foreignpolicy--2020-04-24--U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 50,000—Doubling Over Past Two Weeks

U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 50,000—Doubling Over Past Two Weeks Here is today ’ s Foreign Policy brief : The U.S. coronavirus death toll passes 50,000 , Denmark reacts to U.S. aid to Greenland , and countries adjust their lockdowns as Ramadan begins .
We welcome your feedback at morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has doubled over the past two weeks , reaching over 50,000 deaths last night .
While states like Utah , Tennessee , and Georgia move to ease lockdown restrictions in an attempt to stimulate their shuttered economies , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop—there has yet to be a day this month where new cases have gone below 25,000 per day .
“ Without knowing , without testing , it ’ s like moving blindfolded , ” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 30 .
As the month of April draws to a close , testing has yet to ramp up to the levels experts say would give an accurate picture of the spread of the coronavirus .
The WHO observes that in countries with aggressive testing regimens , the ratio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 10:1—or fewer than 10 percent positive .
In New York , the state hit worst in the U.S. epidemic , 25 percent of tests came back positive in the most recent daily figures , falling far short of the recommended ratio .
At a White House briefing yesterday U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to suggest injecting disinfectant could be a cure for the coronavirus , “ it ’ d be interesting to check that , ” he said .
The comment was widely condemned as dangerous and potentially deadly by medical professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased testing ?
Testing labs have lamented limited federal funding , a problem that could be helped by the $ 25 billion going toward testing in the $ 484 billion coronavirus aid package that just passed the U.S. House of Representatives .
Politico lists the other factors holding the United States back , including international competition and poor coordination between hospitals , labs , and public officials .
How much worse is the U.S. death rate likely to get ?
A survey of infectious 21 disease modeling experts and researchers by Thomas McAndrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts Amherst makes for sobering reading .
The experts predict the U.S. death rate to increase to approximately 70,000 by May 9 , and to reach 150,000 deaths by the end of the year .
U.S. aid to Greenland irks Danes .
The United States increased its engagement with Greenland by granting the island $ 12 million toward education and energy projects and by announcing it would open a consulate .
The island , which is an autonomous Danish territory , is strategically significant to the United States as it competes for Arctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes a U.S. ballistic missile early warning system .
Denmark ’ s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod welcomed the investment , “ I think it ’ s encouraging that it is the United States , a neighbor and close ally , who is making this grant , ” he said .
Karsten Honge , a member of the opposition in Denmark ’ s parliament , was less pleased , “ They have clearly crossed the line , ” he said .
“ It ’ s completely unheard of that a close ally tries to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way.
” Trump famously proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark last year .
If the funds are intended to butter up Greenlanders ahead of a potential purchase , the United States will have to up the ante : Denmark ’ s annual block grant to the territory , which constitutes two-thirds of Greenland ’ s budget , amounts to $ 520 million annually .
Countries adjust lockdowns for Ramadan .
As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins , nations across the Middle East have eased curfews imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one province will be replaced with a curfew starting in the afternoon , while other provinces have enacted shorter curfew times .
Saudi Arabia has shifted its curfew time in some cities , too ; the cities of Mecca and Medina will remain in total lockdown , however .
Writing in FP , Geneive Abdo looks at how fasting for the month of Ramadan , one of the five sacred pillars of Islam , is being reconsidered in light of the coronavirus epidemic .
Potential antiviral drug reportedly fails in trial .
Remdesivir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a breakthrough in coronavirus treatment , has failed its first randomized clinical trial according to a World Health Organization document accidentally uploaded on Thursday .
The document summary said the drug was “ not associated with clinical or virological benefits , ” and that during the trial , a higher proportion of patients had died taking the drug than those assigned a placebo .
Gilead Sciences , the company that makes remdesivir , disputed the document , with a spokesperson saying it included “ inappropriate ” characterizations of the results .
The spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconclusive , though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir , particularly among patients treated early in disease.
” A study conducted on severe coronavirus patients in a hospital in Chicago had shown early promise for the drug , although that study did not include a placebo .
UN warns of human rights decline .
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of a global decline in human rights following the coronavirus pandemic , as nations begin to use the crisis as an excuse to crack down on dissent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disproportionate impact on certain communities through the rise of hate speech , the targeting of vulnerable groups , and the risks of heavy handed security responses undermining the health response , ” Gutteres said at the launch of a UN report on COVID-19 and human rights .
Writing in FP on March 30 , Florian Bieber examined the rise of authoritarian measures in both democracies and dictatorships to combat coronavirus .
He offered a roadmap for keeping rulers in check , “ any infringement on civil liberties must be temporary and proportional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , emergency measures need to have a clearly defined time frame to avoid leading into a permanent state of emergency.
” WTO highlights PPE protectionism .
The World Trade Organization has highlighted the collective action problem facing the world when it comes to acquiring personal protective equipment ( PPE ) to assist health workers treating coronavirus patients .
A new report from the organization found 80 countries—72 of which are WTO members—have either banned or limited the export of PPE to address shortages in their own countries .
Of the 72 , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required by the group ’ s regulations .
“ While the introduction of export-restrictive measures is understandable , the lack of international cooperation in these areas risks cutting off import-reliant countries from desperately needed medical products and triggering a supply shock , ” the report said .
“ And by interfering with established medical supply chains , such measures also risk hampering the urgently required supply response.
” Ballooning in size after years in self-isolation , a Tasmanian sheep is likely to become an icon for those worried about the changes staying at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sheep , named Prickles , has recently returned to the farm it was lambed from after fleeing from a bushfire in 2013 .
Prickles has not been sheared once in that time , meaning the sheep is now five times the size of its fellows in the flock .
“ She is absolutely round , ” Farmer Alice Gray told Australian radio .
“ She ’ s a great big fluffy ball of wool.
” Gray is planning to livestream Prickles ’ impending shearing , and plans to give viewers a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sheared wool .
Gray will donate the proceeds to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help refugees affected by COVID-19 .
For more from FP , visit foreignpolicy.com , subscribe here , or sign up for our other newsletters .
Send your tips , comments , questions , or corrections to morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .

Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: The U.S. coronavirus death toll passes 50,000 , Denmark reacts to U.S. aid to Greenland , and countries adjust their lockdowns as Ramadan begins.
Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: The U.S. coronavirus death toll passes 50,000, Denmark reacts to U.S. aid to Greenland, and countries adjust their lockdowns as Ramadan begins.
If you would like to receive Morning Brief in your inbox every weekday, please sign up here.
U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Pass 50,000
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has doubled over the past two weeks, reaching over 50,000 deaths last night. While states like Utah, Tennessee, and Georgia move to ease lockdown restrictions in an attempt to stimulate their shuttered economies, the number of new cases being recorded daily has yet to drop—there has yet to be a day this month where new cases have gone below 25,000 per day.
“Without knowing, without testing, it’s like moving blindfolded,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 30. As the month of April draws to a close, testing has yet to ramp up to the levels experts say would give an accurate picture of the spread of the coronavirus. The WHO observes that in countries with aggressive testing regimens, the ratio of negative to positive tests should be about 10:1—or fewer than 10 percent positive. In New York, the state hit worst in the U.S. epidemic, 25 percent of tests came back positive in the most recent daily figures, falling far short of the recommended ratio.
At a White House briefing yesterday U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to suggest injecting disinfectant could be a cure for the coronavirus, “it’d be interesting to check that,” he said. The comment was widely condemned as dangerous and potentially deadly by medical professionals.
Why hasn’t the U.S. increased testing? Testing labs have lamented limited federal funding, a problem that could be helped by the $25 billion going toward testing in the $484 billion coronavirus aid package that just passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Politico lists the other factors holding the United States back, including international competition and poor coordination between hospitals, labs, and public officials.
How much worse is the U.S. death rate likely to get? A survey of infectious 21 disease modeling experts and researchers by Thomas McAndrew and Nicholas Reich at the University of Massachusetts Amherst makes for sobering reading. The experts predict the U.S. death rate to increase to approximately 70,000 by May 9, and to reach 150,000 deaths by the end of the year.
What We’re Following Today
U.S. aid to Greenland irks Danes. The United States increased its engagement with Greenland by granting the island $12 million toward education and energy projects and by announcing it would open a consulate. The island, which is an autonomous Danish territory, is strategically significant to the United States as it competes for Arctic dominance with Russia and China and already includes a U.S. ballistic missile early warning system.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod welcomed the investment, “I think it’s encouraging that it is the United States, a neighbor and close ally, who is making this grant,” he said. Karsten Honge, a member of the opposition in Denmark’s parliament, was less pleased, “They have clearly crossed the line,” he said. “It’s completely unheard of that a close ally tries to create division between Greenland and Denmark this way.”
