Global News: March 2020

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Saudis Start to Unleash Oil Wave Despite U.S. Pressure

(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia has made good on its pledge to ramp up oil exports in April, with a first wave of crude already on its way toward Europe and the U.S., a clear sign the price war remains in full swing.The kingdom has loaded several of the supertankers it hired earlier this month to boost its ability to increase exports, according to ship-tracking data. In addition, Riyadh has used the last few weeks to shuttle large amounts of crude into storage in Egypt, a stepping stone to the European market.The movements suggest that Riyadh is ramping up its oil production toward its target of supplying a record 12.3 million barrels a day in April, up from about 9.7 million in February, despite American pressure to end the price war.Saudi Arabia earlier this month slashed its official selling prices and announced the output hike after Russia refused to join other nations inside the OPEC+ alliance to cut output. The announcement, interpreted in the market as an oil price war, sent Brent and West Texas Intermediate crudes tumbling. Since then, the collapse in oil demand due to lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus has depressed prices even more.In a sign that Riyadh is opening the valves, oil shipments have already surged in late March. For the first three weeks of March, Saudi Arabia was exporting at a rate of around 7 million barrels a day, but that jumped to more than 9 million barrels a day in the fourth week of the month.With oil prices at the lowest in nearly two decades, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo last week directly asked the kingdom to “rise to the occasion and reassure” the energy market, diplomatic language for ending the oil price war.American President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed in a phone call Monday that “current oil prices aren’t in the interests of our countries,” according to a Kremlin spokesman, though he declined to say what might be done to change the situation.Trump earlier indicated that he was concerned about the impact of low oil prices on the American petroleum industry. In an interview on “Fox & Friends,” he said Russia and Saudi Arabia “both went crazy” and started an oil price war.Despite the diplomatic pressure, Saudi Arabia is preparing to export more in the next few days. At least 16 very large crude carriers, collectively able to carry about 32 million barrels, are stationed near the Saudi oil terminals of Ras Tanura and Yanbu, according to shipping data tracked by Bloomberg.“Regardless of the recent headlines about the U.S. pressuring Saudi Arabia, we do not see any change in Saudi or Russian policy for now,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd., a London-based consultant.Riyadh has already loaded three supertankers that are likely to head to the U.S., and it’s loading a fourth right now, according to oil market intelligence firm Vortexa Inc. The tankers, all hired by the Saudi national tanker company in the past few weeks to boost its shipping capacity, include the Dalian, the Agios Sostis I, the Maran Canopus, and the Hong Kong Spirit.Shipments to EgyptAlready through March, Saudi Arabia has exported about 1.3 million barrels a day into Egypt -- the highest level in at least three years -- to pre-position crude for re-export into Europe, according to shipping tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and people familiar with the operation.The surge in shipments to Egypt was so large that the African nation may become the largest destination for Saudi crude in March, displacing China and Japan, which traditionally top the ranking every month.The cargoes have gone to a terminal at the south end of the Suez Canal before getting pumped via pipeline across the country to a storage and export facility called Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean Sea. From there, the crude will then get re-exported as part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to supply as much as it can, at deep discounts, into a market that doesn’t need the supply. The world’s largest oil tankers, known as VLCCs, cannot sail the Suez Canal fully loaded due to draft limitations.The next sign of whether the oil price war continues will come around April 5, when state-owned Saudi Aramco is expected to release its monthly official selling prices for May. Oil refiners and traders believe that Riyadh will have to deepen its discounts to sell all the oil the kingdom wants. If Aramco does indeed deepen the discounts, it will trigger a fresh round of tit-for-tat actions with other oil producing nations, piling further pressure on prices.(Updates with statement from Kremlin in seventh paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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Barack Obama takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump's handling of coronavirus pandemic

Barack Obama appeared to take a swipe at Donald Trump, saying there are steep consequences because of 'those who denied warnings of a pandemic.'

