Category Archives: US News

US navy official calls commander who was fired for coronavirus memo ‘naive or stupid’

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Donald Trump says he will settle dispute as acting navy secretary Thomas Modly faces calls to resign for attack on captain of USS Theodore Roosevelt

The Pentagon leadership crisis over a US aircraft carrier has intensified after the acting navy secretary called the ship’s ousted captain “too naive or too stupid” to be in command.

There were calls from Congress and former officers for Thomas Modly to resign after an audio recording surfaced of a speech he gave to the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, in which he denigrated the commander he had fired for having circulated a memo calling for more help for his crew, who had been stricken by a coronavirus outbreak onboard.

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Former Fox executives indicted in Fifa bribery scheme

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Multimillion dollar scheme involved kickbacks to Fifa officials for broadcast rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup

Two former senior executives at Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox corporation have been indicted over their alleged role in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving kickbacks to Fifa officials in exchange for broadcast and marketing rights to some of the world’s biggest football tournaments.

The US Department of Justice announced on Monday that Hernan Lopez, the former chief executive of Fox International Channels and Carlos Martinez, the former president of Fox Latin America, have been charged with wire fraud and money laundering offenses, marking another series of indictments in the US government’s sprawling investigation of corruption in world football.

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Trump and 3M reach deal to allow N95 face masks to be exported to Canada

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US officials had stopped shipment at 3M factory after Trump invoked Defense Production Act to halt exports to Canada and beyond

The Trump administration has agreed a deal with the US manufacturer 3M to import more than 166m respirators from China over the next three months and allow 3M to continue exporting its US-made respirators.

The agreement breaks a deadlock which resulted in Washington stopping nearly three million of the specialized masks from being exported to Ontario, stirring fears that Canada’s most populous province would run out of supplies for medical staff battling coronavirus by the end of the week.

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Andrew Cuomo doubles fines as New Yorkers flout ‘stay at home’ orders – video

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The New York governor has announced he is doubling the fine for violating his ‘stay at home’ order to $1,000 after ‘unacceptable laxness’ over the weekend. ‘If I can’t convince you to show discipline for yourself, then show discipline for other people,’ Andrew Cuomo told rule-breakers

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Former world officials call on US to ease Iran sanctions to fight Covid-19

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Group of former diplomats and ministers says shifting rules on medical trade could save hundreds of thousands of lives

A group of 24 senior diplomats and defence officials, including four former Nato secretary generals, have urged Donald Trump to save “potentially hundreds of thousands of lives” across the Middle East by easing medical and humanitarian sanctions on Iran.

Related: US ignores calls to suspend Venezuela and Iran sanctions amid coronavirus pandemic

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Egypt reports 149 new virus cases – as it happened

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New toll comes as UK prime minister, who has coronavirus, has been moved into hospital intensive care

We are going to close this live blog. But you can stay up to date on all the latest developments on our new blog here.

In the mean time, you can find all the latest developments below in our At A Glance summary:

Related: Coronavirus latest: at a glance

Just back to Donald Trump’s marathon press conference and he is fielding questions on the US naval commander who was fired over his coronavirus memo, suggesting he doesn’t think his life should be “destroyed” as a result, Sam Levin writes:

He made a mistake. He shouldn’t be sending letter. He’s the captain … you don’t send letters and then it leaks into a newspaper. I may get involved ...If I can help two good people, I’m going to help him

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Car plant shutdowns may cost auto industry more than $100bn

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Figure based on Covid-19 closures in Europe and North America lasting to end of April

The continued closure of car plants across Europe and North America will cost the auto industry more than $100bn (£82bn) in lost revenues if the shutdown lasts until the end of April.

All major European carmakers have suspended production because of disruption caused by the spread of the coronavirus and if this continues as expected until the end of April, this will account for $66bn (£54bn) in lost sales in Europe, or 2.6m cars. In North America this will account for 2m cars, and lost sales of about $52bn (£42bn).

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Ousted US intelligence inspector general urges others to speak out and defend whistleblowers

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Donald Trump fired Michael Atkinson, a pivotal figure in his impeachment last year, on Friday

The ousted US inspector general of the intelligence community has said he is “disappointed and saddened” that Donald Trump fired him, but he also encouraged other inspectors general to continue to speak out when they are aware of wrongdoing.

The US president notified Congress late on Friday evening that he intended to fire Michael Atkinson, a pivotal figure in his impeachment last year, because he had lost confidence in him. On Saturday, Trump made it clear that the move had been retaliatory, telling reporters that Atkinson was a “disgrace” and had done “a terrible job” because he had provided an anonymous whistleblower complaint to Congress – a move that was required by law.

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Coronavirus live news: Italy reports lowest increase in deaths in two weeks

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Spain records smallest rate of increase in infections; Trump tells Americans to expect ‘a lot of death’; Global deaths approach 65,000

Here are the key developments of the last few hours:

The country’s health minister has announced that Barbados has recorded its first death from the coronavirus.