Trump famously proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark last year. If the funds are intended to butter up Greenlanders ahead of a potential purchase, the United States will have to up the ante: Denmark’s annual block grant to the territory, which constitutes two-thirds of Greenland’s budget, amounts to $520 million annually.
Countries adjust lockdowns for Ramadan. As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins, nations across the Middle East have eased curfews imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. In Algeria, a full lockdown in one province will be replaced with a curfew starting in the afternoon, while other provinces have enacted shorter curfew times. Saudi Arabia has shifted its curfew time in some cities, too; the cities of Mecca and Medina will remain in total lockdown, however. Writing in FP, Geneive Abdo looks at how fasting for the month of Ramadan, one of the five sacred pillars of Islam, is being reconsidered in light of the coronavirus epidemic.
Potential antiviral drug reportedly fails in trial. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug hoped to become a breakthrough in coronavirus treatment, has failed its first randomized clinical trial according to a World Health Organization document accidentally uploaded on Thursday. The document summary said the drug was “not associated with clinical or virological benefits,” and that during the trial, a higher proportion of patients had died taking the drug than those assigned a placebo.
Gilead Sciences, the company that makes remdesivir, disputed the document, with a spokesperson saying it included “inappropriate” characterizations of the results. The spokesperson continued, “The study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease.” A study conducted on severe coronavirus patients in a hospital in Chicago had shown early promise for the drug, although that study did not include a placebo.
Keep an Eye On UN warns of human rights decline. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of a global decline in human rights following the coronavirus pandemic, as nations begin to use the crisis as an excuse to crack down on dissent and minorities. “The virus is having a disproportionate impact on certain communities through the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy handed security responses undermining the health response,” Gutteres said at the launch of a UN report on COVID-19 and human rights. Writing in FP on March 30, Florian Bieber examined the rise of authoritarian measures in both democracies and dictatorships to combat coronavirus. He offered a roadmap for keeping rulers in check, “any infringement on civil liberties must be temporary and proportional,” he argued. “Crucially, emergency measures need to have a clearly defined time frame to avoid leading into a permanent state of emergency.”
WTO highlights PPE protectionism. The World Trade Organization has highlighted the collective action problem facing the world when it comes to acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist health workers treating coronavirus patients. A new report from the organization found 80 countries—72 of which are WTO members—have either banned or limited the export of PPE to address shortages in their own countries. Of the 72, only 13 countries notified the WTO as is required by the group’s regulations.
“While the introduction of export-restrictive measures is understandable, the lack of international cooperation in these areas risks cutting off import-reliant countries from desperately needed medical products and triggering a supply shock,” the report said. “And by interfering with established medical supply chains, such measures also risk hampering the urgently required supply response.”
Odds and Ends
Ballooning in size after years in self-isolation, a Tasmanian sheep is likely to become an icon for those worried about the changes staying at home may have on their bodies. The sheep, named Prickles, has recently returned to the farm it was lambed from after fleeing from a bushfire in 2013. Prickles has not been sheared once in that time, meaning the sheep is now five times the size of its fellows in the flock. “She is absolutely round,” Farmer Alice Gray told Australian radio. “She’s a great big fluffy ball of wool.”
Gray is planning to livestream Prickles’ impending shearing, and plans to give viewers a chance to bet on the overall weight of the sheared wool. Gray will donate the proceeds to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help refugees affected by COVID-19.
That’s it for today.
For more from FP, visit foreignpolicy.com, subscribe here, or sign up for our other newsletters. Send your tips, comments, questions, or corrections to morningbrief@foreignpolicy.com.


foreignpolicy--2020-04-24--Not Even the Coronavirus Can Overcome Northern Ireland’s Divisions

Not Even the Coronavirus Can Overcome Northern Ireland ’ s Divisions “ The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world , ” said Winston Churchill , then-British secretary of state for the Colonies , to describe the political situation in the United Kingdom ( which still included Ireland ) shortly after World War I. British politics were then convulsed by a major struggle between Ireland ’ s nationalists ( those who sought a fully independent Irish Republic ) and unionists ( those who wanted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom ) over the constitutional future of Ireland .
The goalposts have moved markedly since then , but Churchill ’ s words could easily be applied to the situation in Northern Ireland today .
As national governments across the world scramble to contain the spread of the coronavirus and observers opine about its long-term consequences , Northern Ireland ’ s main parties have retreated to their familiar camps , approaching the crisis from their age-old stances on the disputed status of Northern Ireland and its constitutional relationship with both the Irish Republic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on Feb. 29 , and the rate of increase began to rise rapidly in mid-March .
At the time of writing , the country has documented 3,376 cases per 1 million people with 156 confirmed deaths per 1 million people .
The United Kingdom reported its first case almost a full month before the Irish Republic did , on Jan. 31 , but the number of cases didn ’ t start ballooning until late March .
It is now home to one of the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of writing , the United Kingdom has 138,078 confirmed cases at a rate of 2,034 per 1 million people , and the death rate has reached 276 per 1 million people .
[ Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak : Get daily updates on the pandemic . ]
The timeline of the spread of the virus in Northern Ireland initially mirrored that in the Irish Republic .
The government reported its first case on Feb. 29 , and although the rate of the spread of the virus across the island had been similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of increase has been consistently higher in Northern Ireland since early April .
Northern Ireland ’ s response to the outbreak was complicated by those of the British and Irish governments .
Dublin acted quickly and decisively , and it received widespread praise from across the political spectrum .
On March 12 , less than two weeks after the country ’ s first confirmed case , Irish Taoiseach ( prime minister ) Leo Varadkar announced that all schools , universities , and child care facilities would close to help stop the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 430 million euro ( roughly $ 465 million ) relief package to help the Health Service Executive deal with the impact .
Political leaders canceled their annual high-profile St. Patrick ’ s Day visit to Washington , which followed a decision by the government to cancel all St. Patrick ’ s Day parades and festivals .
Varadkar delivered a widely praised address to the nation , in which he said , “ In years to come , let them say of us , ‘ When things were at their worst , we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assured “ all those living in the shadow of what is to come—we are with you.
” Hugh O ’ Connell , a political correspondent for the Irish Independent , said the speech could be “ the defining moment of his political career.
” Varadkar—a qualified physician—also made an important public display in early April by announcing that he would be working weekly shifts as a doctor at various hospitals across the country .
By contrast , the British government was initially slow to respond to the outbreak throughout the first half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by health officials and members of the public alike for its lack of seriousness and confused message .
As its neighbors implemented stay-at-home orders and shut down public gatherings , Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to take similar action , instead urging people with symptoms to stay home but doing little to actually enforce that recommendation .
The government also came under heavy criticism in mid-March for not canceling sporting events and other large public gatherings , including the Cheltenham Festival—a major horse-racing event held on March 10-13 that featured a daily attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish governments ’ sharply divergent strategies opened a new battleground in Northern Ireland .
More controversially , the government ’ s chief scientific advisor , Patrick Vallance , caused a stir when he told reporters on March 13 that while lockdowns might provide temporary relief , the ultimate solution was “ herd immunity ” —some people would need to be infected so that the rest of the population could strengthen their own natural defenses .
The resulting outcry forced Health Secretary Matt Hancock to say publicly that “ herd immunity is not our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government as a cold , unfeeling monolith stuck .
The British and Irish governments ’ sharply divergent strategies opened a new battleground in Northern Ireland .
With nothing in the way of a joint approach coming from London or Dublin to provide some clarity , the country ’ s two largest political parties—Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) —instinctively defaulted to their positions on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland to formulate their respective responses to the pandemic .
Sinn Fein is Northern Ireland ’ s largest nationalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationally as the former political wing of the paramilitary Provisional Irish Republican Army , which waged a low-level insurgency against British security forces from 1969 until 1998 .
The party ’ s ultimate political aspiration is to unify the entire island of Ireland into a single democratic socialist republic .
The party identifies strongly with Ireland and Irish culture , and its members are almost exclusively Irish and Catholic .
Since the end of the conflict , it has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at putting traditional Irish culture on par with British culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections for the Irish language , a stance that helped shutter the country ’ s devolved legislative assembly for three years .
On the other side , the DUP is the country ’ s leading unionist party , and although it was never directly tied to any paramilitary organization , its members have maintained links to several armed groups at various points in its history .
