csmonitor--2020-06-15--As statues topple elsewhere, French leader won't 'erase' history

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed Sunday to stand firm against racism but also praised police and insisted that France would n't take down statues of controversial , colonial-era figures , as he addressed the issues for the first time since George Floyd 's death in the United States .
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday evening , Mr. Macron called for the nation 's `` unity '' at a key moment when the country is trying to put the coronavirus crisis behind while being shaken by a series of protests against racial injustice and police brutality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France have expressed anger at discrimination within French society , particularly toward minorities from the country 's former colonies in Africa .
Unusually for a French leader , Mr. Macron acknowledged that someone 's `` address , name , color of skin '' can reduce their chances at succeeding in French society , and called for a fight to ensure that everyone can `` find their place '' regardless of ethnic origin or religion .
He promised to be `` uncompromising in the face of racism , anti-Semitism , and discrimination . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take down statues of controversial , colonial-era figures as has happened in some other countries in recent weeks .
Amid calls for taking down statues tied to France 's slave trade or colonial wrongs , Mr. Macron said `` the republic will not erase any trace , or any name , from its history ... it will not take down any statue . ''
`` We should look at all of our history together with lucidity '' including relations with Africa , with a goal of `` truth '' instead of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macron said .
He did n't address accusations of police violence but said forces of order deserve `` the nation 's recognition . ''
Meanwhile , his government is facing growing pressure to confront racism and police violence .
At least 15,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday and more in other cities like Marseille and Lyon , the latest in a string of French protests galvanized by the May 25 death of Mr. Floyd – a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but increasingly focused on France 's own tensions between police and minorities .
In response , the government banned police chokeholds and vowed to stamp out racism among police – but that has now angered police unions , who say they 're being unfairly painted as white supremacists and staged protests of their own .
One protest of police unionists on Friday in Paris was small but highly visible , with honking , flags , and blue smoke billowing under rainy skies .
Assa Traore , the sister of Adama Traore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police custody in 2016 in circumstances that remain unclear despite four years of back-and-forth autopsies , said that when she saw images of the police protesting , “ I was n't even angry .
I was ashamed of the French police .
In the whole world , the only country where police officers demonstrate to keep their permission to kill is France.
” Government minister Sibeth Ndiaye – a close ally of Mr. Macron and the most prominent Black figure in current French politics – wrote an unusually personal essay Saturday in Le @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colorblind doctrine , which aims at encouraging equality by ignoring race altogether .
`` We must not hesitate to name things , to say that a skin color is not neutral , '' she wrote .
She called on the French to `` confront our memories '' about their history and find a `` shared narrative '' with former colonies .
Mr. Macron 's speech also sought to `` turn the page '' of the virus crisis , as France will reopen nearly everything starting Monday .
Restrictions had started being gradually eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stricter lockdown .
`` We are going to get back our way of life , our taste for freedom , '' Mr. Macron said .
`` In other words , we are going to rediscover France fully again . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Arno Pedram and Lori Hinnant contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed Sunday to stand firm against racism but also praised police and insisted that France wouldn't take down statues of controversial, colonial-era figures, as he addressed the issues for the first time since George Floyd's death in the United States.
In a televised address to the nation on Sunday evening, Mr. Macron called for the nation's "unity" at a key moment when the country is trying to put the coronavirus crisis behind while being shaken by a series of protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
Echoing American protesters, demonstrators in France have expressed anger at discrimination within French society, particularly toward minorities from the country's former colonies in Africa.
Unusually for a French leader, Mr. Macron acknowledged that someone's "address, name, color of skin" can reduce their chances at succeeding in French society, and called for a fight to ensure that everyone can "find their place" regardless of ethnic origin or religion. He promised to be "uncompromising in the face of racism, anti-Semitism, and discrimination."
However, he insisted that France will not take down statues of controversial, colonial-era figures as has happened in some other countries in recent weeks.
Amid calls for taking down statues tied to France's slave trade or colonial wrongs, Mr. Macron said "the republic will not erase any trace, or any name, from its history ... it will not take down any statue."
"We should look at all of our history together with lucidity" including relations with Africa, with a goal of "truth" instead of "denying who we are," Mr. Macron said.
He didn't address accusations of police violence but said forces of order deserve "the nation's recognition."
Meanwhile, his government is facing growing pressure to confront racism and police violence.
At least 15,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday and more in other cities like Marseille and Lyon, the latest in a string of French protests galvanized by the May 25 death of Mr. Floyd – a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck – and the Black Lives Matter movement, but increasingly focused on France's own tensions between police and minorities.
In response, the government banned police chokeholds and vowed to stamp out racism among police – but that has now angered police unions, who say they're being unfairly painted as white supremacists and staged protests of their own.
One protest of police unionists on Friday in Paris was small but highly visible, with honking, flags, and blue smoke billowing under rainy skies.
Assa Traore, the sister of Adama Traore, a French Black man who died in police custody in 2016 in circumstances that remain unclear despite four years of back-and-forth autopsies, said that when she saw images of the police protesting, “I wasn't even angry. I was ashamed of the French police. In the whole world, the only country where police officers demonstrate to keep their permission to kill is France.”
Government minister Sibeth Ndiaye – a close ally of Mr. Macron and the most prominent Black figure in current French politics – wrote an unusually personal essay Saturday in Le Monde calling for France to rethink its colorblind doctrine, which aims at encouraging equality by ignoring race altogether.
"We must not hesitate to name things, to say that a skin color is not neutral," she wrote. She called on the French to "confront our memories" about their history and find a "shared narrative" with former colonies.
Mr. Macron's speech also sought to "turn the page" of the virus crisis, as France will reopen nearly everything starting Monday.
Restrictions had started being gradually eased on May 11 after two months of stricter lockdown.
"We are going to get back our way of life, our taste for freedom," Mr. Macron said. "In other words, we are going to rediscover France fully again."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Arno Pedram and Lori Hinnant contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-02-24--Antidote to coronavirus fears: Trust in leaders

In South Korea , the first democracy to cope with a massive outbreak of the coronavirus , President Moon Jae-in is scrambling to be seen as a trusted leader against harsh public criticism of his response .
“ This is an unusual emergency situation , ” Mr .
Moon had to explain Monday .
“ Instead of limiting our imagination with regard to policy , we have to make bold decisions and implement them quickly.
” In Singapore , by contrast , Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has largely kept the trust of citizens in his highly centralized island state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped prevent panic on social media by setting up its own WeChat platform to provide accurate information .
By being transparent and instructive , it maintained credibility .
Meanwhile in China , health officials admitted Friday they had created mistrust by constantly altering the “ criteria ” for what is a “ confirmed case ” of the virus .
The confession may have been an attempt to regain trust and , with it , public cooperation .
With reports of more outbreaks beyond China , leaders in many countries are desperate to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with both the virus and the viral fear that has come with it .
The range of responses puts a favorable spotlight on those governments that already had built up competent health systems and honest communications to meet such a challenge .
In general , examples of trusted leadership are getting harder to find , according to the latest “ Trust Barometer ” from communications firm Edelman .
In its latest survey of 28 countries , it found two-thirds of people do not have confidence that “ our current leaders will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges.
” A similar number “ worry technology will make it impossible to know if what people are seeing or hearing is real.
” And 57 % said news media is “ contaminated with untrustworthy information.
” Edelman recommends all leaders try to be ethical as they also try to be competent in solving problems .
Government , for example , must reduce partisanship , address problems at the community level , and partner with the private sector .
Trust “ is no longer only a matter of what you do – it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the report states .
Trust in leaders and their expertise to handle a health crisis is an essential “ vaccine ” in controlling public fears .
Governments need the traits of trust – integrity , transparency , accountability , and compassion – long before a crisis hits .
Or , as China and other countries are finding , they must scramble to build up trust .
As they do , fears will lessen and help end this global outbreak .

