Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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24hespress


BREAKING NEWS: Democrats introduce multi-billion dollar coronavirus package

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:49 PM PDT

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top House Democrats introduced a multi-billion dollar bill in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with emergency provisions that include paid sick leave, widespread free testing, food aid and unemployment insurance.

The House is expected to vote Thursday on the sweeping package, which will have broad support from Democrats.

Republican leaders and the White House are aware of the provisions in the bill, but have not announced their position on the legislation yet.

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BREAKING NEWS: Staffer in Sen. Maria Cantwell’s D.C. office tests positive for coronavirus

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:30 PM PDT

A staff member in Sen. Maria Cantwell's Washington D.C. office has been diagnosed with coronavirus, marking the first known confirmed case of coronavirus on Capitol Hill.

Cantwell will close her office in D.C. this week and her staff will work remotely. The Washington State Democrat is asking that additional staffers be tested.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/11/staffer-in-sen-maria-cantwells-dc-office-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-126724

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News Alert: Correction: Trump bans travel from most of Europe for 30 days to slow the spread of coronavirus. An earlier alert misstated that the ban was between the United States and Europe.

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 07:01 PM PDT

In a national address, President Trump announced a ban on travel from almost all of Europe for 30 days, beginning Friday at midnight. The ban will not include the United Kingdom. An earlier alert misstated that the ban was between the United States and Europe. This alert has been corrected.
 
Democracy Dies in Darkness
 
 
News Alert Mar 11, 10:00 PM
 
 
Correction: Trump bans travel from most of Europe for 30 days to slow the spread of coronavirus. An earlier alert misstated that the ban was between the United States and Europe.

In a national address, President Trump announced a ban on travel from almost all of Europe for 30 days, beginning Friday at midnight. The ban will not include the United Kingdom.
An earlier alert misstated that the ban was between the United States and Europe. This alert has been corrected.

Read more »
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BREAKING NEWS: Trump unveils Europe travel ban and economic aid to fight coronavirus

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 06:16 PM PDT

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In a rare address from the Oval Office, Trump said the European Union had "failed to take the same precautions" as the U.S. had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The United Kingdom will not be included in the travel ban with the continent.

Trump also said he would "soon be taking an emergency action" to provide a financial cushion to small businesses and individuals hit by the coronavirus.

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'Worse than 9/11'

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:41 PM PDT

QuickTake Tonight
Bloomberg

Greetings, QuickTake readers! In this edition: Weinstein sentence handed down, Japan in a bind over radioactive water and the little disinfecting robot that roams the subways.

Virus 'worse than 9/11' for hotels

Hotels around the U.S. are suffering a "triple punch to the gut," industry execs say, as the coronavirus crisis forces more would-be travelers to stay put. On Tuesday, the WHO declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S.'s top infectious-disease expert said it was 10 times deadlier than the flu. Now, after weeks of conference cancellations and corporate travel restrictions, hotels are eyeing hiring freezes, cutting amenities and pulling their 2020 earings forecasts amid future booking doubts—especially as spring breakers cancel their trips left and right. "This is just the beginning of the tidal wave," said one owner, "the bottom is falling out."

More:

  • Room revenue for U.S. hotels was down 12% from last year but major cities saw much bigger drops, including by 46% in San Francisco, 35% in Seattle and 20% in New York.
  • On Tuesday, a group of 150 travel organizations published a letter seeking to reassure Americans that it's still safe to travel and warn that an excess of caution would threaten the U.S. economy.

$ignificant figures

1,465. The Dow Jones plunged that many points, 20% lower from its record-high, to close in a bear market as investor anxiety over the virus pandemic triggered another day of tumultuous trading.

1.2 million. A Japanese panel is urging the government to evaporate or release that many tons of still-radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant back into the ocean, nine years after the disaster.

1,500. How many Taliban prisoners Afghan President Ashraf Ghani vowed to release to start intra-Afghan negotiations. A recent U.S.-Taliban peace deal called for the release of up to 5,000 prisoners.

Highly quotable

"We don't need a stimulus." In a meeting with Wall Street CEOs, Trump said the U.S. economy may not need a boost if the spread of coronavirus can be stopped and "everything quickly solves itself." 

"Rape is not just one moment...It is forever." What a Harvey Weinstein accuser said in court, followed by a bizarre rant from Weinstein himself, as he was sentenced to 23 years on Rikers Island for sexual assault.

"I am looking forward to the debate in Arizona." Bernie Sanders vowed to keep up his quest for the Democratic nomination, despite a series of primary defeats that opened an all-but-insurmountable lead for Joe Biden.

This is not normal

Weaponizing water. Odd weather is wreaking havoc on the freshwater-rich Himalayas, as snow cover shrinks, glaciers melt, and the monsoon season shifts, creating a political tool among nations reliant on the region.

The future is now

"Midnight Zone." Scientists are set to embark on a mission 1,000 meters below the Indian Ocean in a cutting-edge sub that dives deeper than Mt. Everest is tall and has LED lights powerful enough to mimic the sun.

What's good

Dirty work. A Hong Kong public transit company is deploying remote-operated, disinfecting robots to its fleet of subway trains that can kill bacteria and viruses, including Covid-19, in difficult-to-reach areas.  

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Posted: 11 Mar 2020 04:02 PM PDT

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BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Capitol to stop all public tours amid coronavirus outbreak

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:23 PM PDT

The U.S. Capitol will cease all public tours through the end of March amid mounting fears of the coronavirus outbreak, according to multiple congressional sources.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi informed members of the decision in a Wednesday afternoon meeting, sources said. No change to the legislative schedule has been announced.

