2020年5月18日星期一

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Yahoo! News: Brazil


'I cannot stress this enough, this will kill you': Fox News host Neil Cavuto was shocked by Trump's announcement that he's taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent coronavirus.

Posted: 18 May 2020 02:21 PM PDT

'I cannot stress this enough, this will kill you': Fox News host Neil Cavuto was shocked by Trump's announcement that he's taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent coronavirus."I only make this not to make a political point here, but a life-and-death point," Cavuto said. "Be very, very careful."


Immigration agency asks for emergency funds, will raise fees

Posted: 17 May 2020 03:30 PM PDT

Coronavirus live updates: Trump says he takes hydroxychloroquine as U.S. death toll tops 90,000

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:02 PM PDT

Coronavirus live updates: Trump says he takes hydroxychloroquine as U.S. death toll tops 90,000Here are the latest coronavirus updates from around the world.


Health secretary: No spike in coronavirus in places reopening

Posted: 17 May 2020 10:43 AM PDT

Health secretary: No spike in coronavirus in places reopeningAuthorities are not seeing spikes in coronavirus cases in places that are reopening but are seeing increases in some areas that remain closed, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Sunday.


FBI: US naval base attack 'motivated by al-Qaeda'

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:08 PM PDT

FBI: US naval base attack 'motivated by al-Qaeda'The Saudi Air Force officer who killed three Americans in Florida spoke to the terror group in Yemen.


Exclusive: Huge fentanyl haul seized in Asia's biggest-ever drugs bust

Posted: 18 May 2020 12:11 AM PDT

Exclusive: Huge fentanyl haul seized in Asia's biggest-ever drugs bustMyanmar police say they have seized a huge haul of liquid fentanyl, the first time one of the dangerous synthetic opioids that have ravaged North America has been found in Asia's Golden Triangle drug-producing region. In a signal that Asia's drug syndicates have moved into the lucrative opioid market, Reuters can reveal more than 3,700 litres of methylfentanyl was discovered by anti-narcotics police near Loikan village in Shan State in northeast Myanmar. The seizure of the fentanyl derivative was part of Asia's biggest-ever interception of illicit drugs, precursors and drug-making equipment, including 193 million methamphetamine tablets known as yaba.


31 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants and How to Care for Them

Posted: 18 May 2020 07:50 AM PDT

Israel court convicts settler of Palestinian arson murders

Posted: 18 May 2020 08:14 AM PDT

Israel court convicts settler of Palestinian arson murdersAn Israeli court Monday found a Jewish settler guilty of three murders in an arson attack that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents -- a verdict that did little to ease the bereaved family's pain. Amiram Ben-Uliel, 25, from the West Bank settlement of Shilo, was also convicted of two counts each of attempted murder and arson, along with conspiracy to commit a hate crime in the 2015 attack. Hours after the verdict, the Palestinian family devastated by the attack told AFP that justice was incomplete, having long insisted that there were several attackers.


New York might have avoided becoming the US epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak if Gov. Cuomo hadn't reportedly dismissed shelter-at-home advice

Posted: 17 May 2020 12:28 PM PDT

New York might have avoided becoming the US epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak if Gov. Cuomo hadn't reportedly dismissed shelter-at-home adviceGov. Cuomo reportedly said 'shelter in place' sounded 'like it was in response to a nuclear apocalypse,' and he had no plan of locking down cities.


Donald Trump reveals he is taking hydroxychloroquine, the drug he touts as coronavirus treatment

Posted: 18 May 2020 01:34 PM PDT

Donald Trump reveals he is taking hydroxychloroquine, the drug he touts as coronavirus treatmentDonald Trump has revealed he has started taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug he has repeatedly touted as a possible coronavirus treatment despite concerns about dangerous side-effects. The US president said he had been taking the drug daily in pill form for around 10 days and had discussed it with the White House doctor before doing so. Mr Trump said many front line workers were using hydroxychloroquine to prevent getting Covid-19, citing a letter he had received from a doctor talking up the possible benefits. "All I can tell you is so far I seem to be okay," the president said. He stressed he had no coronavirus symptoms, suggesting he was taking the drug to somehow avoid infection. Mr Trump also said in passing that he had been taking zinc - another drug that has been loosely discussed as having possible remedial benefits when it comes to coronavirus. Neither hydroxychloroquine nor zinc have been proven to help prevent or treat coronavirus. Research remains on-going about whether they could be beneficial. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has actually warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 outside of a hospital or clinical trial over fears it causes heart problems.


