U.S. Top Virus Fighter Fauci Warns Of New Infections Wave
America’s top health official in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic dampened hopes of a full reopening of the U.S. economy as he expects many more cases of the virus disease COVID-19.
covid-19
Mexico and the EU agree to new free-trade deal
The EU and Mexico agreed to a new free-trade deal Tuesday after four years of negotiations, the Financial Times reported. The deal provides that almost all trade between Mexico and the EU bloc will be duty-free.
U.S. Economy Down 4.8 Percent In Biggest Decline Since Great Recession
The U.S. economy shrank at 4.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, the most significant decline since the Great Recession of the late 2000s, as the nation shivers of the coronavirus pandemic measures. With much of America in lockdown, figures released by the Commerce Department showed that the United States entered a recession that will end the longest expansion on record.
Wuhan lab ‘most likely’ coronavirus source, U.S. government analysis finds
A Wuhan laboratory is the ‘most likely’ source of the COVID-19 outbreak now ravaging the globe, according to a U.S. government analysis that catalogs the evidence and concludes that other explanations for the origin of the coronavirus are less credible.
Tennessee Governor attends multi-church drive-in worship service
The Governor of Tennessee expressed full support for holding drive-in church services during the COVID-19 pandemic by attending such a service himself, Christian Headlines reports. At a time when state and local leaders have grappled with whether to allow drive-in services, Gov. Bill Lee attended a multi-church ‘Beyond Our Walls’ worship service on Sunday evening.
Amid COVID-19, Wycliffe Associates’ Developed Web-Based Program Helps Bible Translators to Work, Collaborate Remotely
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization working with national translators with close to 1,200 languages in progress, is expanding its Bible translation technological reach with V-MAST, a video conferencing version of the MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation) methodology.
About half of US churches planning to resume in-person services in May
After weeks of having online services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of US churches are expected to resume holding in-person services in May, the Christian Post reported. Churches that reopen are expected to do so while still observing safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
US Pastor Dies Of Coronavirus After Preaching Resurrection of Christ
A Baptist pastor in the U.S. state of Michigan has died shortly after celebrating his recovery from the new coronavirus and preaching about the resurrection of Christ. David Ford, a pastor at Friendship House of Prayer Baptist Church in the state capital Lansing, had been hospitalized with the virus disease COVID-19, friends said.
US deficit expected to reach nearly $4 Trillion
The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted on Friday that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s deficit will reach $3.7 trillion this year, Politico reports. The CBO also said that unemployment will rise to 16 percent in 2020, before going to down to 9.5 percent by the end of 2021.
US Pastor Defies Coronavirus House Arrest And Holds Services
A controversial pastor in the U.S. state of Louisiana held services in his evangelical church Sunday despite house arrest orders for violating social distancing measures linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Protests Against Anti-Virus Lockdown Spread In Europe
Protests against lengthy coronavirus-related lockdowns have spread in Europe where most people have died in the global pandemic, devastating economies and wracking lives of millions. In Germany, the continent’s largest economy, police detained dozens of protesters over the weekend for violating the strict lockdown measures they were demonstrating against.
U.S. Top Court Rejects States’ Coronavirus Appeal Against Trump Policy
Concerns remained Sunday that certain immigrants suffering from the coronavirus disease COVID-19 would not seek medical help after a U.S.Supreme Court ruling. The top court declined a request by U.S.states to halt a Trump administration policy temporarily on health grounds.
Poland’s Health Minister: ‘Delay Elections Till 2022 Over Coronavirus’
Poland’s health minister risked the anger of other government officials by suggesting to delay next month’s presidential elections until 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Minister Lukasz Szumowski, who is also a cardiologist, said Friday that postponing the vote ‘the only safe option’ as the virus disease COVID-19 spreads across the nation.
Trump Signs $500 Billion Aid Bill As U.S. Virus Deaths Rise To 50,000
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill on Friday to aid employers and hospitals under pressure from the coronavirus pandemic as the related death toll rose to more than 50,000 Americans.
Facebook removes videos of military chaplains referring to God
Facebook has removed four videos of military chaplains encouraging prayer and referring to God during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News reported on Thursday. The posts were taken down after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRRF) complained the videos constituted ‘illicit proselytizing’ of Christianity.
Christian organization calling on US churches to reopen May 3
The Liberty Counsel (LC) Christian non-profit organization has launched the ReOpen Church Sunday campaign, calling on US churches to resume congregating in person on May 3, the Christian Post reports. As the campaign follows weeks of on-line worship services due to the coronavirus pandemic, LC advises that congregations should continue to observe social-distancing and sanitation measures at in-person services. However, LC says: ‘Now is the time to act.’
Iran Threatens “Crushing Response” To U.S. Attacks
Iran threatens a ‘crushing response’ to any American military attacks in the Persian Gulf after United States President Donald Trump threatened to ‘shoot down and destroy’ Iranian vessels. The leader of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the security of the Gulf is among Iran’s strategic priorities.
Church in Harlem NY loses 11 members to coronavirus in 30 days
A church in Harlem has lost 11 members to the coronavirus pandemic in 30 days. Rev. Johnnie Green of the 1200-member Mount Neboh Baptist Church told the Christian Post: ‘It is simply unfathomable and unfortunate that so many people in our congregation [have died].’
UN Fears Global Famines Of “Biblical Proportions” Due To Virus Pandemic
A United Nations agency has warned that the world risks widespread famines ‘of Biblical proportions’ due to the coronavirus pandemic.
US has over 45,000 COVID-19 related fatalities
The US COVID-19 death toll was 45,343 on Wednesday morning, Worldometers.info reports. The first known US fatality from coronavirus came on February 28 in Washington State. Currently, New York has the highest number of deaths with 19,693; Wyoming has the fewest with 6.