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Key Words: Larry David’s pretty, pretty good coronavirus PSA: ‘Go home, watch TV’

Larry David, the creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has a message for all the “idiots out there” who aren’t practicing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

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FOX NEWS: Mexico’s coronavirus measures blasted by critics as too little, too late

Mexico’s coronavirus measures blasted by critics as too little, too late

Mexico has started taking more proactive measures against stemming the COVID-19 pandemic, but critics have warned that the nation of some 129 million has waited too long to prevent crisis now unfolding in the United States.

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FOX NEWS: UK boy, 13, is country's youngest patient to die from coronavirus, officials say

UK boy, 13, is country's youngest patient to die from coronavirus, officials say

The United Kingdom lost its youngest victim to coronavirus on Monday, a 13-year-old boy with no underlying health conditions, officials said.

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FOX NEWS: Huawei: China will hit back at new US trade restrictions

Huawei: China will hit back at new US trade restrictions

Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Tuesday warned the U.S. that its trade restrictions on the company could provoke a backlash from Beijing that could potentially damage the global industry.

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FOX NEWS: France sees jump in domestic abuse amid coronavirus lockdown, to house victims in hotels

France sees jump in domestic abuse amid coronavirus lockdown, to house victims in hotels

The French government on Monday announced new measures to protect victims of domestic violence after reports showed a sharp rise in abuse cases since a nationwide lockdown to slow the coronavirus outbreak went into effect last week.

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FOX NEWS: Italy has lowest daily coronavirus infections in 2 weeks — but risks losing control in south with fear of riots, looting

Italy has lowest daily coronavirus infections in 2 weeks — but risks losing control in south with fear of riots, looting

Italy on Tuesday saw the lowest daily increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in two weeks, but risks losing control of its poorer southern region amid rioting and looting during times of greater economic hardship prompted by a nationwide lockdown that has shut down all non-essential business.

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FOX NEWS: China's coronavirus infection count leaves out asymptomatic cases, will start to include them this week

China's coronavirus infection count leaves out asymptomatic cases, will start to include them this week

China's decision to exclude people without symptoms from its official coronavirus count not only raises questions about the actual number of infections but also puts its own citizens at risk.

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FOX NEWS: South Korean shoe cobbler called 'angel' for doing this for 'poor and needy' amid coronavirus despair

South Korean shoe cobbler called 'angel' for doing this for 'poor and needy' amid coronavirus despair

“Wouldn’t it be good if I give the people strength and courage?”

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FOX NEWS: Coronavirus doesn’t stop octogenarian couple from meeting at Danish-German border amid lockdown

Coronavirus doesn’t stop octogenarian couple from meeting at Danish-German border amid lockdown

Love goes on in the time of COVID-19 – even if it means meeting it halfway.

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FOX NEWS: USS Theodore Roosevelt commander says entire crew needs to be isolated after 200 positive coronavirus tests

USS Theodore Roosevelt commander says entire crew needs to be isolated after 200 positive coronavirus tests

The commanding officer of the deployed aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt says his entire crew of roughly 5,000 sailors needs to be isolated after up to 200 onboard have tested positive for Covid-19.

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Federal Coronavirus Relief For Freelancers: A Crash Course

This time around, there is some help available for independent workers under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which President Trump signed into law.

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Sleeping More While Working From Home? Good - You Need It

It has been well documented that sleep plays a fundamental role in overall mental, emotional and physical health. And research suggests that due to the coronavirus work-from-home and quarantine procedures, Americans are spending almost 20% more time asleep. Which is great news for your health.

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This Cannabis Saliva Test Could One Day Be Used To Detect Impaired Driving

As cannabis has become more readily available recreationally around the country, the number of people driving under the influence has also increased.

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Women On Boards: How To Close The Gap

While we’ve made progress towards gender equality within companies, there is still a significant gap when it comes to women sitting on boards. Here are few ideas on how to address this, with tips from women who’ve done it.

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Disney’s Indian Advantage

Disney Plus is scheduled to go live this week on Hotstar, India’s premier streaming service.

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Over 30,000 Americans Stranded Abroad As State Department Struggles To Repatriate Citizens

The State Department urged Americans overseas to try and return to the United States but tens of thousands remain stranded abroad.

