oann--2020-02-28--Global downturn looms as countries struggle to contain coronavirus outbreak

GENEVA/BEIJING ( Reuters ) – The coronavirus spread further on Friday , with cases reported for the first time in at least six countries across four continents , battering markets and leading the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to raise its impact risk alert to “ very high.
” Hopes that the epidemic that started in China late last year would be over in months , and that economic activity would quickly return to normal , have been shattered .
World shares were on course for their largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis , bringing the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chains were disrupted , travel plans postponed and major events canceled .
[ MKTS/GLOB ] The WHO said it was raising its assessment of the global risk to ‘ very high ’ from ‘ high ’ , which its head of emergencies Dr Mike Ryan said was intended to put national authorities on full alert .
“ I think this is a reality check for every government on the planet – wake up , get ready , this virus may be on its way and you need to be ready , ” Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 82,000 people have been infected , with over 2,700 deaths in China and 57 deaths in 46 other countries .
Mexico , Nigeria , New Zealand , Lithuania , Belarus and Azerbaijan reported their first cases , all with travel history connected to epicenters in Italy and Iran .
Mexico is the second Latin American country to register the virus , after Brazil .
The Nigerian case , an Italian man , is the first in sub-Saharan Africa .
The man traveled through the capital and other parts of Nigeria for almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantined , authorities said , underlining the difficulties already overstretched health services will have in containing the disease .
Potentially making it even harder to eradicate , a growing number of discharged coronavirus patients in China and elsewhere are testing positive again , sometimes weeks after being allowed to leave the hospital .
In addition to stockpiling medical supplies , some governments ordered schools shut and canceled big gatherings to try to halt the flu-like disease .
Switzerland canceled next week ’ s Geneva international car show , one of the industry ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Stock Exchange said it had “ robust contingency plans ” to allow it to continue operating if its floor had to close .
The outbreak appears to be easing in China , where it first emerged late last year in an market illegally trading wildlife .
Mainland China reported 327 new cases in the last 24 hours , the lowest in the country in more than a month , and China ’ s three biggest airlines restored some flights .
But the virus is surging elsewhere .
Countries other than China now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
South Korea , with the most cases outside China , reported 571 new infections on Friday , bringing the total to 2,337 , with 13 people dead .
The death toll in Italy rose to 21 , with nearly 900 testing positive .
Cafes and schools have been closed as daily life has ground to a halt .
The WHO ’ s Ryan said Iran ’ s outbreak may be worse than realized .
Its toll of 34 dead is the highest outside China , although there are reports of much higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in Iran by Sunday or Monday .
In the United States , the outbreak of the new coronavirus and efforts to prepare for its possible spread have become political in a presidential election year .
Federal government health officials told lawmakers the country had insufficient testing resources , a source said , and Democratic presidential candidates slammed the government ’ s response .
But the White House played down the coronavirus crisis and called the high level of news coverage a ploy to hurt U.S. President Donald Trump .
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost production of protective gear like masks and gloves , the health secretary said .
Online retailer Amazon.com joined other companies in implementing travel restrictions for its employees .
Japan is scheduled to host the 2020 Olympics in July but Ryan said discussions were being held about whether to go ahead .
Organizers will decide next week on the ceremonial torch relay , due to arrive on March 20 for a 121-day journey .
Confirmed cases in Japan have risen above 200 , with four deaths , excluding more than 700 cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Six people from the ship have died , including a man who was reported on Friday as the first British person to die from the disease .
[ Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus : open https : //tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser . ]


oann--2020-03-02--Buttigieg to drop out of Democratic nomination race day after big Biden win

SELMA , Ala. ( Reuters ) – Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg was preparing to drop out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination , an aide said on Sunday , the day after fellow moderate Joe Biden won a big victory in South Carolina .
The move shook up the Democratic contest to pick a candidate to take on Republican President Donald Trump in November ’ s election and came two days before the 14-state Super Tuesday nominating contests that will offer the biggest electoral prize so far .
Buttigieg , a 38-year-old Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses last month , had sought to unite Democrats , independents , and moderate Republican voters .
He planned to withdraw hours after Democratic candidates commemorated on Sunday a landmark civil rights march in Alabama .
Some worshippers at the African-American church where the event was held turned their backs on his presidential rival Michael Bloomberg , a billionaire who will first appear on ballots on Tuesday after skipping the first four contests .
Bloomberg , a former New York mayor , received a chilly reception at the historic Brown Chapel AME Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Leodis Strong , told the gathering the billionaire businessman initially had turned down the invitation to speak .
“ I was hurt , I was disappointed , ” Strong said as Bloomberg looked on stonily .
“ I think it ’ s important that he came , and it shows a willingness on his part to change.
” About 10 people in the small church with a couple hundred in attendance stood up and turned their backs on Bloomberg as he spoke about racial inequality .
Biden and Bloomberg are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s best choice to take on Trump , saying U.S .
Senator Bernie Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist , is too far to the left to win the general election .
Black voters are a key Democratic constituency , and Bloomberg has been criticized for supporting the use of a policing practice called stop and frisk in New York City that encouraged police to stop and search pedestrians and disproportionately affected blacks and Latinos .

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oann--2020-03-02--Stocks cling to stimulus hopes, Treasuries slide towards 1%

LONDON ( Reuters ) – World stock markets regained a measure of calm on Monday as hopes for a raft of global interest rate cuts to soften the economic blow of the coronavirus steadied nerves and drove U.S. Treasury yields close to 1 % .
After last week ’ s worst plunge for equities markets since the depths of the 2008 financial crisis , it was always going to be a wild ride .
Asia had initially dived again after China reported a record slump in factory activity but the region rallied to finish higher as bond yields sunk and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices roaring up as much 3.5 % .
[ O/R ] Europe then made a blistering start .
The FTSEurofirst 300 < .FTEU3 > jumped over 2 % , putting it on course for its best day in well over a year , only to suffer a major mid-morning wobble that left it just 0.2 % better off .
[ .EU ] Wall Street S & P 500 and Dow futures < ESc1 > < 1YMc1 > went on a similarly erratic trip ; first diving , then springing , then stumbling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The market is coming back because there is perception that there will be a coordinated G7 policy response , ” said BlueBay Asset Management ’ s head of credit strategy David Riley .
“ We have Fed and ECB meetings coming up in the next couple of weeks .
The Fed is the key one and it will be very hard for them to hold off ( from rate cuts ) if we are in a situation where the economic downsides are becoming more prevalent.
” The sheer scale of losses last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiped off world stocks — have led financial markets to price in policy responses from almost every major central bank .
Futures now imply a full 50 basis point cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve at its March 17-18 meeting < 0 # FF : > , followed by a 10 basis point snip from the ECB in April .
Australian markets < 0 # YIB : > are meanwhile pricing in a quarter-point cut at the RBA ’ s Tuesday meeting .
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda fanned those expectations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabilise markets if needed .
The Bank of England said it , too , was monitoring developments and assessing the “ potential impacts on the global and UK economies and financial systems ” .
Bets that the Fed will be first of the pack to move — and probably by the most , considering it has more room to cut –pushed the dollar to a one-month low against the world ’ s major currencies as bond yields slid south .
[ /FRX ] Individually , it was down at $ 1.1070 to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the yen at 108.08 yen < JPY= > and only made gains on the pound < GBP= > , which wilted as what are likely to be fraught post-Brexit trade talks with the EU began in Brussels .
MSCI ’ s broadest index of world shares < .MIWD00000PUS > rose for the first time in eight sessions after recovering from Asia ’ s early dip , though the 0.3 % uptick barely offset its 10.4 % tumble last week .
The disruption to global supply chains , productivity and global travel caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a world economy already struggling with the fallout of the U.S.-China trade war .
In Paris , the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) warned the outbreak was shaping up to cause the worst global downturn since the 2008-09 financial crisis .
In a bleak scenario , growth could drop to just 1.5 % .
“ The main message from this downside scenario is that it would put many countries into a recession , which is why we are urging measures to be taken in the affected areas as quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laurence Boone told Reuters .
The bond markets were giving their view loud and clear .
The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury bond hit a fresh record low yield of 1.0300 % < US10YT=RR > overnight and was last at 1.065 % .
In Europe , German Bunds were the lowest in six months at -0.64 % .
[ GVD/EUR ] Analysts said a sustained market recovery depended on the rate of new coronavirus infections slowing outside China .
The epidemic , which began in the Chinese province of Hubei , has killed 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in Japan , Iran , Italy , South Korea and the United States .
Commodity markets were part of Monday ’ s global stabilisation .
Oil prices bounced as much as $ 1.5 a barrel off multi-year lows , helped by hopes of a deeper cut in output by OPEC .
[ O/R ] Brent crude last traded at $ 50.5 per barrel < LCOc1 > and U.S. crude < CLc1 > at $ 45.2 per barrel , while industrial metals copper and nickel were 1.5 % and 2.5 % higher respectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dip last week .
[ MET/L ] [ GOL/ ]


oann--2020-03-02--Gatherings banned, travel restricted as coronavirus cases grow worldwide