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The bear market begins

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:19 PM PDT

Evening Briefing
Bloomberg

Demand for the dollar is dropping as investors race to pull funds from U.S. stocks, fearful the coronavirus will crush growth. Oil prices have cratered thanks to a full-blown price war triggered by Russia and escalated by Saudi Arabia. Demand for government bonds has sent Treasury yields to record lows. The traditional relationship between the dollar, oil and yields has now been turned on its head. It's a big red flag, one made even worse by the fact that March 11, 2020, will be remembered as the day the longest bull market in American history came to an end. —David E. Rovella 

We're tracking the latest on the coronavirus outbreak and the global response. Sign up here for our daily newsletter on what you need to know.

Here are today's top stories

Eleven years of unprecedented stock market growth totaling $20 trillion sprouted from the ashes of the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression. This is how the great bull market began.

The World Health Organization formally declared a pandemic. Local and state officials across the U.S. took steps to discourage or ban large gatherings, and Seattle became the first major American city to close its public schools.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Europe risks a major economic shock not unlike the global financial crisis. With nationwide restrictions already imposed on travel, Italy on Wednesday closed all businesses except pharmacies and grocery stores.

Economists are lowering their estimates for second-quarter growth in the U.S. as the virus cuts demand and spending.

Private equity firms Blackstone and Carlyle Group have a message for  portfolio companies: Do whatever it takes to stave off a credit crunch.

New York state said it will use private labs to increase testing for the new coronavirus, which has been hampered by a slow federal response. New York City meanwhile cancelled the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

What's Joe Nocera thinking? The Bloomberg Opinion columnist says coronavirus-related financial aid should go to taxpayers, not corporations. Joe says the airline, hotel and cruise-ship industries don't need the help.

What you'll need to know tomorrow

What you'll want to see in Bloomberg Graphics

Mapping the Expanding Coronavirus Pandemic 

With almost 124,000 confirmed cases worldwide and 4,578 dead, the WHO declared a pandemic on Wednesday. In the U.S., recorded infections approached 1,000, with 31 dead, though those numbers are expected to rise significantly. Efforts to prevent the illness from spreading further has led to shuttered cities, widespread flight cancellations and teetering financial markets all over the globe. See the maps here.

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Your guide to the coronavirus

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 03:12 PM PDT

How does it compare to the flu? Why are children spared? What does 'pandemic' status mean?
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The Washington Post | Democracy Dies in Darkness
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Your guide to the coronavirus
and the weeks ahead
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Washington Post reporters have been working around the clock to bring you facts about the coronavirus, which has now been declared a global pandemic.

We publish only verified information in a tone that accurately reflects the risks and seek to hold government officials accountable for their response.

Here's what you should know about the virus and our coverage:

It's officially a pandemic
The World Health Organization made the announcement Wednesday. Here's what it means.

Coronavirus is mysteriously sparing kids and killing the elderly
The new coronavirus is behaving very differently from other viruses. Understanding why may help defeat it.

More:

Track confirmed cases of covid-19 in the United States
More than 1,000 cases of covid-19, the disease caused by this new strain of coronavirus, have been detected. See the map.

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World Alert: Rocket attack in Iraq kills two U.S. troops, potentially raising tensions with Iran

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:32 PM PDT

The attack also killed one non-American member of the coalition force at Camp Taji, about 17 miles north of Baghdad. At least five other people have been evacuated in serious condition, a U.S. military spokesman said. The weapons used were 107 mm Katyusha rockets, which U.S. officials have considered to be a hallmark sign of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
 
Democracy Dies in Darkness
 
 
World Alert Mar 11, 5:31 PM
 
 
Rocket attack in Iraq kills two U.S. troops, potentially raising tensions with Iran

The attack also killed one non-American member of the coalition force at Camp Taji, about 17 miles north of Baghdad. At least five other people have been evacuated in serious condition, a U.S. military spokesman said.
The weapons used were 107 mm Katyusha rockets, which U.S. officials have considered to be a hallmark sign of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Read more »
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News Alert: Italy announces it will stop almost all commercial activity aside from supermarkets and pharmacies, ramping up national lockdown

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:27 PM PDT

The new measures, announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, amount to an unprecedented commercial shutdown. They come in response to pressure from politicians in northern Italy, the center of the coronavirus outbreak, who had said more dramatic measures were needed to slow the virus's spread.
 
Democracy Dies in Darkness
 
 
News Alert Mar 11, 5:22 PM
 
 
Italy announces it will stop almost all commercial activity aside from supermarkets and pharmacies, ramping up national lockdown

The new measures, announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, amount to an unprecedented commercial shutdown. They come in response to pressure from politicians in northern Italy, the center of the coronavirus outbreak, who had said more dramatic measures were needed to slow the virus's spread.

Read more »
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Stocks cheer coronavirus stimulus by crashing into bear market

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:13 PM PDT

Bloomberg Opinion Today
Bloomberg

This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a Highlights magazine of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here.

Today's Agenda

A skeptical eye.

Photographer: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Global Stimulus Engine Lurches to Life

Mr. Rogers had advice for parents trying to help children process disasters and other bad news: Look for the helpers. In the coronavirus disaster gripping the global economy, the helpers are here. How much they'll help is an open question.