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Meet The Only Black Women To Operate A Tequila Brand.

Nayana Ferguson explains her journey about how she started her own tequila brand.

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Coronavirus Spreads in Veterans’ Home, Leaving ‘Shuddering Loss for Us All’

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Australian authorities take cluster approach to contain coronavirus

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Mexico president ramps up rich vs poor rhetoric in coronavirus fight

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Pentagon says coronavirus outbreak on carrier doesn't warrant evacuation

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Monday, March 30, 2020

FOX NEWS: NYPD commissioner on impact of COVID-19 on law enforcement: It's all hands on deck

NYPD commissioner on impact of COVID-19 on law enforcement: It's all hands on deck

I am 100 percent confident that the men and women of the New York City Police Department will rise to the challenge and keep New Yorkers safe, says NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.

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FOX NEWS: US Army chief of engineers on joining coronavirus fight in New York

US Army chief of engineers on joining coronavirus fight in New York

Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite joins Martha MacCallum on 'The Story.'

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FOX NEWS: Army scientists at Fort Detrick work around the clock to find medical solution to coronavirus

Army scientists at Fort Detrick work around the clock to find medical solution to coronavirus

The same Army researchers found vaccines for anthrax, the plague and ebola; national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports.

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FOX NEWS: Coronavirus Q&A: Dr. Marty Makary answers viewers' questions on 'Special Report'

Coronavirus Q&A: Dr. Marty Makary answers viewers' questions on 'Special Report'

Can you be re-infected by coronavirus? How long are asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers contagious for? Insight from Fox News contributor Dr. Marty Makary, Johns Hopkins health policy expert.

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FOX NEWS: Drone video shows downtown Los Angeles deserted amid coronavirus

Drone video shows downtown Los Angeles deserted amid coronavirus

Many streets of downtown Los Angeles are emptier than usual as the coronavirus keeps residents at home, new drone video shows.

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FOX NEWS: Medical reinforcements: USNS Comfort arrives in New York Harbor; field hospital constructed in Central Park

Medical reinforcements: USNS Comfort arrives in New York Harbor; field hospital constructed in Central Park

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York is stockpiling supplies for the expected apex of the coronavirus outbreak; David Lee Miller reports.

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FOX NEWS: Brit Hume says the mobilization of the private sector will be seen as crucial element in coronavirus fight

Brit Hume says the mobilization of the private sector will be seen as crucial element in coronavirus fight

Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume joins Bret Baier on 'Special Report.'

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FOX NEWS: Trump predicts rise in COVID-19 cases over next 2 weeks, followed by slowdown

Trump predicts rise in COVID-19 cases over next 2 weeks, followed by slowdown

President Trump extends social distancing guidelines through the end of April; reaction and analysis on 'The Five.'

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FOX NEWS: 'Historic milestone': President Trump announces that over 1 million Americans have been tested

'Historic milestone': President Trump announces that over 1 million Americans have been tested

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, President Trump says the choices and sacrifices that Americans make over the next 'vital' 30 days will determine the fate of the coronavirus.

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¿Emprendedoras literarias? 10 mujeres escritoras famosas en un mundo de hombres

Te presentamos la historia inspiradora de estas mujeres que sobrepasaron los estándares sociales y lograron el éxito.

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6 Steps to Taking Your Startup Accelerator 100 Percent Virtual

Follow this simple checklist to go above and beyond your physical program presence.

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Free Webinar | April 7: Understanding The New Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act & Family Medical Leave Act

Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen, both nationally respected tax lawyers, explain how these two new laws affect employees AND employers.

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Dile adiós al Osito Bimbo y Chester Chetos: Esta es la ley que los quita de los empaques en México

La disposición entrará en vigor a partir del 1 de abril del 2021.

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China Food Delivery Leader Meituan Sees 1st-Qtr Loss As Coronavirus Slams Merchants

"The pandemic has already caused severe disruptions to the daily operations of our merchants, including restaurants, local services merchants and hotels," Meituan said.

