Xi Jinping the rest of his Politburo alongside the risks of recognizing Taiwan. If the most powerful man in the most powerful country on the face of the planet cannot speak truth to the PRC, nobody else will.Ronald Reagan, for all of his many successes, will forever be known best for his call to tear down the Berlin Wall. In Taiwan, President Trump has an opportunity to be remembered as the world leader who finally said "enough" to the PRC, and galvanized those who enable it to do the same. He should take it.
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| Trump Negotiating to Lease Oil Storage Space to Nine Companies Posted: 14 Apr 2020 05:00 AM PDT |
| Obama endorses Biden as the best leader for 'darkest times' Posted: 14 Apr 2020 07:29 AM PDT  Former President Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden on Tuesday, giving the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee a boost from the party's biggest fundraiser and one of its most popular figures. "Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery," Obama said in a 12-minute video in which he argued the coronavirus pandemic reinforced the need for better leadership. The endorsement marked Obama's return to presidential politics more than three years after leaving the White House.
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| Canada's Quebec to ramp up inspections of homes for elderly after 31 die in Montreal facility Posted: 13 Apr 2020 01:46 PM PDT  The Quebec government on Monday said it was putting the safety and general conditions of the province's 2,600 long-term care and nursing home facilities under the microscope following the deaths of 31 people in a single home for the elderly since March 13. Police and the coroner's office are investigating the deaths at the Residence Herron, a 139-unit home in Montreal, which has been put under provincial control. Quebec Premier François Legault said health officials had only been informed that the nursing home had a shortage of staff, but not that dozens of residents had died.
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| Court Rules Against Epstein Victims on Controversial Plea Deal Posted: 14 Apr 2020 11:27 AM PDT  A federal appeals court has denied relief to victims of Jeffrey Epstein under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, refusing their requests for remedies such as the release of FBI documents and a public hearing on Epstein's criminal case in Florida.The opinion comes as part of a 12-year legal battle between Courtney Wild, who was underage when Epstein sexually abused her, and the federal government. After Epstein secured a controversial plea deal in 2008, Wild was one of two "Jane Does" to sue the feds, alleging the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) by keeping more than 30 victims in the dark about Epstein's non-prosecution agreement.In May of 2007, Epstein was facing a 53-page indictment for trafficking underage girls and could have spent life behind bars, if charged and convicted. But Epstein's lawyers secretly negotiated with federal prosecutors to scrap the drafted indictment, and the perverted financier pleaded guilty to lesser state charges instead. (Epstein served 13 months in a private wing of the Palm Beach County jail. The money-manager was permitted to spend 12 hours a day, six days a week, on "work release," and during that time, he continued to abuse young women.)On Tuesday, the appeals court ruled the CVRA does not apply to Wild's case because "the government never filed charges or otherwise commenced criminal proceedings against Epstein" and thus "the CVRA was never triggered."Jeffrey Epstein's Hollywood Pipeline Ran Straight to Harvey Weinstein"Despite our sympathy for Ms. Wild and others like her, who suffered unspeakable horror at Epstein's hands, only to be left in the dark—and, so it seems, affirmatively misled—by government lawyers, we find ourselves constrained to deny her petition," wrote the panel, which included judges Kevin C. Newsom, Gerald Bard Tjoflat and Frank M. Hull. (The decision was written by Newsom, with Tjoflat concurring. Judge Hull dissented.)"We hold that at least as matters currently stand—which is to say at least as the CVRA is currently written—rights under the Act do not attach until criminal proceedings have been initiated against a defendant, either by complaint, information, or indictment," the judges' decision continued."Because the government never filed charges or otherwise commenced criminal proceedings against Epstein, the CVRA was never triggered. It's not a result we like, but it's the result we think the law requires."Brad Edwards, a lawyer for the victims, told The Daily Beast he would request a hearing before the full Eleventh Circuit court to reconsider the panel's decision. "It is clear that even the majority detested the government's treatment of the victims but apparently felt there was a loophole in the CVRA that the prosecutors and Epstein successfully exploited," Edwards said in an email. "For all the reasons given in the 60-page dissenting opinion, we strongly disagree with today's ruling—which leaves victims like Ms. Wild