Winning the Most Helpful prize today, boys and girls, were the Bank of England and Boris Johnson's government. The BOE slashed interest rates after an emergency meeting, while vowing to help small businesses and team up with fiscal policy makers. The U.K. government, meanwhile, promised immediate fiscal stimulus and a big infrastructure plan. This, writes Mohamed El-Erian, is how stimulus should be done. It's a template for a world still fumbling for a coronavirus response, writes Marcus Ashworth.

The Goofus to the BOE's Gallant is the European Central Bank, which has been slow to act, though it may cut rates tomorrow. Mohamed El-Erian, in a second column, fears it won't do much more than that. The risk is that ECB President Christine Lagarde keeps prioritizing the delicate sensibilities of Germany and other hawks, writes Melvyn Krauss. Germany has at least started to sound stimulus-curious. But aggressive policy moves and crossing the streams of fiscal and monetary measures make these hawks frowny-faced.

Here in the U.S., President Donald Trump is starting to be a better helper by finally opening up to the idea of fiscal stimulus. That's good, because the Fed can't handle this alone, writes Bill Dudley. Trump deserves a gold star for finally recognizing that, writes Jonathan Bernstein. This is also one of those rare times when we should all be grateful Trump doesn't care about the details of whatever stimulus happens.

Because the ideas he's floated so far — a payroll tax cut and stimulus aimed at affected industries — are not very helpful. A payroll tax, for example, is too broad and yet doesn't help the people most likely to need it, writes Michael R. Strain. It's much better to send checks to people whose lives have been disrupted by coronavirus.

And Joe Nocera writes it's a waste of money to bail out companies that don't really need help. Frackers, as Liam Denning has written, are sorely in need of some discipline. The cruise industry, like the airline industry, has survived nightmarish PR before, Adam Minter writes. Can you say "poop cruise," boys and girls? I knew you could. Consumers have short memories, which is why people recovering from coronavirus will eventually want to unwind with a cruise. Because people never learn.

Markets Resume Plunging

Market registered their appraisal of these stimulus measures today by vomiting all over the floor. The S&P 500 flirted with, and the Dow ended in, bear market territory, crashing right back down a day after a furious bounce supposedly inspired by stimulus hopes. As John Authers notes, bouncing is what bear markets do. He suggests investors aren't nearly despairing enough to put in a real bottom yet. They are, though, seeking the stock-market equivalent of toilet paper and bottled water, writes Shuli Ren — companies with solid balance sheets.

On the plus side, I guess, most global stock indexes don't have as far to plunge as they did in 2008, because investors haven't been as irrational as they were in the days before the crisis, writes Nir Kaissar. But many growth stocks, including the FAANGs, still have plenty of room to collapse.

The scaffolding of credit markets is beginning to creak under the strain, although long-standing anxieties about bond-market liquidity have turned out to be overblown, writes Matt Levine. Still, it's disconcerting to see 30-year Treasuries swinging wildly like they never have before, as Brian Chappatta notes, on their way toward zero. The market is basically pricing in no Fed rate increases ever and a stretch of deflation, while overseas investors seek safety and a smidgen of yield and speculators ride the tiger. Fun!

It's Biden's Nomination to Lose

While all of this was happening, Joe Biden basically wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination with several more primary wins last night. Jonathan Bernstein chalks this up to a combination of good luck, President Barack Obama's halo effect and a knack for always tacking to the center of his party.

Bernie Sanders isn't dropping out yet, though he has little chance of catching up now. His problem, Francis Wilkinson writes, was that he tried to overthrow the Democratic Party but instead united it against him, reminding people they want to be Democrats, even if it means backing a flawed candidate like Biden. The Vermont senator's defeat is also a setback to the idea of socialism's growing popularity, writes Ramesh Ponnuru. His surge in 2016 moved the party to the left but may not be the paradigm shift it seemed.

Telltale Charts

Credit markets are giving Boeing Co. the stinkeye as it prepares to draw down a full $13.8 billion loan. The coronavirus hit to air travel, after a prolonged 737 Max grounding, has the airplane maker even more pressed for cash, write Brooke Sutherland and Brian Chappatta.

Coronavirus is hammering Adidas AG on several fronts, starting with its biggest market, writes Andrea Felsted.

Further Reading

European banks have solid balance sheets, but what's coming will punish their profit margins. — Elisa Martinuzzi

Europe should hurry up and give Turkey what it wants to avoid another refugee crisis. — Bobby Ghosh

The NMC Health Plc debacle could end the hospital operator in the middle of a coronavirus crisis. — Chris Bryant

H2O Asset Management is having an awful week, but it's just doing what hedge funds are designed to do. — Mark Gilbert

Because we don't have enough worries, policy makers are gaming out a limited nuclear war with Russia. — Hal Brands

ICYMI

Harvey Weinstein got 23 years in prison.

The NCAA basketball tournament will be played without fans.

Wealthy New Yorkers are fleeing to the Hamptons to avoid coronavirus.

Kickers

The shortages may be worse than the disease.

Alcoholics Anonymous is more effective than therapy, a study has shown.

We're a step closer to quantum computing with standard microchips.

Smallest known dinosaur found in amber.

Note: Please send Hamptons jitneys and complaints to Mark Gongloff at mgongloff1@bloomberg.net.