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NCAA Grants Extra Year Of Eligibility For Spring Athletes In Wake Of Pandemic

The NCAA has decided to give all spring athletes an extra year of eligibility after their seasons were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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ClassPass And The Fitness Industry Brace For The Pandemic

Kadakya also touches on what fitness studios need most during this pandemic and what she believes will be the future of the industry at the other end of COVID-19.

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15 Most Popular Questions About Student Loans And Coronavirus

Finally, the answers.

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COVID-19 Lockdown: A Crash Course On How To Cope With Anxiety

It also causes physical symptoms including being jumpy, agitated, moody, irritable or even down right unproductive.

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Trump’s Virus Defense Is Often an Attack, and the Target Is Often a Woman

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Listen to the Call: Bullock and Trump Discuss Testing

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Keep It Simple, Albany. This Is No Time for Budget Games.

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Congress Just Spent $2 Trillion on Coronavirus Relief. It’s Eying More.

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In scrappy Cambodian casino town, Chinese plan future beyond coronavirus

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Sunday, March 29, 2020

North Korea test fires missiles amid worries about outbreak

North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea and Japan said, continuing a streak of weapons launches that suggests leader Kim Jong Un is trying to strengthen domestic support amid worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the projectiles flying from the North Korean eastern coastal city of Wonsan into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Sunday morning.

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Trump asks why reporter doesn't act 'a little more positive'

President Trump on Sunday asked why a White House reporter does not act “a little more positive” in covering the administration’s coronavirus response.

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Europe, US virus tolls surge as Trump reverses on New York lockdown

The coronavirus death toll shot past 20,000 in Europe on Saturday, with Italy and Spain each reporting more than 800 dead in one day, as US President Donald Trump pulled back on putting the hard-hit New York region under quarantine. Up to one-third of the world's population is under lockdown as the virus leaves its devastating imprint on nearly every aspect of society: wiping out millions of jobs, straining health care services and weighing heavily on national treasuries for years to come. Globally, the death toll has surged past 30,000 and officials in some countries say the worst still lies ahead.

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'Help us': Passengers stranded on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship where 4 people have died say they're 'sitting ducks' and living a 'nightmare'

Business Insider broke the news Friday that four passengers on the MS Zaandam had died, now people on the ship are sharing their stories.

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How the U.S. government is starting to keep tabs on people's movement amid pandemic

The U.S. government has begun to use cellphone data to get a better sense of people's movement in up to as many as 500 cities amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reports.The tactic is not meant to track individuals, and names aren't included in the data, but instead is geared toward figuring out where people might be congregating in large numbers as calls for social distancing and lockdowns become the norm across the country. In doing so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in conjunction with state and local officials, hope to get an idea of how the coronavirus might be spreading so they can further curb its advance.The data, which is coming from the less-regulated mobile advertising industry rather than cell phone carriers, could also provide information on whether people are complying with their area's shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders.Despite the intentions of the efforts, such projects will undoubtedly raise concerns about government invasion of privacy, and, while even some privacy activists understand the necessity of such efforts, they want stronger safeguards in place. Read more at The Wall Street Journal and read more about coronavirus surveillance here at The Week.More stories from theweek.com Once coronavirus infects a human body, what happens next? Elton John to host 'Living Room Concert for America' with stars performing from home Trump brags about his television ratings as pandemic intensifies

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Plane catches fire at Manila airport, killing all 8 aboard

A plane carrying eight people, including an American and a Canadian, burst into flames Sunday while attempting to take off from Manila’s airport on a flight bound for Japan, killing all those on board, officials said. The Westwind 24 plane, which was carrying six Filipino crew members and the American and Canadian passengers, was bound for Tokyo on a medical mission when it caught fire near the end of the main runway, Manila airport general manager Ed Monreal said. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the aircraft apparently encountered an unspecified “problem which resulted in a fire” as it rolled to take off, adding its chief investigator was on the way to the scene.