In South Korea, the first democracy to cope with a massive outbreak of the coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in is scrambling to be seen as a trusted leader against harsh public criticism of his response. “This is an unusual emergency situation,” Mr. Moon had to explain Monday. “Instead of limiting our imagination with regard to policy, we have to make bold decisions and implement them quickly.”
In Singapore, by contrast, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has largely kept the trust of citizens in his highly centralized island state. The government, for example, helped prevent panic on social media by setting up its own WeChat platform to provide accurate information. By being transparent and instructive, it maintained credibility.
Meanwhile in China, health officials admitted Friday they had created mistrust by constantly altering the “criteria” for what is a “confirmed case” of the virus. The confession may have been an attempt to regain trust and, with it, public cooperation.
With reports of more outbreaks beyond China, leaders in many countries are desperate to keep or restore trust in order to cope with both the virus and the viral fear that has come with it. The range of responses puts a favorable spotlight on those governments that already had built up competent health systems and honest communications to meet such a challenge.
In general, examples of trusted leadership are getting harder to find, according to the latest “Trust Barometer” from communications firm Edelman.
In its latest survey of 28 countries, it found two-thirds of people do not have confidence that “our current leaders will be able to successfully address our country’s challenges.” A similar number “worry technology will make it impossible to know if what people are seeing or hearing is real.” And 57% said news media is “contaminated with untrustworthy information.”
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Edelman recommends all leaders try to be ethical as they also try to be competent in solving problems. Government, for example, must reduce partisanship, address problems at the community level, and partner with the private sector. Trust “is no longer only a matter of what you do – it’s also how you do it,” the report states.
Trust in leaders and their expertise to handle a health crisis is an essential “vaccine” in controlling public fears. Governments need the traits of trust – integrity, transparency, accountability, and compassion – long before a crisis hits. Or, as China and other countries are finding, they must scramble to build up trust. As they do, fears will lessen and help end this global outbreak.


csmonitor--2020-02-24--Monday Sunrise Briefing: Momentum builds for Bernie Sanders

With Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ decisive win Saturday in Nevada , attention now shifts to the primary in South Carolina - and Super Tuesday .
The question of electability looms ever larger for Democrats : Can a self-declared democratic socialist beat President Trump in November ?
Senator Sanders is “ too progressive ” for most Americans , say competitors .
“ I ain ’ t a socialist .
I ’ m not a plutocrat .
I ’ m a Democrat , '' former Vice President Joe Biden told supporters Saturday .
But some analysts see parallels between the Sanders campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll recall a host of moderate GOP rivals tried to block Trump ’ s rise , but were too splintered to be effective .
The real-estate mogul has a core of ardent supporters , they argued , but he could never appeal to a broad enough swath of American voters to win .
Campaigning in delegate-rich Texas this weekend , Mr. Sanders said he has `` brought together a multigenerational , multiracial coalition ” that ’ s “ going to sweep this country . ''
By some calculations , the race for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Tuesday if Mr. Sanders has a strong showing in the 14 states ( including Texas ) that vote on March 3 .
2 .
South Korean churches emerged as a focal point of coronavirus concern this weekend .
All 1,100 branches of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , seen as a messianic cult by mainstream Christian groups , were temporarily closed by the South Korean government .
One branch of the Shincheonji church , in the city of Daegu , has emerged as the the biggest cluster of COVID-19 infections in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the decision was “ a fair and inevitable step ” to protect the nation , adding there was “ no intention to limit religious freedom.
” Also , 41 Roman Catholic churches suspended masses in South Korea after some members were diagnosed with the virus after a group of Catholics returned from a Holy Land trip to Israel .
In Europe , Italy closed off a dozen towns , cancelled soccer matches and closed schools , theater performances and Venice ’ s famed Carnival .
Namaste Trump : Amid trade tensions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Narendra Modi ’ s home state of Gujarat .
The two-day visit began with an event titled “ Namaste Trump , ” which loosely translates to “ Greetings , Trump , ” held at the world 's largest cricket stadium .
It mirrors a similar event in Houston , Texas , last September called `` Hello Modi . ''
Justice revisited : The U.S. Supreme court hears oral arguments this week in several cases , including disputes over a pipeline near the Appalachian Trail , illegal immigration , and who pays for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead ?
Eight Democratic candidates debate again on Tuesday in South Carolina , before a primary vote Saturday .
CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute are hosting the 8 p.m. E.T .
event .
Let 's skip the primary : The Republican Party canceled the 2020 presidential primary vote , but President Trump holds a campaign rally in North Charleston , South Carolina .
In 2016 , Trump got 54.9 % of the South Carolina vote .
Hillary Clinton received 40.7 % .
Palmetto State primary : South Carolina voters make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was supposed to be former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s political firewall , but the latest polls show Sen. Bernie Sanders closing fast .
US-Taliban peace deal : If the one-week “ reduction in violence ” accord is fulfilled , Washington expects to sign a peace deal with the Taliban Saturday that allows US troops to leave Afghanistan .
The official end to America 's longest war would also start intra-Afghan negotiations between the country 's various political factions .
Up for a Leap Day ?
To keep the solar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we add one day every four years .
What will you do with your Feb. 29 “ bonus ” day ?
As a cab driver , Rajbir Singh knows what it means to go the extra mile .
Two weeks ago , a 92-year-old woman wanted a ride to her bank .
She had to withdraw $ 25,000 to pay off an IRS debt .
Mr. Singh smelled something fishy .
She agreed to give him the phone number of the “ IRS agent ” but the “ agent ” wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Singh 's passenger still wanted to pay her IRS debt .
That ’ s when `` Raj pleaded with the woman to reconsider so they agreed to stop by the Roseville Police Station to ask an officer , '' according to a Facebook post by Roseville police .
A cop confirmed the scam .
In fact , it ’ s so common that the IRS has a web page on how to spot this ripoff .
Kudos to Mr. Singh ’ s for taking the time to look out for his “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy , and these are old people .
They need help , '' Mr. Singh , the owner of Roseville Cab , told CNN `` It just made sense . ''
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : Forget the roses .
Say ‘ I love you ’ with a book of love poems .
In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about lifting the ban on landmines : Can tech make these weapons safe for civilians ?
Finally , check out the Monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscription-only Daily Edition : • From vision to spectacle – the optics of Trump ’ s trip to India • Gay rights , religious freedom , and the battle over adoption • How coal mine waste could help build your next phone • For these homebound seniors , poems offer food for the soul This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
Thank you !

With Sen. Bernie Sanders’ decisive win Saturday in Nevada, attention now shifts to the primary in South Carolina - and Super Tuesday. The question of electability looms ever larger for Democrats: Can a self-declared democratic socialist beat President Trump in November? Senator Sanders is “too progressive” for most Americans, say competitors. “I ain’t a socialist. I’m not a plutocrat. I’m a Democrat," former Vice President Joe Biden told supporters Saturday.
But some analysts see parallels between the Sanders campaign and the Trump 2016 campaign. You'll recall a host of moderate GOP rivals tried to block Trump’s rise, but were too splintered to be effective. The real-estate mogul has a core of ardent supporters, they argued, but he could never appeal to a broad enough swath of American voters to win.
Campaigning in delegate-rich Texas this weekend, Mr. Sanders said he has "brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition” that’s “going to sweep this country." By some calculations, the race for the Democratic nomination could be all-but over on Super Tuesday if Mr. Sanders has a strong showing in the 14 states (including Texas) that vote on March 3.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are two news events from this past weekend (while you may have been dancing the Renegade, snowshoeing, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
2. South Korean churches emerged as a focal point of coronavirus concern this weekend. All 1,100 branches of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, seen as a messianic cult by mainstream Christian groups, were temporarily closed by the South Korean government. One branch of the Shincheonji church, in the city of Daegu, has emerged as the the biggest cluster of COVID-19 infections in the country. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the decision was “a fair and inevitable step” to protect the nation, adding there was “no intention to limit religious freedom.” Also, 41 Roman Catholic churches suspended masses in South Korea after some members were diagnosed with the virus after a group of Catholics returned from a Holy Land trip to Israel.
In Europe, Italy closed off a dozen towns, cancelled soccer matches and closed schools, theater performances and Venice’s famed Carnival.
Nicolas Armer/dpa via AP View caption Hide caption More than 10,000 people marched Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, to counter hate. Some marchers hold photos of the nine people who were killed by an immigrant-hating gunman in Hanau, Germany, this past week.
Look Ahead
Monday, Feb. 24
Namaste Trump: Amid trade tensions, President Donald Trump arrived in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat. The two-day visit began with an event titled “Namaste Trump,” which loosely translates to “Greetings, Trump,” held at the world's largest cricket stadium. It mirrors a similar event in Houston, Texas, last September called "Hello Modi."
Justice revisited: The U.S. Supreme court hears oral arguments this week in several cases, including disputes over a pipeline near the Appalachian Trail, illegal immigration, and who pays for acts of foreign terrorism.
Tuesday, Feb. 25
Qualified to lead? Eight Democratic candidates debate again on Tuesday in South Carolina, before a primary vote Saturday. CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute are hosting the 8 p.m. E.T. event.
Friday, Feb. 28
Let's skip the primary: The Republican Party canceled the 2020 presidential primary vote, but President Trump holds a campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina. In 2016, Trump got 54.9% of the South Carolina vote. Hillary Clinton received 40.7%.
Saturday, Feb. 29
Palmetto State primary: South Carolina voters make their selection for 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. This was supposed to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s political firewall, but the latest polls show Sen. Bernie Sanders closing fast.
US-Taliban peace deal: If the one-week “reduction in violence” accord is fulfilled, Washington expects to sign a peace deal with the Taliban Saturday that allows US troops to leave Afghanistan. The official end to America's longest war would also start intra-Afghan negotiations between the country's various political factions.
Up for a Leap Day? To keep the solar year and the Gregorian calendar in sync, we add one day every four years. What will you do with your Feb. 29 “bonus” day?
Integrity Watch
Roseville, California Police Department via Facebook View caption Hide caption Rajbir Singh (center), owner of Roseville Cab, sought help from officers at the Roseville, California, police department on Feb. 11, to persuade a rider not to fall victim to an IRS scam.
As a cab driver, Rajbir Singh knows what it means to go the extra mile. Two weeks ago, a 92-year-old woman wanted a ride to her bank. She had to withdraw $25,000 to pay off an IRS debt. Mr. Singh smelled something fishy. She agreed to give him the phone number of the “IRS agent” but the “agent” wouldn’t answer questions and hung up. Mr. Singh's passenger still wanted to pay her IRS debt. That’s when "Raj pleaded with the woman to reconsider so they agreed to stop by the Roseville Police Station to ask an officer," according to a Facebook post by Roseville police. A cop confirmed the scam. In fact, it’s so common that the IRS has a web page on how to spot this ripoff.
Kudos to Mr. Singh’s for taking the time to look out for his “neighbor.” "I am an honest guy, and these are old people. They need help," Mr. Singh, the owner of Roseville Cab, told CNN "It just made sense."
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
Forget the roses. Say ‘I love you’ with a book of love poems.
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about lifting the ban on landmines: Can tech make these weapons safe for civilians?
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-02-24--Dow drops 1,000 points as virus fear spreads beyond China

