Watchdog Report: Debt will exceed U.S. economy in 2020
Debt held by the public will exceed the size of the U.S. economy by the end of fiscal 2020, a watchdog said Monday.
virus
Crime drops worldwide amid coronavirus crisis
The coronavirus pandemic that has crippled big-box retailers and mom and pop shops worldwide may be making a dent in illicit business, too.
Kansas Supreme Court rules in favor of Governor’s executive order limiting religious services to 10 people
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order limiting religious services to 10 people, the Washington Examiner reports. Referring to the coronavirus outbreak that prompted the order, the Court said Saturday: “We agreed to expedite these proceedings due to the nature of the public health emergency all agree is present.”
Israel High Court says a petition to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government was filed too soon
Israel’s High Court ruled Sunday that a petition to disqualify Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government was filed too early. The petition claims Netanyahu should be barred from leading the country because of the corruption charges he faces. Justice Alex Stein dismissed the petition on the grounds that President Reuven Rivlin has not asked Netanyahu to form a government coalition this time around. Nevertheless, the Times of Israel reports, the Court said the application could be renewed should Rivlin give Netanyahu such a mandate in due course.
EU Chief: ‘Elderly Face Lockdown Till 2021 Over Coronavirus’
The chief of the European Union’s executive has warned the block’s elderly that they may have to stay in lockdown till 2021 due to the new coronavirus pandemic. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the comments in a German newspaper. Her remarks further overshadowed Easter and Passover celebrations in Europe. Von der Leyen told Germany’s daily Bild that older people might have to be kept isolated until the end of the year.
Dutch Town Celebrates Easter Outside Closed Churches
Christian songs reverberated throughout the Dutch town of Urk as residents took to the streets to celebrate Easter outside closed churches in one of Europe’s most God-fearing communities. They gathered Sunday after the 57-year-old housewife Jannie Molenaar expressed concern that locals would no longer be able to sing in churches due to the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Judge Allows Easter Drive-in Service Amid Coronavirus Concerns
A judge in the U.S. State of Kentucky has prevented a mayor from stopping an evangelical church’s drive-in service planned for Easter, despite a new coronavirus pandemic. The ruling came as Republicans condemned Democratic Governor Andy Beshear’s statewide plan to force people into quarantine if they attend mass gatherings, including religious ones.
Britain pledges 200 million to criticized WHO and agencies
Britain has pledged 200 million pounds ($248 million) to charities and the World Health Organization (WHO), which has come under U.S. pressure over its handling of the new coronavirus pandemic. Its Easter present came while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been suffering from the virus COVID-19, said he “owed” his life to British medics.
Coronavirus: Trump has declared major disaster in all 50 states at once, first time in history
President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Wyoming on Saturday, meaning that there is now such a declaration within all 50 states due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OPEC and allies finalize record oil production cut after days of discussion
OPEC and its oil producing allies on Sunday finalized a historic agreement to cut production by 9.7 million barrels per day, following multiple days of discussions and back-and-forth between the world’s largest energy producers. The cut is the single largest output cut in history.
China Halts Online Church Services
China’s Communist government has halted online church services despite the coronavirus pandemic forcing many Christians to stay at home this Easter, Worthy News learned Saturday. The online religious rights watchdog Bitter Winter and local Christians said only groups holding state-issued licenses could stream religious services online in China. “We can’t get together because of the pandemic,” an underground house church pastor in the province of Jiangxi told Bitter Winter.
U.S. Governors Demand $500 Billion To Prevent Collapse Services
U.S. governors appealed Saturday for $500 billion in federal aid, saying states face a budget crisis due to the new coronavirus pandemic that threatens essential services. They urged Congress to “meet the states’ budgetary shortfalls that have resulted from this unprecedented public health crisis.”
Texas Police Pray For Coronavirus-Suffering Officer
Police in the U.S. State of Texas have been praying for a fellow officer who was rushed to an intensive care unit with the new coronavirus COVID-19.
Israel To Restart Economy Despite Coronacirus Pandemic
Israeli officials say the government wants to gradually reopen the country’s economy hit hard by a coronavirus pandemic that overshadowed the Passover holiday. But in a setback for the tourism industry, regular flights will only resume in September, Israeli media reported Saturday.
Apple and Google Unveil Controversial Tracking Technology
U.S. tech giants Apple and Google have unveiled a plan to track down people who may have been infected by the new coronavirus, despite concerns among rights activists. Their software allows governments to roll out apps for “contact tracing” that will run on smartphones such as iPhones and Android.
Kansas Governor Seeks Resurrection Of Church Ban Order
The Democratic governor of Kansas has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. state’s Republican-controlled council after it revoked her executive order limiting church meetings ahead of Easter. Governor Laura Kelly wants the court to resurrect her ban on religious gatherings of more than ten people. She says the measure is necessary to limit infections amid a new coronavirus pandemic.
Increased sales of the Bible during coronavirus pandemic
Major Christian publishing companies have reported increased sales of the Bible during the coronavirus pandemic. The increase is reportedly similar to that observed after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001.
U.S. Debt Reaches “Unsustainable” 24 Trillion Dollars
The federal government debt of the United States has reached a record $24 trillion despite warnings by the nation’s leading watchdog that it is unsustainable for the world’s largest economy.
U.S., UK cyber officials say state-backed hackers taking advantage of outbreak
American and British cybersecurity officials are warning that state-backed hackers and online criminals are taking advantage of the coronavirus outbreak to further their operations, echoing concerns from digital safety experts.
World faces potential new ‘Great Depression’ as virus toll mounts
World powers scrambled on Thursday to build a global response to the human tragedy and once-in-a-century economic collapse caused by the coronavirus epidemic, as death tolls in the US and Europe soared higher.