Global coronavirus infections tally surpasses 500,000, more than 120,000 recovered
The global tally of coronavirus infections reached more than half a million people on Thursday after a spike in cases reported in Italy.
Month: March 2020
IDF shoots down drone from Lebanon, says it was flown by Hezbollah
The Israel Defense Forces said it shot down a drone that was flown by the Hezbollah terror group into Israeli airspace from Lebanon on Thursday morning.
U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Iranian Revolutionary Guards-Linked Firms, Individuals
The United States says it has imposed sanctions against 20 companies based in Iran and Iraq, along with officials and other individuals there who are accused of supporting terrorist groups.
New Orleans emerges as next coronavirus epicenter, threatening rest of South
New Orleans is on track to become the next coronavirus epicenter in the United States, dimming hopes that less densely populated and warmer-climate cities would escape the worst of the pandemic, and that summer months could see it wane.
Mnuchin indicates federal government could take stakes in airlines for government grants
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin signaled on Thursday that the federal government could take stakes in airlines in exchange for the billions of dollars that have been set aside for the beleaguered industry in Congress’s $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.
Senate sends House $2 trillion coronavirus bill; vote expected Friday
The U.S. Senate’s unanimous passage of an estimated $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill sent the unprecedented economic rescue legislation to the House of Representatives, whose leaders hope to pass it on Friday.
3.3 million file unemployment claims in U.S., five times over prior record
Nearly 3.3 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week, a record number as businesses were forced to shut down to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Franklin Graham calls attention to New York abortion law after governor says no life is ‘expendable’
Rev. Franklin Graham applauded New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s claim that no life is ‘expendable’ amid the coronavirus pandemic but said the Democratic governor should consider his remarks in light of an abortion law he signed.
Israeli High Court of Justice intervenes to propel Gantz into unity government with Netanyahu
Israel’s High Court of Justice Thursday ordered a vote on the future of Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein which saw him step down, as Blue and White leader Benny Gantz filled his shoes and signaled the formation of a “national emergency government” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Jewish rabbis see imminent divine entry to temple in Jerusalem in light of Zohar predictions
A Jewish rabbi is expecting the Messiah to be revealed around Passover this year in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, citing a prophecy about a global pandemic from the main text of the mystical Kabbalah.
Two churches burned down by arsonists despite hopes for Christian freedom
Two churches in Sudan have been burned down by arsonists in the last month, Sudanese Radio Dabanga reported. This is despite Christian hopes for religious freedom following the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. Radio Dabanga was notified of the attacks by Dimas Marajan, a local lawyer and human rights activist.
Indonesian Baptist Church takes legal action in fight for freedom of religion and worship
The Indonesian Baptist Church of Tlogosari has resorted to legal action in fighting local opposition to the construction of its church house. Referring to pressure being placed on the government to block his church’s legitimate building work, Pastor Wahyudi told Beritasatu.com: “We will continue to fight for this, because if left unchecked it will set a bad precedent for freedom of religion and worship in Semarang.”
Negative rates come to the US: 1-month and 3-month Treasury bill yields are now below zero
The coronavirus crisis has brought another first to U.S. financial markets — negative yields on government debt.
Ravi Zacharias Discusses Cancer Diagnosis, Christian Response to Coronavirus
Leading Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias has opened up about his recent cancer diagnosis and offered Christians some wisdom as to how they should be responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gaza Preacher Praises Allah for Infecting Israelis, Americans — Day Before First Cases Reported in Gaza
A preacher told worshipers in Gaza’s largest mosque on Friday that Allah sent the coronavirus to inflict suffering on Israelis, Americans and those who plot against the Al-Aqsa mosque, while protecting Palestinians.
Netanyahu: Full lockdown possible within days if virus spread doesn’t slow
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday that a full closure of the country could be introduced within days to curb the coronavirus pandemic, hours after further restrictions on Israelis’ movement were put into effect.
Netanyahu and Gantz discuss unity government, plan fresh talks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz discussed the possibility of setting up an emergency government to tackle the coronavirus Wednesday, taking a rare step toward a much-touted unity coalition.
Christians in India scapegoated for Catholic child trafficking scandal and Muslim forced marriages
In a tragic misunderstanding, the leader of a Hindu nationalist organization in India is vowing to prevent the spread of Christian faith across his country because of alleged child trafficking activities of the charity founded by Mother Theresa and purported forced conversions and marriages of Hindu girls by Muslim men.
How digital surveillance in virus fight watches you more closely than any GPS
Coronavirus phone tracking doesn’t just tell governments more or less where their citizens are, but can also show the phone owners’ ‘micro-environment’ and provide a treasure trove of information about their physical surroundings, a systems engineer behind key technology being used in the battle against the spread of coronavirus has revealed.
Mobile phone companies slated to become instruments of state surveillance
National governments across the world are joining with telecom companies to collect private mobile phone user data and erode privacy standards, using the fear of a global pandemic as a justification for tracking citizens.