American doctors and nurses tell us they're frustrated with a lack of testing ability, and a lack of protective equipment they need to fight Covid-19. They say the US isn’t prepared for the spike of patients suffering from the virus in the coming weeks
Category Archives: US News
US-Mexico border is closed to non-essential travel as coronavirus outbreak continues – video
Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, has announced the closure of the border as Donald Trump warned against 'mass, uncontrolled cross-border movement'.
The announcement comes two days after officials said the US-Canada border would similarly ban all non-essential travel as the pandemic continues. Pompeo also urged all Americans to stay in the country or immediately return home if they are abroad.
US coronavirus news: Mexican border closed to non-essential travel as New York ordered to stay at home – live
- Republican senator urged to resign after report he sold stocks before Covid-19 market plunge
- All Californians ordered to shelter in place
- Stimulus proposes up to $1,200 direct payments to individuals
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- See all our coronavirus coverage
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Well, that was an eventful daily coronavirus briefing. Here are some of the highlights:
Continue reading...‘Not going to stop me’: Miami spring breakers unfazed by coronavirus warnings – video
Crowds of young Americans have flocked to Florida to celebrate spring break, defying guidelines from health officials to practise social distancing and avoid large gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus in the US: New York mayor says Trump 'should get the hell out of the way' – live
- Coronavirus map of the US: latest cases state by state
Coronavirus: the week the world shut down
Walls have been raised and societies quarantined as people enter a new reality
It should not have come as a surprise. Life had already been upended in China. Iran and Italy have been reeling for a month. And yet it still felt sudden, this week, when walls were raised across the world, entire societies were quarantined and billions of people realised they had crossed a dividing line: from life before coronavirus to after.
After weeks of governments prevaricating over whether to ban mass gatherings, close businesses or seal borders, restrictions came in a flurry. “We are at war,” announced the French president, Emmanuel Macron. But without adequate weapons to fight the virus, let alone enough hospital beds or ventilators, this was the week the world beat a tactical retreat.
Continue reading...Fate of US brewery in drought-hit Mexico goes to Amlo poll
President continues direct democracy drive that critics say is skewed towards his desired outcome
The fate of a giant US brewery under construction in Mexico’s parched borderlands will be put to a vote this weekend in the latest attempt at direct democracy by the country’s populist president.
The brewery in Mexicali has provoked controversy in a region where the climate crisis has already caused droughts, and where farmers and residents have taken exception to a US company, Constellation Brands, extracting water to produce beer for export.
Continue reading...Coronavirus: Republican senators sold stocks before markets plunged on Covid-19 fears – reports
Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia have denied they kept the public in the dark
Two Republican senators have faced demands to resign after it was reported they sold off millions of dollars worth of stocks just before the market dropped amid fears of the coronavirus pandemic.
Richard Burr of North Carolina, chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, whose husband is chairman of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), denied that they kept the public in the dark about the scale of the threat.
Continue reading...Increasingly powerful, Xi’s China thinks it no longer needs Washington – or its foreign reporters | Richard McGregor
The ruling party and its leaders have long wanted to avoid the scrutiny of the foreign press. The expulsions show Beijing is confident in its growing might
Beijing’s decision to throw out correspondents from America’s most influential newspapers is, on one level, just part of a muscular tit-for-tat between the US and China over how to manage journalists stationed in each country.
In an announcement that caught the newspapers by surprise, the Foreign Ministry said US journalists at the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post whose press cards ran out this year would be expelled.
Continue reading...US state department warns against all Americans leaving country amid pandemic – live
- Advisory says US citizens living abroad should avoid international travel
- Trump sows confusion with claim drug will be ready soon
- Coronavirus – latest global updates
- See all our coronavirus coverage
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Connecticut has become the latest state to announce it is moving its presidential primary, which was originally scheduled to take place on April 28.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said the primary would instead take place on June 2.
In coordination with other states and our Secretary of the State, and in an effort to carry out Democracy while keeping public health a top priority, I have decided to move our presidential primary to June 2nd. I will provide more information later today. #COVID19 #2020Primaries
The State Department’s Level 4 advisory on all international travel comes a week after the government issued a Level 3 advisory, which urged Americans to reconsider their travel plans.
A number of Americans are already trying to get back home from countries like Guatemala, which has implemented harsh restrictions on flights going into and out of the country.
Continue reading...Coronavirus: Donald Trump steps up attacks on China and the media – video
The US president has sought to deflect criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic by attacking China and the media over their coverage of it. Speaking at his daily taskforce briefing, Trump accused Beijing of suppressing early information about the spread of the virus in Wuhan, and the media of corruption. ‘They’re siding with China,’ he said. ‘It’s more than fake news; it’s corrupt news’
Continue reading...Tulsi Gabbard quits 2020 Democratic presidential race
Hawaii congresswoman who assembled eclectic group of supporters backs Joe Biden and thanks Bernie Sanders
The controversial Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has dropped out of the Democratic presidential race. She had been the last woman in the contest – albeit a very long shot from the start – after Elizabeth Warren decided to quit within two days of a poor showing on Super Tuesday.
Gabbard, who won two Democratic delegates, both in American Samoa, endorsed Joe Biden as she suspended her campaign, a surprise move given she was one of few Democrats in Congress to back Bernie Sanders in 2016.
Continue reading...Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell sues his estate
Maxwell seeking to recoup legal fees to defend herself against Epstein-related allegations
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has sued the late financier’s estate, seeking to recoup legal fees to defend herself against claims that she helped recruit women for Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking scheme.
