top-news

In the United States, where the spread of the coronavirus has been accelerating, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo begged for health care reinforcements, saying up to 1 million more workers were needed, The Associated Press […]

Europe’s Hospitals Among the Best but Can’t Handle Pandemic

As increasing numbers of European hospitals buckle under the strain of tens of thousands of coronavirus patients, the crisis has exposed a surprising paradox: Some of the world’s best health systems are remarkably ill-equipped to […]

Amazon Workers Strike as Labor Unrest Grows During Coronavirus Crisis

Warehouse, delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis, Reuters reported. Among the strikers […]

World’s Busiest Land Border Quiet as Millions of Mexicans Are Barred From U.S.

The world’s busiest land border has fallen quiet as restrictions to contain the coronavirus prevent millions of Mexicans from making daily trips north, including many who work in U.S. businesses, Reuters informs. At least 4 […]

Ford, GE to Produce 50,000 Ventilators in 100 Days

Ford Motor Co said on Monday it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electric’s healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month […]

Fearing Gaza Virus Spread, Hamas Preps for Mass Quarantines

When Nima Amraa returned to the Gaza Strip from neighboring Egypt earlier this month, she was surprised to learn she was being placed in a makeshift quarantine center set up by the ruling Hamas group, […]

Trump Uses Wartime Act, General Motors Says It’s Already Moving Fast

Twelve days ago, General Motors put hundreds of workers on an urgent project to build breathing machines as hospitals and governors pleaded for more in response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press reported. But […]

Partisan Divide Returns in U.S. Congress on Coronavirus Next Steps

Fresh partisan divisions flared on Sunday on the next steps for the U.S. Congress in dealing with the coronavirus crisis, with the top House of Representatives Republican casting doubt on the need for more economic […]

G20 Trade Ministers to Hold Emergency Video Conference

Group of 20 trade ministers will hold an emergency video conference from 1200 GMT on Monday to discuss cooperation on supply chains, Japan’s foreign ministry said, Reuters reported. Japan’s trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama and vice […]

March 29, 2020 Focus Washington

Pope Francis Backs Call for Global Ceasefire to Focus on Coronavirus

Pope Francis on Sunday backed a call by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters writes. Speaking at his weekly blessing, delivered […]

March 29, 2020 Focus Washington

Trump Drops Idea of New York Lockdown, U.S. Death Count Crosses 2,000

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he would issue a travel warning for the hard-hit New York area to limit the spread of the coronavirus, backing off from an earlier suggestion that he might […]

March 28, 2020 Focus Washington

Virus Infections Top 600,000 Worldwide

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide topped 600,000 on Saturday as new cases stacked up quickly in Europe and the United States and officials dug in for a long fight against the pandemic, The […]

March 28, 2020 Focus Washington

Trump Boosts Virus Aid, Asks Governors to Be ‘Appreciative’

After days of desperate pleas from the nation’s governors, President Donald Trump took a round of steps to expand the federal government’s role in helping produce critically needed supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic even […]

March 28, 2020 Focus Washington

U.S. Virus Cases Exceed 100,000, Doctors Decry Scarcity of Drugs and Equipment

Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the U.S. coronavirus crisis pleaded on Friday for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the sum of known […]

Historic $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Bill Passes U.S. House

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a $2.2 trillion aid package – the largest in history – to help cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the intensifying coronavirus pandemic, and President Donald […]

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tests Positive for Virus

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the new coronavirus, but remains in charge of the U.K.’s response to the outbreak, The Associated Press reported. Johnson, 55, said Friday that he was tested […]

Canada Attacks ‘Damaging’ Trump Plan to Deploy Troops at Border

Canada on Thursday slammed a U.S. proposal to deploy troops along their undefended border to help fight the spread of the coronavirus, saying the idea was unnecessary and would damage relations, Reuters writes. The uncompromising […]

Russia Calls for New Enlarged OPEC Deal to Tackle Oil Demand Collapse

A new OPEC+ deal to balance oil markets might be possible if other countries join in, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund said, adding that countries should also cooperate to cushion the economic […]

Half-Million Infected Worldwide as Economic Toll Surges

The human and economic toll of the lockdowns against the coronavirus mounted Thursday as India struggled to feed the multitudes, Italy shut down most of its industry, and a record-shattering 3.3 million Americans applied for […]

Massive U.S. Coronavirus Bill Moves to the House

The U.S. Senate’s unanimous passage of a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill sent the unprecedented economic legislation to the House of Representatives, whose Democratic leaders hope to pass it on Friday, Reuters reported. The Republican-led […]

U.S. Senate Offers $58 Billion Aid to Airlines

The U.S. Senate offered struggling airlines unprecedented aid worth $58 billion that will helping cover their staff wages, as carriers around the world seek state support and turn passenger planes into cargo liners in their […]

New York Sees Glimmer of Progress Against Coronavirus

New York state, leading the nation in coronavirus infections and deaths, is showing tentative signs of curbing the spread of the disease, the governor said on Wednesday, even as fatalities in New York City jumped […]

Trump Says Reopen by Easter, Corporate America Defies Him

President Donald Trump wants America to get back to business by Easter, suggesting some efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus outbreak will no longer be needed by then, but Corporate America is taking its […]

Wall Street Gains as Washington Reaches Deal on $2 Trillion Aid

Wall Street on Wednesday extended its massive bounce from the previous session as Washington reached a deal for a $2 trillion stimulus package to help businesses and millions of Americans hit by the economic fallout […]

Afghans Angry With Their Warring Leaders After U.S. Pulls $1 Billion in Aid

A wave of shock and anger spread here Tuesday as Afghans learned that U.S. officials plan to cut $1 billion in aid after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a brief visit here Monday, had failed […]

Prince Charles Tests Positive for COVID-19

Prince Charles has tested positive for coronavirus, as Clarence House confirmed that the 71-year-old heir to the throne was diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease in a statement released this morning, Sky News reported. The royal […]

Saudi Arabia Tightens Curfew to Contain Coronavirus Outbreak

Saudi Arabia tightened a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus, barring entry to and exit from the capital Riyadh and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina as well as movement between […]

U.S. Senators Look to Quickly Pass Massive Coronavirus Bill

U.S. senators will vote on Wednesday on a $2-trillion bipartisan package of legislation to alleviate the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, hoping it will become law quickly so they can get out of […]

March 24, 2020 Focus Washington

Syria Confirms First Coronavirus Case

War-ravaged Syria on Sunday confirmed its first case of the coronavirus after weeks of rejecting opposition allegations that the disease had already reached a country with a wrecked health system and thousands of Iranian-backed militias […]

March 24, 2020 Focus Washington

‘Not Easy’ to Get Face Masks, Ventilators to U.S. States, Trump Says

President Donald Trump on Tuesday acknowledged the difficulty of procuring crucial healthcare supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic as state and local officials raise alarms about a healthcare delivery system in danger of collapse, Reuters writes. […]