Amid Coronavirus Cases Rising, Fatalities at Lowest Level in Months, Pence Emphasizes
Amid continuing concern among members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force he leads, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is emphasizing the positives.
virus
Almost half the US population was unemployed in May 2020
Almost half the US population was jobless last month, CNBC reported Monday. According to the Bureau of Labor data for May 2020, the number of employed people as a percentage of the US adult population was 52.8% last month, meaning 47.2% of Americans had no job. The figures for June will be published on Thursday this week.
Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Scrap Obamacare in Full
The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety in a new legal brief filed late Thursday night.
New York Leadership Ordered To End’ Church Discrimination’
More devoted Christians could legally worship in the U.S. State of New York on Sunday after a federal judge told Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to stop discriminating churches while allowing “black lives matter” protests against police abuse.
Poland’s President Facing Liberal Challenge In Sunday Poll
Poland’s right-wing president, Andrzej Duda, was seeking a second five-year term in an election amid controversy. Sunday’s poll was seen as a test whether voters share his plans of implementing a conservative agenda. His policies include judicial reforms that the European Union claims undermine democracy.
Israel and United Arab Emirates to cooperate on COVID-19
Israel and the United Arab Emirates are set to join forces in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jerusalem Post reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the partnership in a statement on Thursday, saying the decision to cooperate had come after months of intense negotiation.
U.S. GDP fell at a 5% rate in the first quarter, and the worse is likely on the way
The U.S. economy shrank at a 5.0% rate in the first quarter with a much worse decline expected in the current three-month economic period because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Investors/lenders urged to help Africa as new study forecasts shrinking economies in 2020
According to a new study, many African nations struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic may find themselves defaulting on debt repayments, DW reports. Weak currencies, higher interest rates, and reduced oil prices could result in African governments losing an estimated US$45 billion in revenue this year alone, the study found.
Russia Votes On Controversial Constitution Changes
Russia has begun a week-long vote on constitutional reforms that could allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036.
Knesset advances bill to enable Shin Bet surveillance in coronavirus fight
The cabinet and the Knesset voted on Wednesday to advance legislation that would enable the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to use its digital tools to track coronavirus patients. The bill passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum by a vote of 44 to 33, but still must pass additional readings in a Knesset committee and the plenum next week in order to become law.
US moves aircraft carriers to Taiwan Strait in South China Sea
In a display of power, the US Navy now has three aircraft carriers to the Taiwan Strait in the South China Sea, Fox News reported Monday. This is the first three-carrier mission to take place in several years and it reportedly sends a message of deterrence to China.
Italian infectious diseases specialist says COVID-19 may die out on its own without vaccine
An infectious diseases specialist in Italy has said he believes the COVID-19 virus has weakened and may disappear by itself without a vaccine, Fox News reported Monday. Dr Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at San Martino hospital in Genoa, said the virus weakening may be caused by genetic mutations resulting from lockdown and social distancing measures.
Iran Christian Convert: ‘15 Christians Detained for Faith’
An Iranian Christian rights activist who was jailed for protesting against Iran’s Islamic government says more than a dozen Christians remain behind bars in the country’s overcrowded prisons.
Christians in Atlanta March Against Racism and Pray for Police
Praying and marching against racism Friday, thousands of Christians took part in the “March on Atlanta” event organized by OneRace Movement, a Christian coalition aiming to “displace the spirit of racism and release racial reconciliation,” The Christian Post reported. Participants also prayed in support of the Atlanta Police Department which is reeling from nationwide rage against law enforcement following the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta itself.
Frustration and Hope as World Deals with Virus and Visitors
Hope but also frustration and uncertainty marked the world’s efforts Sunday to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Israel’s ‘Corona Cabinet’ Approves New Restrictions, as Economy Continues to Take Hit
The Israeli government’s ad hoc “Corona Cabinet” approved on Monday several new measures to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
President Trump Blames Media, Protesters For ‘Low’ Rally turnout
U.S. President Donald Trump has blamed mainstream media and “radical protesters” for scaring away attendees during his first election rally in more than three months.
Serbia’s Populists Expected To Win Vote
Serbia’s ruling populists were due to tighten their grip on power in the first European national election since the coronavirus pandemic. Voting began Sunday in the, heavily Orthodox, Balkan nation despite concerns about ongoing COVID-19 cases and what critics view as the autocratic style of the current president.
Judge Who Ruled in Favor of Coronavirus Church Drive-In Services Appointed to Powerful Court of Appeals
The first judge to rule in favor of churches during COVID-19 lockdowns has been confirmed to the influential Court of Appeals, the Washington Examiner reports. President Trump nominated 38-year-old Kentucky Judge Justin Walker to the seat being vacated by retiring Judge Thomas B. Griffith.
Iranian Christians Risk Their Lives to Help Neighbors in COVID-19 Crisis
Religious freedom group Open Doors USA has been told that Christians in Iran are risking their lives to help fellow citizens with food and hygiene parcels during the coronavirus outbreak, Fox News reported Thursday. Known internationally for its radical Islamic terrorism, Iran is the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East.