Members of the DUP identify primarily as British and Protestant , and they are staunch defenders of British cultural symbols , practices , and traditions .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in the United Kingdom , the DUP is guided by the belief that Northern Ireland should be treated exactly the same way as every other part of the country .
That political philosophy motivated its opposition to both Johnson ’ s and former Prime Minister Theresa May ’ s Brexit withdrawal agreements , complicating the United Kingdom ’ s departure from the European Union for almost four years .
These undercurrents have influenced the parties ’ responses to the crisis .
Sinn Fein advocated strongly to apply Dublin ’ s approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure of all schools .
“ It ’ s vital that we have a joined-up approach across the island , ” said Michelle O ’ Neill , the party ’ s northern leader .
The DUP stuck more closely to the British government ’ s line .
Party leader Arlene Foster told reporters that schools would close eventually but deferred that decision to a later time , and the party rejected the notion that an all-Ireland approach was needed to combat the crisis .
Members and supporters of both parties accused the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimate political aims.The parties have since developed something that resembles a joint approach , but the recourse to culture and identity won ’ t go away .
The school closure row was a relatively brief affair , and it came to an abrupt end when Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown in the United Kingdom on March 23 , ordering the closure of all schools , nonessential businesses , and requiring people to stay in their homes .
The DUP swung strongly behind the British government , with Foster immediately welcoming the new measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow this advice to save lives and protect our hospitals .
… It won ’ t be easy , but it ’ s for the best.
” Sinn Fein , never quick to give the British government any credit , was conspicuously quiet , though Sinn Fein Member of Parliament Orfhlaith Begley did warn that any government policy needed to take into account people who cross the border for work .
The parties have since developed something that resembles a joint approach , but the recourse to culture and identity won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Ulster Unionist Party leader and current Health Minister Robin Swann urged the British government to deploy troops to Northern Ireland to help distribute medical equipment to hospitals .
Sinn Fein , which is highly sensitive to the British Army ’ s historic role in Ireland , immediately criticized Swann ’ s request and rejected the notion that there was a need for assistance from the security forces .
All of this exposes the raw foundation of Northern Irish politics : Even in the face of an existential crisis , the instinct of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rely on their ethnonational impulses to make major decisions .
Ultimately , the British government ’ s initial delay and the DUP ’ s reluctance to immediately adopt Dublin ’ s approach seem to have helped prolong the pandemic in Northern Ireland .
The rate of new infections has been markedly higher in Northern Ireland than in the Irish Republic in recent weeks , and as the Irish Republic ’ s curve begins to flatten , the crisis in Northern Ireland still shows no sign of slowing down .
The death rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is in the Irish Republic .
Michael Tomlinson , a professor at Queen ’ s University Belfast , wrote that the higher death rate in Northern Ireland was likely due , in part , to “ the slower application of lockdown measures compared with the Republic.
” In many parts of the West , the severity of the pandemic is forcing political parties to at least temporarily overcome deep political divisions and collaborate in previously unprecedented ways .
In the United States , for example , Republicans have pushed through a comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unimaginable for members of the party even a few weeks ago .
By contrast , politics , culture , and identity still reign supreme in Northern Ireland , and , as always , political leaders will allow their ancient orthodoxies to color their response to the crisis at hand .
The consequence this time is a prolonged public health emergency , revealing that Northern Ireland ’ s leaders will always put their ethnonational considerations at the front of their political calculus , even when their constituents ’ lives are at risk .

“The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world,” said Winston Churchill, then-British secretary of state for the Colonies, to describe the political situation in the United Kingdom (which still included Ireland) shortly after World War I.
“The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world,” said Winston Churchill, then-British secretary of state for the Colonies, to describe the political situation in the United Kingdom (which still included Ireland) shortly after World War I.
British politics were then convulsed by a major struggle between Ireland’s nationalists (those who sought a fully independent Irish Republic) and unionists (those who wanted the country to remain part of the United Kingdom) over the constitutional future of Ireland.
The goalposts have moved markedly since then, but Churchill’s words could easily be applied to the situation in Northern Ireland today. As national governments across the world scramble to contain the spread of the coronavirus and observers opine about its long-term consequences, Northern Ireland’s main parties have retreated to their familiar camps, approaching the crisis from their age-old stances on the disputed status of Northern Ireland and its constitutional relationship with both the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom.
The Irish Republic reported its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on Feb. 29, and the rate of increase began to rise rapidly in mid-March. At the time of writing, the country has documented 3,376 cases per 1 million people with 156 confirmed deaths per 1 million people. The United Kingdom reported its first case almost a full month before the Irish Republic did, on Jan. 31, but the number of cases didn’t start ballooning until late March. It is now home to one of the highest total figures in the world. At the time of writing, the United Kingdom has 138,078 confirmed cases at a rate of 2,034 per 1 million people, and the death rate has reached 276 per 1 million people.
[Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak: Get daily updates on the pandemic.]
The timeline of the spread of the virus in Northern Ireland initially mirrored that in the Irish Republic. The government reported its first case on Feb. 29, and although the rate of the spread of the virus across the island had been similar for most of March, the rate of increase has been consistently higher in Northern Ireland since early April.
Northern Ireland’s response to the outbreak was complicated by those of the British and Irish governments. Dublin acted quickly and decisively, and it received widespread praise from across the political spectrum. On March 12, less than two weeks after the country’s first confirmed case, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar announced that all schools, universities, and child care facilities would close to help stop the spread of the virus. He also introduced a 430 million euro (roughly $465 million) relief package to help the Health Service Executive deal with the impact. Political leaders canceled their annual high-profile St. Patrick’s Day visit to Washington, which followed a decision by the government to cancel all St. Patrick’s Day parades and festivals.
Varadkar delivered a widely praised address to the nation, in which he said, “In years to come, let them say of us, ‘When things were at their worst, we were at our best,’” and assured “all those living in the shadow of what is to come—we are with you.” Hugh O’Connell, a political correspondent for the Irish Independent, said the speech could be “the defining moment of his political career.” Varadkar—a qualified physician—also made an important public display in early April by announcing that he would be working weekly shifts as a doctor at various hospitals across the country.
By contrast, the British government was initially slow to respond to the outbreak throughout the first half of March, and it was roundly criticized by health officials and members of the public alike for its lack of seriousness and confused message. As its neighbors implemented stay-at-home orders and shut down public gatherings, Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to take similar action, instead urging people with symptoms to stay home but doing little to actually enforce that recommendation. The government also came under heavy criticism in mid-March for not canceling sporting events and other large public gatherings, including the Cheltenham Festival—a major horse-racing event held on March 10-13 that featured a daily attendance of more than 60,000 people.The British and Irish governments’ sharply divergent strategies opened a new battleground in Northern Ireland.
More controversially, the government’s chief scientific advisor, Patrick Vallance, caused a stir when he told reporters on March 13 that while lockdowns might provide temporary relief, the ultimate solution was “herd immunity”—some people would need to be infected so that the rest of the population could strengthen their own natural defenses. The resulting outcry forced Health Secretary Matt Hancock to say publicly that “herd immunity is not our policy,” but the image of the government as a cold, unfeeling monolith stuck.
The British and Irish governments’ sharply divergent strategies opened a new battleground in Northern Ireland. With nothing in the way of a joint approach coming from London or Dublin to provide some clarity, the country’s two largest political parties—Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)—instinctively defaulted to their positions on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland to formulate their respective responses to the pandemic.
Sinn Fein is Northern Ireland’s largest nationalist party, and it is best known internationally as the former political wing of the paramilitary Provisional Irish Republican Army, which waged a low-level insurgency against British security forces from 1969 until 1997. The party’s ultimate political aspiration is to unify the entire island of Ireland into a single democratic socialist republic. It identifies strongly with Ireland and Irish culture, and its members are almost exclusively Irish and Catholic. Since the end of the conflict, it has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at putting traditional Irish culture on par with British culture in Northern Ireland, including securing legal protections for the Irish language, a stance that helped shutter the country’s devolved legislative assembly for three years.
On the other side, the DUP is the country’s leading unionist party, and although it was never directly tied to any paramilitary organization, its members have maintained links to several armed groups at various points in its history. Members of the DUP identify primarily as British and Protestant, and they are staunch defenders of British cultural symbols, practices, and traditions. More than just maintaining Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom, the DUP is guided by the belief that Northern Ireland should be treated exactly the same way as every other part of the country. That political philosophy motivated its opposition to both Johnson’s and former Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreements, complicating the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union for almost four years.