without any remedy, even for victims like her who have been 'affirmatively misled' by federal prosecutors."In February of 2019, U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra ruled federal prosecutors in Miami violated the CVRA by secretly negotiating with Epstein's lawyers to downgrade his charges to state court. "Petitioners and the other victims should have been notified of the Government's intention to take that course of action before it bound itself under" a plea agreement, Marra wrote in his decision.But in September, Marra rejected victims' requests for remedies, which included voiding the plea deal's immunity provisions that protected Epstein and his alleged accomplices. The alleged co-conspirators, according to the agreement, include "Sarah Kellen, Adriana Ross, Lesley Groff, or Nadia Marcinkova." Wild petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reverse Marra's decision and order the district court to grant victims "all appropriate remedies," including rolling back "the NPA's immunity provisions, holding a public hearing on the case, release of documents, and an award of attorneys' fees."The appeals court's decision suggests the CVRA doesn't apply to Epstein's victims at all.According to the federal law, crime victims have rights—which include the right to timely notice of any public court proceeding involving the crime; the right to be heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving pleas or sentencing; and the right to confer with the attorney for the government in the case."The interpretation of the CVRA that petitioner advances, and that the district court adopted, is not implausible; the CVRA could be read to apply pre-charge," the panel stated. "We conclude, though—reluctantly, especially given the mistreatment that petitioner seems to have suffered at the hands of federal prosecutors—that the Act is neither best nor most naturally read that way.""On balance, we conclude that the Act's terms—including the provisions on which petitioner relies—demonstrate that its protections apply only after the commencement of criminal proceedings."The panel majority adds, "Again, must prosecutors consult with victims before law-enforcement officers conduct a raid, seek a warrant, or conduct an interrogation? That seems exceedingly unlikely."In a dissenting opinion, Judge Hull said the panel majority "patently errs in holding, as a matter of law, that the crime victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators had no statutory rights whatsoever under the CVRA.""Instead, our Court should enforce the plain and unambiguous text of the CVRA and hold that the victims had two CVRA rights—the right to confer with the government's attorney and the right to be treated fairly—that were repeatedly violated by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida," Hull wrote.The dissenting judge warned that the majority's "pre-charge rule will deny victims' CVRA rights to confer and fairness in cases involving white-collar and other wealthy defendants who commonly engage in pre-charge plea negotiations.""Jeffrey Epstein's case illustrates my point," Hull added. Hull pushed back on the majority's claim that pre-charge CVRA rights would result in prosecutors having to consult with victims before authorities "conduct a raid, seek a warrant, or conduct an interrogation.""The Majority is more afraid of a future 'crime victim' potentially asking a 'readily identifiable' government 'attorney' to confer 'reasonably' with her pre-charge, than it is of secret pre-charge plea deals for wealthy defendants, even though it's now common practice for them to seek the best plea deal in advance of indictment," Hull continued. "The Majority's new blanket restriction eviscerates crime victims' CVRA rights and makes the Epstein case a poster-child for an entirely different justice system for crime victims of wealthy defendants."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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| Congress extends break until May due to coronavirus as talks on another stimulus package continue Posted: 14 Apr 2020 10:03 AM PDT  The House and Senate extended its recess until May 4 due to the dangers of coronavirus. Meanwhile, talks are ongoing over a second economic stimulus package.
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| At least 33 dead as dozens of tornadoes rip through the South Posted: 13 Apr 2020 04:40 PM PDT  The storm systems left over one million people without power on Monday morning, as it travels up the Atlantic coast.
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| China denies seeking virus praise from Germany Posted: 13 Apr 2020 06:06 AM PDT  Beijing denied Monday that it was soliciting praise for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic following a report that Chinese representatives tried to earn kudos from German officials. China has faced criticism abroad -- notably in the United States -- over the outbreak that first emerged in the central city of Wuhan late last year. It has sent aid to European countries in recent weeks, a move seen as a charm offensive to deflect blame for the pandemic.