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After Israel’s Election, Palestinians Look to Other Arabs (Pollock | Fikra Forum)

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 02:12 PM PDT

PALESTINIAN PUBLIC RESIGNED TO ISRAEL'S ELECTION OUTCOME, LOOKS TO OTHER ARABS INSTEAD FOR NEXT STEPS
by David Pollock

Fikra Forum
March 6, 2020

At the popular level, the way might be more open for certain Arab states to assume a larger role in promoting Palestinian-Israeli agreements, or at least coexistence.

READ THIS ARTICLE ON OUR WEBSITE


Palestinians watching Israel’s election this week are likely to find their low expectations fulfilled. The vote produced yet another inconclusive result, with the incumbent prime minister’s Likud Party narrowly in the lead but unable to muster a majority governing coalition with its existing right-wing and religious allies. The centrist Blue and White opposition party did even worse, gaining barely over one-quarter of the seats in parliament. And both parties have said they accept the Trump peace plan announced in late January, which would preserve Israel’s settlements and security control in the West Bank while putting off the prospect of Palestinian independence.

A Palestinian public opinion poll conducted during this latest Israeli election campaign, January 23-February 11, showed a mere 8% of West Bankers, along with 22% of Gazans, reporting that the vote would probably turn out “better for the Palestinians.” Many more expected Israel’s election to make things worse for them: a third of West Bankers, and nearly half (46%) of Gazans. The remainder—half in the West Bank, and a quarter in Gaza—anticipated that it would “probably make very little difference either way.” These mixed but mostly pessimistic expectations help explain the largely quiescent popular reactions to the actual outcome so far.

For charts illustrating these findings, go to the web version of this article.

By comparison, the poll indicates that Palestinian attitudes toward the prospect of support from some of their Arab neighbors are surprisingly positive. Lacking trust in Israel, and widely disenchanted with their own rulers in both Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinian public appears receptive to some form of coordination with their other Arab neighbors. At the popular level, at least, the way may now be more open for certain Arab states to assume a larger role in promoting progress toward Palestinian-Israeli agreements, or at least coexistence. From a policy perspective, this often-overlooked option should therefore be explored with greater intensity.

For example, nearly three-quarters in both the West Bank and Gaza reported agreeing with this proposition: “Right now, the Palestinians should look more to other Arab governments, like Jordan or Egypt, to help improve our situation.” Half of West Bankers, and 79% of Gazans, also agreed with this statement: “Arab states should play a greater role in Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking, offering both sides incentives to take more moderate positions.”

The sense of connection with Jordan is particularly widespread. Among West Bankers, 42% suggested that Jordan should play a “major role” in solving the Palestinian problem when asked; remarkably, that figure is even higher among Gazans, at 59%. Moreover, Jordan’s King Abdullah enjoys a 64% approval rating in the West Bank, and 69% in Gaza. In sharp contrast, for example, Saudi Arabia’s Muhammad bin Salman received good reviews from just around one-quarter of the Palestinians in either territory.

Regarding Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, however, West Bank and Gaza attitudes are starkly divergent. A mere 11% of West Bankers voiced a favorable view of Sisi’s policies, compared with 56% of Gazans. This startling difference may reflect Gazan proximity to and dependence on Egypt, and perhaps also a shared animosity toward the Hamas rulers of Gaza; but the exact reasons for such an unexpected attitudinal dichotomy await further research.

None of these results seem to mean that Palestinians in either territory want Egypt or Jordan to restore their pre-1967 control over those lands. On the contrary: only 9% of West Bankers and 5% of Gazans desire to “move toward confederation with Egypt or Jordan, including Palestinian self-government.”

Moreover, around half the public in both territories harbor a realistic perception of Arab state self-interest and fatigue regarding the Palestinian problem, with 47% of West Bankers and 53% of Gazans accepting the following controversial judgment: “Arab states are neglecting the Palestinians and starting to make friends with Israel, because they think the Palestinians should be more willing to compromise.” This unique new finding from this latest poll reflects a surprisingly high level of Palestinian public awareness about a major shift in regional dynamics, on both the elite and the “street” levels.

In fact, a separate September 2019 survey by Zogby International did find that 70% or more of the publics in four key Arab countries—Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—agreed with the statement that “some Arab states should have relations with Israel, even without a Palestinian agreement.” Nevertheless, in the poll of Palestinians, around half of West Bankers and fully 82% of Gazans reported feeling that “the Palestinians must pressure other Arab governments to support our full rights, and then they will mostly do that.” That is because roughly the same proportions said that “Arab governments might want to forget the Palestinians, but their people will never let them do that.”

Among non-Arab regional actors, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received high marks: 64% approval in the West Bank and 74% in Gaza. Significantly, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who also vocally advocates for the Palestinian cause, suffers greatly by comparison. Just 12% of West Bankers and 33% of Gazans expressed even a “somewhat” positive view of him. This is not purely a Sunni/Shia sectarian differential. Iran’s Lebanese Shia ally Hezbollah, which claims to threaten Israel on its northern border, earned positive reviews from noticeably higher proportions of Palestinians: 35% of West Bankers and 59% of Gazans.

This analysis is based on a survey sponsored by The Washington Institute and conducted by the Palestine Center for Public Opinion, based in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. The survey comprised face-to-face interviews with representative samples of 500 Palestinians in the West Bank and 500 in Gaza. Sampling employed standard geographical probability methods. The author traveled to the region to consult with the local survey team, observe the launch of this project, and ensure strict adherence to the highest professional standards of accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality. The margin of error for each area is approximately 4%. Additional methodological details are readily available on request.

David Pollock is the Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of Project Fikra.