These undercurrents have influenced the parties’ responses to the crisis. Sinn Fein advocated strongly to apply Dublin’s approach to Northern Ireland, calling for the immediate closure of all schools. “It’s vital that we have a joined-up approach across the island,” said Michelle O’Neill, the party’s northern leader. The DUP stuck more closely to the British government’s line. Party leader Arlene Foster told reporters that schools would close eventually but deferred that decision to a later time, and the party rejected the notion that an all-Ireland approach was needed to combat the crisis. Members and supporters of both parties accused the other of using the crisis to advance their ultimate political aims.The parties have since developed something that resembles a joint approach, but the recourse to culture and identity won’t go away.
The school closure row was a relatively brief affair, and it came to an abrupt end when Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown in the United Kingdom on March 23, ordering the closure of all schools, nonessential businesses, and requiring people to stay in their homes. The DUP swung strongly behind the British government, with Foster immediately welcoming the new measures, saying that “we need to follow this advice to save lives and protect our hospitals. … It won’t be easy, but it’s for the best.” Sinn Fein, never quick to give the British government any credit, was conspicuously quiet, though Sinn Fein Member of Parliament Orfhlaith Begley did warn that any government policy needed to take into account people who cross the border for work.
The parties have since developed something that resembles a joint approach, but the recourse to culture and identity won’t go away. On April 10, former Ulster Unionist Party leader and current Health Minister Robin Swann urged the British government to deploy troops to Northern Ireland to help distribute medical equipment to hospitals. Sinn Fein, which is highly sensitive to the British Army’s historic role in Ireland, immediately criticized Swann’s request and rejected the notion that there was a need for assistance from the security forces. All of this exposes the raw foundation of Northern Irish politics: Even in the face of an existential crisis, the instinct of the country’s political leaders is to rely on their ethnonational impulses to make major decisions.
Ultimately, the British government’s initial delay and the DUP’s reluctance to immediately adopt Dublin’s approach seem to have helped prolong the pandemic in Northern Ireland. The rate of new infections has been markedly higher in Northern Ireland than in the Irish Republic in recent weeks, and as the Irish Republic’s curve begins to flatten, the crisis in Northern Ireland still shows no sign of slowing down. The death rate in Northern Ireland is similarly higher than it is in the Irish Republic. Michael Tomlinson, a professor at Queen’s University Belfast, wrote that the higher death rate in Northern Ireland was likely due, in part, to “the slower application of lockdown measures compared with the Republic.”
In many parts of the West, the severity of the pandemic is forcing political parties to at least temporarily overcome deep political divisions and collaborate in previously unprecedented ways. In the United States, for example, Republicans have pushed through a comprehensive public spending package that would have been unimaginable for members of the party even a few weeks ago.
By contrast, politics, culture, and identity still reign supreme in Northern Ireland, and, as always, political leaders will allow their ancient orthodoxies to color their response to the crisis at hand. The consequence this time is a prolonged public health emergency, revealing that Northern Ireland’s leaders will always put their ethnonational considerations at the front of their political calculus, even when their constituents’ lives are at risk.


foreignpolicy--2020-04-24--‘We’re Doing What the Government Won’t Do’

‘ We ’ re Doing What the Government Won ’ t Do ’ TIHUATLÁN , Mexico—Less than an hour after arriving at La Gallera , an abandoned ranch on the outskirts of Tihuatlán , in Mexico ’ s Veracruz state , on Feb. 18 , the Fifth National Search Brigade for Disappeared People found human bone fragments just beneath the surface of the soil behind the house .
The discovery meant that the group would have a long day ahead : The site , where searchers had first found remains three years before , should have been clean .
Forensic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys general ’ s office had conducted searches on the property four times in the past , after previous discoveries of bodies , clandestine graves , and human bones .
They ’ d concluded that no more human remains would be uncovered , and , in theory , the site was turned over to the Veracruz Civil Forces , which would protect the property against evidence tampering .
When the brigade arrived , though , security forces were nowhere to be found .
Throughout the two weeks the brigade operated , from Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated a phrase that ’ s become , for some , a mantra : “ We ’ re doing what the government won ’ t do.
” The nongovernmental search brigade , the fifth one organized by the Mexico City-based Network of National Links ( Red de Enlaces Nacionales ) , is the product of a growing citizen movement against forced disappearance in Mexico .
Across the country , relatives of disappearance victims have formed collectives to search for their loved ones , conducting activism and frequent searches in their hometowns , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brigade .
Their activities range from searching for human remains , to pursuing legal action on their cases , to visiting medical forensic departments , prisons , and rehab centers where their family members could be , to investigating their cases through their own means .
The Mexican government currently reports the number of disappeared people at just over 61,000 , with the vast majority of these disappearances reported since the beginning of the drug war in 2006 .
But due to low reporting rates , the total number is likely far higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s drug war is second only to Colombia ’ s armed conflict for the highest number of disappeared victims in the Americas since the mid-20th century .
As with most crimes in Mexico , forced disappearance cases largely go unsolved .
Many of the cases that have been investigated , though , have pointed to collusion between security forces—including military , federal , and municipal police—and organized crime groups .
The state has long been implicated in forced disappearances , whether by collusion or negligence .
Many relatives of victims recount being discouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police , and investigations are slow , if existent .
The passing of the General Law on Disappearances , in 2017 , established various mechanisms to address the issue of forced disappearance , including state- and national-level search commissions .
But many commissions lack adequate funding , and few accountability measures exist to ensure they fulfill their obligations .
Family members of the disappeared continue to encounter negligence both from the search commission and from state and federal prosecutors .
The collectives frequently find human remains at sites that officials have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family members have demanded that the Mexican state permit the intervention of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances , in order to promote independent and expert investigations of forced disappearances .
( A case for the state to recognize the U.N. committee ’ s intervention is currently before the Mexican Supreme Court . )
The state has repeatedly failed to confront the magnitude of the crisis .
When President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018 , his stated commitment to disappearance victims seemed to hint at a change in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has publicly stated that the state will hold back no resources to achieve justice for disappearance victims in Mexico .
But the work of this year ’ s search brigade shows that the Mexican state has a long way to go to address forced disappearance .
Despite the current administration ’ s vocal discourse in support of the movement for the disappeared , this year ’ s brigade encountered institutional neglect from government institutions at all levels , culminating in the discoveries at La Gallera .
In February , the brigade brought together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives of the disappeared throughout Mexico , the largest contingent yet .
Leading up to this year ’ s brigade , coordinators faced institutional silence from various government organs .
The Executive Commission for Attention to Victims typically provides financial support to relatives of victims , including security and funding for search efforts by collectives on the local or national level .
Amaya Ordorika , one of the coordinators of the brigade , said that the brigade had a harder time this year coordinating with authorities and receiving resources than in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Network of National Links estimates that 80 to 100 family members who had registered were no-shows , many because of lack of resources from the commission .
( Both the commission and the Secretariat of the Interior declined to comment . )
In the brigade ’ s opening press conference , María Herrera , the mother of four disappearance victims and founder of the Network of National Links , condemned the government ’ s lack of support .
“ When we need security to take care of the citizens , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ but to repress us , to try to intimidate us , they don ’ t think twice.
” The discoveries during the brigade continued to emphasize the historic negligence with which authorities have treated disappearance investigations .
The La Gallera property in particular came to represent that lack of rigor .
The collective Familiares en Búsqueda María Herrera Poza Rica , based in the nearby city of Poza Rica , first visited La Gallera three years ago , on Feb. 1 , 2017 .
The property was known to have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early 2010s , and searchers had received tips about the site .
They encountered six bodies , which they turned over to Veracruz ’ s prosecutor ’ s office .
A month later , the collective returned to the site with authorities .
They found 22 sites containing human remains , including the skull of a young child ; authorities promised to fully investigate the site , including the large oven located in a structure behind the house , and to provide security to the site .
Later that month , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no security and the evidence still exposed to the elements .
The following November , the collective returned to search for a week , accompanied by the federal attorney general .
They located over 200 bone fragments and the skull of a minor .
During the brigade ’ s visit to the property in 2020 , several people who ’ d participated in earlier searches noticed aberrations in the condition of the site compared with previous visits .
After brigade members found the first bone fragments just feet from the back door , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the group began to comb the area around the house .
The searchers found bone chips by the back staircase , under a pile of bricks and a cement slab , and under thin layers of leaves and soil .
Within half an hour , they ’ d found half a dozen points with suspected human remains in the 30 feet or so outside the door .
As the day wore on , the atmosphere among the searchers gathered grew ever weightier .
Bones seemed to rise from all corners of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was twofold .