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Russia Claimed It Created a Coronavirus Cure, but It’s an American Malaria Drug

The headline of the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti read, “Russia Created the Treatment for Coronavirus.” The article went on to boast about the remedy based on the drug mefloquine, an antimalarial drug created in fact at the U.S. Army’s Walter Reed Medical Center shortly after the Vietnam War and widely known as Lariam. Fiona Hill: Trump’s Coronavirus Talk Sounds a Lot Like Russia’sMefloquine was created to replace chloroquine, another anti-malarial, which was President Donald Trump’s recent drug of choice in his dubious battle against COVID-19. It is still prescribed in many countries to prevent and treat malaria, but it is known to have severe and sometimes shocking side effects. A study conducted from 2001-2003 “confirmed mefloquine's potential for causing psychological illness.”Facing a wave of ridicule in social media, Russian state media changed the headline, which now reads: “Russia Offered a Drug for Treating the Coronavirus.”It should be noted that there is no known cure or approved treatment for the coronavirus. Multiple clinical trials for potential medical treatments are still underway.The purpose of all this is less pharmacological than propagandistic. While Kremlin-controlled media outlets propagate conspiracy theories blaming the United States (and even Ukraine) for creating and spreading the coronavirus, Russia is presented as the potential savior of all of humanity. At a time when the Kremlin’s cynical effort to hide the extent of the pandemic in Russia is becoming ever more apparent, state media are criticizing American and European tactics for containing the pandemic. Virologist Mikhail Shchelkanov, head of the Laboratory of Ecology of Microorganisms, FEFU School of Biomedicine, described the Western approach as “18th-century tactics.” In contrast, he claimed that, “Russia, since the days of the Soviet Union, has had the world's best biological safety system.”After Putin’s Big Fail, Russia Braces for COVID-19 OnslaughtRussian coronavirus measures recommended by the government agency to the general public indeed seem more stringent than those offered in the United States. For example, everyday use of face masks in public is recommended for all individuals. Single-use masks are to be replaced every 2-3 hours. The risk to younger individuals is not being downplayed. To the contrary, parents are being advised to keep their children at home or in the yard of their own home. When in public, children are to be prevented from touching any surfaces or interacting with others. There is public guidance with respect to the disinfection of store-bought food and merchandise.During his state TV show, The Evening with Vladimir Soloviev, the host described Russia’s approach to the pandemic as superior to that of Europe and the United States. “They’re behaving in an uncivilized manner,” Soloviev said, “They are being amoral. Our people unite and want to help others. Americans are just buying up guns.” Speaking to RIA Novosti, Shchelkanov praised China’s response to the pandemic and condemned the United States and Western Europe for their lack of coordinated actions, predicting that coronavirus “can easily spread like fire—and is spreading to neighboring countries.” He claimed that “the Russian Federation continues to be a bulwark of European stability.”In reality, the true numbers of coronavirus infections in Russia are grossly understated due to the lack of testing and creative approach to recording the number of deaths. Some quarantined Russians report receiving negative test results, in spite of not being tested. The cause of death for coronavirus patients in Russia is being determined posthumously through an autopsy, and sometimes attributed to other causes, such as pulmonary thromboembolism—therefore being excluded from the official statistics.The aid supplied to Western countries by China and Russia has been criticized as largely defective and mainly useless. But Russian state media claim such support as the manifestation of “soft power.” Appearing on Soloviev's show, political scientist Dmitry Evstafiev noted, “Every country is using the coronavirus pandemic as cover, trying to achieve their own goals.”One of the Kremlin’s most pressing aims is the removal of U.S. and European sanctions against Russia and its informal allies: Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea. Experts on Russian state television repeatedly suggest that the Kremlin should bring up the removal of sanctions at every opportunity, especially while offering coronavirus aid to Western countries.During his state TV show, Soloviev expressed frustration that Trump “didn’t understand anything” and ignored President Vladimir Putin's proposal at the recent G-20 summit calling for the immediate removal of all sanctions.Soloviev opined that the first country that is able to create the coronavirus vaccine would acquire an instrument of enormous political pressure. Russia is actively seeking to develop such a lever of global influence, but the unproven panacea it is currently touting was made in the USA.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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