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COVID-19 is a pandemic. What does that mean?

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:58 PM PDT

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
Image

 

🔔 The Canadian government is working extensively to deal with the new coronavirus and its fallout.


This morning, the feds promised $1 billion to help combat the outbreak, while the Public Health Agency of Canada put out guidelines for people organizing public events at this time.


🤒 And if you're concerned you may be afflicted with the virus, we have some guidelines on who to call and what to do across the country.

 

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COVID-19 Is A Pandemic. What Does That Mean?

Technically speaking, a pandemic is what happens when an epidemic goes worldwide. It’s important to know that it has nothing to do with the severity of the disease, but moreso its distribution.

Spreading far and fast

 

Harvey Weinstein Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison For Rape Conviction

The former movie producer has been in New York state custody since he was found guilty on two counts: one for raping the once-aspiring actor Jessica Mann in 2006 and another for forcing a sexual act on former production assistant Miriam “Mimi” Haleyi in 2013.

Legal trouble are ongoing

 

Bill Morneau Will Deliver High-Stakes Federal Budget On March 30

This year’s budget will be the first of the government’s minority mandate, and Morneau has said it will have a climate lens. But the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has changed some spending plans.

Increased contingency fund

How To Boost Your Immune System In The Coronavirus Era

Health Canada says that the people at the highest risk are those with previous medical problems and compromised immune systems, as well as people over 65.

Some great habits in general

 

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Prince Harry tricked by Russian hoaxers into talking about Megxit, the royal family and Trump

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:19 PM PDT

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Prince Harry thought he was talking privately to climate change champion Greta Thunberg
 
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Prince Harry thought he was talking privately to climate change champion Greta Thunberg
 
 
<p>From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to</p>
 
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Barbara Weber didn't hold back from sharing her opinions on Tuesday's <em>The Bachelor: After the Final Rose</em> episode
 
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What Did Peter Weber's Mom Say to His Dad in Spanish During the Bachelor Finale?
 
Barbara Weber didn't hold back from sharing her opinions on Tuesday's The Bachelor: After the Final Rose episode
 
 
 
Prince Harry and his wife plan to spend time in California, Meghan's home state, and Canada with their 10-month-old son Archie
 
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Prince Harry and Prince William's Relationship Is 'Forever Changed,' Source Says
 
Prince Harry and his wife plan to spend time in California, Meghan's home state, and Canada with their 10-month-old son Archie
 
 
During the finale, Peter Weber's mom openly disapproved of his relationship with Madison Prewett
 
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Madison Prewett's Dad Speaks Out After Dramatic Bachelor Finale: 'Proud Is an Understatement'
 
During the finale, Peter Weber's mom openly disapproved of his relationship with Madison Prewett
 
 
Peter Weber's mother Barbara has never been afraid to share what she really thinks about the women who have vied for her son's affections
 
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Bachelor Peter Weber's Mom Barbara Comments on 'Classy' Kelley Flanagan's Photos
 
Peter Weber's mother Barbara has never been afraid to share what she really thinks about the women who have vied for her son's affections
 
 
The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that COVID-19 has now been officially categorized as a pandemic
 
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Will Hezbollah Seek Revenge for Soleimani? (Levitt | Middle East Institute)

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:14 PM PDT

HOW IS THE U.S. TARGETED KILLING OF QASSEM SOLEIMANI LIKELY TO AFFECT HEZBOLLAH'S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS?
by Matthew Levitt

Middle East Institute
February 2020

Revelations from a recent terrorism trial suggest that the group will be patient in avenging his death, but could eventually use the preoperational surveillance it regularly collects to carry out an attack.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE


In recent years, Hezbollah grew into an expeditionary force deployed throughout the region to further Iranian interests. In the wake of the Soleimani assassination, Hezbollah has already stepped in to help guide Iraq’s various Shi’a militias, at least temporarily. But even as its regional military responsibilities grew and its domestic political position become more complicated, Hezbollah remained engaged in international terrorism, with operational activities detected in recent years in Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Panama, Peru, Thailand, Uganda, the U.S., and more. The New York trial of convicted operative Ali Kourani, a self-described Hezbollah sleeper agent, offers critical insight into the conditions under which Hezbollah might carry out a terrorist attack...

Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow and director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute. This essay was originally published in the Middle East Institute compilation Battered Survivor: Hezbollah at Home and Abroad (ed. Bilal Saab).



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BREAKING NEWS: Stocks tumble into bear market as coronavirus fears escalate

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:05 PM PDT

Wall Street ended an 11-year bull market Wednesday with another steep tumble in stocks on mounting coronavirus worries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 6%, pushing the market to a drop of more than 20% from its high — indicating a bear market.

The drop came the day the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and U.S. lawmakers discussed measures to prop up the American economy

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News Alert: White House considers discouraging all nonessential travel to Europe

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 12:08 PM PDT

The White House is considering moving all of Europe to a Level 3 travel advisory, discouraging all nonessential travel to that region to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Italy is already at a Level 3. The people with knowledge of the White House task force discussions, including a Trump administration official, said that the conversations have been ongoing, but no decision has been made.
 
Democracy Dies in Darkness
 
 
News Alert Mar 11, 3:06 PM
 
 
White House considers discouraging all nonessential travel to Europe

The White House is considering moving all of Europe to a Level 3 travel advisory, discouraging all nonessential travel to that region to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Italy is already at a Level 3.
The people with knowledge of the White House task force discussions, including a Trump administration official, said that the conversations have been ongoing, but no decision has been made.