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – Leaders in Europe , the Middle East and the Americas rolled out bans on big gatherings and stricter travel restrictions as cases of the new coronavirus spread around the world .
The United States on Saturday reported its first death from the disease , a man in his 50s in Washington state , where officials said two of the state ’ s three cases have links to a nursing home with dozens of residents showing disease symptoms .
Although most Americans face a low risk from the virus , more U.S. deaths could be imminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN quoted Vice President Mike Pence as saying .
“ We know there will be more cases , ” Pence told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper in a clip released on Saturday , echoing President Donald Trump ’ s earlier comments that additional cases in America were “ likely.
” Travelers from Italy and South Korea would face additional screening , Trump and top officials told a White House news briefing , warning Americans against traveling to coronavirus-affected regions in both countries .
Pence said an entry ban on travelers from Iran would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have visited Iran in the last 14 days .
The United States may also restrict travel on its southern border with Mexico , officials said .
However , they encouraged Americans to travel around the country , including states that have recorded some of its more than 60 cases .
The outbreak is disrupting flight demand and many airlines have suspended or modified services in response .
After Saturday ’ s press conference , the White House held a call with airlines to discuss new travel restrictions .
American Airlines Inc said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. flights to Milan .
Ecuador on Saturday reported its first case , in a woman who had traveled from Madrid , while Mexico reported four cases , all in people who had visited Italy .
Brazilian officials confirmed that country ’ s second case , a patient in São Paulo who recently visited Italy .
As governments worldwide stepped up efforts to halt the spread of the virus , France announced a temporary ban on public gatherings with more than 5,000 people in confined spaces .
It reported 16 new cases for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half-marathon of 40,000 runners scheduled for Sunday .
Switzerland said it is banning events expected to draw more than 1,000 people .
More than 700 tourists remain quarantined at a hotel in the Canary Islands , after several Italian guests there tested positive for coronavirus .
Schools and universities in Italy , which is experiencing Europe ’ s worst outbreak of the disease , will stay closed for a second consecutive week in three northern regions .
The country has reported more than 1,100 cases and 29 deaths .
Analysts have warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy ’ s fragile economy into its fourth recession in 12 years , with many businesses in the wealthy north close to a standstill and hotels reporting a wave of cancellations .
Iraq reported five new cases of the disease , bringing its total to 13 , and Qatar reported its first Saturday , leaving Saudi Arabia as the only Gulf state not to have signaled any coronavirus cases .
The majority of infections in other Gulf countries have been linked to visits to Iran or involve people who have come into contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia reported its first infection on Sunday , in a citizen returning from neighboring Iran .
Tehran has ordered schools shut until Tuesday and extended the closure of universities and a ban on concerts and sports events for a week .
Authorities have also banned visits to hospitals and nursing homes as the country ’ s case load hit nearly 600 .
One Iranian lawmaker , elected in Feb. 21 polls , has died from the disease along with more than 40 other Iranians , and several high-ranking officials have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had closed its border with Iran for two weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Two Azerbaijanis who traveled to Iran have tested positive for the disease and quarantined .
Mainland China reported 573 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Feb. 29 , up from 427 the previous day , national health officials said on Sunday in China .
The number of deaths stood at 35 , down from 47 the previous day , taking the toll in mainland China to 2,870 .
The epidemic , which began in China , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry said .
Thailand reported its first death from the virus on Sunday , while in Australia , a former passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off Japan died in the western city of Perth .
Churches closed in South Korea as many held online services instead , with authorities looking to rein in public gatherings , as 376 new infections took the tally to 3,526 cases .


oann--2020-03-02--Coronavirus spreading fast outside China, airports to increase screenings

GENEVA/BEIJING ( Reuters ) – The new coronavirus appears to now be spreading much more rapidly outside China than within , and airports in hard-hit countries were ramping up screening of travelers .
World Health Organization ( WHO ) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said almost eight times as many cases had been reported outside China as inside in the previous 24 hours , adding that the risk of coronavirus spreading was now very high at a global level .
At a briefing in Geneva , he said outbreaks in South Korea , Italy , Iran and Japan were the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that close surveillance was working in South Korea , the worst affected country outside China , and the epidemic could be contained there .
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said that within 12 hours , airports across South Korea and Italy will screen all travelers for coronavirus .
Pence , who has been put in charge of the U.S. response to the outbreak , also said U.S. travel restrictions may expand .
The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said U.S. industry expects to have the capacity to perform 1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The global death toll exceeded 3,000 , with the number of dead in Italy jumping by 18 to 52 .
Latvia , Saudi Arabia , Senegal and Morocco reported cases for the first time , bringing the total to more than 60 countries with the illness known as COVID-19 .
But equity markets surged after their worst plunge since the 2008 financial crisis last week , encouraged by the prospect of government action to stem the economic impact .
In the United States , the Dow jumped nearly 1,300 points , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & P 500 closed 4.6 % higher .
Finance ministers of the G7 group of leading industrialized democracies were expected to discuss measures in a conference call on Tuesday , sources told Reuters .
Oil prices jumped 4 % amid hopes of a deeper output cut by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) .
A senior U.S. official said he was concerned about a likely jump in the number of cases in the United States , which has had more than 90 , with six deaths .
More testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
“ When you have a number of cases that you ’ ve identified and they ’ ve been in the community for a while , you ’ re going to wind up seeing a lot more cases than you would have predicted , ” Dr Anthony Fauci , head of the infectious diseases unit at the U.S. National Institutes of Health , told CNN .
South Korea has had 26 deaths and reported another 599 infections on Monday , taking its tally to 4,335 .
Of the new cases in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Daegu .
That is home to a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , to which most of South Korea ’ s cases have been traced after some members visited the Chinese city of Wuhan , where the disease emerged .
The Seoul government asked prosecutors to launch a murder investigation into leaders of the church .
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that if founder Lee Man-hee and other heads of the church had cooperated , fatalities could have been prevented .
Lee knelt and apologized to the country , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others and calling the epidemic a “ great calamity ” .
It was not immediately known how many of South Korea ’ s dead were members of the church .
But Wuhan itself , at the center of the epidemic , shut the first of 16 specially built hospitals that were hurriedly put up to treat coronavirus cases , the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said .
There was also a steep fall in new cases in Hubei , the province around Wuhan , but China remained on alert for people returning home with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus broke out in Wuhan late last year and has since infected more than 86,500 people , mostly in China .
Only eight cases were reported in China beyond Hubei on Sunday , the WHO said .
China ’ s U.N .
Ambassador Zhang Jun at a news conference said : “ We definitely believe that with the coming of spring we ’ re not far from the coming of the victory of the final defeat of COVID-19.
” Outside China , there are now more than 8,700 infected and over 125 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations , reported infections rising to 1,501 , with 66 deaths , including a senior official .
With stocks of gloves and other medical supplies running low in pharmacies , authorities uncovered a hoard of supplies including millions of gloves .
In Britain , which has 40 confirmed cases , Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to be prepared for a further spread .


oann--2020-03-03--WHO warns of global shortage of medical equipment to fight coronavirus

WASHINGTON/GENEVA ( Reuters ) – The World Health Organization ( WHO ) on Tuesday warned of a global shortage and price gouging for protective equipment to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus and asked companies and governments to increase production by 40 % as the death toll from the respiratory illness mounted .
Meanwhile , the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Tuesday in an emergency move to try to prevent a global recession and the World Bank announced $ 12 billion to help countries fight the coronavirus , which has taken a heavy toll on air travel , tourism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospects .
The virus continued to spread in South Korea , Japan , Europe , Iran and the United States , and several countries reported their first confirmed cases , taking the total to some 80 nations hit with the flu-like illness that can lead to pneumonia .
Despite the Fed ’ s attempt to stem the economic fallout from the coronavirus , U.S. stock indexes closed down about 3 % , safe-haven gold rose 3 % and analysts and investors questioned whether the rate cut will be enough if the virus continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MKTS/GLOB ] U.S. lawmakers were considering spending as much as $ 9 billion to contain local spread of the virus .
In Iran , doctors and nurses lack supplies and 77 people have died , one of the highest numbers outside China .
The United Arab Emirates announced it was closing all schools for four weeks .
The death toll in Italy , Europe ’ s hardest-hit country , jumped to 79 on Tuesday and Italian officials are considering expanding the area under quarantine .
France reported its fourth coronavirus death , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported their first coronavirus cases .
About 3.4 % of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died , far above seasonal flu ’ s fatality rate of under 1 % , but the virus can be contained , the WHO chief said on Tuesday .
“ To summarize , COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than flu , transmission does not appear to be driven by people who are not sick , it causes more severe illness than flu , there are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics , and it can be contained , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geneva .
Health officials have said the death rate is 2 % to 4 % depending on the country and may be much lower if there are thousands of unreported mild cases of the disease .
Since the coronavirus outbreak , prices of surgical masks have increased sixfold , N95 respirators have tripled in cost and protective gowns cost twice as much , the WHO said .
It estimates healthcare workers each month will need 89 million masks , 76 million gloves and 1.6 million pairs of goggles .
The coronavirus , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan late last year , has spread around the world , with more new cases now appearing outside China than inside .
There are almost 91,000 cases globally of which more than 80,000 are in China .
China ’ s death toll was 2,946 , with more than 166 fatalities elsewhere .
In a unanimous decision , the Fed said it was cutting rates by a half percentage point to a target range of 1.00 % to 1.25 % .
Finance ministers from the G7 group of rich countries were ready to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said .
Central banks would continue to support price stability and economic growth .
In the United States , there are now over 100 people in at least a dozen states with the coronavirus and nine deaths , all in the Seattle area .
Amid criticism of Americans not being able to get tested for coronavirus unless they met certain limited criteria , U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday that anyone can now get tested with a doctor ’ s order under new guidelines from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CDC ) .
New York state reported its second case , a man in his 50s who works in Manhattan and has been hospitalized .
The public transportation agency in New York , the most densely populated major U.S. city of more than 8 million , said on Twitter it was deploying “ enhanced sanitizing procedures ” for stations , train cars , buses and certain vehicles .
China has seen coronavirus cases fall sharply , with 129 in the last 24 hours the lowest reported since Jan. 20 .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get back on track , China is increasingly concerned about the virus being brought back into the country by citizens returning from new hotspots elsewhere .
Travelers entering Beijing from South Korea , Japan , Iran and Italy would have to be quarantined for 14 days , a city official said .
Shanghai has introduced a similar order .
The worst outbreak outside China is in South Korea , where President Moon Jae-in declared war on the virus , ordering additional hospital beds and more masks as cases rose by 600 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO officials also expressed concerns about the situation in Iran , saying doctors lacked respirators and ventilators needed for patients with severe cases .
WHO emergency program head Michael Ryan said the need in Iran was “ more acute ” than for other countries .
While the case numbers in Iran appear to be bad , he said , “ things tend to look worse before getting better.
” The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday said the summer games in Tokyo set to begin on July 24 were still expected to happen despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 deaths .
Health officials said they would continue to monitor the situation in Japan before any final decision on the Olympics is made .