The victim is said to be an 81-year-old male who had an underlying medical condition and had travelled to the UK.

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Search continues for Kennedy relatives lost in Chesapeake Bay

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  • Maeve McKean, 40, and son Gideon, eight, are missing
  • Kathleen Kennedy Townsend speaks of ‘profound sadness’

Divers and boats will on Sunday resume their search in the Chesapeake Bay for the bodies of the daughter and a grandson of former Maryland lieutenant governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Maryland police said.

Related: Kathleen Townsend Kennedy mourns relatives lost in canoe accident

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Trump administration determined to exit treaty reducing risk of war

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Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper agreed to proceed with US withdrawal of Open Skies Treaty despite pandemic, sources say

The Trump administration is determined to withdraw from a 28-year-old treaty intended to reduce the risk of an accidental war between the west and Russia by allowing reconnaissance flights over each other’s territory.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, which has put off a full national security council (NSC) meeting on the Open Skies Treaty (OST), the secretary of defence, Mark Esper, and secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, have agreed to proceed with a US exit, according to two sources familiar with administration planning.

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Trump is ‘decapitating’ intelligence leadership amid crisis, senior Democrat says

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Adam Schiff calls Trump ‘vindictive president’ after president fired the inspector general of the US intelligence community

Donald Trump is “decapitating the leadership of the intelligence community in the middle of a national crisis”, senior Democrat Adam Schiff has charged, after the president fired the inspector general of the US intelligence community late on Friday night.

Related: Donald Trump fires intelligence watchdog who sparked impeachment process

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Andrew Cuomo thanks China for ventilators as New York prepares for coronavirus peak – video

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The New York governor said the Chinese government would facilitate a donation of 1,000 ventilators to arrive into JFK airport on Saturday. Cuomo said: ‘This is a big deal and it’s going to make a significant difference for us. We’re not at the apex so we’re still in the stage where we have the luxury – if you will – of gathering as much as we can.’


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Prince Andrew will reportedly not be interviewed in Epstein documentary

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Duke of York will not appear in upcoming Lifetime film on Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and sex offender

Prince Andrew will reportedly not agree to be interviewed for a forthcoming documentary about the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York has been repeatedly criticized for associating with Epstein, who died in custody in New York following his July 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges.

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Sean Hannity defends Fox News against claims of coronavirus misinformation: ‘I never called it a hoax’

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Hannity responds to open letter signed by 74 journalism professors and leading journalists claiming Fox News spread false statements

Fox News host Sean Hannity has hit back against intense criticism of the conservative network’s coronavirus coverage, even claiming in a new interview he was ahead of most media in taking Covid-19 seriously.

Related: How science finally caught up with Trump's playbook – with millions of lives at stake

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Keeping up with the Sussexes: will Harry and Meghan be LA’s hottest ticket?

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The royal couple are tipped to be the toast of the celebrity circuit but they will have to work hard to maintain their A-list status

Touching down to a city in lockdown cannot have been what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had in mind when they had imagined starting a new life in Los Angeles. With a stay-at-home order in place, all activities usually associated with the city – premieres, parties, events and schmoozing – were on hold when they reportedly arrived last month, and studios had stopped production.

Following months of drama swirling around Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as working royals, which officially came into force on Wednesday, in the face of a deadly global pandemic they have finally taken a backseat in the public consciousness.

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Sanctions should not impede coronavirus fight, EU diplomat says

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Josep Borrell backs UN call for global ceasefire to allow the world to focus on pandemic

Sanctions should not stop the delivery of medical equipment and supplies to countries trying to contain outbreaks of coronavirus, the EU’s top diplomat has said.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, made his comments in a declaration on Friday in which he backed the UN’s call for an immediate global ceasefire to allow the world to focus on the pandemic.

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‘I don’t want to’: Trump rejects CDC coronavirus face mask guidance – video

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Donald Trump has said he will probably not wear a protective face mask despite his administration encouraging people in the US to do so in public to prevent spreading the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance for people to wear bandanas, T-shirts and other cloth-based coverings in crowded areas, particularly in hotspots.

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Donald Trump fires intelligence watchdog who sparked impeachment process

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Michael Atkinson, inspector general for the intelligence community, alerted Congress to whistleblower complaint

Donald Trump has fired the inspector general for the intelligence community who handled the whistleblower complaint that led to his impeachment, prompting fierce criticism from Democrats.

The US president chose a Friday night, with America consumed by the coronavirus pandemic, to tell the House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees of his decision to dismiss Michael Atkinson.

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US accused of ‘modern piracy’ after diversion of masks meant for Europe

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German politician adds to chorus of complaints about American tactics to source protective gear

The US has been accused of “modern piracy” after reportedly diverting a shipment of masks intended for the German police, and outbidding other countries in the increasingly fraught global market for coronavirus protective equipment.

About 200,000 N95 masks were diverted to the US as they were being transferred between planes in Thailand, according to the Berlin authorities who said they had ordered the masks for the police force.

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