In a complaint filed with the superior court in the US Virgin Islands, Maxwell said she had “no involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s alleged misconduct” and the financier had repeatedly promised to support her financially.
Continue reading...Harvey Weinstein begins 23-year sentence at New York state prison
Convicted rapist will be evaluated to determine which state prison facility meets his security, medical and other needs
Harvey Weinstein was transferred to a state prison in New York on Wednesday as he begins to serve a 23-year sentence for rape and sexual assault in his landmark #MeToo case.
The disgraced film mogul, who will turn 68 on Thursday, is locked up at the maximum security Wende correctional facility near Buffalo, according to state prison officials. He is known behind bars as inmate No 20B0584.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Italy death toll rises to 3,405, overtaking China
US says vaccine is 12 months away, Hubei reports no new cases and cases in Peru rise 61% in single day
- Follow our UK coronavirus live blog
- Italian province struggles to bury its coronavirus dead
- Israeli spies source up to 100,000 tests in covert mission
- China’s coronavirus lockdown strategy: brutal but effective
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Competition laws will be temporarily relaxed to allow supermarkets to collaborate in feeding the UK.
Retailers will be able to pool staff, share data on stock levels, and share distribution depots and delivery vans as supermarkets face intense demand, the government confirmed.
Donald Trump sowed fresh confusion about the US government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by claiming that a therapeutic drug will be available “almost immediately” – only to be contradicted by officials.
In a rambling performance at Thursday’s White House press conference, the president asserted that chloroquine, used to combat malaria, had been approved and would be made available by prescription.
They’re doing great with the vaccines but there’s still a long process, but the therapies are something we can move on much faster potentially. And the treatments that will be able to reduce the severity or duration of the symptoms – make people better.
Chloroquine, or hydroxychloroquine, this is a common malaria drug. It’s also a drug used for strong arthritis … It’s been around for a long time, so we know if things don’t go as planned it’s not going to kill anybody … It’s shown very, very encouraging early results, and we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately.
Pres. Trump touts chloroquine, an old malaria drug, that doctors say may help treat novel coronavirus, claims it will be available "almost immediately."
Read more about chloroquine: https://t.co/cYt0fxdlfB pic.twitter.com/9oPsMSD3HV
Trump keeps immigration courts open despite coronavirus risks
With 58 courts still open, the prospect of courthouses acting as incubators and disseminators of the virus remains pronounced
The Trump administration is putting the health and potentially lives of thousands of federal judges, lawyers, court staff and undocumented immigrants and their families at risk by insisting that immigration courts remain open for the deportation hearings of detained immigrants, despite the threat of coronavirus.
On Wednesday the Department of Justice announced the temporary closure of 10 immigration courts in addition to the already shuttered location in Seattle. All deportation hearings relating to undocumented people who are not in custody have also been suspended.
Continue reading...Irish planners reject Trump golf resort’s plan to build wall
Officials say proposed 38,000-tonne sea barrier could damage sand dunes at Doonbeg resort
The climate crisis just became more personal for Donald Trump, after authorities in Ireland rejected an attempt by his Doonbeg golf resort to build a wall to combat rising sea levels.
The planning agency An Bord Pleanála said on Wednesday that the proposed 38,000-tonne rock barrier at Doughmore Bay could damage dunes that straddle the golf course in County Clare, on the Atlantic coast.
Continue reading...‘Not racist at all’: Donald Trump defends calling coronavirus the ‘Chinese virus’ – video
The US president has dismissed accusations that his use of the term 'Chinese virus' to refer to the coronavirus is racist. Speaking at his daily coronavirus taskforce briefing, he said it was 'not racist at all. It comes from China; I want to be accurate.' The World Health Organization has advised against terms that link the virus to China to avoid stigmatisation
- Coronavirus US updates: Trump closing Canada border for 'non-essential traffic' – live
- Trump sparks anger by calling coronavirus the 'Chinese virus'
Bernie Sanders reassesses campaign after Biden builds formidable lead
The Vermont senator’s presidential campaign has seen little but bad news recently as it admits ‘losing the battle over electability’
The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders got thumped in the latest round of Democratic presidential primary contests and, once again, Sanders and his team are reassessing their path forward.
It’s becoming a familiar cycle: former vice-president Joe Biden beats Sanders, the darling of progressive grassroots voters; the Sanders campaign concedes the situation isn’t ideal, and spends some time reassessing. That’s what happened earlier this month after the Super Tuesday contests on 3 March, and this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Continue reading...Justin Trudeau announces closure of US-Canada border for all non-essential travel – video
The Canadian prime minister has announced the temporary closure for all but essential goods vehicles in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19
Continue reading...Sanders to ‘assess campaign’ after Biden sweeps to victory amid coronavirus crisis – live updates
- Biden sweeps key primaries
- Sanders pressured to exit in push for unity against virus and Trump
- Closures and confusion as US voters go to the polls
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- See all our coronavirus coverage
News of Bernie Sanders assessing his campaign comes after Joe Biden made an overture to Sanders supporters last night.
In a video following Biden’s wins, Biden said he and Sanders shared common goals on regarding healthcare, inequality and the climate crisis.
“So let me say especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders, I hear you. I know what to stake, [...]
I know what we have to do. Our goal is as a campaign, and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify this party, and then to unify the nation.
The Sanders’s campaign has just issued the following statement via campaign manager Faiz Shakir:
The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with his supporters to assess his campaign. In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people the most vulnerable
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