oann--2020-03-04--Biden has strong Super Tuesday showing, Sanders leads in California

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – A resurgent Joe Biden rode a wave of momentum to win at least eight states on Super Tuesday and Bernie Sanders was leading in the biggest race in California , setting up a one-on-one battle for the Democratic presidential nomination .
In a surprisingly strong showing , Biden rolled to victories across the South , Midwest and New England on the biggest day of voting in the Democratic campaign .
Americans in 14 states cast ballots for a challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election .
“ For those who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left behind , this is your campaign , ” said Biden , the former vice president who had performed poorly in the first three nominating contests but broke through with a win in South Carolina .
“ We are very much alive , ” he told roaring supporters in Los Angeles .
Sanders , the one-time front-runner who had hoped to take a big step toward the nomination on Tuesday , won Colorado , Utah and his home state of Vermont , Edison Research said .
Fox News and AP projected Sanders won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest haul in the nominating contest .
But Edison Research and other networks held off declaring a winner as results trickled in .
With overwhelming support from African American , moderate and older voters , Biden swept to wins in Alabama , Arkansas , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee and Virginia .
The second biggest prize Texas and Maine were too close to call .
Sanders was slightly trailing Biden in Texas , a state he had heavily invested in and had hoped to win given its sizeable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn of events for Biden , whose campaign was on life support after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire .
Until a week ago he trailed Sanders in most state and national polls .
Biden ’ s blowout win in South Carolina on Saturday provided a burst of new momentum , fueling a wave of endorsements from elected Democratic officials and former presidential rivals including Pete Buttigieg , a former mayor , and U.S .
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota before voting began on Super Tuesday .
ONE THIRD UP FOR GRABS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pick the eventual nominee at a July convention were up for grabs in the primaries on Tuesday , which provided some clarity at last in a muddled race for the White House .
The results also left Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire former New York mayor who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising , largely out of the running , with his only victory coming in the U.S. territory of American Samoa .
Bloomberg campaign officials said he would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would drop out .
Biden was hoping to stay within reach of Sanders in delegates , giving him a chance to catch up as the race moved on .
But after Tuesday , he led Sanders in delegates for the day 241 to 174 , with hundreds more to be allocated .
Overall , Biden leads Sanders in delegates 294 to 234 .
Without naming him , Sanders took direct aim at Biden during a rally with supporters in Vermont , criticizing his 2002 vote to authorize the war in Iraq and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders opposed .
“ We ’ re going to win the Democratic nomination and we are going to defeat the most dangerous president in the history of this country , ” Sanders said .
Biden accomplished his main Super Tuesday goal of muscling aside Bloomberg and consolidating support from moderates to turn the race into a one-on-one contest against Sanders .
BIDEN POPULAR WITH BLACK VOTERSBiden repeated his strong performance with black voters in South Carolina on Saturday .
Edison Research exit polls showed Biden winning large majorities of African-American voters in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by strong support among a older people , college graduates and those who considered themselves liberal or moderate .
Sanders countered with a strong showing among Latinos , young people and white men , helping him to wins in the West .
The results were disappointing for U.S .
Senator Elizabeth Warren , who finished well behind Sanders and Biden in most states and trailed them in her home state of Massachusetts .
Bloomberg was a wild card heading into the voting , as he joined the competition for the first time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote , enough to pick up some delegates , in Tennessee , Texas , Colorado , Utah , California and Arkansas .
The moderate Bloomberg skipped the first four contests and bombarded Super Tuesday and later voting states with ads , but saw his poll numbers slip after coming under fire during Democratic debates over past comments criticized as sexist and a policing policy he employed as New York ’ s mayor seen as racially discriminatory .
Biden is hoping to build a bridge between progressive Democrats ’ desire for big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a candidate who will be able to win over enough independents and Republicans to oust Trump .
That effort gained fresh momentum on the eve of Tuesday ’ s voting as moderates Buttigieg and Klobuchar endorsed Biden after withdrawing from the race .
Biden pulled off his victories despite being vastly outspent on ads by Bloomberg , who had spent $ 377 million on ads by Feb. 23 , and Sanders , who spent $ 20 million .
Biden spent $ 4.7 million during the same period , according to the Wesleyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and content .
The pace of the Democratic race begins to accelerate after Super Tuesday , with 11 more states voting by the end of March .
By then , nearly two-thirds of the delegates will have been allotted .
The next contests , on March 10 , will be in Idaho , Michigan , Mississippi , Missouri , North Dakota and Washington state .


oann--2020-03-05--Biden’s Super Tuesday surge reshapes Democratic race, Bloomberg drops out

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK ( Reuters ) – The search for a Democrat to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election narrowed on Wednesday to a choice between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden , who staged a comeback in Super Tuesday voting to become the undisputed standard-bearer of the party ’ s moderate wing .
Biden was set to win 10 of the 14 states up for grabs on Tuesday , including delegate-rich Texas .
The former vice president roared ahead in the overall tally of delegates who will choose a presidential nominee at the Democratic convention in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status as the Democratic front-runner and led former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to drop out of the race .
Bloomberg on Wednesday gave up his presidential campaign and endorsed Biden , after spending hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money on ads across the United States .
But Bloomberg failed to deliver convincing results on Tuesday , the biggest day of voting in the Democratic nomination campaign with contests in 14 states across the country .
“ I ’ m sorry we didn ’ t win , ” Bloomberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a New York City hotel .
“ A viable path to the nomination just no longer existed.
” He said he was endorsing Biden because he had the best shot at beating Trump .
“ I hope you will join me in working to make him the next president.
” The media billionaire did not say whether he would spend part of his fortune to help Biden , but Bloomberg ’ s absence from the race will help the former vice president .
Both men appeal to the centrist wing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bloomberg , Biden wrote : “ I can ’ t thank you enough for your support—and for your tireless work on everything from gun safety reform to climate change .
This race is bigger than candidates and bigger than politics .
It ’ s about defeating Donald Trump , and with your help , we ’ re gon na do it.
” Sanders , a senator and democratic socialist who is popular with young voters , lashed out at what he said was “ the kind of venom we ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and attempted to draw a stark contrast between himself and Biden .
“ What this campaign , I think , is increasingly about is : Which side are you on ?
” Sanders told a news conference in Vermont .
He attacked Biden ’ s record voting in favor of trade deals that he says had devastated parts of the Midwest , Biden ’ s votes in favor of the Iraq war and a bankruptcy bill , and his past record on Social Security .
Speaking to reporters in Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary race against Sanders to turn ugly .
“ What we can ’ t let happen in the next few weeks is let this campaign turn into a campaign of negative attacks , ” Biden said .
“ The only thing that can do is help Donald Trump.
” In another move that could reshape the race , Elizabeth Warren , 70 , is “ talking to her team to assess the path forward , ” a campaign aide said .
The liberal senator , who was seeking to become the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results across the board on Tuesday , including coming in third in her home state of Massachusetts .
A resurgent Biden , 77 , rolled to electoral victories across the South , Midwest and New England , setting up a one-on-one battle against Sanders , who won three states and led in California , which has the biggest pool of delegates .
Biden , whose campaign had been on life support just weeks ago , registered surprise victories in Texas and Massachusetts .
Tallies after Tuesday showed Biden leading Sanders in delegates overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates to win the Democratic nomination on the first ballot at the July convention .
U.S. stocks surged on Wednesday as investors cheered Biden ’ s good night .
Healthcare stocks provided the biggest boost as Sanders and his “ Medicare for All ” proposal , which would eliminate private health insurance , looked less likely to become a reality .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average < .DJI > and the S & P 500 < .SPX > both gained more than 4 % , rising for only the second time in 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak .
[ nL4N2AX412 ] “ For those who have been knocked down , counted out , left behind , this is your campaign , ” Biden told roaring supporters in Los Angeles .
“ We are very much alive !
” Until a week ago , Biden had trailed Sanders in most state and national opinion polls .
Biden argues that after two terms by President Barack Obama ’ s side and decades as a U.S. senator , he has the experience both to beat Trump and run the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare and to mend relations with traditional U.S. allies in Europe that were frayed by Trump ’ s “ America First ” foreign policy .
Sanders , 78 , wants to establish a free universal healthcare system , forgive student loan debt and enact the “ Green New Deal ” of sweeping economic policies to fight climate change .
If Warren drops out , Sanders might benefit from some of her supporters shifting to him .
In an email to her campaign staff , Warren ’ s campaign manager , Roger Lau , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just three weeks after he said internal projections showed she would finish in the top two in eight states .
Warren , he said , would “ take time right now to think through the right way to continue this fight.
” Sanders said he had spoken to Warren over the phone on Wednesday .
“ Elizabeth Warren is a very , very excellent senator , she has run a strong campaign .
She ’ ll make her own decision in her own time , ” Sanders said .
Trump said Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren had dropped out of the race beforehand and backed him .
“ Had Warren endorsed Bernie , we would have had a different story now , ” he told reporters in the White House .
In Tuesday ’ s biggest upset , Biden was projected by Edison Research to have won Texas , the largest prize after California .
Sanders invested heavily in Texas and was counting on its Latino voters to propel him to victory .
Sanders , who had hoped to take a big step on Tuesday toward the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home state of Vermont , Edison Research said .
Biden , with overwhelming support from African-American , moderate and older voters , swept to wins in Alabama , Arkansas , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee and Virginia .
Edison Research on Wednesday projected Biden to win Maine .
Fox News and the Associated Press projected Sanders winning California , where 415 delegates are up for grabs .
By Wednesday afternoon , Sanders was ahead by 8.7 percentage points with almost 90 % of precincts reporting .