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NEWS ALERT: Army on improved Howitzer's insane range: 'We're making artillery great again'

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 11:27 AM PDT

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Joseph Martin took a page out of the commander in chief's rhetorical playbook while referring to tests to the nation's improved Paladin: "We're making artillery great again."
The Washington Times
NEWS ALERT
Friday, February 14, 2020 5:42 PM EST
 
NEWS ALERT

Army on improved Howitzer's insane range: 'We're making artillery great again'

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Joseph Martin took a page out of the commander in chief's rhetorical playbook while referring to tests to the nation's improved Paladin: "We're making artillery great again."

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Dana Stroul Testifies on the Crisis in Idlib

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 10:35 AM PDT

THE CRISIS IN IDLIB
Featuring Dana Stroul

Testimony submitted to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
March 11, 2020

Given the near-certainty that conflict will erupt again in northwest Syria, the United States should start planning for how it might leverage that next outbreak to push the parties toward a political process.

READ THIS TESTIMONY ON OUR WEBSITE


Chairman Deutch, Ranking Member Wilson, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify on this critical issue. The war in Syria enters its tenth year this month and Idlib is the crucible of the conflict. The outcome of this chapter of the war has implications for virtually all strategic challenges to U.S. interests: Russia’s role in the Middle East; counterterrorism threats; Iran’s projection of power; the Syrian refugee and IDP crisis; and the war crimes committed not only by Assad and Iran, but also by Russia—a member of the United Nations Security Council.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

The Trump administration’s Syria policy ostensibly remains focused on three goals: (1) defeat ISIS, (2) remove all Iranian and Iran-backed boots from Syria, and (3) support a viable political process to end the war under the auspices of the UN. All of these objectives are unachievable if the regime regains control of the province.

  • Counterterrorism. Assad’s symbiotic relationship with Al Qaeda is well-established, and there is every reason to expect that if his regime regains control of Idlib, extremist elements there will be coopted and weaponized by Assad as leverage against Arab neighbors, Europe, and the U.S. ISIS is already regrouping in regime-held areas, and a Russia-Iran-Assad victory in Idlib will fan the flames of extremism in Syria, the heart of the Middle East.
  • Iran. A regime victory in Idlib will enable continuity in Iran’s strategy for entrenching long-term influence in Syria. Tehran is working to minimize disruption in its bid for long-term influence through proxies and weak governments after the death of Commander Qassem Soleimani. Given Iran’s goal of expelling U.S. forces from the region and Assad’s goal of retaking all Syrian territory, it will be an easier shift from northwest Syria to northeast by the Russia-Iran-Assad axis in order to counter the U.S. military still active east of the Euphrates River.
  • Political process. A return to conflict will prompt all stakeholders to seek military solutions rather than a political outcome at the negotiating table. The path to a negotiated, durable solution to the war in Syria would effectively be over if Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, continues to resist any concessions under the UN process. Assad’s strategy of mass terror and his weaponization of refugees is designed to force Europe and Arab governments to reintegrate him into the international community and fund reconstruction of the Syrian state, absent any changes in his regime.

These outcomes threaten U.S. interests in the Middle East, the security of NATO ally Turkey, and stability in Europe. Yet Syria has not been prioritized in Washington, and resources continue to be taken off the table, from stabilization funds to U.S. military boots on the ground. Local, regional, and European partners question U.S. commitment, and are looking to Moscow for leadership in Syria.

BACKGROUND

Idlib has long held strategic importance of the province to all the stakeholders involved in hostilities there. Idlib’s population was an estimated 1.5 million in 2011. The UN estimates it has more than doubled over the course of the Syrian war, as the Assad regime methodically relocated waves of Syrian civilians and opposition fighters there from other parts of the country following local ceasefires and “reconciliation agreements.” Essentially, Syrian civilians and fighters faced a choice after the latter lost on the battlefield, presented to them by Russia and Assad: submit to the regime or relocate to Idlib. These agreements were designed to bring opposition-held areas under Assad regime control and cleanse them of the largely Sunni population. Rather than face the likelihood of conscription, forced disappearances, and the daily humiliations and deprivations of regime-controlled life, hundreds of thousands of Syrians moved to Idlib.

Concurrently, non-ISIS terrorist groups made Idlib the center of gravity for their activities. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Huras al-Din are both extremist groups that have resisted Al Qaeda’s attempts to unify them despite overlapping ideological affiliations/bents. Huras al-Din continues to plan external attacks and is thus considered a high priority threat by the United States, while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham established an Islamist government in Idlib whose practices have led to the flight of humanitarian actors, violent suppression of civil society activists, and forced conscription of children.

As part of the effort to forestall a broader Turkish military incursion into Idlib and prevent another humanitarian crisis on Turkey’s border, President Putin agreed with President Erdogan in September 2017 to a “de-escalation zone.” Putin and Erdogan followed up in September 2018 with the “Sochi agreement,” whereby Turkey would remove ‘extremist elements’ and Russia committed to prevent further offensive operations by the Assad regime. But the Assad regime—supported by Russian air power and Iran-aligned ground forces—launched an offensive to retake Idlib in early 2019. Assad and his backers initially achieved only minimal progress, largely due to push back from Turkish-supported opposition forces and Al-Qaeda linked fighters. Turkey, already under tremendous domestic strain from hosting 3.5 million Syrian refugees in its territory, views an additional influx of refugees as an existential threat given its domestic economic downturn and rise in anti-refugee sentiment.