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped more than 1,000 points Monday amid a broad global markets sell-off as a surge in virus cases outside China sent investors running for safer financial instruments .
The losses wiped out all of the gains for the year of the Dow and the benchmark S & P 500 , which was on track for its worst day in more than two years .
More than 79,000 people worldwide have been infected by the new coronavirus .
China , where the virus originated , still has the majority of cases and deaths .
The rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the threat the outbreak poses to the global economy .
The plummet comes on the same day that China announced tax cuts and other measures to help companies recover from the virus-induced slowdown .
At a news conference , Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party ’ s growth targets can be achieved this year despite prevention steps that shut down much of the world 's second-largest economy last month .
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other industries recover quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production .
The government is looking at `` targeted tax reduction , '' interest rate cuts , and payments to poor and virus-hit areas , said an assistant finance minister , Ou Wenhan .
South Korea is now on its highest alert for infectious diseases after cases there spiked .
Italy reported a sharp rise in cases and a dozen towns in the northern , more industrial part of that country are under quarantine .
The nation now has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to cancel Venice 's famed Carnival , along with soccer matches and other public gatherings .
There are also more cases of the virus being reported in the Middle East as it spreads to Iran , Iraq , and Kuwait , among others .
The Dow fell 1,031 points , or 3.5 % , to 27,961 at closing .
The S & P 500 index skidded 110.43 points , or 3.6 % , to 3,226 .
The Nasdaq dropped 355 points , or 3.7 % , to 9,221 .
Germany 's DAX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ index dropped 5.4 % .
South Korea 's Kospi shed 3.9 % and markets in Asia fell broadly .
Investors looking for safe harbors bid up prices for U.S. government bonds and gold .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply , to 1.38 % from 1.47 % late Friday .
Gold prices jumped 1.7 % .
`` Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Chris Zaccarelli , chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance .
The viral outbreak threatens to crimp global economic growth and hurt profits and revenue for a wide range of businesses .
Companies from technology giant Apple to athletic gear maker Nike have already warned about a hit to their bottom lines .
Airlines and other companies that depend on travelers are facing pain from cancelled plans and shuttered locations .
Crude oil prices plunged 6.7 % .
Aside from air travel , the virus poses an economic threat to global shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit by the sell-off .
Apple , which depends on China for a lot of business , slid 3.4 % .
Microsoft slumped 2.6 % .
Banks were also big losers .
JPMorgan Chase fell 2.1 % and Bank of America fell 4.4 % .
Airlines and cruise ship operators also slumped .
American Airlines slid 8.2 % , Delta Air Lines dropped 5.8 % , Carnival skidded 7.9 % , and Royal Caribbean Cruises gave up 7.7 % .
Utilities and real estate companies held up better than most sectors .
Investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry high dividends and hold up relatively well during periods of turmoil , when they 're feeling fearful .
Gilead Sciences rose 3.9 % and was among the few bright spots .
The biotechnology company is testing a potential drug to treat the new coronavirus .
Bleach-maker Clorox was also a standout , rising 1.7 % .
The sell-off is hitting the market as companies near the finish of what has been a surprisingly good round of earnings .
About 87 % of companies in the S & P 500 have reported financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by more than a half-percentage point when all the reports are in , according to FactSet .
In the eyes of some analysts , Monday 's tank job for stocks means they 're just catching up to the bond market , where fear of a global economic slowdown has been evident for months .
U.S. government bonds are seen as some of the safest possible investments , and investors have been piling into them throughout 2020 , even as stocks overcame stumbles to set more record highs .
A bond 's yield falls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year Treasury has been in such demand that its yield has plunged to 1.38 % from roughly 1.90 % at the start of the year .
The 10-year yield on Monday touched its lowest point in three years , falling from 1.47 % late Friday , and it was near its intraday record low of 1.325 % set in July 2016 , according to Tradeweb .
The 30-year Treasury yield fell further after setting its own record low , down to 1.84 % from 1.92 % late Friday .
Traders are increasingly certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates at least once in 2020 to help prop up the economy .
They 're pricing in a nearly 95 % probability of a cut this year , according to CME Group .
A month ago , they saw only a 68 % probability .
Of course , some analysts say stocks have been rising in recent weeks precisely because of the drop in yields .
Bonds are offering less in interest after the Federal Reserve lowered rates three times last year – the first such cuts in more than a decade – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are paying such meager amounts , many investors say there 's little real competition other than stocks for their money .
The view has become so hardened that `` There Is No Alternative , '' or TINA , has become a popular acronym on Wall Street .
Even with Monday 's sharp drops , the S & P 500 is still within 4.2 % of its record set earlier this month .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped more than 1,000 points Monday amid a broad global markets sell-off as a surge in virus cases outside China sent investors running for safer financial instruments.
The losses wiped out all of the gains for the year of the Dow and the benchmark S&P 500, which was on track for its worst day in more than two years.
More than 79,000 people worldwide have been infected by the new coronavirus. China, where the virus originated, still has the majority of cases and deaths. The rapid spread to other countries is raising anxiety about the threat the outbreak poses to the global economy.
The plummet comes on the same day that China announced tax cuts and other measures to help companies recover from the virus-induced slowdown. At a news conference, Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party’s growth targets can be achieved this year despite prevention steps that shut down much of the world's second-largest economy last month.
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other industries recover quickly. Still, forecasters say it is likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production. The government is looking at "targeted tax reduction," interest rate cuts, and payments to poor and virus-hit areas, said an assistant finance minister, Ou Wenhan.
South Korea is now on its highest alert for infectious diseases after cases there spiked. Italy reported a sharp rise in cases and a dozen towns in the northern, more industrial part of that country are under quarantine. The nation now has the biggest outbreak in Europe, prompting officials to cancel Venice's famed Carnival, along with soccer matches and other public gatherings.
There are also more cases of the virus being reported in the Middle East as it spreads to Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait, among others.
The Dow fell 1,031 points, or 3.5%, to 27,961 at closing. The S&P 500 index skidded 110.43 points, or 3.6%, to 3,226. The Nasdaq dropped 355 points, or 3.7%, to 9,221.
Germany's DAX slid 4% and Italy's benchmark index dropped 5.4%. South Korea's Kospi shed 3.9% and markets in Asia fell broadly.
Investors looking for safe harbors bid up prices for U.S. government bonds and gold. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell sharply, to 1.38% from 1.47% late Friday. Gold prices jumped 1.7%.
"Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.
The viral outbreak threatens to crimp global economic growth and hurt profits and revenue for a wide range of businesses.
Companies from technology giant Apple to athletic gear maker Nike have already warned about a hit to their bottom lines. Airlines and other companies that depend on travelers are facing pain from cancelled plans and shuttered locations.
Crude oil prices plunged 6.7%. Aside from air travel, the virus poses an economic threat to global shipping.
Technology companies were among the worst hit by the sell-off. Apple, which depends on China for a lot of business, slid 3.4%.
Microsoft slumped 2.6%. Banks were also big losers. JPMorgan Chase fell 2.1% and Bank of America fell 4.4%.
Airlines and cruise ship operators also slumped. American Airlines slid 8.2%, Delta Air Lines dropped 5.8%, Carnival skidded 7.9%, and Royal Caribbean Cruises gave up 7.7%.
Utilities and real estate companies held up better than most sectors. Investors tend to favor those industries, which carry high dividends and hold up relatively well during periods of turmoil, when they're feeling fearful.
Gilead Sciences rose 3.9% and was among the few bright spots. The biotechnology company is testing a potential drug to treat the new coronavirus. Bleach-maker Clorox was also a standout, rising 1.7%.
The sell-off is hitting the market as companies near the finish of what has been a surprisingly good round of earnings. About 87% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported financial results and profits are expected to grow by more than a half-percentage point when all the reports are in, according to FactSet.
In the eyes of some analysts, Monday's tank job for stocks means they're just catching up to the bond market, where fear of a global economic slowdown has been evident for months.
U.S. government bonds are seen as some of the safest possible investments, and investors have been piling into them throughout 2020, even as stocks overcame stumbles to set more record highs. A bond's yield falls when its price rises, and the 10-year Treasury has been in such demand that its yield has plunged to 1.38% from roughly 1.90% at the start of the year.
The 10-year yield on Monday touched its lowest point in three years, falling from 1.47% late Friday, and it was near its intraday record low of 1.325% set in July 2016, according to Tradeweb. The 30-year Treasury yield fell further after setting its own record low, down to 1.84% from 1.92% late Friday.
Traders are increasingly certain that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at least once in 2020 to help prop up the economy.
They're pricing in a nearly 95% probability of a cut this year, according to CME Group. A month ago, they saw only a 68% probability.
Of course, some analysts say stocks have been rising in recent weeks precisely because of the drop in yields. Bonds are offering less in interest after the Federal Reserve lowered rates three times last year – the first such cuts in more than a decade – and amid low inflation. When bonds are paying such meager amounts, many investors say there's little real competition other than stocks for their money.
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The view has become so hardened that "There Is No Alternative," or TINA, has become a popular acronym on Wall Street. Even with Monday's sharp drops, the S&P 500 is still within 4.2% of its record set earlier this month.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.