Marianne Williamson endorses Nancy Pelosi’s left-wing opponent

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:26 AM PDT

Marianne Williamson endorses Nancy Pelosi's left-wing opponentFormer Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has endorsed Nancy Pelosi's congressional rival in this year's elections, arguing that the speaker of the House deserves a strong challenge from the left as the Democratic Party becomes estranged from progressive ideals.In a video posted on Instagram, Ms Williamson made clear that she respects Ms Pelosi's achievements, which she said "have really paved the way in profound ways for women such as myself" – but that she has become "very, very concerned with the corporatist direction of the party".


Appeals court clears way for execution of Missouri inmate

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:07 AM PDT

Appeals court clears way for execution of Missouri inmateA federal appeals court has cleared the way for a Missouri death row inmate to be executed Tuesday and ordered his petition for post-conviction relief dismissed, despite questions raised about evidence used to convict him. The Sunday decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacates a 30-day stay of execution granted Friday to Walter Barton by a federal judge. Barton, 64, is set to die by lethal injection for the 1991 killing of 81-year-old trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler.


70 cases of COVID-19 at French schools days after re-opening

Posted: 18 May 2020 12:14 PM PDT

70 cases of COVID-19 at French schools days after re-openingTThe affected schools are being closed immediately.


U.S. savages WHO as it promises pandemic review, but China pledges $2 billion

Posted: 18 May 2020 01:56 AM PDT

U.S. savages WHO as it promises pandemic review, but China pledges $2 billionThe World Health Organization said on Monday an independent review of the global coronavirus response would begin as soon as possible and it received backing and a hefty pledge of funds from China, in the spotlight as the origin of the pandemic. Trump said later in Washington that the WHO, which he called a "puppet of China", had "done a very sad job" in its handling of the coronavirus and he would make a decision about U.S. funding to the body soon.


Burkina Faso unveils 'corrected' Thomas Sankara statue

Posted: 18 May 2020 05:02 AM PDT

Burkina Faso unveils 'corrected' Thomas Sankara statueA new monument to the African nationalist hero is unveiled after parts of the original "melted".


Fired scientist Rick Bright says the US coronavirus response has been 'chaotic' and lacks a clear strategy

Posted: 17 May 2020 10:09 PM PDT

Fired scientist Rick Bright says the US coronavirus response has been 'chaotic' and lacks a clear strategy"I am frustrated at a lack of leadership," Bright told "60 Minutes, adding that the US does not yet have a national strategy to respond to COVID-19.


Elizabeth Warren says her brother's death from coronavirus 'feels like something that didn't have to happen'

Posted: 17 May 2020 08:13 AM PDT

Elizabeth Warren says her brother's death from coronavirus 'feels like something that didn't have to happen'Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) reflected on the death of her oldest brother, Donald Reed Herring, from the coronavirus in an interview excerpt published by The Atlantic.Herring, who was 86, died earlier this year after contracting COVID-19, which has killed nearly 89,000 people in the United States since February.Warren has been open about the affect her brother's death has had on her, placing a particular emphasis on the fact that she and her other siblings weren't able to be by his side — as is the case with so many people who have lost loved ones around the world — because of the infectious nature of the virus. "It's hard to process things things like this because everything is happening at a distance," she told The Atlantic. "And human beings — we're not set up for that. We're wired to be with each other."The senator also said her brother's death, which she said occurred after it seemed like he "rallied" and might come home soon, "just feels like something that didn't have to happen." Read the full excerpt at The Atlantic.More stories from theweek.com Trump is hemorrhaging older voters, polls show J.C. Penney to close 242 stores McConnell chooses Rubio to lead Senate Intelligence Committee amid Burr investigation