oann--2020-03-06--Migrant crisis at Greek-Turkish border in second week, EU mulls more aid

KASTANIES , Greece/PAZARKULE , Turkey ( Reuters ) – The European Union on Friday pleaded with migrants on the Turkish border to stop trying to cross into Greece but dangled the prospect of more aid for Ankara as a standoff between Greek riot police and refugees entered a second week .
Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece , an EU member state , since Turkey said on Feb. 28 it would no longer try to keep them on its territory as agreed in 2016 with the EU in return for billions of euros in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again deployed tear gas on Friday , witnesses said , sending plumes of smoke above the Kastanies-Pazarkule border crossing .
Some migrants dabbed stinging eyes with water .
Other trekked through fields probing for chinks in the well-guarded frontier .
“ The news about the alleged openness ( of the Greek-Turkish border ) is false and people should not try to move there , ” the EU ’ s top diplomat , Josep Borrell , told reporters during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Croatia .
The EU could offer more money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6.79 billion ) pledged in 2016 to help the refugees but Turkey must first stop using them as a “ bargaining chip ” , he said .
Turkey , which hosts nearly 4 million Syrian war refugees , says the EU has failed to honor earlier promises .
It also wants more European support in Syria , where its troops are facing off against Russian-backed Syrian government forces .
In a sign of the EU ’ s hardening stance since the 2015 migration crisis , when more than a million migrants entered Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were ready to take “ all necessary measures ” to stop illegal crossings into Greece , without elaborating .
Turkey ’ s foreign ministry slammed the statement , saying it showed EU countries were using migrants as political tools , and that they were allowing international law to be “ trampled ” .
It said EU support for Greece showed the bloc was allowing its own values and laws to be disregarded .
“ EU countries , including Greece , must abide by their international responsibilities and accept the applications of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement , adding that the comments showed the EU did not understand the burden Turkey had to carry in hosting the migrants .
“ Accusing a country that hosts the most number of refugees in the best possible way of using migration for political aims is another indication of the two-faced approach we have been subjected to for years .
With this statement , the EU is itself using this issue as a political tool , ” it said .
Migrants such as 18-year-old Ahmad al-Sadeq , from Syria ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to heed such warnings .
“ We will stay here for months .
We hope that public pressure will grow and force the Greek government to change its mind .
The situation requires some heart , not tear gas and fences , ” said Sadeq , who got into Greece on Thursday but was then sent back .
“ We left Syria to escape a government that murders women and children … and now we are here at Europe ’ s mercy.
” But Fawzi Uzbek , 37 , an Afghan national who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would probably soon head back to Istanbul , where he has been working in a factory for about 18 months .
“ The Greeks know that if they open the gates they will get many more people ( arriving ) on this side of the border , ” said Uzbek , sitting in a makeshift tent he had constructed near the border for himself , his wife and four children .
About a quarter of the migrants at the border are Syrian and most of the rest are Afghans , Pakistanis , Iranians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greece says it has repulsed around 35,000 migrants trying to cross its border in the past week .
Turkey has deployed 1,000 special police to the area to halt the pushback of migrants onto its territory .
Athens plans to extend its border fence by a further 40 km ( 25 miles ) , sources with knowledge of the matter said .
It has also stepped up naval patrols in the Aegean to deter migrants trying to reach Greek islands such as Lesbos by dinghy .
Turkey ’ s coastguard rescued about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early on Friday .
The migrants said the Greek coastguard had disconnected their boats ’ motors , leaving them adrift in the Aegean .
On Lesbos , just a few miles ( km ) from the Turkish coast , fishermen , hoteliers and shopkeepers expressed concern that more migrant arrivals would further harm their island ’ s reputation as a dream holiday destination .
“ Most businesses , at least tourism businesses , are going to hell , ” said Vangelis Papastavros , whose wife owns a hotel in Mytilene , the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 20,000 migrants in camps in mostly squalid conditions .
Turkey ’ s President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday , saying migration regulations between Ankara and the EU were not working and needed to be revised , the Turkish presidency said .
The EU ’ s Borrell said a new ceasefire deal brokered by the presidents of Turkey and Russia for Syria ’ s Idlib province could facilitate increased humanitarian help to Syria and for the refugees housed in Turkey .
He said the EU would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But such news provides scant comfort for the migrants stranded at the Greek-Turkish border .
On Friday night , the occasional pop of teargas was permeated by Christian hymns on a loudspeaker from a small chapel on the border , a service common during a period of abstinence observed before Easter in Greece .
Sawsan al-Musawa , who traveled 1,300 km ( 800 miles ) with her four children from a Syrian refugee camp in southeast Turkey to the Greek border , said she had all but given up hope of ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the dogs , ” she said .


oann--2020-03-08--Battleground Michigan seen as last stand for Bernie Sanders

DETROIT ( Reuters ) – For Bernie Sanders to remain competitive with Joe Biden in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination , he will have to repeat what he did four years ago : win the Michigan primary .
This time around , that probably will be harder .
Ahead of Tuesday ’ s vote , Biden is showing strength with the same kinds of voters that Sanders , a U.S senator from Vermont , relied upon in his surprise defeat of front-runner Hillary Clinton in the state in 2016 .
Sanders goes into Michigan badly in need of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seized control of the race on Super Tuesday last week , winning a bevy of Southern states as well as Massachusetts , Minnesota and Texas and causing rivals Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg to drop out .
Biden got a boost on Sunday with an endorsement from Senator Kamala Harris of California , and the former 2020 Democratic rival will campaign with him Monday night in Detroit .
Sanders won the backing of Rev .
Jesse Jackson , a longtime civil rights leader who planned to campaign with him in Grand Rapids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most competitive of the six states that hold nominating contests on Tuesday .
It offers the largest number of the minimum 1,991 delegates a candidate needs to secure the nomination outright : 125 .
A victory in the state is critical for Sanders to recapture momentum before the contest shifts to Florida and Illinois the following week .
In addition to Michigan , Washington state , Mississippi , Missouri and Idaho will be holding primary elections on Tuesday .
North Dakota will hold caucuses .
A Sanders ’ loss in Michigan could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-by-state nominating process moves into friendly territory for the man best remembered as No .
2 in President Barack Obama ’ s administration .
The state also greatly matters for Nov. 3 general election .
It flipped Republican in 2016 , voting for Republican Donald Trump over Clinton by just over 10,000 votes , helping Trump capture the White House .
“ Michigan is your got-to-win state , ” said Adam Hollier , an African-American state senator from Detroit who backs Biden .
Biden parlayed his popularity with black voters into huge gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of African-American voters in Alabama and Virginia and 60 % in North Carolina and Texas , according to exit polls from Edison Research .
They will be crucial in Michigan , where they comprise almost 14 % of the population .
Some areas of Detroit are 80 % African-American .
“ When you look at what he did all across the South , those same demographics are going to be at play in Detroit , ” Hollier said .
Sanders canceled plans to campaign in Mississippi this weekend , focusing instead on Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic nominating contest and its allocated delegates link – https : //graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION-CALENDAR/0100B31F26V/index.html Sanders may have better luck with union voters in manufacturing-heavy Michigan .
He won the state ’ s white working-class voters in 2016 , and they remain a reliable part of his base .
Richard Cassel , 28 , lost his job as an auto engineer in Detroit last month .
That same week , he walked into a Sanders campaign office and volunteered to work the phones .
“ For me , Biden is just more of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals , and everyone else is slowly drowning , ” Cassel said .
But Biden has longstanding ties to labor unions and routinely talks about how the middle-class and union members built the nation .
The powerful United Auto Workers Union has yet to endorse any candidate , but its spokesman , Brian Rothenberg , said it supports the idea of universal healthcare .
Sanders has made a government-run healthcare system , Medicare for All , the heart of his campaign .
“ The high cost of healthcare is one of the impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal healthcare would actually give you a better ability to bargain at the table , ” Rothenberg said .
Not all of Sanders ’ positions play well with the state ’ s unions , though .
In particular , he has called for the closure of a 66-year-old crude oil pipeline that runs below portions of the Great Lakes , as part of his sweeping plan to swiftly end the U.S. fossil fuel economy to fight climate change .
“ It ’ s going to cost ( Sanders ) a lot of support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gilligan , business manager of Detroit Pipefitters Local 636 .
And two Michigan chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union endorsed Biden on Friday .
Sanders is running ads in Michigan criticizing Biden over his past support for global trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) .
Biden , in turn , argues that he was a key player in the 2009 auto industry bailout that rescued jobs in the state .
In 2016 , Sanders performed surprisingly well in the wealthy suburbs outside Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But there is evidence he won ’ t do that again this time .
On Super Tuesday , Biden consistently beat Sanders in suburbs outside of cities including Charlotte , North Carolina , and Houston .
And in rural regions of Minnesota , a Midwestern state like Michigan with a largely white population , Biden smashed Sanders , 43 % to 19 % , according to exit polls .
This weekend , Biden ’ s campaign deployed another former Democratic rival , U.S .
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , to stump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders won in 2016 .
Dawn Bryant , 40 , a General Motors Co factory worker who was laid off earlier this year , said she was torn between Sanders and Biden .
“ I ’ m divided .
I ’ m not sure .
I ’ m going to keep watching and weighing my options on both of the candidates , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a tough , tough call .
”


oann--2020-03-08--Saudi Arabia locks down Qatif region, suspends schools over coronavirus