For the brigade members , the carelessness with which the government had treated the remains added to the brutality with which criminals had killed their victims .
On the final day of the brigade , following the closing press conference , authorities from the Secretariat of the Interior , the National Search Commission , the National Human Rights Commission , and state and federal attorneys general offices , in addition to officials from the U.N. , joined a coalition of brigade members to return to La Gallera .
They gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Network of National Links read off a list of demands for the creation of a mechanism to take on forced disappearance in the northern zone of Veracruz .
They proposed measures that would hold the state accountable for following up on the brigade ’ s discoveries , including conducting thorough searches in the points that the brigade identified and enforcing stricter search protocols .
Maricel Torres Melo , the founder of the collective Familiares en Búsqueda María Herrera Poza Rica , who had first visited the site , was among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She told the authorities gathered that the collective considered La Gallera its own , a key piece of evidence for what may have happened to their family members .
“ A barbarity occurred here , ” she told the group .
“ We don ’ t want this to happen again.
” In Veracruz alone , this year ’ s brigade discovered between 12 and 14 possible sites where bodies had been burned .
Collectives across Mexico have found over 2,000 clandestine graves in the last decade .
Despite voicing support , nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion , authorities have yet to follow up on any of the brigade ’ s demands .
Bodies found in previous searches at La Gallera have been identified , according to Torres Melo , but there have been no advances in identification of the bone fragments found in February .
The sites the brigade identified remain uninvestigated .
The government may continue to claim commitment to the search , but a true reckoning requires addressing the institutional neglect , corruption , and impunity in Mexico ’ s judicial system .
From prosecutors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities ’ lack of accountability in completing their duties has caused investigations to come up short , while the families of the disappeared have repeatedly demonstrated they ’ re willing to hold institutions accountable for their negligence ; the intervention of the U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances could reinforce that accountability .
Until then , the families will continue to uncover the bones authorities have left behind .

TIHUATLÁN, Mexico—Less than an hour after arriving at La Gallera, an abandoned ranch on the outskirts of Tihuatlán, in Mexico’s Veracruz state, on Feb. 18, the Fifth National Search Brigade for Disappeared People found human bone fragments just beneath the surface of the soil behind the house. The discovery meant that the group would have a long day ahead: The site, where searchers had first found remains three years before, should have been clean.
TIHUATLÁN, Mexico—Less than an hour after arriving at La Gallera, an abandoned ranch on the outskirts of Tihuatlán, in Mexico’s Veracruz state, on Feb. 18, the Fifth National Search Brigade for Disappeared People found human bone fragments just beneath the surface of the soil behind the house. The discovery meant that the group would have a long day ahead: The site, where searchers had first found remains three years before, should have been clean.
Forensic experts from both the state and national attorneys general’s office had conducted searches on the property four times in the past, after previous discoveries of bodies, clandestine graves, and human bones. They’d concluded that no more human remains would be uncovered, and, in theory, the site was turned over to the Veracruz Civil Forces, which would protect the property against evidence tampering. When the brigade arrived, though, security forces were nowhere to be found. Throughout the two weeks the brigade operated, from Feb. 7 to 22, the members frequently repeated a phrase that’s become, for some, a mantra: “We’re doing what the government won’t do.”
The nongovernmental search brigade, the fifth one organized by the Mexico City-based Network of National Links (Red de Enlaces Nacionales), is the product of a growing citizen movement against forced disappearance in Mexico. Across the country, relatives of disappearance victims have formed collectives to search for their loved ones, conducting activism and frequent searches in their hometowns, and coming together for larger searches with the brigade. Their activities range from searching for human remains, to pursuing legal action on their cases, to visiting medical forensic departments, prisons, and rehab centers where their family members could be, to investigating their cases through their own means.
The Mexican government currently reports the number of disappeared people at just over 61,000, with the vast majority of these disappearances reported since the beginning of the drug war in 2006. But due to low reporting rates, the total number is likely far higher. By some estimates, Mexico’s drug war is second only to Colombia’s armed conflict for the highest number of disappeared victims in the Americas since the mid-20th century.
As with most crimes in Mexico, forced disappearance cases largely go unsolved. Many of the cases that have been investigated, though, have pointed to collusion between security forces—including military, federal, and municipal police—and organized crime groups. The state has long been implicated in forced disappearances, whether by collusion or negligence. Many relatives of victims recount being discouraged from reporting their disappeared family members to the police, and investigations are slow, if existent.
The passing of the General Law on Disappearances, in 2017, established various mechanisms to address the issue of forced disappearance, including state- and national-level search commissions. But many commissions lack adequate funding, and few accountability measures exist to ensure they fulfill their obligations. Family members of the disappeared continue to encounter negligence both from the search commission and from state and federal prosecutors. The collectives frequently find human remains at sites that officials have already searched. For over a decade, family members have demanded that the Mexican state permit the intervention of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, in order to promote independent and expert investigations of forced disappearances. (A case for the state to recognize the U.N. committee’s intervention is currently before the Mexican Supreme Court.)
The state has repeatedly failed to confront the magnitude of the crisis. When President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018, his stated commitment to disappearance victims seemed to hint at a change in the state’s approach. López Obrador has publicly stated that the state will hold back no resources to achieve justice for disappearance victims in Mexico. But the work of this year’s search brigade shows that the Mexican state has a long way to go to address forced disappearance. Despite the current administration’s vocal discourse in support of the movement for the disappeared, this year’s brigade encountered institutional neglect from government institutions at all levels, culminating in the discoveries at La Gallera.
The Fifth National Search Brigade for Disappeared People found dozens of bone fragments at the property known as La Gallera in Tihuatlán, Veracruz, on Feb. 18.
In February, the brigade brought together nearly 300 representatives from 74 collectives of relatives of the disappeared throughout Mexico, the largest contingent yet. Leading up to this year’s brigade, coordinators faced institutional silence from various government organs. The Executive Commission for Attention to Victims typically provides financial support to relatives of victims, including security and funding for search efforts by collectives on the local or national level. Amaya Ordorika, one of the coordinators of the brigade, said that the brigade had a harder time this year coordinating with authorities and receiving resources than in the past: A member of the coordinating team of the Network of National Links estimates that 80 to 100 family members who had registered were no-shows, many because of lack of resources from the commission. (Both the commission and the Secretariat of the Interior declined to comment.)
In the brigade’s opening press conference, María Herrera, the mother of four disappearance victims and founder of the Network of National Links, condemned the government’s lack of support. “When we need security to take care of the citizens, there’s nothing,” Herrera said, “but to repress us, to try to intimidate us, they don’t think twice.” The discoveries during the brigade continued to emphasize the historic negligence with which authorities have treated disappearance investigations. The La Gallera property in particular came to represent that lack of rigor.
The collective Familiares en Búsqueda María Herrera Poza Rica, based in the nearby city of Poza Rica, first visited La Gallera three years ago, on Feb. 1, 2017. The property was known to have been taken over by the Zetas gang in the early 2010s, and searchers had received tips about the site. They encountered six bodies, which they turned over to Veracruz’s prosecutor’s office. A month later, the collective returned to the site with authorities. They found 22 sites containing human remains, including the skull of a young child; authorities promised to fully investigate the site, including the large oven located in a structure behind the house, and to provide security to the site. Later that month, the collective returned to the property to find no security and the evidence still exposed to the elements. The following November, the collective returned to search for a week, accompanied by the federal attorney general. They located over 200 bone fragments and the skull of a minor.
During the brigade’s visit to the property in 2020, several people who’d participated in earlier searches noticed aberrations in the condition of the site compared with previous visits. After brigade members found the first bone fragments just feet from the back door, they called in state forensic experts, and the group began to comb the area around the house. The searchers found bone chips by the back staircase, under a pile of bricks and a cement slab, and under thin layers of leaves and soil. Within half an hour, they’d found half a dozen points with suspected human remains in the 30 feet or so outside the door.
As the day wore on, the atmosphere among the searchers gathered grew ever weightier. Bones seemed to rise from all corners of the property. The horror of the site was twofold. For the brigade members, the carelessness with which the government had treated the remains added to the brutality with which criminals had killed their victims.
On the final day of the brigade, following the closing press conference, authorities from the Secretariat of the Interior, the National Search Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and state and federal attorneys general offices, in addition to officials from the U.N., joined a coalition of brigade members to return to La Gallera. They gathered around the cordoned-off search sites. Representatives from the Network of National Links read off a list of demands for the creation of a mechanism to take on forced disappearance in the northern zone of Veracruz. They proposed measures that would hold the state accountable for following up on the brigade’s discoveries, including conducting thorough searches in the points that the brigade identified and enforcing stricter search protocols.