THE CURRENT CRISIS

The Assad-Russia-Iran offensive kicked into high gear in the past three months, causing the most severe humanitarian crisis of the entire nine-year war and violating the terms of the Sochi agreement. The fighting reached its boiling point on February 27, when Turkish forces were attacked with precision munitions leading to 33 Turkish deaths and 60 injured. Though Assad’s forces were initially blamed for the attack, the precise nature of the operation, at night, indicates Russian Air Force—Assad regime forces lack the capability for such a strike, especially at night. Turkey responded decisively, destroying Assad aircraft, ground vehicles, and artillery pieces; targeting regime personnel; and attacking the Assad’s Russian-provided air defense system. There are also reports of Lebanese Hezbollah casualties in Idlib. The Turkish counter-offensive, at least temporarily, shifted the military balance on the ground against Assad and his backers Russia and Iran.

Assad regime losses and Turkish willingness to use military force prompted Putin to seek a ceasefire agreement, rather than risk additional losses on the battlefield. Putin is also motivated to keep Turkey oriented toward Moscow, and not push Turkey back toward the U.S. and NATO after years of tension. Despite Erdogan’s demonstrated willingness to use military force, the agreement negotiated with Putin favors Assad’s territorial gains. While it provides a temporary respite for terrorized Syrian civilians, it is unlikely to hold and there are already reports of Assad regime violations.

The Russia-Turkey ceasefire agreement will not prevent further violence in Idlib, fails to address the humanitarian catastrophe, and does nothing to address the underlying causes of the Syrian civil war: the Assad regime’s brutality toward its own people. It has already been rejected by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Huras al-Din, and enables a “Gaza Strip”-like situation on Turkey’s border with Syrian civilians and Al Qaeda-linked groups pushed up against the Turkish border. Syrians cannot return to their homes under this agreement, which perpetuates the human suffering and instability.

The question is when—not if—violence will reignite in Idlib. Russia is both unwilling and incapable of compelling Assad to adhere to any ceasefire or de-escalation agreement. Although Assad should recognize the devastating losses to what remains of his military should he restart the offensive in Idlib, Putin is undeterred in ensuring the regime’s survival.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY

Given the near-certainty of return to conflict in Idlib, the U.S. should start planning now for how it might leverage that next outbreak of violence to move all parties toward a political process. Aiming for a ceasefire—which is the administration’s current objective for Idlib—is critical, but too narrow a goal given the strategic risk to broader U.S. interests.

This opportunity for a strategic pivot will present itself given the following factors:

  • Assad’s forces suffered significant material and personnel losses at the hands of the Turkish military in Idlib. They will be constrained in their ability to launch new operations in other parts of Syria not under regime control. Russian and Iranian operational support may be more tenuous given a set of black swan events—the coronavirus, which is sweeping through Iran, and the spectacular Russia-Saudi OPEC feud, which has collapsed oil prices—both of which are likely to hammer the oil-dependent economies of Assad’s backers.
  • Assad is constrained in his ability to maintain control over areas of Syria currently under regime control. Anti-regime opposition is stirring again in southern Syria. This is another example of failed ‘reconciliation’ agreements with the regime, which lacks the resources and manpower to counter the rising insurgency in the south, and is unwilling to deliver on the commitments it made under the terms of the reconciliation deal.
  • Syria’s economy continues its downward spiral, accelerated by the economic crisis in next door Lebanon as well as the impact of the U.S.-led sanctions regime. Additional sanctions from the Congressionally-mandated Caesar Civilian Protection Act will come online soon, and the U.S. and Europe are still standing together in denial of any reconstruction aid to Syria absent meaningful reforms. The regime is economically starved, and Russia and Iran cannot bail Assad out.

The convergence of these developments offers the United States, in concert with the United Nations, and European and Arab governments, an opportunity to use the economic pressure and battlefield realities inside Syria to refocus on the political process. The leverage if the U.S. remains opposed to using military force in Syria other than to defeat ISIS is the ongoing political and economic pressure on Assad, and increasing sanctions on his backers in Tehran and Moscow. Easing of sanctions and discussion of reconstruction assistance should only be on the table if the regime credibly changes its behavior, including meaningful participation in the Geneva political process.

Leveraging this strategic window, however, will require confidence-building and coordination with Turkey. The goal should be rapprochement on Syria policy and driving a wedge between Ankara and Moscow. The bilateral discussion should be expanded beyond a narrow focus on the Patriot missile defense system. It should focus on reaching a mutually beneficial consensus with Turkey on the way forward in Syria, including how to complete the anti-ISIS mission in northeastern Syria. It will be counterproductive to U.S. efforts in Syria if the aperture with Turkey is widened to encompass every problematic policy of the Turkish government, but a pragmatic solution on Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 system should be part of the consultations.