csmonitor--2020-02-24--After a month on lockdown, can China's economy bounce back?

China 's government promised tax cuts and other aid Monday to help companies recover from its virus outbreak while a spike in new cases in Iran , Italy , and South Korea raised the prospect of wider disruption to tourism and other global industries .
At a news conference , Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party ’ s growth targets can be achieved this year despite anti-disease controls that shut down much of the world 's second-largest economy last month .
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it is likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production .
The government is looking at `` targeted tax reduction , '' interest rate cuts , and payments to poor and virus-hit areas , said an assistant finance minister , Ou Wenhan .
`` We will do a good job of implementing large-scale interest rate reduction and tax deferral and ensure effective implementation as soon as possible , '' said Mr. Ou .
Business activity plunged after the Lunar New Year holiday was extended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government told the public not to travel .
Automakers and other businesses are gradually reopening , but officials also have orders to prevent infection from spreading as millions of people return to work .
Meanwhile , the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points Monday , or 2.9 % , giving up all of its gains for the year as a surge in reports of new cases around the world threatens further disruption .
Austria halted rail traffic across its border with Italy after the country reported four deaths and 190 cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection .
Venice canceled the city 's Carnival , a popular tourist attraction .
Soccer matches were canceled and cinemas closed .
In Iran , the ILNA news agency quoted an official in the city of Qom as saying 50 people have died from the virus there since Feb. 13 .
The city is a popular place of religious study for Shiites from across Iran and other countries .
Some countries have closed their borders with Iran or barred travelers from there .
Also Monday , South Korea reported 70 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two more deaths for a total of seven .
South Korea 's government has closed schools , canceled public events , and asked companies to stagger work hours .
ING said in a report Monday that Asian economies could lose $ 105-115 billion this year in potential sales to Chinese tourists .
`` Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer for Independent Advisor Alliance .
In China , Mr. Xi said Sunday regions deemed to be at low risk should ease disease curbs to revive business activity while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic control .
The president said officials should make sure planting of spring crops in China 's vast countryside is n't disrupted .
Bus and train service still is suspended in areas with millions of inhabitants , blocking people who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year in January from returning to work .
Asked whether Beijing planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general secretary of the Cabinet ’ s planning agency , the National Development and Reform Commission , expressed confidence the virus ’ s impact would be brief .
The ruling party has yet to announce economic targets after 2019 growth fell to a multi-decade low of 6.1 % .
Forecasters expect it to be about 6 % but say if the disease isn ’ t controlled quickly , growth could decline to as low as 5 % , raising the risk of politically dangerous job losses .
`` The epidemic ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-term and generally controllable and will not change China ’ s long-term positive economic fundamentals , '' said the NDRC official , Cong Liang .
`` Economic and social development goals for 2020 can be achieved . ''
The annual meeting of China 's ceremonial legislature , usually used to announce the growth target and other plans for the year , was postponed on Monday due to the virus .
It was scheduled to start March 5 .
No new date was announced .
Nearly 1,000 companies have received low-interest loans from $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central bank , according to a People ’ s Bank of China official , Chen Yulu .
Mr. Cong said industrial output is rebounding , though he gave no indication when the government expects it to return to normal .
Production by companies in trade-oriented coastal areas has risen above 70 % of normal , according to Mr. Cong .
He said food processing , coal mining , and other industries are back to at least 70 % , but he gave no figures for the level of production at their lowest point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by The Associated Press .
AP 's Damian J. Troise contributed to this report .

China's government promised tax cuts and other aid Monday to help companies recover from its virus outbreak while a spike in new cases in Iran, Italy, and South Korea raised the prospect of wider disruption to tourism and other global industries.
At a news conference, Chinese finance and planning officials expressed confidence the ruling Communist Party’s growth targets can be achieved this year despite anti-disease controls that shut down much of the world's second-largest economy last month.
President Xi Jinping publicly promised over the past week to ensure farming and other industries recover quickly. Still, forecasters say it is likely to be at least mid-March before automakers and other companies return to full production.
The government is looking at "targeted tax reduction," interest rate cuts, and payments to poor and virus-hit areas, said an assistant finance minister, Ou Wenhan.
"We will do a good job of implementing large-scale interest rate reduction and tax deferral and ensure effective implementation as soon as possible," said Mr. Ou.
Business activity plunged after the Lunar New Year holiday was extended to keep factories and offices closed and the government told the public not to travel. Automakers and other businesses are gradually reopening, but officials also have orders to prevent infection from spreading as millions of people return to work.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 840 points Monday, or 2.9%, giving up all of its gains for the year as a surge in reports of new cases around the world threatens further disruption.
Austria halted rail traffic across its border with Italy after the country reported four deaths and 190 cases. Authorities have yet to pinpoint the source of infection.
Venice canceled the city's Carnival, a popular tourist attraction. Soccer matches were canceled and cinemas closed.
In Iran, the ILNA news agency quoted an official in the city of Qom as saying 50 people have died from the virus there since Feb. 13. The city is a popular place of religious study for Shiites from across Iran and other countries.
Some countries have closed their borders with Iran or barred travelers from there.
Also Monday, South Korea reported 70 new cases, raising its total to 833, and two more deaths for a total of seven.
South Korea's government has closed schools, canceled public events, and asked companies to stagger work hours.
ING said in a report Monday that Asian economies could lose $105-115 billion this year in potential sales to Chinese tourists.
"Stock markets around the world are beginning to price in what bond markets have been telling us for weeks – that global growth is likely to be impacted in a meaningful way due to fears of the coronavirus," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.
In China, Mr. Xi said Sunday regions deemed to be at low risk should ease disease curbs to revive business activity while high-risk regions should focus on epidemic control. The president said officials should make sure planting of spring crops in China's vast countryside isn't disrupted.
Bus and train service still is suspended in areas with millions of inhabitants, blocking people who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year in January from returning to work.
Asked whether Beijing planned to reduce its economic growth targets, the general secretary of the Cabinet’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, expressed confidence the virus’s impact would be brief.
The ruling party has yet to announce economic targets after 2019 growth fell to a multi-decade low of 6.1%. Forecasters expect it to be about 6% but say if the disease isn’t controlled quickly, growth could decline to as low as 5%, raising the risk of politically dangerous job losses.
"The epidemic’s impact on the economy and society is short-term and generally controllable and will not change China’s long-term positive economic fundamentals," said the NDRC official, Cong Liang. "Economic and social development goals for 2020 can be achieved."
The annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature, usually used to announce the growth target and other plans for the year, was postponed on Monday due to the virus. It was scheduled to start March 5. No new date was announced.
Nearly 1,000 companies have received low-interest loans from $43 billion recovery fund offered by the central bank, according to a People’s Bank of China official, Chen Yulu.
Mr. Cong said industrial output is rebounding, though he gave no indication when the government expects it to return to normal.
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Production by companies in trade-oriented coastal areas has risen above 70% of normal, according to Mr. Cong. He said food processing, coal mining, and other industries are back to at least 70%, but he gave no figures for the level of production at their lowest point during the outbreak.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP's Damian J. Troise contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-02-24--South Korea virus alert level rises and focuses on a church