Maricel Torres Melo, the founder of the collective Familiares en Búsqueda María Herrera Poza Rica, who had first visited the site, was among the family members gathered there in February. She told the authorities gathered that the collective considered La Gallera its own, a key piece of evidence for what may have happened to their family members. “A barbarity occurred here,” she told the group. “We don’t want this to happen again.”
In Veracruz alone, this year’s brigade discovered between 12 and 14 possible sites where bodies had been burned. Collectives across Mexico have found over 2,000 clandestine graves in the last decade. Despite voicing support, nearly two months after the brigade’s conclusion, authorities have yet to follow up on any of the brigade’s demands. Bodies found in previous searches at La Gallera have been identified, according to Torres Melo, but there have been no advances in identification of the bone fragments found in February. The sites the brigade identified remain uninvestigated.
The government may continue to claim commitment to the search, but a true reckoning requires addressing the institutional neglect, corruption, and impunity in Mexico’s judicial system. From prosecutors to police forces to search commissions, the authorities’ lack of accountability in completing their duties has caused investigations to come up short, while the families of the disappeared have repeatedly demonstrated they’re willing to hold institutions accountable for their negligence; the intervention of the U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances could reinforce that accountability. Until then, the families will continue to uncover the bones authorities have left behind.


foreignpolicy--2020-04-24--Security Flaw in iPhone Mail App Went Undiscovered for Years

Security Flaw in iPhone Mail App Went Undiscovered for Years Welcome to While You Weren ’ t Looking , Foreign Policy ’ s weekly newsletter focused on non-coronavirus news .
Here ’ s what we ’ re watching this week : A newly discovered flaw in the iPhone email app has been exploited by hackers , Syrian war crimes are tried for the first time in a German court , and U.S. airstrikes in Somalia escalate .
If you would like to receive While You Weren ’ t Looking in your inbox on Fridays , please sign up here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flaw in the Apple iPhone ’ s Mail app that allows hackers to read and delete emails , according to a company report published on Wednesday .
Researchers at ZecOps , which manages cybersecurity for businesses and high-profile individuals , found evidence that at least six prominent people were targeted—including a European journalist , an executive at a Japanese mobile carrier , and employees of a Fortune 500 company .
At least one unnamed country took advantage of the vulnerability , according to the report .
The app ’ s vulnerability does have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to carry out “ mass attacks , ” the Guardian reports .
While this reduces the risk to the average user , prominent individuals in business and national security could be vulnerable to targeted attacks .
You ’ ve got mail .
While less sophisticated phishing attempts usually ask users to click a malicious link , in the attacks discovered by ZecOps victims were sent a seemingly blank email that forces the phone to reset—and opens the door for hackers to access the device ’ s information .
An Apple spokesperson acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fix would be rolled out shortly , but the company said that it had found “ no evidence ” that its customers had been targeted .
Reputational risk .
The news takes a bite out of Apple ’ s reputation as the standard-bearer for mobile cybersecurity .
But it ’ s not the first vulnerability : In recent years , cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a number of flaws in the iPhone ’ s software that can be used to access private information .
Earlier this year , the Guardian reported that that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hack of Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos ’ s phone in 2018 .
The discovery of the latest flaw highlights the fact that despite Apple ’ s claims to be nigh-invulnerable , skilled and dedicated hackers may still get in .
Syrian war crimes trial begins in Germany .
The landmark trial of a former senior Syrian intelligence official accused of war crimes began in Koblenz , Germany , on Thursday .
The trial of Anwar Raslan , estimated to last two years , marks the first time a high-ranking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime may be held to account in a court of law .
Human rights advocates say it will test whether evidence of atrocities gathered by Syrian activists—rather than by police authorities—can hold up in a European court .
China and Russia , an Assad ally , have vetoed previous efforts to refer Syrian war crimes to the International Criminal Court in The Hague .
Raslan , who defected from the Assad regime in 2013 , is alleged to have run an infamous prison in Damascus known as Branch 251 .
He has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 58 murders .
Raslan sought asylum in Germany in 2014 and was arrested there in February 2019 .
His relationships with opposition groups in recent years have left some anti-regime Syrians divided over the case against him , as Anchal Vohra writes for FP .
Libya ’ s government forces gain ground .
Fighting in Libya is intensifying as forces aligned with Libya ’ s internationally recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) have gained significant ground in the yearlong fight against forces allied with renegade general Khalifa Haftar .
Pro-GNA forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tarhuna , a stronghold for Haftar ’ s forces 45 miles southeast of the capital , Tripoli .
The United Nations Mission in Libya warned on Monday that the escalating violence and a dramatic increase in shelling of densely populated areas of the capital could amount to war crimes , although it did not single out a perpetrator .
Domestic violence rates .
Coronavirus-related lockdowns have caused a surge in domestic violence worldwide .
In the United Kingdom , the number of domestic violence killings has doubled since its lockdown began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , people banged pots and pans in a signal of solidarity with people confined at home with violent partners .
In Argentina , appeals to domestic violence hotlines have increased by 40 percent .
“ The confinement is plunging thousands of women into hell , trapped with an attacker who they are more afraid of than the coronavirus , ” Victoria Aguirre , of the Argentine organization MuMaLa , told Agence France-Presse .
Shifts in press freedom .
The annual World Press Freedom Index , a report released this week by Reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would likely amplify threats to journalism as countries such as China , Hungary , and Iraq have clamped down on press freedom amid the coronavirus crisis .
There were also some bright spots : Malaysia and the Maldives both made gains after national elections swept out governments hostile to journalism , while Sudan saw improvements following the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir .
Despite recent improvements to Haiti ’ s media laws , the country fell furthest in the rankings , as journalists have been repeatedly targeted during protests over the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Benin also saw their rankings drop due to a sharp increase in violations .
Norway topped the index for the fourth year in a row .
U.S. steps up airstrikes .
The United States has significantly stepped up airstrikes against suspected members of the al-Shabab militant group in Somalia in the first four months of 2020 , the Intercept reports .
U.S. Africa Command has conducted 39 airstrikes in Somalia so far this year , putting it on track to exceed last year ’ s record 63 strikes .
The Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of drones , carried out 36 strikes on Somalia during Barack Obama ’ s eight years in office .
Despite the increase in U.S. attacks , al-Shabab has surged in recent years .
In January , the group carried out its most brazen attack to date against U.S. forces , killing one service member and two contractors .
Trump ’ s Greenland ambitions .
The United States is set to announce plans to open an office of the U.S. Agency for International Development at the new U.S. consulate in Nuuk , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greenlanders cautiously welcomed the U.S. plans to invest $ 12 million in aid projects in the territory , but they fear the possible strings attached .
Last year , Trump floated the idea of buying Greenland , which some U.S. officials see as vital to national security interests because of its proximity to the Arctic and its rich deposits of rare-earth minerals .
China has expressed interest in building airports in Greenland , which would give Beijing a military foothold off the Canadian coast .
Will Silicon Valley pay for news ?
Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following on European models , to require Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for using their content .
The U.S.-based technology companies account for two-thirds of online advertising spending in Australia , while Australian news outlets have shed 20 percent of their workforce over the past six years amid shrinking revenues .
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg acknowledged the country had a “ mountain to climb ” to get the tech titans to comply , citing the experiences of France and Spain—where authorities have reached an impasse over efforts to get both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Comeback kid .
The colorful former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili announced on Wednesday that he has been offered the position of deputy prime minister for reform in the government of Ukraine—just the latest twist in his storied political career .
Saakashvili previously served as the governor of Ukraine ’ s Odessa region , costing him his Georgian citizenship—before a fallout with the former Ukrainian president cost him his Ukrainian citizenship .
His status as a Ukrainian was later reinstated when President Volodymyr Zelensky came to power last year .
Wherever Saakashvili goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some popcorn to your lockdown stockpile .
That ’ s it for this week .
For more from FP , visit foreignpolicy.com , subscribe here , or sign up for our other newsletters .
Send your tips , comments , questions , or corrections to newsletters @ foreignpolicy.com .

Welcome to While You Weren’t Looking, Foreign Policy’s weekly newsletter focused on non-coronavirus news. Here’s what we’re watching this week: A newly discovered flaw in the iPhone email app has been exploited by hackers, Syrian war crimes are tried for the first time in a German court, and U.S. airstrikes in Somalia escalate.