Other efforts that the U.S. should undertake before the Russia-Turkey ceasefire collapses altogether include:

  • U.S. diplomacy at the United Nations Security Council should be supercharged with like-minded Council members to renew full cross-border access for humanitarian aid delivery. In January, Russia and China vetoed renewal of Resolution 2449, which enabled cross-border humanitarian aid delivery at four points without Assad regime approval, and the current reduced mandate expires on July 10. With reduced cross-border access, the UN has struggled to reach Syrians in need. According to Interaction, 70% of the population of Idlib are women and children, and the cross-border system is the only way to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance including food, shelter, and healthcare. The U.S. signaled support for mitigating the humanitarian crisis in Idlib by pledging an additional $108 million. That aid is meaningless without viable mechanisms to deliver it in a timely manner, free of manipulation and intervention by those responsible for the conflict.
  • The U.S. should sanction Russian individuals for the commission of war crimes in Syria, and should coordinate with European allies to do the same as one step toward accountability. The recent report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry specifically assigns culpability to the Russian Air Force for the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas. Executive Order 18394, issued on October 14, 2019, provides significant latitude to the administration to impose sanctions on Russian persons, and those that work directly or indirectly on behalf of Russian persons, who have committed serious human rights abuses in Syria as well as prevented efforts to promote a political solution.
  • Begin consultations with Ankara on various options for support in defense of Turkish security when the Idlib ceasefire collapses. The Turkish military clearly defended its interests in Idlib, but Ankara will seek diplomatic and operational demonstrations of U.S. and NATO support. Options for assisting Turkey should be on the table—such as intelligence support but broadened to address the unstable situation in both northwest and northeast Syria.

Dana Stroul is the Shelly and Michael Kassen Fellow at The Washington Institute.



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BREAKING NEWS: Sanders to press on against Biden after primary losses

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:52 AM PDT

Bernie Sanders is staying in the 2020 presidential race and planning to debate Joe Biden on Sunday despite a string of recent primary losses, according to a person with knowledge of Sanders' plans ahead of a Wednesday press conference.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/11/sanders-to-press-on-against-biden-after-primary-losses-125805

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News Alert: WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic, a sign of how globally widespread virus has become

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:41 AM PDT

The World Health Organization's declaration signals that health experts believe countries should focus efforts less on containing the virus and more on preparations such as getting hospitals ready to handle an influx of patients, stockpiling materials and enacting social distancing policies.
 
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News Alert Mar 11, 12:38 PM
 
 
WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic, a sign of how globally widespread virus has become

The World Health Organization's declaration signals that health experts believe countries should focus efforts less on containing the virus and more on preparations such as getting hospitals ready to handle an influx of patients, stockpiling materials and enacting social distancing policies.

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BREAKING NEWS: WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a pandemic

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:37 AM PDT

The World Health Organization today declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The organization previously resisted the classification.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/11/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-pandemic-125799

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البرلمان الروسي يؤيد تعديلات دستورية تسمح لبوتين البقاء في السلطة حتى عام 2036

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 08:59 AM PDT

صادق النواب الروس الأربعاء على الإصلاح الدستوري الذي اقترحه الرئيس فلاديمير بوتين ويمهد له الطريق...
نسخة على الإنترنت
نسختك الخاصة من أخبار يورونيوز – 03/11/20
نشرتك اليومية من الأخبار المختلفة المتنوعة
البرلمان الروسي يؤيد تعديلات دستورية تسمح لبوتين البقاء في السلطة حتى عام 2036
صادق النواب الروس الأربعاء على الإصلاح الدستوري الذي اقترحه الرئيس فلاديمير بوتين ويمهد له الطريق للبقاء في السلطة حتى عام 2036 نظريّا....   إقرأ أكثر، للمزيد
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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وفقا للقانون الفرنسي المتعلق بتكنولوجيا المعلومات وملف البيانات والحريات المدنية في 6 يناير 1978، لك الحق في أي وقت أن تدخل، تصادق، أو تحذف معلومات خاصة بك، يمكنك من خلال « الكتابة إلينا في قسم "contact" أو الاتصال ».

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison after rape and sex assault convictions

Posted: 11 Mar 2020 08:33 AM PDT

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3/11/20
 
Harvey Weinstein was convicted in February on charges of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape
 
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Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison After Rape and Sex Assault Convictions
 
Harvey Weinstein was convicted in February on charges of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape
 
 
<p>From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to</p>
 
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Katherine Schwarzenegger Pounds the Pavement in N.Y.C., Plus Maks & Peta, Emily Ratajkowski and More
 
From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to
 
 
 
 
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"It has been a poignant few days," a royal insider tells PEOPLE
 
 
 
The new couple were recently spotted <a href="https://people.com/movies/ben-affleck-and-ana-de-armas-spotted-in-her-native-cuba-after-wrapping-thriller-together/">vacationing together</a> in de Armas' hometown of Havana, Cuba
 
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Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas 'Had Great Chemistry from the Start' While Filming Movie Together
 
The new couple were recently spotted vacationing together in de Armas' hometown of Havana, Cuba
 
 
Because of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the couple have put their venue on hold and asked loved ones to cancel flights
 
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Katy Perry Was 'Excited to Walk Down Aisle Pregnant' Before Postponing Wedding Due to Coronavirus
 
Because of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the couple have put their venue on hold and asked loved ones to cancel flights
 
 
<em>Good Bones</em> star Mina Starsiak is due with her second child in September
 
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Mina Starsiak Is Pregnant! HGTV Star Expecting Second Child After Emotional Infertility Struggles
 
Good Bones star Mina Starsiak is due with her second child in September
 
 
Thomas, 8, allegedly died after longterm abuse at the hands of his father and his father's fiancée
 
HORRIFIC CRIME
'Why Can't Thomas Walk?' Inside Alleged Abuse, Death of Thomas Valva, 8, and Charges Against Cop Dad
 
Thomas, 8, allegedly died after longterm abuse at the hands of his father and his father's fiancée
 
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