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| Florida's Surgeon General said social distancing is 'the new normal' until there's a vaccine. He was then escorted out of the press conference. Posted: 13 Apr 2020 05:44 PM PDT  Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees suggested it will be more than a year until residents can stop wearing face masks and avoiding groups.
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| Kim Raises Sister’s Profile With North Korean Politburo Post Posted: 12 Apr 2020 10:23 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un raised the standing of his sister as a key player in the secretive state and bolstered his new foreign minister in a cadre shuffle that comes as he tries to fend off the coronavirus pandemic.Part emissary, part personal assistant, Kim Yo Jong was reinstated to her position as an alternate Politburo member of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state media said Saturday. The move returned her to the powerful decision-making body after she left the post last April and follows a series of roles since that included responding to overtures from U.S. President Donald Trump."Her media profile over the years suggests that her profile will continue to rise and that her role will continue to expand," said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst with the U.S. government.Meanwhile, General Pak Jong Chon, the former head of the North Korean army's artillery division and currently the army's chief of staff , was named as a full member of the Politburo. Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon, a former army officer who once led talks with South Korea, was named as an alternate member."Pak's quick promotion and Ri's lower position in the Political Bureau seem to reflect Kim Jong Un's policy priorities -- national defense, with an emphasis on artillery over diplomacy," Lee said.North Korea held two major events over the weekend, with Kim Jong Un overseeing a meeting of the Politburo on Saturday addressing the "danger" of the coronavirus pandemic. The country's rubber-stamp parliament known as the Supreme People's Assembly met Sunday to implement the national budget.While North Korea claims it has seen no coronavirus infections, the pandemic has put new pressures on Kim's regime, which could see its antiquated and underfunded medical system overwhelmed by an outbreak. Kim Jong Un brought his already isolated country to a near standstill by sealing the borders in January to stop the virus, which halted the trickle of legal trade and tourism.Meanwhile, Kim has kept his weapons program churning, test-launching nine short-range ballistic missiles in March -- a monthly record.Kim Jong Un shook up his inner circle after Trump broke off a February 2019 summit in Hanoi. His reign has been marked by ruthless purges and executions, including the killing of his uncle and one-time deputy, Jang Song Thaek in 2013, as well as the murder of his older half-brother, Kim Jong Nam.Kim Yo Jong was thrust into the global spotlight when she served as envoy to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and became the first member of the immediate ruling family to visit Seoul. Last month, she provided the regime's response to a letter from Trump, saying that her brother's "very excellent" relationship with the U.S. leader wasn't enough to offset broader differences between the two sides.Their aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, also had a prominent position under the regime of their late father, Kim Jong Il. Chin Hee-gwan, who researches North Korean leadership at Inje University's Unification Research Center, said Kim Yo Jong's was shaping up to be even more influential."Kim Yo Jong may have come into the role to inherit the position that Kim Kyong Hui had before the execution of her husband Jang Song Thaek, but she's risen to a more prominent, significant role to be the de facto second-in command instead," Chin said.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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| NHL player Colby Cave's widow says he complained of a headache days before dying Posted: 14 Apr 2020 09:53 AM PDT  Emily Cave shared a heartbreaking video of their wedding vows and said the Edmonton Oilers player complained of a headache just days before dying of a brain bleed.
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| Taliban say US bombing insurgents at home contrary to deal Posted: 14 Apr 2020 11:15 AM PDT  Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with Pakistan's military chief Tuesday, a day after discussing the lagging U.S.-Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan with the chief negotiator for the insurgent movement. The meetings included Gen. Scott Miller, head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Statements from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. military in Kabul said Washington was engaged in "ongoing efforts" to find a sustainable peace after decades of relentless war but the U.S. officials released no details.
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| Getting a coronavirus test in Wuhan: fast, cheap and easy Posted: 13 Apr 2020 09:20 PM PDT  Coronavirus tests can be difficult to come by in many countries including in hard-hit parts of the United States and Britain, but in Wuhan, the Chinese epicentre of the pandemic, they are fast, cheap and easy to get. Cities including Beijing have required some arriving travelers to present test results when entering.
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