South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level on Sunday as the coronavirus death toll rose to six .
In response , Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines said on Monday that they are suspending flights to Daegu , the country 's fourth-largest city and the one with the largest number of coronavirus cases , for the time being .
South Korean authorities reported a total of 763 coronavirus cases , as of Monday morning .
More than half the new cases are linked to a church in the southeastern city of Daegu .
The Shincheonji church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as belonging to a religious sect .
Around 9,300 Shincheonji members in Daegu have either been quarantined or have been asked to stay at home , said Jung Eun-kyeong , director of Korea 's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) .
The KCDC said the number of infections had jumped by 169 .
Of the total confirmed cases , more than 300 were linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus congregation in Daegu .
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that the government had raised the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth and highest level in a bid to contain a surge in new cases .
The escalation in the alert level allows the government to send extra resources to Daegu city and Cheongdo county , which were designated `` special care zones '' on Friday .
The alert level also enables the government to forcibly prevent public activities and order the temporary closure of schools , the health ministry said .
The ministry also said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will take charge of policy decisions related to the virus outbreak , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister has intervened to take over from another minister in this way .
`` We believe a week to 10 days will be crucial to determine the spread of the coronavirus , '' Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a news conference .
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said that kindergartens , elementary , and secondary schools will start the new semester one week later on March 9 , instead of March 2 .
Earlier on Sunday , the ruling Democratic Party asked the government for an additional budget and also to free up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.4 trillion won ( $ 2.82 billion ) to tackle the outbreak .
The South Korean parliament plans to hold a plenary session on Monday to discuss further measures , according to Yonhap .
South Korea 's earlier cases were linked to China but the new infections center on Daegu , a city of about 2.5 million , and a hospital in Cheongdo , a county with about 43,000 people .
Kim Simon , a spokesman from the Shincheonji Church , said on Youtube on Sunday that the church would make an all-out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and closely cooperate with health authorities .
The Shincheonji church said it shut all its local branches since a church member tested positive for the virus on February 18th .
The U.S. State Department on Saturday raised its travel advisory level for South Korea from 1 to 2 , the second of four ratings , which asks travelers to avoid contact with sick people .
Seventeen South Korean Catholics from North Gyeongsang Province and their tour guide in Seoul , who had gone on a pilgrimage to Israel earlier this month , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , the KCDC said .
Israeli and Palestinian authorities sought to allay fears of a potential local outbreak after learning that South Korean pilgrims who had toured some of the holy land 's most popular sites were later found to be diagnosed with the virus .
South Koreans on board a Korean Air flight were refused entry at Tel Aviv 's Ben Gurion International airport on Saturday evening due to concerns over the virus , South Korea 's foreign ministry said on Sunday .
`` As the measure was taken without notice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lodged a complaint for causing inconveniences to our travelers and asked to prevent a recurrence , '' the ministry said , adding Israeli counterparts had promised to cooperate with South Korea .
Meanwhile , 41 Catholic churches in the cities of Daegu , Gwangju and elsewhere have suspended mass and other gatherings .
This story was reported by Reuters .

South Korea raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level on Sunday as the coronavirus death toll rose to six.
In response, Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines said on Monday that they are suspending flights to Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city and the one with the largest number of coronavirus cases, for the time being.
South Korean authorities reported a total of 763 coronavirus cases, as of Monday morning. More than half the new cases are linked to a church in the southeastern city of Daegu.
The Shincheonji church is seen by many mainstream Christian churches as belonging to a religious sect. Around 9,300 Shincheonji members in Daegu have either been quarantined or have been asked to stay at home, said Jung Eun-kyeong, director of Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The KCDC said the number of infections had jumped by 169. Of the total confirmed cases, more than 300 were linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus congregation in Daegu.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that the government had raised the country's disease alert by one notch to the fourth and highest level in a bid to contain a surge in new cases.
The escalation in the alert level allows the government to send extra resources to Daegu city and Cheongdo county, which were designated "special care zones" on Friday.
The alert level also enables the government to forcibly prevent public activities and order the temporary closure of schools, the health ministry said.
The ministry also said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will take charge of policy decisions related to the virus outbreak, which is the first time the country's prime minister has intervened to take over from another minister in this way.
"We believe a week to 10 days will be crucial to determine the spread of the coronavirus," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a news conference.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said that kindergartens, elementary, and secondary schools will start the new semester one week later on March 9, instead of March 2.
Earlier on Sunday, the ruling Democratic Party asked the government for an additional budget and also to free up emergency funds from the existing budget worth 3.4 trillion won ($2.82 billion) to tackle the outbreak. The South Korean parliament plans to hold a plenary session on Monday to discuss further measures, according to Yonhap.
South Korea's earlier cases were linked to China but the new infections center on Daegu, a city of about 2.5 million, and a hospital in Cheongdo, a county with about 43,000 people.
Kim Simon, a spokesman from the Shincheonji Church, said on Youtube on Sunday that the church would make an all-out effort to curb the virus' spread and closely cooperate with health authorities. The Shincheonji church said it shut all its local branches since a church member tested positive for the virus on February 18th.
The U.S. State Department on Saturday raised its travel advisory level for South Korea from 1 to 2, the second of four ratings, which asks travelers to avoid contact with sick people.
Seventeen South Korean Catholics from North Gyeongsang Province and their tour guide in Seoul, who had gone on a pilgrimage to Israel earlier this month, were confirmed to have been infected with the virus, the KCDC said.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities sought to allay fears of a potential local outbreak after learning that South Korean pilgrims who had toured some of the holy land's most popular sites were later found to be diagnosed with the virus.
South Koreans on board a Korean Air flight were refused entry at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International airport on Saturday evening due to concerns over the virus, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday.
"As the measure was taken without notice in advance by Israel, we have lodged a complaint for causing inconveniences to our travelers and asked to prevent a recurrence," the ministry said, adding Israeli counterparts had promised to cooperate with South Korea.
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Meanwhile, 41 Catholic churches in the cities of Daegu, Gwangju and elsewhere have suspended mass and other gatherings.
This story was reported by Reuters.


csmonitor--2020-03-30--Self-isolation opens a door to national service

Just in time for National Volunteer Month in April , Americans are discovering the meaning of sacrifice in service to others .
They are self-isolating during a pandemic , both to protect themselves and their communities .
This same awareness of service could be said of paying taxes , joining the military , or doing jury duty .
Yet this latest type of mass goodwill , already seared into the collective memory , could have its own impact long after the final defeat of COVID-19 .
Staying at home is not the only good turn in a bad time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-income students , reduce loneliness in seniors , or ensure people get accurate information .
Others who know how to travel safely have responded to calls for volunteers to deliver meals , help hospitals , or just mow a neighbor ’ s lawn .
The exact measure of volunteering may never be known .
But for those who are participating in this unique civic engagement , there is a new blueprint on how to continue the experience .
On March 25 , a federal commission set up three years ago to bolster America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final report .
Its key recommendation : create a national roster of Americans with critical skills ready to serve in a public emergency .
The panel set a goal of expanding national service opportunities so that 1 million Americans participate annually by 2031 .
Congress established the 11-member National Commission on Military , National , and Public Service mainly over a question on how to improve expand the selective service system .
Indeed , the panel recommended that women be required to register for the military draft .
But its mandate included all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any type of emergency .
Or as one commissioner , Debra Wada , put it , “ Including women in the registration process reaffirms the nation ’ s fundamental belief in a common defense , and signals that all Americans may be expected to serve.
” Since its founding , the United States has frequently sought to enhance a spirit of service through programs such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps .
That spirit picks up after a major crisis , such as the 9/11 attacks .
Now the coronavirus crisis again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater good .
When faced with a common threat , more people view service to others as a reflection of a higher good , one able to dispel the threat .
When seen in that light , enduring a sacrifice like self-isolation is made easier .