Trump plan 'historic', peace deals crucial: Israel foreign minister

Posted: 18 May 2020 10:50 AM PDT

Trump plan 'historic', peace deals crucial: Israel foreign ministerIsrael's new foreign minister said Monday that US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace proposal offered an "historic opportunity" but that regional peace deals must be maintained during its implementation. Gabi Ashkenazi, who became the Jewish state's top diplomat when a new unity government was sworn in on Sunday, made the comments at a transition ceremony in Jerusalem. "The plan will be promoted responsibly and in coordination with the United States, while maintaining peace agreements and the strategic interests of Israel," Ashkenazi said according to a copy of his remarks seen by AFP.


How greater diversity in the cockpit could help airlines avoid a looming pilot shortage

Posted: 18 May 2020 05:15 AM PDT

How greater diversity in the cockpit could help airlines avoid a looming pilot shortageBefore the new coronavirus hit, the airline industry was bracing for a severe pilot shortage. But just as the pandemic has forced school closures across the country, it's also disrupting aviation training programs, which could mean even fewer pilots are trained to fly tomorrow's fleet of commercial aircraft.There are many reasons for the anticipated shortage, including increased regulation, growing demand for air travel and an aging workforce, coupled with a mandatory retirement age of 65. But there's one cause that also offers a solution: The industry has long struggled to recruit women, people of color and members of other marginalized groups.As a scholar of aviation education and policy, I believe a stronger focus on attracting a diverse workforce and embracing a more inclusive culture is pivotal to ensuring there are enough pilots as Americans return to the skies in record numbers after this crisis passes. Lack of diversityUpon entering the field of aviation in 2014, it took me about a year on the job before I fully grasped that I was, more often than not, the only woman in the room – and frequently the youngest to boot.Eventually, I had the opportunity to critically examine the systemic problems that have led to a lack of diversity in both the academic aviation world and the broader industry it reflects. I found that women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community were significantly underrepresented, yet their mere presence was often used to symbolize progress in diversifying the industry. And little has changed.A review of the latest Civil Airmen Statistics indicates that a little over 4% of Airline Transport Certificate holders – the required certification to fly for a major carrier – are women. No major U.S. carrier hired a female pilot until 1973. The situation is even worse for African Americans, who were not hired to pilot a commercial airplane until the 1960s. Things changed only because of a six-year battle against Continental Airlines waged by Marlon Green, who filed a discrimination complaint against the carrier. In 1963, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in his favor, paving the way for the first black pilot, David Ellsworth Harris, whom American Airlines hired in 1964. Green would follow suit at Continental in 1965.But even today there are few African American pilots. Sociologists Louwanda Evans and Joe Feagin estimate that the number in 2012 was fewer than 700 – less than 1% of all commercial pilots. Fewer than 20 were black women. Pilot shortageI believe this lack of inclusion has contributed to the looming pilot shortage the industry has worried about for several years.Every few years, Boeing releases a report forecasting the number of professionals that the aviation industry will need in the coming years, from pilots and maintenance technicians to cabin crew. In its most recent report, Boeing estimates that North America is short 212,000 pilots through 2038.One of the problems is the field's high barrier for those who lack resources and support. The cost of a flight education at a traditional four-year institution can range from US$50,000 to upwards of $100,000, in addition to rising tuition fees.Another issue is a culture that isn't very inclusive.For an ongoing research project, I've been interviewing African American women in a variety of positions in the aviation industry about the challenges pursuing a successful career in the field. I've found that the lack of mentors, access to the industry, resources and "people who look like you" have all been barriers to entry and retention in the industry. There is also a perception problem, where women are not seen as authoritative enough for positions like captain of an aircraft.In a recent CNN article, aviation writer Kathryn Creedy put part of the blame on work rules that "haven't changed in 50 years." A sexist work environment is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit against Frontier Airlines, which is accused of discriminating against pregnant and breastfeeding women. Beyond tokenismIn the various months devoted to recognizing historically marginalized groups such as women, African Americans and LBGTQ people, the aviation industry joins the chorus of group that use the calendar to highlight historic diversity firsts.For example, you'll often see articles in February showcasing the "first African American pilot" or the "first all LGBTQ flight crew." Unfortunately, those firsts did not spark a significant change that led to real diversity in the cockpit, which continues to be dominated by white men. The problem with celebrating diverse talent only during the designated month is that this approach does not require the industry to reflect on why it needs diversity and inclusion policies in the first place. In her 2013 book, "Cabin Pressure: African-American Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Emotional Labor," sociologist Louwanda Evans writes about how mere representation can't paper over entrenched discrimination. And this problem, in turn, is contributing to the looming pilot shortage. The principles of justice and equity should be enough to convince carriers to make their policies and practices more equitable and inclusive to individuals who have not typically been drawn to the industry. But if they need more convincing, the clear economic imperative should do the job. [Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversation's newsletter and get a digest of academic takes on today's news, every day.]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.Read more: * How do you stay safe now that states are reopening? An expert explains how to assess risk when reconnecting with friends and family * Coronavirus murals: inside the world of pandemic-inspired street artShannon McLoughlin Morrison is affiliated with The Ohio State University, and has volunteered for the National Gay Pilots Association and Women in Aviation


Stacey Abrams moment: She shouldn't be Biden's VP, but she's changed the game for women

Posted: 18 May 2020 02:00 AM PDT

Stacey Abrams moment: She shouldn't be Biden's VP, but she's changed the game for womenWould we cast Stacey Abrams as Biden's vice president in a Netflix series? Not without a really good agent. In this case, she's doing the job herself.


Republican apologizes for likening Covid-19 curbs to Nazis' persecution of Jews

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:00 AM PDT

Republican apologizes for likening Covid-19 curbs to Nazis' persecution of JewsAlaska state representative Ben Carpenter told to 'Keep your Holocaust jokes to yourself' after objecting to virus screeningAntisemitic and Nazi-sympathizing comments made by a Republican state representative in Alaska, who likened Covid-19 safety measures at the state capitol to the treatment of Jewish people in Nazi Germany, brought widespread rebuke and, eventually, an apology. Alaska's legislature is due to return on Monday and representatives were told by email they would be asked to undergo screening as they entered the building. Those who are screened will be given a sticker to show completion. Those who refuse will not be given a sticker. In an emailed reply to the new measures that was obtained by the Alaska Landmine, Ben Carpenter, a Republican wrote: "If my sticker falls off, do I get a new one or do I get public shaming too? Are the stickers available as a yellow Star of David?"The reply drew instant rebuke from colleagues in the house."This is disgusting. Keep your Holocaust jokes to yourself," replied Grier Hopkins, a Democrat.Carpenter initially declined to apologize and in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News made remarks that appeared to show Nazi sympathies. "Can you or I – can we even say it is totally out of the realm of possibility that Covid-19 patients will be rounded up and taken somewhere?" he said."People want to say Hitler was a white supremacist. No. He was fearful of the Jewish nation, and that drove him into some unfathomable atrocities." On Sunday, facing a national backlash, Carpenter apologized in an op-ed for a local paper."I take my responsibility as the voice of the people who elected me very seriously," he wrote. "I also hold the Jewish people in the highest regard."I do not take myself so seriously that I cannot recognize that the words I wrote, and those attributed to me, do not adequately reflect the esteem I hold for either group of people. I hope to correct that error now."


Macron, Merkel to announce new 'Franco-German initiative' on Monday

Posted: 18 May 2020 12:55 AM PDT

Macron, Merkel to announce new 'Franco-German initiative' on MondayFrench President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will present a new Franco-German initiative later on Monday, Macron's office said in a surprise statement. It gave no details on what the new initiative might entail, but a source close to Macron told Reuters it would touch on public health, economic recovery, green and digital transition, and industrial sovereignty. France and Germany have struggled to present a united front in the coronavirus crisis, with France leading a push by mostly southern European countries to convince fiscally conservative countries like Germany to issue joint European debt to help them weather the economic impact.


Mob storms Saudi-owned channel in Iraq following show

Posted: 18 May 2020 08:19 AM PDT

Iran Warns U.S. Against Making Any Move Against Its Tankers Heading to Venezuela

Posted: 18 May 2020 03:19 AM PDT

Iran Warns U.S. Against Making Any Move Against Its Tankers Heading to VenezuelaIran's foreign ministry spokesman on Monday warned that the Islamic Republic will react if the United States government makes any move against its tankers heading to Venezuela.


Canadian Air Force jet participating in flyover crashes in residential neighborhood, killing 1 and injuring 1

Posted: 17 May 2020 04:35 PM PDT

Canadian Air Force jet participating in flyover crashes in residential neighborhood, killing 1 and injuring 1Canada's Department of National Defense confirmed that one of their personnel died and another was injured in the crash.


House tells Supreme Court its investigation into possible impeachable offenses isn't over

Posted: 18 May 2020 02:14 PM PDT

House tells Supreme Court its investigation into possible impeachable offenses isn't overThe House Judiciary Committee also is looking into improper political influence in the Justice Department's handling of the cases of key Trump allies.


More than 100 countries are calling for an independent investigation into the coronavirus crisis

Posted: 18 May 2020 05:52 AM PDT

More than 100 countries are calling for an independent investigation into the coronavirus crisisThe two-day, virtual World Health Assembly meeting has begun as more than 100 countries back a resolution calling for a probe into the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.A resolution at the annual assembly calls for an investigation into the global response coordinated by the World Health Organization to the coronavirus crisis, per NBC News. A draft mentioning the need for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the response to COVID-19 is being supported by 116 countries out of 194, including Australia, Britain, Russia, and members of the European Union, Reuters reports. The European Union is presenting the resolution, which also mentions identifying "the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population."Chinese President Xi Jinping in a remote speech at the assembly on Monday claimed the country has acted "with openness and transparency" during the crisis, saying any investigation should only occur after the virus is under control, BBC News reports.President Trump last month announced funding to the World Health Organization would be put on hold "while its mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic is investigated," accusing the organization of having a "dangerous bias towards the Chinese government." When Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for a coronavirus inquiry last month, Axios notes that China "accused Australia of doing the United States' political bidding." The resolution that has the support of more than 100 countries, though, doesn't actually name China, The Washington Post notes.The United States, Reuters reports, appears likely to back the resolution at the World Health Assembly, with U.S. Ambassador Andrew Bremberg saying, "My hope is that we will be able to join consensus."More stories from theweek.com Trump is hemorrhaging older voters, polls show J.C. Penney to close 242 stores McConnell chooses Rubio to lead Senate Intelligence Committee amid Burr investigation


Xi defends China's virus response, offers vaccine when ready

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:58 AM PDT

Xi defends China's virus response, offers vaccine when readyChinese President Xi Jinping said Monday Beijing has been "transparent" throughout the coronavirus crisis, and offered to share a vaccine as soon as one was available -- as well as $2 billion in aid. Governments including the US and Australia have called in recent weeks for an investigation into the origins of the virus, which has become a flashpoint in deteriorating tensions between Washington and Beijing. Both US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have accused China of a lack of transparency over the issue, and repeatedly pushed the theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese maximum-security laboratory.


Coronavirus: Hospitals in Brazil’s largest city near collapse amid huge spike in cases, mayor says

Posted: 18 May 2020 03:57 AM PDT

Coronavirus: Hospitals in Brazil's largest city near collapse amid huge spike in cases, mayor saysThe healthcare system in Brazil's largest city is on the verge of collapse due to coronavirus, its mayor has said.


Mexico begins lifting Covid-19 lockdown despite fears worst is still to come

Posted: 18 May 2020 01:19 PM PDT

Mexico begins lifting Covid-19 lockdown despite fears worst is still to comeAbout 300 localities without confirmed virus cases are allowed to resume economic activities, but Amlo warns to maintain discipline * Coronavirus – latest US updates * Coronavirus – latest global updatesLocal authorities across Mexico have resisted President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's call to lift emergency coronavirus measures in municipalities without confirmed Covid-19 cases, warning that the pandemic is far from over.Mexico has registered nearly 50,000 Covid-19 cases and more than 5,000 deaths, and its testing rate ranks among the lowest in Latin America, with just 0.4 tests per 1,000 people.But on Monday, approximately 300 municipalities throughout the country – called "municipalities of hope" – were given the green light to restart economic activities and lift sheltering-in-place recommendations. Similar measures are scheduled to start 1 June in the rest of the country, while classes will resume the same day."We need to maintain discipline, not relax this discipline since we're almost there," said López Obrador, commonly called Amlo. "I have a lot of faith and many expectations that we're going to finish taming this pandemic."The decision to resume comes amid questions over the Amlo administration's coronavirus response, which has depended heavily on disease modeling and involved little testing and no contact tracing.Mexico has also come under pressure from the United States to reopen its economy as factories near the border form important links in continental supply chains. Companies wanting to resume construction, mining and manufacturing activities could apply for permission starting Monday, Amlo said.But the move to reopen the economic comes amid an ongoing row over the scale of Mexico's coronavirus crisis. Amlo has been infuriated by a string of stories in foreign media outlets alleging that his government has undercounted Covid-19 deaths.Amlo returned to the theme at his daily press conference on Monday, accusing international media of wanting to damage his government and spreading disinformation.Physicians and public health experts express disquiet that the country is opening too quickly and the model used to guide Mexico's Covid-19 response is unable to produce granular information for knowing which municipalities to open."We're at the peak and this peak could last a week or two weeks or who knows how long. It remains to be seen," said Asisclo de Jesús Villagómez a former president of Mexico's college of critical care medicine."I think they should be taking measures for when things reopen, but not putting a date on it.""We're flying blind," added Xavier Tello, a physician and healthcare consultant. He said Mexico only tests suspected Covid-19 cases if symptoms are severe – something producing low coronavirus statistics.Still, the coronavirus tsar, Hugo López-Gatell, has insisted that "the curve is flattening" and Amlo has told the country "we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."A poll published on Monday by the Reforma newspaper found 67% of respondents believed the "worst is yet to come" with Covid-19, while 68% said people were already casting aside practices like social distancing and staying at home.The 324 municipalities scheduled to reopen were chosen if there were no recorded Covid-19 cases over the previous 28 days and cases were not rising in neighbouring municipalities.Analysts found flaws in the selection process, however; no Covid-19 tests were carried out in two-thirds of the municipalities reopening, according to an investigation by Valería Moy, director of the NGO México, ¿Cómo Vamos?Many of the chosen municipalities are also small and isolated and among the most marginalised in Mexico. More than 200 of the municipalities set to reopen in Oaxaca are governed by traditional rules known as "uses and customs" which are common in indigenous communities.The governors of Jalisco and Chihuahua states said municipalities there would remain closed to conform with statewide Covid-19 restrictions. Local officials in Oaxaca and Guerrero states also seemed unwilling to reopen."With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, it's the indigenous population, which will be the most vulnerable [because] we don't have a comprehensive health system," Abel Bruno Arriaga, mayor of Malinaltepec in the rugged La Montaña region of Guerrero, told El Universal.


T cells play a role in fighting coronavirus; COVID-19 affects children differently

Posted: 18 May 2020 11:32 AM PDT

T cells play a role in fighting coronavirus; COVID-19 affects children differentlyThe following is a brief roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. While the immune system's B cells make antibodies that block the novel coronavirus, its T cells provide another line of attack, according to new research. Researchers found that T cells from recovered patients can target the virus.


Setback for Libya's Khalifa Haftar as Tripoli government captures strategic airbase

Posted: 18 May 2020 08:14 AM PDT

Setback for Libya's Khalifa Haftar as Tripoli government captures strategic airbaseLibya's internationally recognised government claimed a significant symbolic victory on Monday as its forces captured a strategic air-base from General Khalifa Khaftar's Libyan National Army. Osama Juweili, a senior commander with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, said troops entered Watiya airbase, 80 miles southwest of the capital, early on Monday morning. GNA media posted pictures of what it said was a Russian-made Pantsir air defence system captured at the base. There was no immediate confirmation from the LNA, although a spokesman earlier said it had evacuated troops from the base after it came under intense bombardment. Watiya was a key foothold for Gen Haftar's forces, which are backed by the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Russia, in western Libya. Its fall marks his biggest setback since he sparked the current round of Libya's civil war by launching an assault on Tripoli in April 2019. It is the latest of a series of gains for the GNA since Turkey openly began supplying weapons and personnel to Tripoli at the beginning of the year. Turkish supplied drones pounded Watiya for weeks ahead of Monday's assault. Violence in Libya has escalated despite international pressure on both sides to pause the fighting to allow the country's doctors to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic. Libya has reported at least 65 cases of the virus, including three deaths. At least seven people were killed a university campus being used to house families displaced by fighting in Tripoli came under artillery fire on the weekend. Fayez Serraj, the GNA Prime Minister, said in a statement that the "victory does not constitute the end of the battle but brings us closer than any time before to the bigger victory, the liberation of all towns and regions and bases."


The shortest flight route in the US is now a 29-mile American Airlines trip connecting two of Colorado's most wealthy resort towns

Posted: 18 May 2020 10:15 AM PDT

The shortest flight route in the US is now a 29-mile American Airlines trip connecting two of Colorado's most wealthy resort townsAmerican Airlines' 35-minute flight, spurred by funding conditions in the CARES Act, connects super-wealthy Colorado enclaves Vail and Aspen.


AP FACT CHECK: Trump, GOP falsehoods on Flynn, Biden, virus

Posted: 17 May 2020 09:08 PM PDT

AP FACT CHECK: Trump, GOP falsehoods on Flynn, Biden, virusPresident Donald Trump and his GOP allies are misrepresenting the facts behind the legal case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as they seek to allege improper behavior during the Obama administration in the presidential campaign season. Broadly dubbing his allegations "Obamagate," Trump points to unspecified conspiracies against himself in 2016 and suggests the disclosure of Flynn's name as part of legal U.S. surveillance of foreign targets was criminal and motivated by partisan politics. Over the weekend, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro also alleged without evidence corruption involving Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's son, Hunter, in China.


Photos show Mount St. Helens historic eruption: Cars sunk in volcanic ash, people wearing masks

Posted: 18 May 2020 03:46 PM PDT

Photos show Mount St. Helens historic eruption: Cars sunk in volcanic ash, people wearing masksFour decades ago, Mount St. Helens unleashed one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in U.S. history. See photos from the historic day.


First coronavirus case detected in Ecuador Amazon tribe

Posted: 17 May 2020 08:13 PM PDT

First coronavirus case detected in Ecuador Amazon tribeThe first case of the novel coronavirus has been detected in one of Ecuador's indigenous Amazon tribes, the health ministry said Sunday. Waorani organizations -- speaking through the GO Alliance for Human Rights in Ecuador (DDHH) -- warned COVID-19's spread could be "catastrophic and highly lethal" for their community, which is vulnerable to diseases. The first case reported in the Waorani tribe is a "pregnant woman, 17 years old, who began to show symptoms on May 4," the ministry said in a statement.


Two men caught stealing from convenience store with watermelons on their heads

Posted: 18 May 2020 07:37 AM PDT

Two men caught stealing from convenience store with watermelons on their headsTwo men were caught on camera stealing from a convenience store, while wearing watermelons on their heads as disguises.The men robbed alcohol from convenience store, Sheetz, in the town of Louisa, Virginia, on 6 May, while wearing watermelons on their heads.


Liberal media does 180 on FBI abuses after bureau goes after Trump team

Posted: 18 May 2020 04:11 AM PDT

Liberal media does 180 on FBI abuses after bureau goes after Trump teamThe liberal press used to denounce FBI abuses until the Trump administration; former deputy assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division Terry Turchie weighs in.


Taiwan says it did not receive WHO meeting invite, issue off the table for now

Posted: 17 May 2020 11:48 PM PDT

Taiwan says it did not receive WHO meeting invite, issue off the table for nowDespite strong efforts Taiwan did not get invited to this week's meeting of a key World Health Organization (WHO) body due to Chinese pressure, its foreign minister said on Monday, adding they had agreed to put the issue off until later this year. The decision drew prompt condemnation from the United States, which has been blaming China for covering up the early days of coronavirus outbreak and for refusing to share data about the virus with the rest of the world. Non-WHO member Taiwan had been lobbying to take part in a meeting later on Monday of WHO's decision-making body, the World Health Assembly, saying that to lock it out was to create a gap in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.