Welcome to While You Weren’t Looking, Foreign Policy’s weekly newsletter focused on non-coronavirus news. Here’s what we’re watching this week: A newly discovered flaw in the iPhone email app has been exploited by hackers, Syrian war crimes are tried for the first time in a German court, and U.S. airstrikes in Somalia escalate.
If you would like to receive While You Weren’t Looking in your inbox on Fridays, please sign up here.
Apple’s Mail App Leaves Users Vulnerable
A cybersecurity firm has uncovered a long-standing flaw in the Apple iPhone’s Mail app that allows hackers to read and delete emails, according to a company report published on Wednesday. Researchers at ZecOps, which manages cybersecurity for businesses and high-profile individuals, found evidence that at least six prominent people were targeted—including a European journalist, an executive at a Japanese mobile carrier, and employees of a Fortune 500 company.
At least one unnamed country took advantage of the vulnerability, according to the report. The app’s vulnerability does have its limits, preventing it from being used to carry out “mass attacks,” the Guardian reports. While this reduces the risk to the average user, prominent individuals in business and national security could be vulnerable to targeted attacks.
You’ve got mail. While less sophisticated phishing attempts usually ask users to click a malicious link, in the attacks discovered by ZecOps victims were sent a seemingly blank email that forces the phone to reset—and opens the door for hackers to access the device’s information. An Apple spokesperson acknowledged the vulnerability to Reuters and said that a fix would be rolled out shortly, but the company said that it had found “no evidence” that its customers had been targeted.
Reputational risk. The news takes a bite out of Apple’s reputation as the standard-bearer for mobile cybersecurity. But it’s not the first vulnerability: In recent years, cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a number of flaws in the iPhone’s software that can be used to access private information. Earlier this year, the Guardian reported that that a Saudi team had been behind the hack of Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’s phone in 2018. The discovery of the latest flaw highlights the fact that despite Apple’s claims to be nigh-invulnerable, skilled and dedicated hackers may still get in.
What We’re Following
Syrian war crimes trial begins in Germany. The landmark trial of a former senior Syrian intelligence official accused of war crimes began in Koblenz, Germany, on Thursday. The trial of Anwar Raslan, estimated to last two years, marks the first time a high-ranking member of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime may be held to account in a court of law. Human rights advocates say it will test whether evidence of atrocities gathered by Syrian activists—rather than by police authorities—can hold up in a European court. China and Russia, an Assad ally, have vetoed previous efforts to refer Syrian war crimes to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Raslan, who defected from the Assad regime in 2013, is alleged to have run an infamous prison in Damascus known as Branch 251. He has been charged with 4,000 counts of torture and 58 murders. Raslan sought asylum in Germany in 2014 and was arrested there in February 2019. His relationships with opposition groups in recent years have left some anti-regime Syrians divided over the case against him, as Anchal Vohra writes for FP.
Libya’s government forces gain ground. Fighting in Libya is intensifying as forces aligned with Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) have gained significant ground in the yearlong fight against forces allied with renegade general Khalifa Haftar. Pro-GNA forces said Saturday that they were closing in on Tarhuna, a stronghold for Haftar’s forces 45 miles southeast of the capital, Tripoli. The United Nations Mission in Libya warned on Monday that the escalating violence and a dramatic increase in shelling of densely populated areas of the capital could amount to war crimes, although it did not single out a perpetrator.
Domestic violence rates. Coronavirus-related lockdowns have caused a surge in domestic violence worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the number of domestic violence killings has doubled since its lockdown began in March. In the Palestinian territories on Monday, people banged pots and pans in a signal of solidarity with people confined at home with violent partners. In Argentina, appeals to domestic violence hotlines have increased by 40 percent. “The confinement is plunging thousands of women into hell, trapped with an attacker who they are more afraid of than the coronavirus,” Victoria Aguirre, of the Argentine organization MuMaLa, told Agence France-Presse.
Shifts in press freedom. The annual World Press Freedom Index, a report released this week by Reporters Without Borders, warned that the pandemic would likely amplify threats to journalism as countries such as China, Hungary, and Iraq have clamped down on press freedom amid the coronavirus crisis. There were also some bright spots: Malaysia and the Maldives both made gains after national elections swept out governments hostile to journalism, while Sudan saw improvements following the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir.
Despite recent improvements to Haiti’s media laws, the country fell furthest in the rankings, as journalists have been repeatedly targeted during protests over the past two years. The African countries of Comoros and Benin also saw their rankings drop due to a sharp increase in violations. Norway topped the index for the fourth year in a row.
Keep an Eye On
U.S. steps up airstrikes. The United States has significantly stepped up airstrikes against suspected members of the al-Shabab militant group in Somalia in the first four months of 2020, the Intercept reports. U.S. Africa Command has conducted 39 airstrikes in Somalia so far this year, putting it on track to exceed last year’s record 63 strikes. The Obama administration, which was criticized for its extensive use of drones, carried out 36 strikes on Somalia during Barack Obama’s eight years in office. Despite the increase in U.S. attacks, al-Shabab has surged in recent years. In January, the group carried out its most brazen attack to date against U.S. forces, killing one service member and two contractors.
Trump’s Greenland ambitions. The United States is set to announce plans to open an office of the U.S. Agency for International Development at the new U.S. consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland—a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Greenlanders cautiously welcomed the U.S. plans to invest $12 million in aid projects in the territory, but they fear the possible strings attached. Last year, Trump floated the idea of buying Greenland, which some U.S. officials see as vital to national security interests because of its proximity to the Arctic and its rich deposits of rare-earth minerals. China has expressed interest in building airports in Greenland, which would give Beijing a military foothold off the Canadian coast.
Will Silicon Valley pay for news? Australia is set to become the latest country, following on European models, to require Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for using their content. The U.S.-based technology companies account for two-thirds of online advertising spending in Australia, while Australian news outlets have shed 20 percent of their workforce over the past six years amid shrinking revenues. Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg acknowledged the country had a “mountain to climb” to get the tech titans to comply, citing the experiences of France and Spain—where authorities have reached an impasse over efforts to get both Facebook and Google to pay publishers.
Odds and Ends
Comeback kid. The colorful former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili announced on Wednesday that he has been offered the position of deputy prime minister for reform in the government of Ukraine—just the latest twist in his storied political career. Saakashvili previously served as the governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region, costing him his Georgian citizenship—before a fallout with the former Ukrainian president cost him his Ukrainian citizenship. His status as a Ukrainian was later reinstated when President Volodymyr Zelensky came to power last year.
Wherever Saakashvili goes, drama is never far behind—so add some popcorn to your lockdown stockpile.
That’s it for this week.
For more from FP, visit foreignpolicy.com, subscribe here, or sign up for our other newsletters. Send your tips, comments, questions, or corrections to newsletters@foreignpolicy.com.


foreignpolicy--2020-04-24--Missouri Opens Up a New Front Against China in Coronavirus Blame Game

Missouri Opens Up a New Front Against China in Coronavirus Blame Game In the latest effort by U.S. officials to blame China for the outbreak of COVID-19 , Missouri ’ s attorney general filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to hold Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party responsible for a pandemic that has now infected more than 900,000 Americans and killed more than 50,000 .
The lawsuit seems to aim less at securing victory in court , which is unlikely given current law and jurisprudence , than at prodding Congress to pass legislation , as it did in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to make it easier for U.S. citizens to sue foreign states for damage caused by malicious actions .
The suit , filed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt , alleges that China , the Chinese Communist Party , and a host of other Chinese entities behaved negligently and deceitfully , making them ultimately responsible for the outbreak of the pandemic , its rapid spread , and the lack of readily available personal protective equipment for medical workers .
“ During the critical weeks of the initial outbreak , Chinese authorities deceived the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblowers , denied human-to-human transmission in the face of mounting evidence , destroyed critical medical research , permitted millions of people to be exposed to the virus , and even hoarded personal protective equipment—thus causing a global pandemic that was unnecessary and preventable , ” the lawsuit alleges .
“ Defendants are responsible for the enormous death , suffering , and economic losses they inflicted on the world , including Missourians , and they should be held accountable.
” The lawsuit is the latest effort by U.S. officials , beginning with U.S. President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame as possible to China for the pandemic .
Trump and administration officials took to calling the disease the “ China virus ” or “ Wuhan virus , ” and as the health and economic toll on the United States continues to mount , they have continued to attack Beijing for its role .
The outbreak gives Trump a fresh opportunity to bash his sugar daddy as U.S. relations with China become a major theme in the 2020 showdown between the incumbent president and the presumptive Democratic nominee , former Vice President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state or parts of a foreign state , such as the Missouri case , faces steep obstacles out of the gate .