DUBAI ( Reuters ) – Saudi Arabia imposed a temporary lockdown on Sunday on the eastern oil-producing province of Qatif , home to all 11 people in the kingdom who have tested positive for the coronavirus , and suspended all schools and universities nationwide .
The interior ministry announced the lockdown in Qatif , which has a large Shi ’ ite Muslim population , after the four latest cases were confirmed in Saudi Arabia .
It is not expected to have any impact on Saudi oil production , two industry sources said .
But the decision could stir resentment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Sunni-dominated Saudi government and minority Shi ’ ites who have complained of discrimination and marginalization , charges the government denies .
Saudi authorities have previously said those infected have either been to Iran or Iraq or had contact with people who visited those countries , home to Shi ’ ite holy sites .
The restrictions in Qatif could also increase tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran , rivals in a regional struggle for influence .
Riyadh denounced Tehran on Thursday for granting Saudi citizens entry during the coronavirus outbreak .
Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has reported 194 coronavirus deaths .
The Saudi interior ministry said it suspended movement into and out of Qatif while ensuring returning residents could reach their homes and that commercial supplies to the province continue .
“ Work at all public and private institutions is halted as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease , with the exception of vital facilities that provide security services and necessary provisions , ” a ministry statement said .
Cement blocks were placed on the main road to Qatif , one resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grocery shops in Qatif after the lockdown began .
The health ministry said the newly diagnosed people , three of whom are women , had contact with a person with the virus who was reported to have returned from Iran via the United Arab Emirates but did not disclose his visit to the authorities .
Riyadh announced other precautionary measures on Sunday , including suspending all educational and Koranic activities in mosques in the country , the birthplace of Islam .
All public and private schools and universities would also be suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media said , adding that distance learning measures would be implemented .
The new Saudi Games , billed as the country ’ s largest sporting event , due to start on March 23 , have been postponed until further notice , Al Arabiya TV said .
The Saudi government on Sunday restricted land crossings with the UAE , Kuwait and Bahrain to commercial trucks and said passenger arrivals would be limited to three Saudi airports .
Kuwait reported two more cases on Sunday , raising its total to 64 , and its central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 32.79 million ) fund to support state efforts to fight the virus .
Qatar , which has 15 cases , announced it would temporarily bar travelers from 14 countries from March 9 .
[ L8N2B10WY ] Bahrain said its Formula One Grand Prix would go ahead this month without spectators .
It has confirmed 85 cases of the virus .


oann--2020-03-14--Stocks stage furious rally late after national emergency declared

( Reuters ) – Wall Street staged a furious rally in the waning moments of the session on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus , although major averages still suffered sharp losses for the week .
In a volatile session , all three main indexes jumped more than 6 % in early trading before paring to a gain of as little as 0.55 % on the S & P 500 < .SPX > before rallying towards the close as Trump made the announcement with industry leaders of about $ 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
“ The initial take , he started talking about $ 50 billion , the market asked ‘ where is that going ? '
” said Peter Jankovskis , co-chief investment officer at OakBrook Investments LLC in Lisle , Illinois .
“ But as he ’ s been bringing these various leaders to the front and they have been talking about what they are doing , that is really what the market is responding to.
” The indexes were still about 20 % below record highs hit in mid-February , and each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the week .
Since hitting the highs , markets have been besieged with big swings in the market , nearly matching as many days with declines of at least 1 % as all of 2019 .
Friday ’ s surge was the biggest one-day percentage gain for the S & P 500 since Oct 28 , 2008 .
The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives will pass a coronavirus economic aid package on Friday , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said , but it was unclear whether Trump and his fellow Republicans would support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ < .DJI > rose 1,985 points , or 9.36 % , to 23,185.62 , the S & P 500 < .SPX > gained 230.38 points , or 9.29 % , to 2,711.02 and the Nasdaq Composite < .IXIC > added 673.07 points , or 9.35 % , to 7,874.88 .
All the main S & P 500 sub-indexes were trading higher , with financial stocks rising 13.23 % as expectations of further liquidity measures by the Federal Reserve pushed up Treasury yields , in what has become a very thin market .
Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a silver lining , as both Brent and WTI crude settled higher after a near-collapse in prices on Monday due to a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia .
The S & P 500 energy index < .SPNY > added 8.84 % .
Travel stocks , hammered in the rout , were trading higher , with the S & P 1500 airlines index up 11.58 % Hotel operators Marriott International Inc < MAR.O > , Hilton Worldwide Holdings < HLT.N > and Hyatt Hotels Corp < H.N > all gained at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BA.N > jumped 9.92 % but suffered its biggest weekly drop in its history on rising concerns about the company ’ s growing cash burn .
Apple Inc < AAPL.O > rose 11.98 % and was among the top boosts to the benchmark S & P 500 and the blue-chip Dow , as the iPhone maker said it would reopen all 42 of its branded stores in China .
Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 4.73-to-1 ratio ; on Nasdaq , a 2.95-to-1 ratio favored advancers .
The S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highs and 120 new lows ; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 2 new highs and 703 new lows .
Volume on U.S. exchanges was 17.10 billion shares , compared to the 13.02 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days .


oann--2020-03-15--Spain goes under lockdown to fight coronavirus

MADRID ( Reuters ) – Spain put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown on Saturday as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the coronavirus epidemic in Europe ’ s second worst-affected country by the disease after Italy .
Effective immediately , all Spaniards must stay home except to buy food , medicines , go to work or to the hospital or for emergencies .
Bars , restaurants , and shops selling anything but food and other staples must shut down .
All leisure and sports activities also have to close , including cinemas , theaters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will ( eventually ) return to the routine of our jobs and again visit our friends and loved ones , ” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a nationally televised address .
“ Until that time comes , let ’ s not waste energies that are essential now .
Let ’ s not lose our way , ” he said , urging all to stay home .
Shortly after the announcement , the government said Sanchez ’ s wife , Begona Gomez , had tested positive for coronavirus .
Spain had 193 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public broadcaster TVE said , well up from 120 deaths reported on Friday .
Schools are shut across Spain and a first package of economic steps was announced on Thursday .
The government had been expected to announce further measures on Saturday to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the crisis , with aid for companies and workers .
But after a seven-hour cabinet meeting , ministers could not agree and Sanchez said the measures would wait until the next meeting .
In the steps announced on Saturday , domestic transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airline , train and boat operators ordered to cut services by at least half and to ensure a maximum possible distance between passengers on all means of transport .
City buses and metro will still fully work and international flights are not affected .
Employers must let staff work remotely and the government said people should chose that option whenever possible .
Most judicial proceedings are suspended .
Sanchez said the measures would have a major impact on citizens and businesses , but promised the government would work to mitigate it .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the self-employed , and businesses that the government of Spain is going to do everything in its power to cushion the effects of this crisis , ” he said .
The decree does not foresee closing the borders and allows exemptions : the green light to stay open applies to supermarkets and petrol stations , but also hairdressers .
Spain ’ s Interior Ministry will control all police forces , including local and regional ones , under the 15-day emergency , and the armed forces would be on stand-by to help if needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have nationwide reach , taking over some local or regional powers , which Catalan and Basque leaders immediately criticized .
A government source said the emergency measures envisage the possibility of ordering companies to produce certain goods , such as protective masks for instance .
On Friday , the World Health Organization said Europe had become the epicenter of a coronavirus pandemic .
Throughout Madrid people went out on their balconies at 2100 GMT to show their gratitude to health workers by applauding .
In the largely deserted streets below , reaction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s going to be difficult , ” university professor Leopoldo Agraz said of the confinement at home .
“ Whoever has to work at home like some colleague I have from the university , with five children at her side , is going to have a hard time… ” But others like student Carlos Losa said : “ The truth is it ’ s necessary .
It is necessary because I believe that the spread of the coronavirus had to be stopped .
”


