Israel’s Largest Bank to Pay $904M for US Tax Evasion, FIFA Money Laundering Conspiracy
Israel’s largest bank admitted to its role in a massive US tax evasion scandal and money laundering conspiracy that will cost it more than $904 million.
PLO
More than 3.8 million new unemployment claims filed; 6 week total exceeds 30 million
The six-week surge in new unemployment claims continued last week as businesses deemed nonessential by state and local governments reduce staffing in response to COVID-19.
Turkey says deployment of Russian S-400 missiles delayed, but will happen
Turkey’s planned deployment of Russian S-400 missile defenses has been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak but will ultimately go ahead, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Thursday, despite Washington’s warnings that Ankara risks U.S. sanctions.
Trump, business leaders discuss plans to slowly reopen U.S. economy
President Donald Trump invited some of the top leaders in business and industry to the White House Wednesday for a discussion on how to safely begin reopening parts of the economy that have been devastated by stay-home orders in response to COVID-19.
FBI discussed interviewing Michael Flynn ‘to get him to lie’ and ‘get him fired,’ handwritten notes show
Explosive new internal FBI documents unsealed Wednesday show that top bureau officials discussed their motivations for interviewing then-national security adviser Michael Flynn in the White House in January 2017 — and openly questioned if their “goal” was “to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired.”
U.N. Agency: ‘Half of World’s Workers Lose Jobs Over Coronavirus’
A principal United Nations agency warns that nearly half of the world’s working population may lose jobs and incomes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate lives and economies. The International Labour Organization (ILO) said some 1.6 billion people are in “immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed” by the economic impact of the virus outbreak and related measures.
Officials: US seeks indefinite UN arms embargo on Iran
The United States has circulated a draft U.N. resolution that would indefinitely extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran set to expire in October, a move almost certain to spark opposition from Russia, which has made no secret of its desire to resume conventional weapons sales to Tehran, U.S. officials and U.N. diplomats said Tuesday.
Poll: ’90 Percent of Americans Fear U.S. Economy Collapse.’
Nearly nine out of every 10 Americans fear the imminent collapse of the U.S. economy during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll. The Axios-Ipsos CoronavirusIndex also showed that Americans fear the possible financial ruin of their nation more than the risk of reopening communities too early amid the virus outbreak.
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.
Tense Calm In France After Lockdown Riots
A tense calm returned to the outskirts of Paris after four days of riots exacerbated by the anger of the ongoing coronavirus lockdown and police measures in France. Crowds of youths targeted riot police with fireworks and torched rubbish bins amid rising tensions. The violence began Saturday after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in Villeneuve-La-Garenne in a confrontation with police.
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.
Hezbollah and Israel Try To Avoid War, For Now
Israel and the Islamic militant Hezbollah group have reportedly agreed on informal rules of engagement as they prepare for possible war while trying to avoid setting it off. The New York Times newspaper reports that Israel has mostly refrained from killing members of Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and committed to destroying the Jewish state.
U.S. Unemployment Hits 26 Million, Worst Since Great Depression
U.S. unemployment is nearing levels of the Great Depression of the 1930s, with one in 6 Americans of working age out of a job as the coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down the economy. About 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance last week alone, reported the U.S. Labor Department on Thursday.
Plunge in Oil Prices Could Shake Up Middle East, Russia
A week ago, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to slash production by 9.7 million barrels, a deal that brought an end to a price war between two of the biggest exporters, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Trump, Congress agree on new stimulus package
President Donald Trump and congressional leaders have agreed on a new, nearly $500 billion stimulus package to help small businesses impacted by stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belarus Open Despite Coronavirus Concerns
Schools have reopened in Belarus after an extended spring break linked to the coronavirus outbreak that infected thousands here. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet nation with an iron fist for more than a quarter-century, ordered classes to resume at the nation’s 3,067 schools.
Poll shows 74% of adults in America fear losing personal freedom to COVID-19
According to a Hill-HarrisX poll published on Monday, 74% of adults in America were concerned about losing personal freedoms to COVID-19. The survey also showed that 83% of respondents were concerned about infection from the coronavirus.
Trump to order temporary suspension on immigration to US
President Trump announced on Monday night that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he will be ordering a temporary suspension on immigration to the US. In a post on Twitter, the President said: ‘In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!’
China may be conducting secret nuclear tests, State Department warns
The State Department is concerned China may be conducting small nuclear tests in secret, possibly violating an international agreement banning such tests, Fox News confirmed Wednesday.
President Trump Asks States To Reopen By May 1
U.S. President Donald Trump has told governors that some could begin reopening their states by May 1 or earlier if they wanted despite ongoing coronavirus infections, according to audio recordings distributed Thursday.