This is largely because of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act ( FSIA ) , which limits the liability of foreign governments to U.S. judicial oversight .
The Chinese Foreign Ministry lambasted the lawsuit , dismissing it as “ frivolous ” and saying “ it only invites ridicule.
” Beijing underscored that , right now , U.S. courts would be hard-pressed to pursue legal action against Chinese government entities .
The lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get around that fundamental problem , though without figuring out how to legally sue China itself .
One argument is that the “ commercial ” activity in Chinese virus labs is an exception to U.S. sovereign-immunity law .
Another is that the economic damages caused by the outbreak allow tort claims , even under FSIA .
But legal experts say the case , while better crafted than some class-action lawsuits that have pursued similar goals , is still on shaky ground .
Arguing that government-run medical laboratories inside China let loose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered up initial reports of the disease , as the suit alleges , is hard to square with the commercial activity exception to existing U.S. law .
That exception allows for lawsuits for commercial activity by a foreign state within the United States that causes some notable damage .
“ The argument for the commercial activity exception is specious .
The statute requires that the commercial activity be carried out in the United States , ” said Joel Trachtman , a professor of international law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese government ’ s alleged governmental failure constitutes a commercial activity.
” And trying to pin the responsibility on China for the economic harms of the pandemic—the lawsuit makes a reference to Missouri ’ s skyrocketing unemployment—to invoke the tort exception to FSIA is equally tricky .
Most courts have found that both the economic damage and the act that caused that damage must be carried out in the United States .
“ The tortiable activity has to be done in Missouri , not in Wuhan , China , ” said Ingrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vanderbilt University School of Law .
But the Missouri lawsuit may be less about getting justice now , and more about laying the groundwork in Congress to make it easier to pursue precisely this kind of approach , Wuerth said .
“ I have a theory that part of the audience is Congress , to form the basis to write a statute that limits China ’ s immunity ” to lawsuits , she said .
“ They know the tort and commercial exceptions don ’ t apply .
What they want to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its immunity.
” That ’ s actually what Congress did , in a way , with Saudi Arabia , with the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act ( JASTA ) in 2016 , which made a provision for U.S. citizens to seek damages for terrorism-related offenses , despite the sovereign immunity law .
The Missouri lawsuit , in other words , could be designed to prepare the ground for a JASTA , but for China .
“ You could strip away some of the FSIA protections for specific actions .
Congress could make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it about biological harm more generally , ” Wuerth said .
It ’ s fertile ground .
Lawmakers in both houses of Congress are preparing legislation to do just that .
Sens .
Marsha Blackburn , a Tennessee Republican , and Martha McSally , an Arizona Republican , this week said they ’ d introduce the Stop COVID Act , a bill meant to open the door to U.S. lawsuits against any foreign states that “ intentionally or unintentionally ” discharge a biological agent that causes death , injury , or property damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Representatives has prepared companion legislation .
The problem , of course , is Pandora ’ s box .
If a court in Missouri , or any U.S. court , can hold the People ’ s Republic of China accountable for its alleged misdeeds over the coronavirus , it ’ s open season around the world for any number of lawsuits over harmful U.S. actions , not least of which would be the lackluster and ham-fisted response by states like Missouri and the Trump administration to the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be sued for this , I am not sure why the United States couldn ’ t be sued for the war in Iraq , global warming , etc.
, ” said Trachtman .

In the latest effort by U.S. officials to blame China for the outbreak of COVID-19, Missouri’s attorney general filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to hold Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party responsible for a pandemic that has now infected more than 900,000 Americans and killed more than 50,000.
In the latest effort by U.S. officials to blame China for the outbreak of COVID-19, Missouri’s attorney general filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to hold Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party responsible for a pandemic that has now infected more than 900,000 Americans and killed more than 50,000.
The lawsuit seems to aim less at securing victory in court, which is unlikely given current law and jurisprudence, than at prodding Congress to pass legislation, as it did in 2016 with respect to Saudi Arabia and terrorism, to make it easier for U.S. citizens to sue foreign states for damage caused by malicious actions.
The suit, filed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, alleges that China, the Chinese Communist Party, and a host of other Chinese entities behaved negligently and deceitfully, making them ultimately responsible for the outbreak of the pandemic, its rapid spread, and the lack of readily available personal protective equipment for medical workers.
“During the critical weeks of the initial outbreak, Chinese authorities deceived the public, suppressed crucial information, arrested whistleblowers, denied human-to-human transmission in the face of mounting evidence, destroyed critical medical research, permitted millions of people to be exposed to the virus, and even hoarded personal protective equipment—thus causing a global pandemic that was unnecessary and preventable,” the lawsuit alleges. “Defendants are responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians, and they should be held accountable.”
The lawsuit is the latest effort by U.S. officials, beginning with U.S. President Donald Trump, to shift as much blame as possible to China for the pandemic. Trump and administration officials took to calling the disease the “China virus” or “Wuhan virus,” and as the health and economic toll on the United States continues to mount, they have continued to attack Beijing for its role. The outbreak gives Trump a fresh opportunity to bash his sugar daddy as U.S. relations with China become a major theme in the 2020 showdown between the incumbent president and the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Any lawsuit against a foreign state or parts of a foreign state, such as the Missouri case, faces steep obstacles out of the gate. This is largely because of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which limits the liability of foreign governments to U.S. judicial oversight.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry lambasted the lawsuit, dismissing it as “frivolous” and saying “it only invites ridicule.” Beijing underscored that, right now, U.S. courts would be hard-pressed to pursue legal action against Chinese government entities.
The lawsuit tried out some creative solutions to try and get around that fundamental problem, though without figuring out how to legally sue China itself. One argument is that the “commercial” activity in Chinese virus labs is an exception to U.S. sovereign-immunity law. Another is that the economic damages caused by the outbreak allow tort claims, even under FSIA.
But legal experts say the case, while better crafted than some class-action lawsuits that have pursued similar goals, is still on shaky ground. Arguing that government-run medical laboratories inside China let loose the virus, and that the Chinese government covered up initial reports of the disease, as the suit alleges, is hard to square with the commercial activity exception to existing U.S. law. That exception allows for lawsuits for commercial activity by a foreign state within the United States that causes some notable damage.
“The argument for the commercial activity exception is specious. The statute requires that the commercial activity be carried out in the United States,” said Joel Trachtman, a professor of international law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. “And I am not sure how the Chinese government’s alleged governmental failure constitutes a commercial activity.”
And trying to pin the responsibility on China for the economic harms of the pandemic—the lawsuit makes a reference to Missouri’s skyrocketing unemployment—to invoke the tort exception to FSIA is equally tricky. Most courts have found that both the economic damage and the act that caused that damage must be carried out in the United States.
“The tortiable activity has to be done in Missouri, not in Wuhan, China,” said Ingrid Wuerth, professor of international law at Vanderbilt University School of Law.
But the Missouri lawsuit may be less about getting justice now, and more about laying the groundwork in Congress to make it easier to pursue precisely this kind of approach, Wuerth said.
“I have a theory that part of the audience is Congress, to form the basis to write a statute that limits China’s immunity” to lawsuits, she said. “They know the tort and commercial exceptions don’t apply. What they want to see is legislation that will strip China of its immunity.”
That’s actually what Congress did, in a way, with Saudi Arabia, with the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in 2016, which made a provision for U.S. citizens to seek damages for terrorism-related offenses, despite the sovereign immunity law. The Missouri lawsuit, in other words, could be designed to prepare the ground for a JASTA, but for China.
“You could strip away some of the FSIA protections for specific actions. Congress could make it COVID-specific, or it could make it about biological harm more generally,” Wuerth said.
It’s fertile ground. Lawmakers in both houses of Congress are preparing legislation to do just that. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, and Martha McSally, an Arizona Republican, this week said they’d introduce the Stop COVID Act, a bill meant to open the door to U.S. lawsuits against any foreign states that “intentionally or unintentionally” discharge a biological agent that causes death, injury, or property damage in the United States. The House of Representatives has prepared companion legislation.
The problem, of course, is Pandora’s box. If a court in Missouri, or any U.S. court, can hold the People’s Republic of China accountable for its alleged misdeeds over the coronavirus, it’s open season around the world for any number of lawsuits over harmful U.S. actions, not least of which would be the lackluster and ham-fisted response by states like Missouri and the Trump administration to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“If the Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese government can be sued for this, I am not sure why the United States couldn’t be sued for the war in Iraq, global warming, etc.,” said Trachtman.