US Presses Forward with Afghan Withdrawal Plan Despite Spate of Horrific Attacks

Posted: 18 May 2020 05:50 AM PDT

US Presses Forward with Afghan Withdrawal Plan Despite Spate of Horrific AttacksThe U.S. still plans to draw down 8,600 troops in Afghanistan by July.


Nursing homes' "original sin" may be making virus crisis worse

Posted: 18 May 2020 09:29 AM PDT

Nursing homes' "original sin" may be making virus crisis worseRoughly one in 15 U.S. nursing homes was cited last year for failing to meet standards for "sufficient nursing staff."


A report circulating in Congress, which claims that China covered up a virus leak from a Wuhan lab, has been debunked

Posted: 18 May 2020 04:03 AM PDT

A report circulating in Congress, which claims that China covered up a virus leak from a Wuhan lab, has been debunkedThe Sierra Nevada Corporation claimed a "hazardous event" occurred at the Wuhan Institute of Virology last year. The theory is popular but unverified.


Navarro ties Obama, Biden and China together in coronavirus attack

Posted: 17 May 2020 07:28 AM PDT

Navarro ties Obama, Biden and China together in coronavirus attackThe White House adviser speaks of corruption and incompetence.


Texas' coronavirus confinement enforcement was reportedly more strict in border cities than elsewhere

Posted: 18 May 2020 07:22 AM PDT

Texas' coronavirus confinement enforcement was reportedly more strict in border cities than elsewhereWhile Texas GOP leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, openly railed against local officials for fining or even jailing (which is now forbidden) residents for breaching the state's stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Dallas Morning News reports that their criticism seems to have been disproportionately directed at the state's largest counties, while the order was more strictly enforced in border cities.The Morning News analyzed data from eight counties and nine cities across the state, finding that the most populous areas mostly relied on voluntary compliance with the order, while local authorities in just three border counties issued at least 2,600 citations and made 200 arrests for violations such as not wearing a face mask, having too many people in the same car, or breaking curfew.The city of Laredo, situated on the border, issued almost six times as many citations as Texas' five most populous cities — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth — combined.But, the Morning News notes, it appears those incidents mostly flew under the radar. "The elephant in the room is it wasn't until a blonde-haired Caucasian woman got involved that the interests of our political leaders were piqued," Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said, referring to the criticism of the jailing of Shelley Luther, who opened her Dallas salon in defiance of the order.Two Laredo women, Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata, were arrested before Luther for offering cosmetic services, but it was Luther's arrest that sparked a change.Republicans pushed back against the idea that their criticism, or lack thereof, was racially motivated; Lt. Government Dan Patrick said government overreach was "egregious" wherever it occurred, while Matt Mackowiak, a Republican consultant, said the geography-based backlash was natural, since Dallas gets "a lot more attention than Laredo." Read more at The Dallas Morning News.More stories from theweek.com Trump is hemorrhaging older voters, polls show J.C. Penney to close 242 stores McConnell chooses Rubio to lead Senate Intelligence Committee amid Burr investigation


WHO faces global call for pandemic investigation at general assembly

Posted: 18 May 2020 06:49 AM PDT

WHO faces global call for pandemic investigation at general assemblyThe videoconference focused on cooperation on vaccines, treatments and testing has already been marred by a blame game over the handling of the pandemic.


Ex drug cartel hitman 'El Chino Antrax' killed in Mexico

Posted: 18 May 2020 03:54 PM PDT

Tropical Storm Arthur, the First Named Storm of the Season, Gathers Speed as It Approaches North Carolina

Posted: 17 May 2020 07:19 AM PDT

Tropical Storm Arthur, the First Named Storm of the Season, Gathers Speed as It Approaches North CarolinaThe first named storm of hurricane season—Tropical Storm Arthur—formed off of Florida's east coast Saturday and is strengthening as it approaches North Carolina's outer banks.


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