Just in time for National Volunteer Month in April, Americans are discovering the meaning of sacrifice in service to others. They are self-isolating during a pandemic, both to protect themselves and their communities. This same awareness of service could be said of paying taxes, joining the military, or doing jury duty. Yet this latest type of mass goodwill, already seared into the collective memory, could have its own impact long after the final defeat of COVID-19.
Staying at home is not the only good turn in a bad time. Some are tapping the internet to tutor low-income students, reduce loneliness in seniors, or ensure people get accurate information. Others who know how to travel safely have responded to calls for volunteers to deliver meals, help hospitals, or just mow a neighbor’s lawn.
The exact measure of volunteering may never be known. But for those who are participating in this unique civic engagement, there is a new blueprint on how to continue the experience.
On March 25, a federal commission set up three years ago to bolster America’s culture of service issued its final report. Its key recommendation: create a national roster of Americans with critical skills ready to serve in a public emergency. The panel set a goal of expanding national service opportunities so that 1 million Americans participate annually by 2031.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Congress established the 11-member National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service mainly over a question on how to improve expand the selective service system. Indeed, the panel recommended that women be required to register for the military draft. But its mandate included all aspects of service that might improve security in any type of emergency. Or as one commissioner, Debra Wada, put it, “Including women in the registration process reaffirms the nation’s fundamental belief in a common defense, and signals that all Americans may be expected to serve.”
Since its founding, the United States has frequently sought to enhance a spirit of service through programs such as the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. That spirit picks up after a major crisis, such as the 9/11 attacks. Now the coronavirus crisis again puts a spotlight on volunteering for the greater good. When faced with a common threat, more people view service to others as a reflection of a higher good, one able to dispel the threat. When seen in that light, enduring a sacrifice like self-isolation is made easier.


csmonitor--2020-03-09--Why COVID-19 is likely to change globalization, not reverse it

“ This [ epidemic ] may end up as a great ‘ teaching moment ’ where we see that multilateral cooperation is essential , ” says Richard Baldwin , an international economist in Geneva .
“ Or it may be seized upon by nationalists as an excuse to further restrict trade and immigration.
” As stock markets totter , the emergency seems to be testing whether a wedded global economy will hold together .
It comes as the idea of “ globalization ” has come under assault in the realms of public opinion , public policy , and even economics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy is among the world ’ s hardest hit .
On Monday night , the government banned public gatherings and asked people to stay home except for work or emergencies .
Yet parallel challenges are emerging around the world : unfilled airplanes , half-vacant malls , and canceled public events and business conferences .
“ It ’ s dead .
There are no tourists , ” says Gianni , owner of a small pizzeria in Rome .
“ I ’ m worried that I ’ m not going to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic toll of the coronavirus is visible in the sheer emptiness .
It ’ s audible in the eerie quiet .
The Spanish moss-draped oaks and brick-laid city squares of the American South ’ s low country are undoubtedly romantic .
After all , some 8,000 weddings – lace-wrapped opening chapters of new lives – take place throughout the region every year .
But for many Americans looking to get hitched this year , it is starting to feel like someone dropped the wedding cake .
Heavily dependent on Chinese dressmakers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beyond , the $ 78 billion U.S. wedding industry is facing turmoil unlike any it ’ s ever seen .
Waiting times for dresses have gone from six months to who knows when .
Chinese suppliers have sent out apologetic but blunt notices that back orders could last for months .
The COVID-19 crisis comes at the absolute worst time : Late winter is when shopkeepers like Mia Mayer make nearly their entire year ’ s profit as nervous young women and their families waltz in and out of the changing booths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Ms. Mayer , who has sold over 1,000 dresses at her lacy boutique , That Dress , in Rincon , Georgia , since opening in 2012 .
“ Wedding dresses , the decorations , the linen – all that stuff comes from China .
The truth is , I never thought about this risk .
You think about a decline in business , but that ’ s something that you can do something about .
Now , there is no fix .
There is no Plan B.
” The upheaval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one example of a severe shock – a possibly transformative jolt – that is now rippling through an interconnected world economy .
And marriage ceremonies may be an apropos image to keep in mind .
As stock markets totter – exchanges plunged around the world Monday , and NYSE trading was temporarily halted – the coronavirus emergency seems to be testing whether a “ wedded ” global economy will hold together or fall apart .
The test comes as the very idea of “ globalization ” – long vaunted as a path to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alike – has already come under assault in the realms of public opinion , public policy , and even economics .
Some nationalists in Europe and the U.S. , already predisposed against unfettered trade , are now pointing to the virus as an added reason to seal the borders and bring factories back home .
The vast majority of business experts say the real lesson of the new coronavirus outbreak is , if anything , the very opposite .
They don ’ t foresee any wholesale retreat from today ’ s web of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits in doing so .
Still , they expect the virus outbreak will alter the patterns of trade , perhaps in ways that have a local as well as a global character .
“ Any reasonable board member would expect a CEO to be responding with greater supply redundancy and be prepared to pay for it , ” says Mary Lovely , a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington .
“ To the extent that this crisis appears to be heading toward a global phenomenon , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversified globalization rather than less globalization.
” Indeed , supply-chain specialist Rolf Zimmer in Germany says his clients are looking to make their supply networks more resilient , not more insular .
“ This [ epidemic ] may end up as a great ‘ teaching moment ’ where we see that multilateral cooperation is essential , ” says Richard Baldwin , an international economist at the Graduate Institute in Geneva .
“ Or it may be seized upon by nationalists as an excuse to further restrict trade and immigration , ” which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he writes via email .
Economists generally say that , while it ’ s true that trading relations come with risks , the benefits of economic connections tend to far outweigh the costs .
Decades of rising container-ship commerce and falling trade barriers , after all , have done much to drive a historic decline in poverty rates , most notably in Asia but spanning the world .
In the process , median incomes in advanced nations like the U.S. have gone up , not down .
Yet the change has been uneven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ automation , globalization has created pockets of desperation when factories close .
And , particularly in the new millennium with China ’ s full-tilt entry into global markets , the sheer pace of these changes has sown political upheaval .
Donald Trump ’ s successful anti-establishment presidential run in 2016 and the British public ’ s vote to leave the European Union are , in part , signs of the social strain .
The coronavirus emergency is globalization ’ s latest test .
Some world leaders say it ’ s vital for nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boundaries on both health and economic matters .
“ There is a common enemy , [ and ] we need to fight in unison , ” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , director-general of the World Health Organization , said in a recent public appearance .
For many workers and corporations , the economic side of that fight isn ’ t about lofty ideals .
It ’ s about coping , here and now , with dents in both supply and demand .
In Italy , the economic toll of the coronavirus is visible in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audible in the eerie quiet .
“ It ’ s dead .
There are no tourists , ” says Gianni , owner of a small pizzeria in the center of Rome .
He has reduced the amount of pizza he makes each day , but he still can ’ t sell it all .
“ I ’ m worried that I ’ m not going to be able to pay the rent , ” he says .
Due to a spike in cases , Italy is among the world ’ s hardest hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took the extraordinary step of banning public gatherings throughout the country and asking people to stay home except for work or emergencies .
Yet parallel challenges are emerging around the world : unfilled airplanes , half-vacant malls , and canceled public events or business conferences .
Even far from the world ’ s biggest ports , in the tiny landlocked nation of Lesotho in southern Africa , the ripples are significant .
In an industrial district of the low-slung capital , Maseru , some 40,000 people work in garment factories , churning out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Levis , Walmart , and Costco .
The industry is the nation ’ s largest private employer .
“ Orders are already beginning to slow down , ” says Bahlakoana Shaw Lebakae , founder of the United Textile Employees , a workers ’ union .
Why ?
The textiles used by factories in Lesotho come from China .
The logjams there mean that U.S. buyers are suddenly cautious purchasers .
“ The textile industry here is already hanging by a thread , ” Mr. Lebakae says , because it is reliant on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African Growth and Opportunities Act , which allows duty-free sales in U.S. markets .
Business leaders and officials worldwide are scrambling for solutions .
But a videoconference isn ’ t always an adequate substitute for a business trip , which are harder to arrange these days .
Finding alternative suppliers , whether of wedding dresses or microchips , isn ’ t easy .
Consider the closure of one parts factory in Codogno , Italy , an area affected by the outbreak .
The shutdown is temporary , but it means that auto assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rover and BMW to Renault and Peugeot , could be left short of crucial components .
“ This coronavirus is a wake-up call .
It ’ s , ‘ Wow .
We are much more vulnerable than we thought , ’ ” says Mr. Zimmer in Germany , chief solutions officer at Riskmethods , which provides software to help companies manage supply chain risks .
It ’ s not that manufacturers haven ’ t thought about the need for resilience before .
Many got a similar wake-up call in 2011 from an earthquake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center of hard-drive production .
But risks to supply networks may lie beneath the surface .
Even if a manufacturer has multiple suppliers , Mr. Zimmer cautions , what happens when those suppliers all rely on a single source for a key material ?
Supply-chain experts say the worst of the China-related disruptions isn ’ t being felt in Western factories yet , due to the lag time of shipments arriving .
The flow of global goods from pharmaceuticals to electronics hinges on two unknowns : How long will it take for Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how many other producers around the world will face interruptions due to the virus ?
“ We ’ ve told companies to keep a lot of cash , and to make sure that you have a lot of stock of goods that are at high risk of stopping up , ” says Christopher Parmo , chief operating officer of Verdane , a Europe-wide private equity firm that owns about 100 tech companies .
Yet the outbreak could be more than just an alarm-bell to diversify supplier networks .
It might contribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
On the one hand , it promises to accelerate “ telemigration , ” or the globalization of desk jobs that are becoming increasingly digital , argues Professor Baldwin , author of a 2018 book on the future of work .
Already , the outbreak has prompted companies such as Twitter and JPMorgan Chase to ask thousands of employees to work from home .
It ’ s not a long leap from such steps into a next phase of globalization , in the service sector .
Domestic telecommuting “ is the thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
On the other hand , if companies rethink their global footprints , several forces may nudge them to focus closer to home rather than further afield .
The years since the 2008 financial crisis have already been marked by what some observers call deglobalization – a slowdown in the growth of trade and a rebound in protectionist measures such as tariffs worldwide .
“ The virus adds to other reasons why firms are already rethinking their logistics , ” writes Vicky Redwood of the forecasting firm Capital Economics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced when freight-transport distances are shortened .
• National security may be enhanced by moving important production homeward .
• It ’ s easier to customize products and respond to shifting consumer preferences when factories are close to the shoppers they serve .
• Rising automation is making labor costs a smaller factor in deciding whether to locate plants in high- or low-wage nations .
“ Machines just repeat what they ’ re supposed to do , precisely , ” says Harald Malmgren , a longtime presidential adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They work night and day .
They don ’ t go on strike.
” Yet even if a trend toward more localized production accelerates , as Dr. Malmgren expects , it won ’ t happen overnight .
And it doesn ’ t imply an incoming tide of jobs to nations like the U.S. , if service-sector jobs simultaneously become more globally “ traded ” and automated .
And whether the overall arc of globalization bends upward or downward , the major economic takeaway may be for nations to avoid having “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China isn ’ t the problem .
Lack of diversification is the problem , ” says Belinda Archibong , an assistant professor of economics at Barnard College in New York .
In Africa , “ lack of regional , intra-Africa trade is the problem.
” That ’ s a long-standing discussion within the continent .
“ Maybe this crisis is going to force us to trade more amongst ourselves , ” says Blandina Kilama , an economist and senior researcher at Research on Poverty Alleviation , a Tanzanian think tank .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virtues of trade .
Brown & Haley , the candy company where he is president and chief operating officer , has seen a rising share of its Almond Roca sales coming from overseas .
China is a big source of that demand , which helps keep the firm ’ s 175 employees near Tacoma , Washington , employed .
Mr. Melin and his team are working hard to keep the sales flowing and to pin down some alternative suppliers for packaging .
“ Part of the health of our country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that people fly on Boeing airplanes around the world ,  and people buy iPhones around the world ,  and people admire the values and institutions of the United States , ” he says .
That integration with the world “ brings more good than bad.
” In Germany , Yorck Otto similarly sees globalization as here to stay , and probably for the better .
“ No , this wheel can not be turned back , ” says Dr. Otto , president of a business association representing small and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain will continue to get better and better every day .
This globalization will be refined , and hopefully it will be also covered under new humanitarian laws and regulations so that the world can be a little bit better through globalization , ” he says .
“ I ’ m not a great fan of kids sitting in Bolivia digging into soil to get materials to make batteries , for example.
” For now , back at the bridal shop , Ms. Mayer doesn ’ t know of too many alternative materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply predicament will likely push business toward do-it-yourself weddings , used wedding dresses on eBay , and a reevaluation of price points to consider American dressmakers , if they can keep up with demand .
“ I ’ m sure [ COVID-19 ] will get figured out in time , ” says Ms. Mayer .
“ But in our world , time can make or break you .
It ’ s scary .
It ’ s your livelihood.
” This piece was reported by Patrik Jonsson in Savannah , Georgia ; Nick Squires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johannesburg ; and Lenora Chu in Berlin .
It was written by Mr. Trumbull .