oann--2020-03-17--UK unveils $420 billion lifeline for firms hit by coronavirus

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Britain said it would launch a 330 billion-pound ( $ 399 billion ) lifeline of loan guarantees and provide a further 20 billion pounds in tax cuts , grants and other help for businesses facing the risk of collapse from the spread of coronavirus .
Finance minister Rishi Sunak again pledged to do “ whatever it takes ” to help retailers , bars and airports and other firms , many of which are reeling from a near-shutdown of business .
“ This is not a time for ideology and orthodoxy , ” Sunak said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson .
“ This is a time to be bold , a time for courage.
” Britain , criticized by some scientists for moving too slowly to check the spread of the virus , ramped up its response on Monday when it told people to avoid pubs , clubs , restaurants , cinemas and theaters .
On Tuesday , it announced plans to cancel routine surgery for three months to focus the health service on the coronavirus and courts in England and Wales dealing with serious crimes will not start trials likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We must act like any war-time government and do whatever it takes to support our economy , ” Johnson said .
The coronavirus death toll in Britain rose by 16 to 71 .
Sunak described Tuesday ’ s package of measures as unprecedented , although Britain issued guarantees of around 1 trillion pounds during the global financial crisis .
The Institute for Fiscal Studies , a think-tank , said Sunak would need to “ come back with more ” and Allan Monks , a JP Morgan economist , said excluding the loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s stimulus measures for this year was “ likely to look small compared to the economic shock underway.
” Sunak said he was including all retail , hospitality and leisure businesses in the suspension of a property tax , alongside the new loan guarantee program which was equivalent to 15 % of British economic output .
Companies from those sectors would be offered cash grants and the government would discuss a support package for airlines and airports .
Britain ’ s biggest airports including Heathrow and Gatwick have warned that they face the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
Banks and lenders would offer a three-month mortgage holiday for people in difficulty , Sunak said .
He later told lawmakers , some of whom criticized the business focus of the plan , that the government would soon make a statement about support for renters .
He also said he would do more to support jobs and incomes .
NO TIME TO BE “ SQUEAMISH ” ABOUT DEBT The Bank of England said it would set up a new fund with the finance ministry to buy commercial debt with a term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies making a “ material contribution ” to Britain ’ s economy .
The fund would be financed by the creation of central bank reserves , much like the BoE ’ s quantitative easing program .
Britain ’ s budget forecasters said the scale of the borrowing needed might resemble the country ’ s immense debt splurge during World War Two .
“ Now is not a time to be squeamish about public sector debt , ” Robert Chote , head of the Office for Budget Responsibility , said .
“ We ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in excess of 20 % of GDP five years on the trot and that was the right thing to do.
” On Monday , French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would guarantee 300 billion euros worth of loans , and promised that no French company would be allowed to collapse .
Investors are watching for another interest rate cut by the BoE and an expansion of its 435 billion-pound government bond buying program .


oann--2020-03-18--U.S. Senate passes one coronavirus aid package while working on another

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday providing billions of dollars to limit the damage from the coronavirus pandemic through free testing , paid sick leave and expanded safety-net spending .
The bill , which was backed by President Donald Trump , now goes to him to be signed into law .
Congress and the White House are discussing additional stimulus measures that could cost more than $ 1 trillion .
Lawmakers in the Republican-led Senate largely set aside their ideological divisions , passing the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 90-8 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans .
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives also passed the bill by an overwhelming bipartisan margin last Saturday .
The exact cost has not been tallied , but the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the sick leave and family leave provisions alone would cost $ 105 billion .
Lawmakers are simultaneously trying to craft another emergency package that could cost $ 1.3 trillion – far more than the mammoth recession-fighting packages that Congress passed in 2008 and 2009 during the financial crisis .
That package could include two rounds of direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion each , according to a Treasury Department proposal seen by Reuters .
Trump suggested on Tuesday those checks could amount to up to $ 1,000 each .
Payments would be tiered based on income and family size .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said expanded unemployment benefits would provide more of an impact .
The plan also would provide $ 300 billion for small businesses , $ 50 billion in loans for cash-strapped airlines and $ 150 billion for loan guarantees to other distressed economic sectors .
The coronavirus has infected almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing at least 145 .
It has pummeled financial markets and upended daily life .
Health officials have advised Americans to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said his party hoped to forge a deal with the White House soon .
Another Republican , Senator Richard Shelby , said it could be unveiled as soon as Wednesday evening .
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , who has been talking to congressional leaders about the legislation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by early next week , a congressional aide said .
With that kind of time pressure , Democrats said the best strategy would be for members of both parties in the two chambers to negotiate together with the White House .
“ That ’ s the way that ’ s worked the best , the quickest , the fairest in the past , ” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor .
Mindful of lingering voter anger over the 2008 bank bailout , lawmakers said any industry-specific aid should come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be paid back .
“ I ’ m not in favor of just handing over billions in taxpayer dollars to the airlines or others , ” Republican Senator Josh Hawley told reporters .
Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said he guessed that lawmakers would , in yet another phase of action to come , need to look at state unemployment compensation systems and “ make sure they are able to handle the large number of people who are losing their jobs because the government is shutting down the economy in order to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that unemployment could hit 20 % if Congress does not act .
The Trump administration also asked Congress for an additional $ 45.8 billion to shore up U.S. government agencies responding to the outbreak .
It would also give extra funds to improve airport sanitation , provide protective gear to federal agents , bolster cybersecurity protections , improve teleworking capabilities and shore up the Amtrak passenger rail service , which has seen a steep drop in ridership .
House Democrats had concerns that the bill might also enable the Homeland Security Department to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country illegally , according to an aide , who spoke on condition of anonymity .
Early this month , Congress approved a first $ 8.3 billion package to boost the medical response to the pandemic .
In a step aimed at limiting the spread of the virus among the lawmakers themselves , McConnell began doubling the amount of time to vote to limit the number of members in the chamber at any one time .


oann--2020-03-23--Tokyo 2020 Games will be postponed, says IOC member Dick Pound

TORONTO/TOKYO ( Reuters ) – The International Olympic Committee has decided to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games because of the coronavirus pandemic , IOC member Dick Pound said on Monday , as a window slowly began to open that would allow the showcase to be staged next year .
Major sporting nations Australia and Canada had already withdrawn on Monday as organisers came under global pressure to postpone the event for the first time in its 124-year modern history .
“ On the basis of the information the IOC has , postponement has been decided , ” Pound said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parameters going forward have not been determined , but the Games are not going to start on July 24 , that much I know.
” Pound told Reuters that a one-year postponement looked like the best solution .
This would mean the Games , which had been scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9 , are likely to be held in the summer of 2021 .
Japan and the IOC have said calling off the Games entirely is not an option .
But finding a new date could be complicated as the summer 2021 calendar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the soccer World Cup and the Beijing Winter Olympics .
Pound said a large number of stakeholders from the organising committee , to athletes to broadcasters and sporting federations would all need to be consulted before a plan could be finalised but there were early signs of a willingness to accommodate a 2021 Summer Games .
World Athletics said on Monday they would be willing to move their 2021 world championships scheduled for Aug. 6-15 in Eugene , Oregon to clear a path for a 2021 Olympics .
“ World Athletics has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 Organising Committee regarding the possibility the Olympic Games may move to next year and they in turn have held discussions with their key stakeholders and have reassured us they will work with all of their partners and stakeholders to ensure that Oregon is able to host the World Athletics Championships on alternative dates should that prove necessary , ” athletics ’ global governing body said in a statement .
An Olympics postponement would be a blow for host country Japan , which has pumped in more than $ 12 billion of investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stake for sponsors and broadcasters .
But a groundswell of concern from athletes – already struggling to train as gyms , stadiums and swimming pools close around the world – appeared to be tipping the balance , along with the cancellation of other major sports events .
More than 337,000 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus worldwide and over 14,600 have died in a pandemic that the World Health Organisation said was accelerating .
The IOC and the Japanese government have both edged back from weeks of insistence that the Games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultation .
The Olympics have never before been delayed , though they were cancelled altogether in 1916 , 1940 and 1944 during the two world wars , and major Cold War boycotts disrupted the Moscow and Los Angeles Games in 1980 and 1984 respectively .
“ The moment the IOC indicates that it is thinking about other solutions , it has already decided to delay the Games , ” said French Olympic Committee president Denis Masseglia .
Canada and Australia both bluntly said they would not participate if the Games were not put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed suit .
“ We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport , ” Canada ’ s Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee said in a statement .
A raft of other nations and sports bodies piled pressure on the IOC to make a quick decision .
“ The right choice was made , but it doesn ’ t make it any easier , ” said Canadian world champion swimmer Maggie MacNeil , who was hoping to make her Olympic debut in Tokyo .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Japanese authorities seemed to be bowing to the inevitable , despite the losses and logistics headaches it would entail .
“ We may have no option but to consider postponing , ” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , who was hoping for a boom in tourism and consumer spending , told parliament .
The organising committee is already scaling back the torch relay to avoid crowds , national broadcaster NHK said .
Japanese sponsors , from Toyota Motor Corp to Panasonic Corp , were watching nervously .
But Tokyo stocks sensitive to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after sharp falls in prior weeks , thanks to expectations of a delay rather than a cancellation .
Pound told Reuters the IOC had tried to hold fire in order to be able to present the hosts , sports federations and sponsors with a clear alternative plan .
“ Probably what turned the tide in the last couple of days is the curve on the COVID-19 virus .
It is getting very , very steep now and this is clearly not something that is going to be under control by June or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
”