“This [epidemic] may end up as a great ‘teaching moment’ where we see that multilateral cooperation is essential,” says Richard Baldwin, an international economist in Geneva. “Or it may be seized upon by nationalists as an excuse to further restrict trade and immigration.”
As stock markets totter, the emergency seems to be testing whether a wedded global economy will hold together. It comes as the idea of “globalization” has come under assault in the realms of public opinion, public policy, and even economics.
Due to a spike in cases, Italy is among the world’s hardest hit. On Monday night, the government banned public gatherings and asked people to stay home except for work or emergencies. Yet parallel challenges are emerging around the world: unfilled airplanes, half-vacant malls, and canceled public events and business conferences.
Can the world’s fabric be undone? Some nationalists point to the coronavirus as a reason to seal borders and bring manufacturing home. But business experts say the benefits of trade are undiminished.
“It’s dead. There are no tourists,” says Gianni, owner of a small pizzeria in Rome. “I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to pay the rent.”
In Italy, the economic toll of the coronavirus is visible in the sheer emptiness. It’s audible in the eerie quiet.
The Spanish moss-draped oaks and brick-laid city squares of the American South’s low country are undoubtedly romantic. After all, some 8,000 weddings – lace-wrapped opening chapters of new lives – take place throughout the region every year.
But for many Americans looking to get hitched this year, it is starting to feel like someone dropped the wedding cake.
Heavily dependent on Chinese dressmakers who toil in well-lit factory floors from Wuhan and beyond, the $78 billion U.S. wedding industry is facing turmoil unlike any it’s ever seen. Waiting times for dresses have gone from six months to who knows when. Chinese suppliers have sent out apologetic but blunt notices that back orders could last for months.
Why We Wrote This Can the world’s fabric be undone? Some nationalists point to the coronavirus as a reason to seal borders and bring manufacturing home. But business experts say the benefits of trade are undiminished.
The COVID-19 crisis comes at the absolute worst time: Late winter is when shopkeepers like Mia Mayer make nearly their entire year’s profit as nervous young women and their families waltz in and out of the changing booths.
“This is our world now,” says Ms. Mayer, who has sold over 1,000 dresses at her lacy boutique, That Dress, in Rincon, Georgia, since opening in 2012. “Wedding dresses, the decorations, the linen – all that stuff comes from China. The truth is, I never thought about this risk. You think about a decline in business, but that’s something that you can do something about. Now, there is no fix. There is no Plan B.”
The upheaval in the realm of weddings is just one example of a severe shock – a possibly transformative jolt – that is now rippling through an interconnected world economy.
And marriage ceremonies may be an apropos image to keep in mind. As stock markets totter – exchanges plunged around the world Monday, and NYSE trading was temporarily halted – the coronavirus emergency seems to be testing whether a “wedded” global economy will hold together or fall apart.
Globalization under fire
The test comes as the very idea of “globalization” – long vaunted as a path to shared prosperity for richer and poorer nations alike – has already come under assault in the realms of public opinion, public policy, and even economics.
Some nationalists in Europe and the U.S., already predisposed against unfettered trade, are now pointing to the virus as an added reason to seal the borders and bring factories back home.
The vast majority of business experts say the real lesson of the new coronavirus outbreak is, if anything, the very opposite. They don’t foresee any wholesale retreat from today’s web of far-flung commercial ties among nations, or benefits in doing so. Still, they expect the virus outbreak will alter the patterns of trade, perhaps in ways that have a local as well as a global character.
“Any reasonable board member would expect a CEO to be responding with greater supply redundancy and be prepared to pay for it,” says Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. “To the extent that this crisis appears to be heading toward a global phenomenon, it is a nudge toward a different, more diversified globalization rather than less globalization.”
China Daily/Reuters View caption Hide caption Workers wearing face masks rope a container ship at a port in Qingdao, China, Feb. 11, 2020. Many Chinese factories halted production in February due to efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Global ripple effects are expected in industries from auto parts to pharmaceuticals, as the Chinese factories work to restart.
Indeed, supply-chain specialist Rolf Zimmer in Germany says his clients are looking to make their supply networks more resilient, not more insular.
“This [epidemic] may end up as a great ‘teaching moment’ where we see that multilateral cooperation is essential,” says Richard Baldwin, an international economist at the Graduate Institute in Geneva.
“Or it may be seized upon by nationalists as an excuse to further restrict trade and immigration,” which would hurt nations that go that route, he writes via email.
Decline in poverty
Economists generally say that, while it’s true that trading relations come with risks, the benefits of economic connections tend to far outweigh the costs.
Decades of rising container-ship commerce and falling trade barriers, after all, have done much to drive a historic decline in poverty rates, most notably in Asia but spanning the world. In the process, median incomes in advanced nations like the U.S. have gone up, not down.
Yet the change has been uneven. Coupled with the trend of rising automation, globalization has created pockets of desperation when factories close. And, particularly in the new millennium with China’s full-tilt entry into global markets, the sheer pace of these changes has sown political upheaval. Donald Trump’s successful anti-establishment presidential run in 2016 and the British public’s vote to leave the European Union are, in part, signs of the social strain.
The coronavirus emergency is globalization’s latest test. Some world leaders say it’s vital for nations to meet the crisis by collaborating across boundaries on both health and economic matters.
“There is a common enemy, [and] we need to fight in unison,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a recent public appearance.
For many workers and corporations, the economic side of that fight isn’t about lofty ideals. It’s about coping, here and now, with dents in both supply and demand.
In Italy, the economic toll of the coronavirus is visible in the sheer emptiness. It’s audible in the eerie quiet.
“It’s dead. There are no tourists,” says Gianni, owner of a small pizzeria in the center of Rome.
He has reduced the amount of pizza he makes each day, but he still can’t sell it all. “I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to pay the rent,” he says.
Due to a spike in cases, Italy is among the world’s hardest hit. On Monday night, the government took the extraordinary step of banning public gatherings throughout the country and asking people to stay home except for work or emergencies.
Yet parallel challenges are emerging around the world: unfilled airplanes, half-vacant malls, and canceled public events or business conferences.
Who supplies the suppliers?
Even far from the world’s biggest ports, in the tiny landlocked nation of Lesotho in southern Africa, the ripples are significant. In an industrial district of the low-slung capital, Maseru, some 40,000 people work in garment factories, churning out sweatshirts and skinny jeans for American brands like Levis, Walmart, and Costco. The industry is the nation’s largest private employer.
“Orders are already beginning to slow down,” says Bahlakoana Shaw Lebakae, founder of the United Textile Employees, a workers’ union.
Why? The textiles used by factories in Lesotho come from China. The logjams there mean that U.S. buyers are suddenly cautious purchasers.
“The textile industry here is already hanging by a thread,” Mr. Lebakae says, because it is reliant on a precarious American trade deal called the African Growth and Opportunities Act, which allows duty-free sales in U.S. markets.
Business leaders and officials worldwide are scrambling for solutions. But a videoconference isn’t always an adequate substitute for a business trip, which are harder to arrange these days. Finding alternative suppliers, whether of wedding dresses or microchips, isn’t easy.
Consider the closure of one parts factory in Codogno, Italy, an area affected by the outbreak. The shutdown is temporary, but it means that auto assembly plants across Europe, from Jaguar Land Rover and BMW to Renault and Peugeot, could be left short of crucial components.
“This coronavirus is a wake-up call. It’s, ‘Wow. We are much more vulnerable than we thought,’” says Mr. Zimmer in Germany, chief solutions officer at Riskmethods, which provides software to help companies manage supply chain risks.
Andrew Medichini/AP View caption Hide caption A sea gull commands a view of the Colosseum amid plummeting tourism in Rome, March 7, 2020. Italy is a focal point of the coronavirus emergency in Europe, and the nation's economy is at risk of falling back into recession. By curbing travel and fueling uncertainty, the epidemic is affecting global consumer spending, not just producer supply chains.
It’s not that manufacturers haven’t thought about the need for resilience before. Many got a similar wake-up call in 2011 from an earthquake in Japan and floods in a Thai center of hard-drive production. But risks to supply networks may lie beneath the surface.
Even if a manufacturer has multiple suppliers, Mr. Zimmer cautions, what happens when those suppliers all rely on a single source for a key material?
Supply-chain experts say the worst of the China-related disruptions isn’t being felt in Western factories yet, due to the lag time of shipments arriving. The flow of global goods from pharmaceuticals to electronics hinges on two unknowns: How long will it take for Chinese factories to get back up to speed, and how many other producers around the world will face interruptions due to the virus?
“We’ve told companies to keep a lot of cash, and to make sure that you have a lot of stock of goods that are at high risk of stopping up,” says Christopher Parmo, chief operating officer of Verdane, a Europe-wide private equity firm that owns about 100 tech companies.
Deglobalization forces
Yet the outbreak could be more than just an alarm-bell to diversify supplier networks. It might contribute to a broader reshaping of the global economy.
On the one hand, it promises to accelerate “telemigration,” or the globalization of desk jobs that are becoming increasingly digital, argues Professor Baldwin, author of a 2018 book on the future of work. Already, the outbreak has prompted companies such as Twitter and JPMorgan Chase to ask thousands of employees to work from home. It’s not a long leap from such steps into a next phase of globalization, in the service sector.
Domestic telecommuting “is the thin edge of the wedge for international telecommuting,” he says.
On the other hand, if companies rethink their global footprints, several forces may nudge them to focus closer to home rather than further afield. The years since the 2008 financial crisis have already been marked by what some observers call deglobalization – a slowdown in the growth of trade and a rebound in protectionist measures such as tariffs worldwide.
“The virus adds to other reasons why firms are already rethinking their logistics,” writes Vicky Redwood of the forecasting firm Capital Economics, in a late-February report.
Beyond protectionist policies, those reasons include:
Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced when freight-transport distances are shortened.
National security may be enhanced by moving important production homeward.
It’s easier to customize products and respond to shifting consumer preferences when factories are close to the shoppers they serve.
Rising automation is making labor costs a smaller factor in deciding whether to locate plants in high- or low-wage nations.
“Machines just repeat what they’re supposed to do, precisely,” says Harald Malmgren, a longtime presidential adviser and consultant to corporations on trade-related issues. “They work night and day. They don’t go on strike.”
Yet even if a trend toward more localized production accelerates, as Dr. Malmgren expects, it won’t happen overnight. And it doesn’t imply an incoming tide of jobs to nations like the U.S., if service-sector jobs simultaneously become more globally “traded” and automated.
The virtues of trade
And whether the overall arc of globalization bends upward or downward, the major economic takeaway may be for nations to avoid having “all eggs in one basket.”
“China isn’t the problem. Lack of diversification is the problem,” says Belinda Archibong, an assistant professor of economics at Barnard College in New York. In Africa, “lack of regional, intra-Africa trade is the problem.”
That’s a long-standing discussion within the continent. “Maybe this crisis is going to force us to trade more amongst ourselves,” says Blandina Kilama, an economist and senior researcher at Research on Poverty Alleviation, a Tanzanian think tank.
In the U.S., John Melin is an eyewitness to the virtues of trade. Brown & Haley, the candy company where he is president and chief operating officer, has seen a rising share of its Almond Roca sales coming from overseas.
China is a big source of that demand, which helps keep the firm’s 175 employees near Tacoma, Washington, employed. Mr. Melin and his team are working hard to keep the sales flowing and to pin down some alternative suppliers for packaging.
“Part of the health of our country and our high standard of living comes from the fact that people fly on Boeing airplanes around the world, and people buy iPhones around the world, and people admire the values and institutions of the United States,” he says. That integration with the world “brings more good than bad.”
In Germany, Yorck Otto similarly sees globalization as here to stay, and probably for the better.
“No, this wheel cannot be turned back,” says Dr. Otto, president of a business association representing small and medium-sized companies.
“The global supply chain will continue to get better and better every day. This globalization will be refined, and hopefully it will be also covered under new humanitarian laws and regulations so that the world can be a little bit better through globalization,” he says. “I’m not a great fan of kids sitting in Bolivia digging into soil to get materials to make batteries, for example.”
For now, back at the bridal shop, Ms. Mayer doesn’t know of too many alternative materials for the dresses she needs.
The supply predicament will likely push business toward do-it-yourself weddings, used wedding dresses on eBay, and a reevaluation of price points to consider American dressmakers, if they can keep up with demand.
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“I’m sure [COVID-19] will get figured out in time,” says Ms. Mayer. “But in our world, time can make or break you. It’s scary. It’s your livelihood.”
This piece was reported by Patrik Jonsson in Savannah, Georgia; Nick Squires in Rome; Ryan Lenora Brown in Johannesburg; and Lenora Chu in Berlin. It was written by Mr. Trumbull.