oann--2020-03-25--Pompeo says China still withholding coronavirus information

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharpened on Thursday his criticism of China ’ s handling of a coronavirus pandemic , saying its ruling Communist Party was still denying the world information needed to prevent further cases .
The remarks , in an interview with the Washington Watch radio program , provoked a riposte from China that Pompeo should cease “ politicizing ” the epidemic and defaming the country .
Pompeo had repeated previous charges that Beijing ’ s delay in sharing information about the virus had created risks to people worldwide that had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ My concern is that this cover-up , this disinformation that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in , is still denying the world the information it needs so that we can prevent further cases or something like this from recurring again , ” he added .
Pompeo also accused Iran and Russia of waging disinformation campaigns about the virus .
“ The disinformation campaign from Russia and Iran as well as China continues , ” he said .
“ They ’ re talking about it coming from the U.S. Army and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy , all things to deflect responsibility.
” Despite his strong criticism of China , Pompeo refrained from referring to the virus as the “ Chinese virus ” or the “ Wuhan virus , ” labels that have angered Beijing and which he has used repeatedly .
“ The time will come for recriminations , ” he said , but added it was important for the world to know what was really going on .
“ This is an ongoing global crisis , and we need to make sure that every country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really going on , so that the global community , the global health care , infectious disease community can begin to work on this in a holistic way.
” In Beijing , foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China had been transparent and shared information with the World Health Organization and other countries , including the United States .
“ We urge the U.S. to cease politicizing the epidemic , and cease attacking and defaming China , ” Geng told a daily news conference .
Pompeo , a persistent critic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ very important decisions ” would have to be made in future about how the U.S.-China relationship was structured .
He added that supply-chain challenges faced in the United States were due to companies “ operating their supply chains out of China but not here in the United States.
” Pompeo did not elaborate , but U.S. officials said last week the White House was preparing an executive order to help relocate medical supply chains from China and elsewhere overseas to the United States amid the pandemic .
The proposed U.S. push has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although it is unclear when Trump might act .
The United States “ should never be reliant on a foreign country for the means of our own survival , ” Trump said at a daily briefing of his coronavirus task force .
“ Our goal for the future must be to have American medicine for American patients , American supplies for American hospitals… ”


oann--2020-04-17--Dollar edges up as overnight optimism proves short-lived; euro falls

LONDON ( Reuters ) – The dollar rose slightly Friday , after an overnight boost to risk sentiment quickly lost momentum and investors returned to a cautious stance about the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures .
Sentiment was boosted overnight by a media report detailing encouraging partial data from experimental drug trials on severe COVID-19 patients at the University of Chicago .
More data is expected at the end of the month .
News of U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s plans to reopen the world ’ s largest economy was also taken by investors as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s jobless data showed a record 22 million Americans sought unemployment benefits in the last month .
The overnight moves toppled the dollar , which has closely tracked risk sentiment through the coronavirus crisis , from a week high , but the rebound proved short-lived with the dollar edging back towards its one-week high , up as much as 0.3 % < =USD > by 10.30 GMT .
The safe-haven yen recovered somewhat to $ 107.76 < JPY=EBS > but the riskier New Zealand dollar < NZD=D3 > and Australian dollar < @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains , with the New Zealand dollar up 0.9 % versus the U.S. dollar .
Though the greenback is headed for its smallest weekly change in almost two months , it is likely to be supported in the short term as any vaccine will take months to come to market while the economic costs from months-long lockdowns in the global economy is going to be huge .
“ Optimism stemming from hope of lockdown reversals seems perhaps premature , ” said Derek Halpenny , head of research for global markets EMEA at MUFG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in oil markets has the potential to broaden out into a risk-off mood in other asset markets if it continues , Halpenny said .
As the dollar regained its strength , the euro touched a 10-day low at $ 1.0812 < EUR=EBS > .
The euro has fallen nearly 2 % against the dollar already this month , facing its biggest monthly fall since July last year , after hitting its lowest against the Swiss franc in almost five years earlier this week .
< EURCHF=EBS > .
With France ’ s President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could collapse unless it finds a way to share the costs of the crisis , the coronavirus has exposed the vulnerability of the single currency .
“ EUR ’ s status might have been evolving since the Covid-19 outbreak but , going forward , we are bearish .
This is because we expect European data to decouple further from US data , and that is partly due to the lack of a coordinated European fiscal response – which we remain concerned about , ” wrote Bank of America strategists in a note to @ @


oann--2020-04-19--Spain’s PM to seek longer but more flexible lockdown

MADRID ( Reuters ) – Spain ’ s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would ask parliament for a 15-day extension until May 9 of the lockdown imposed in one of the world ’ s worst coronavirus ’ outbreaks , but said the restrictions would be more flexible .
“ We have left behind the most extreme moments , ” Sanchez said at a press briefing .
But he added : “ These achievements are still insufficient and above all fragile .
We can not put them at risk with hasty solutions ” .
Spain ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slower pace on Saturday but surpassed 20,000 fatalities , the Health Ministry said .
It increased by 565 deaths , down from 585 on Friday , while the number of coronavirus cases rose to 191,726 from 188,068 .
Spain began this week to ease a strict lockdown imposed on March 14 by opening up some sectors of the economy , including manufacturing .
But most people are still confined to their homes except for essential outings such as food shopping , and not even children are allowed out for exercise .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will move slowly , carefully and progressively towards the “ new normality ” , Sanchez said .
But he warned it would be a complex task and that the economic consequences of the outbreak will be “ very negative ” .
Asked if citizens would be able to have regular summer holidays , the Socialist leader said he hoped so but that he could not give an answer , signalling the uncertainty on the scope of any de-escalation phase .
As he seeks a third parliamentary extension of the state of emergency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ asymmetric ” on April 27 , meaning it could be more relaxed for some regions or groups , Sanchez said , without specifying .
For instance , children would be allowed out of their homes though it would be “ limited and subject to conditions to avoid contagion , ” Sanchez said .
The prime minister plans to define the criteria in coming days , including in a meeting on Sunday with Spain ’ s 17 regional leaders .
Despite stressing an improvement in the figures and defending his government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacted late ” to the virus ’ outbreak .
He also admitted Spain could not initially provide all the protective equipment needed for its health workers .
The health ministry plans to announce an order on Sunday to control and fix the prices of masks for citizens , Sanchez said .
Health emergency chief Fernando Simon earlier said he hoped to see soon a steeper decrease in the number of coronavirus deaths .
Simon said he expected a significant rise in registered coronavirus cases as the number of quick tests conducted has doubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressed that the tests have shown a lower infection rate among citizens .
Spain ’ s labour minister Yolanda Diaz said on Friday her department was planning a two-phased economic resumption , the first for productive sectors up to the summer and a second for tourism and leisure which would last until the end of the year .
But any final decision would depend on health authorities , her office said in a statement .


oann--2020-04-20--U.S. crude gets crushed, share markets turn cautious

LONDON/SYDNEY ( Reuters ) – Caution recaptured world markets on Monday as a near 30 % drubbing for U.S. WTI crude oil kicked off a busy week of data and earnings that will drive home the damage being inflicted by global coronavirus lockdowns .
Europe ’ s stock markets made a groggy start , with the pan-regional EUROSTOXX 600 < .STOXX > flopping back into the red as London ’ s FTSE < .FTSE > , Germany ’ s DAX < .GDAXI > and Paris , Milan and Madrid all fell more than 1 % .
[ .EU ] E-Mini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ < ESc1 > tumbled nearly 2 % too , after Wall Street had enjoyed a strong end to last week [ .N ] , though even that barely reflected the carnage in oil markets .
With some global storage facilities nearly full to capacity , the ‘ front-month ’ May benchmark U.S. crude contract < CLc1 > was down $ 5.40 , or 29.5 % , to just under $ 13 a barrel – the lowest since March 1999 .
European benchmark Brent was down a more manageable 5 % < LCOc1 > @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it all pointed to the same problem – too much supply , not enough demand .
“ For oil there is a bit of a technical story ( with storage ) , but still , if energy consumption is down 30 % and OPEC reduces supply by 10 % , there is still a large gap , ” said Rabobank ’ s head of macro strategy , Elwin de Groot .
Equity and other major markets however were still trading relatively robustly and largely on the newsflow of the European virus numbers gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan < .MIAPJ0000PUS > eased 0.2 % in slow trade , pausing after five straight weeks of gains .
Japan ’ s Nikkei < .N225 > fell 1.15 % , but Chinese shares < .SSEC > edged up 0.4 % as a benchmark lending rate was lowered to shore up the coronavirus-hit economy after it contracted for the first time in decades .
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Republicans were “ close ” to getting a deal with Democrats on a support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States has by far the world ’ s largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases , with more than 750,000 infections and over 40,500 deaths , according to a Reuters tally .
The S & P 500 < .SPX > has still rallied 30 % from its March low , thanks in part to the extreme easing steps taken by the Federal Reserve .
The Fed has bought nearly $ 1.3 trillion of Treasuries alone , and many billions of non-sovereign debt it would historically have never gone near .
“ The question is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in terms of the long-term impact on the economy .
There will be damage and there will be damage in terms of the consumer psyche , ” Rabobank ’ s de Groot said .
That damage should become all more clear this week with April global purchasing manager data – seen as some of the most forward-looking economic gauges – being published on Thursday .
In a taster on Monday , Japan reported its exports down almost 12 % in March from a year earlier , with shipments to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currency markets , the dollar gained broadly as the concerns about global growth boosted the safe-haven appeal of the greenback and weighed on risk-oriented currencies such as the Australian dollar .
Against a basket of its rivals < =USD > , the U.S. currency rose 0.2 % to 99.98 and edged closer towards a three-year high of near 103 hit last month and despite the latest trader positioning data showing bets against the greenback being ramped up..
It gained about 0.15 % on the euro and British pound and 0.2 % on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ < JPY=EBS > and traded at $ 1.2450 per pound < GBP= > and $ 1.0860 per euro < EUR= > .
Bond markets also suggested investors expected tough economic times ahead , with yields on U.S. 10-year Treasuries < US10YT=RR > steady at 0.63 % , from 1.91 % at the start of the year .
“ We are dealing with scales of declining economic activity that nobody has seen before .
The potential hit to GDP in the second quarter this year will probably far exceed what we saw at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Capital Group economist Robert Lind said in a note .
Italy ’ s borrowing costs rose meanwhile , heading back towards last week ’ s one-month highs , reflecting unease before a European Union summit later this week over how to tackle the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis .
Selling pressure on Italian government bonds has returned in the past week , undoing some of the benefits of the European Central Bank ’ s massive bond-buying scheme , after euro zone politicians failed to agree to common debt issuance as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte used an interview with Germany ’ s Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday to repeat calls for the EU to issue common euro zone bonds to demonstrate the bloc ’ s solidarity .
“ Thursday is the key day this week with the EU leaders ’ summit a potentially big event for the future of Europe as they discuss how close the region can get to joint issuance in the near future , ” said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid .


oann--2020-04-20--Coronavirus relief deal for U.S. small businesses may come Monday, Trump says

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. Democrats and Republicans are near agreement on extra money to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic and could seal a deal as early as Monday , President Donald Trump said on Sunday .
Trump told his daily White House briefing on the crisis that Republicans were “ close ” to an agreement with Democrats , and suggested there could be a resolution on Monday .
“ A lot of good work has been going on .
We could have an answer tomorrow , ” the Republican president said .
Senate Democratic leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal could be reached on Sunday evening , although he cautioned that many issues remained .
Members of the two parties have been taking shots at one another over the delay in further small-business aid , against a backdrop of protests by Trump supporters of orders for Americans to stay at home , and businesses to remain closed , to prevent the further spread of the virus .
The United States has by far the world ’ s largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases , with more than 750,000 infections and over 40,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal would end a stalemate over Trump ’ s request to add $ 250 billion to a small-business loan program established last month as part of a $ 2.3 trillion coronavirus economic relief plan .
That fund has already been exhausted .
Democratic leaders want more money for small businesses but with safeguards to ensure credit reaches underserved communities .
They also sought more funds for state and local governments and hospitals , as well as food aid for the poor .
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that additional funding Democrats wanted would not be in the package .
Congress plans to take up another major coronavirus relief measure after the small-business fund is replenished .
In a possible precursor , Democratic Senator Bob Menendez and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said on Sunday they would formally introduce legislation to create a $ 500 billion fund to help state and local governments respond to the crisis .
Trump told his news briefing that he was in favor of aid to state and local governments , but in future legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying a vote on interim legislation was likely this week , and that the chamber could meet as early as Wednesday .
As they spar with Trump over when to reopen their economies , governors of hard-hit states have said they need more federal funding for increased testing and to cope with the pandemic ’ s effect on their budgets .
“ You have the president saying 15 times , ‘ It ’ s up to the governors , it ’ s up to the governors , it ’ s up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to pass a piece of legislation that gives you know what to states ?
Zero , ” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , a Democrat , said at his daily coronavirus briefing .
Trump said Vice President Mike Pence would lead a call with all 50 state governors on Monday to talk about further aid .
Mnuchin said on CNN the deal being discussed with Congress would include $ 300 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program loan program for small businesses .
He said there would be $ 75 billion allocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal program “ that can be used with the states with new technology to invest in testing.
” About $ 50 billion would be added to the Small Business Administration ( SBA ) disaster loan fund , Mnuchin said .
Nancy Pelosi , speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives , told ABC ’ s “ This Week ” that Democrats wanted to ensure further relief money was reaching “ all of America ’ s small businesses.
” More than 25 % of the $ 350 billion already allocated went to fewer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief , and they included publicly traded companies with thousands of employees , highly paid executives and hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales .
“ Even if it ’ s owned by a big chain , it ’ s devastating , you know , ” he said .
“ I read where my wonderful place in Florida , in Miami , Doral , they had a lot of the employees go because it is essentially closed .
”


oann--2020-04-25--Britain nears milestone of 20,000 coronavirus hospital deaths

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Britain could hit the grim milestone of 20,000 COVID-19 deaths later on Saturday , when the daily count is added to the current toll of 19,506 people who tested positive for the new coronavirus and died in hospital .
As the death toll rises , the government is facing growing criticism over its response to the pandemic .
It was slower to impose a lockdown than European peers and is struggling to raise its testing capacity .
Back in mid-March the government ’ s chief scientific adviser said that keeping the death toll below 20,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Deaths from COVID-19 in hospitals across the United Kingdom increased on Friday by 684 in 24 hours to 19,506 , meaning the 20,000 mark may well be crossed on Saturday .
Britain has the fifth highest official coronavirus death toll in the world , after the United States , Italy , Spain and France .
Scientists have said that the death rate will only start to decline quickly in another couple of weeks .
The total number of deaths is likely to be thousands higher once more comprehensive but lagging figures that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of April 10 , the hospital toll underestimated deaths by around 40 % .
Stephen Powis , the medical director of the National Health Service ( NHS ) in England , declined to give a new number , but told BBC Radio : “ It will take some time , it may take many years , before the full effect of the pandemic is known in this country.
” Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still recovering after falling seriously ill with COVID-19 earlier this month and in his absence , government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death rates , limited testing and shortages of protective equipment for medical workers and carers .
There are concerns that limited testing could mean a slow exit from lockdown and a worse hit for Britain ’ s economy , the world ’ s fifth largest .
The government ’ s target of hitting 100,000 tests per day by the end of April is just days away .
Reaching it would require a big leap from the 28,532 tests carried out on 23 April , the last day for which data is available .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powis said the NHS had not been overwhelmed in the way that hospitals in some other countries have been .
Healthcare providers were now preparing to ramp up non-coronavirus treatments , such as restarting planned surgeries .
“ As we are now beginning to see a decline , a decrease , in the number of patients with coronavirus , it is absolutely the time to start building up our services again , ” he said .


oann--2020-04-27--Italy to reopen factories in staged end to coronavirus lockdown

MILAN ( Reuters ) – Italy will allow factories and building sites to reopen from May 4 and permit limited family visits as it prepares a staged end to Europe ’ s longest coronavirus lockdown , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Sunday .
More than two months after the first case of COVID-19 appeared in a small town outside Milan and following weeks of lockdown , Italy is looking ahead to a second phase of the crisis in which it will attempt to restart the economy without triggering a new wave of infections .
“ We expect a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he outlined the road map to restarting activities put into hibernation since early March .
“ We will live with the virus and we will have to adopt every precaution possible.
” Manufacturers , construction companies and some wholesalers will be allowed to reopen from May 4 , followed by retailers two weeks later .
Restaurants and bars will be allowed to reopen fully from the beginning of June , although takeaway business will be possible earlier .
“ The reopening is allowed on condition that all companies involved strictly respect security protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding that the reopening would lay the ground for deeper reforms of the economy in the months ahead .
In addition , parks will be allowed to reopen and limited family visits and funerals with no more than 15 people present will be permitted .
But movement between regions remains suspended and people moving about will still have to carry a declaration explaining the reasons for their journeys .
Museums and libraries can reopen from May 18 , when sports teams will also be able to resume group training , although Conte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before any decision on resuming the top-flight Serie A soccer championship .
Schools will remain shut , however , until the start of the new academic year in September , leaving families facing childcare problems for months to come .
The lockdown has put a strain on the euro zone ’ s third-largest economy , which is headed for its worst recession since World War Two .
Italian business leaders have called for the restrictions to be eased to head off economic catastrophe .
Conte said the more limited restrictions would likely remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective vaccine or cure for COVID-19 , which is not expected for many months .
On Sunday , Italian authorities reported a third consecutive daily fall in coronavirus fatalities , with 260 deaths , the lowest number since March 14 .
Italy ’ s death toll remains the heaviest in Europe , with more than 26,000 dead and almost 200,000 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease .
But the number of new cases has been slowing and the number of patients in intensive care has been falling steadily .
Hit hard by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy has been forced to serve as a model for how to fight it .
It is being closely watched around the world as it takes its early steps to chart a path out of a strict lockdown it imposed in early March .
Some businesses deemed “ strategic ” , including activity that was mainly export-oriented , could reopen this week providing they get the go-ahead from local prefects .
Exporting companies need to resume activity sooner to reduce the risk of being cut out of the production chain and losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the daily Repubblica earlier on Sunday .
Rome has introduced a series of measures including state-backed loans to help businesses stay afloat .
But some business officials have complained about delays in implementing them .
Conte said the government was monitoring banks to make sure state-guaranteed liquidity arrived to companies in need .
He also said the government was working on a series of measures to help industry by cutting bureaucratic red tape .


oann--2020-04-28--El Salvador authorizes use of lethal force against gangs

SAN SALVADOR ( Reuters ) – El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Sunday authorized the use of “ lethal force ” by police and military against gang members to crack down on heightened violence amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Central American country reported 24 homicides on Friday , the worst one-day toll since Bukele took office in June , prompting him to order a 24-hour lockdown in prisons housing gang members .
By late afternoon on Sunday , police had registered another 29 murders , prompting Bukele to introduce tougher measures against gangs he said were taking advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the virus outbreak .
“ The police and armed forces must prioritize safeguarding their lives , those of their companions and of honest citizens .
The use of lethal force is authorized in self-defense or in defense of the lives of Salvadorans , ” Bukele said .
The government this weekend also ordered members of rival gangs into shared cells in a bid to break up lines of communication between members of the same group , and carried out searches in at least five prisons .
Some 12,862 gang members are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .