Andrew Cuomo is ordering everyone to wear face masks in public as part of a plan to start reopening New York

Cuomo outlined a plan for a phased reopening of the economy, based on strict testing, tracing, and isolating infected patients.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2XDlNTJ

US military chief: 'Weight of evidence' that Covid-19 did not originate in a lab

* Chair of joints chiefs says ‘natural’ origin more likely * 2018 cable expressed concern about Wuhan laboratory * Coronavirus – latest US updates * Coronavirus – latest global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageThe Pentagon’s top general has said that US intelligence has looked into the possibility that the coronavirus outbreak could have started in a Chinese laboratory, but that the “weight of evidence” so far pointed towards “natural” origins.The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley, was speaking on the day of a Washington Post report about state department cables in 2018 in which US diplomats raised safety concerns about the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) which was conducting studies of coronavirus from bats.“During interactions with scientists at the WIV laboratory, they noted the new lab has a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory,” a cable dated 19 January 2018 said, according to the Post.The diplomats urged further US support for the laboratory to address the concerns, but no support was given, at a time when the Trump administration was cutting back on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outreach abroad.Beijing’s official version of the start outbreak was the Covid-19 virus (Sars-CoV-2) was transmitted to humans from animals at Wuhan’s wild animal markets, though some Chinese officials have circulated conspiracy theories suggesting it was engineered in a US bioweapons laboratory.The cables reported by the Washington Post have emerged at a time when the administration is seeking to focus blame for the pandemic on China and the World Health Organization. The Republican senator Tom Cotton has raised the possibility that the pandemic was a deliberate Chinese bioweapon attack, though he has argued natural transmission from animals to humans, or a lab accident, were more likely scenarios.“There’s a lot of rumour and speculation in a wide variety of media, blog sites, etc,” Milley told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday. “It should be no surprise to you that we’ve taken a keen interest in that, and we’ve had a lot of intelligence look at that. And I would just say at this point, it’s inconclusive, although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural. But we don’t know for certain.”Most scientists say that this coronavirus probably originated in bats but found its way to humans through an intermediary animal.There is no conclusive evidence that this happened at Wuhan’s notorious “wet” markets where wild animals were sold for meat. Analysis of the first 41 Covid-19 patients in medical journal the Lancet found that 27 of them had direct exposure to the Wuhan market. But the same analysis found that the first known case did not.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cj0Mlg

A possible COVID-19 2nd wave could heighten flu vaccine 'challenges' this fall

The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively monitoring the potential impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on three distinct influenza seasons, according to a WHO statement to AccuWeather. They include the current Southern Hemisphere season, including vaccination and distribution, the production capacity for the Northern Hemisphere 2020-21 season and even monitoring of flu viruses for the strain selection in September 2020 for the Southern Hemisphere 2021 season.The WHO has been working with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association (IFPMA), which conducted a survey to understand if there has been any impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on influenza vaccine manufacturers, according to the WHO statement.The IFPMA survey results show "air traffic disruption is adding challenges to vaccine distribution and logistics" and an "increase in seasonal influenza vaccine demand" during the current Southern Hemisphere flu season, the WHO added.There are "also concerns about air traffic disruptions" affecting vaccine distribution for the Northern Hemisphere in the fall, the WHO told AccuWeather, as well as possible "border closures." "Delays with [vaccine] shipment have already been experienced due to the pandemic."A shortage of flu vaccine in the Northern Hemisphere in the fall could occur around the worst time. Infectious disease experts are concerned about a possible second wave of COVID-19 based on past influenza pandemics, Dr. Harvey Fineberg told AccuWeather. Dr. Fineberg was the chair of a National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine panel that sent a report to the White House last week concerning how weather and seasonality may affect the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Paramedic Chelsea Monge of Ready Responders removes personal protective equipment after making a house call for a possible coronavirus patient Friday, April 10, 2020, in Henderson, Nev. Ready Responders is a group that makes house calls for non emergencies and will connect the patient with a doctor via a telehealth service. Monge estimates that about half of calls to the group in the past month have been for flu-like symptoms. (AP Photo/John Locher) "If you look at the influenza pandemics - which is the largest source of recurring pandemics ... when they emerged, they all tended to go into a downcycle after about six months and then to come back," Fineberg told AccuWeather. "But it didn't matter about the season - it was when they started that led to the cycling."Whether that's very relevant or remotely interesting connected to coronavirus, time will tell," he added. "We don't know, but that has important implications for how we have to plan and deploy our resources."Dr. Deborah Levy, who worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 20 years from 1996 to 2016 and was involved with crises involving SARS, MERS and the Zika virus among others, anticipates a greater demand for the flu vaccine this fall."I remember during the 2009 pandemic when the flu vaccine came out, they couldn't keep enough of it," Dr. Levy, now chair and professor of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, told AccuWeather."If it happened then - and the coronavirus is worse now - I would suspect that you're going to have a high demand for it," said Dr. Levy. "And depending on how high the demand is, they may need to figure out how to roll it out. Everybody wants it right away, but it doesn't work that way."A record 169.1 million doses of flu vaccines were administered in 2018-19, with this year's total not yet finalized but expected to be even higher. A record again figures to be set for the 2020-21 flu season.Influenza is the most frequent cause of death from a vaccine-preventable disease in the United States. The CDC estimates there have been at least 39 million flu illnesses, 410,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths from the flu during the 2019-20 season.CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APPFlu season typically begins in October, peaks between December and February and lasts well into March although activity can last as late as May. Flu viruses are more stable in cold air and the low humidity allows the virus particles to remain in the air, according to Peter Palese, who was the lead author on a key flu study in 2007."We are planning to increase our total production of flu vaccine doses by 8 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 for both Southern and Northern Hemisphere campaigns," a spokesperson for Sanofi replied to AccuWeather in an email. Sanofi is one of the manufacturers of flu vaccines."This represents a significant increase of 29 percent over two years (2020 vs 2018)," the spokesperson added. "Nevertheless, we anticipate the demand in the Northern Hemisphere to grow at an even higher pace and we're working on an internal allocation process, in order to meet the demand in an optimal way."Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RIGhGN

Joe Biden needs his Joe Biden. Here's a look at the women who could be on his vice presidential shortlist

After Sen. Bernie Sanders’ exit from the race, the former vice president will soon begin the process of selecting a running mate as the Democratic primary nears its end.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RHYUuC

New York City revises coronavirus death toll to add 3,700 more deaths

New York City has made a devastating revision to its already massive coronavirus death toll.On Tuesday, the city's health department released a revised COVID-19 death count that included those who were not tested but were presumed to have died from the disease. That added an additional 3,700 people, bumping the city's total count well over 10,000 coronavirus fatalities.New York City was already the epicenter of coronavirus spread both in the U.S. and the world, reporting well over 7,000 verified COVID-19 deaths on Monday. These 3,700 additional deaths mark a massive 17 percent increase to the national death toll, putting it over 26,000, The New York Times notes.The previous death count only included people who had tested positive for COVID-19, but New York City's health department had been recording presumptive cases, the Times reports. "In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives," Mayor Bill de Blasio's press secretary said, but de Blasio moved to release the additional data after a series of weekend briefings. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio have all recently moved to start reporting presumptive COVID-19 deaths.More stories from theweek.com Why can't you go fishing during the pandemic? The new mysteries of coronavirus What should Democrats do about the sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden?

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2yc4iPE

Coronavirus hospitalizations in New York down for second day

Cuomo disclosed an outline of his plan to reopen New York's shuttered economy, starting with the most essential businesses, and said he would order people to wear masks in public when a safe distance from others could not be maintained. Speaking at media briefings on Wednesday, Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont talked about achieving a new normal as opposed to returning to life as it was before the coronavirus outbreak. Cuomo stressed that the crisis would not be over until a vaccine was developed some 12 to 18 months from now.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3crjdV7

Virus hit 'like a bomb' as toll rises in Ecuador's business capital

Ecuador's economic capital Guayaquil is reeling from the most aggressive outbreak of COVID-19 in Latin America after the pandemic hit the city "like a bomb," its mayor said. Cynthia Viteri has emerged from her own bout with the virus to battle the worst crisis the port city of nearly 3 million people has known in modern times. Mortuaries, funeral homes and hospital services are overwhelmed, and Viteri said the actual death toll from the virus is likely much higher than the official national figure of 369.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RGaOoy

Fauci: Trump's coronavirus briefings are 'really draining'

"It isn't the idea of being there and answering questions, which I really think is important for the American public," he said. "It's the amount of time."

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VxWb7U

Navy secretary sought OK for $243,000 flight to COVID-stricken ship after returning from Guam

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly's urgent request to fly to Guam was OK'd by the Pentagon the day after he returned. The trip cost $243,000.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3ciBcN9

Australia looks for unified schools policy in coronavirus shutdown

Australia's federal government will on Thursday urge state premiers to reopen schools, local media reported, as authorities warned against any complacency generated by a sustained slowdown in the spread of the coronavirus throughout the country.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2XB0X7r

Americans must unite amid coronavirus: Sarah Sanders

Americans must unite amid coronavirus: Sarah Sanders



Former White House Press Secretary and Fox News contributor Sarah Sanders says President Trump is interested in saving American lives with regard to working with governors on reopening states safely.

for More details please visit Dubai Movers and packers 

Trump says he may forcefully adjourn Congress, use recess to appoint nominees

Trump says he may forcefully adjourn Congress, use recess to appoint nominees



President Trump announced during a White House Address on Wednesday, that he is considering adjoining Congress and using their absence to make political appointments. 

Sen. Cruz on push to sanction China over coronavirus

Sen. Cruz on push to sanction China over coronavirus



Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz on issues surrounding China's actions before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sources believe coronavirus pandemic started in Chinese laboratory

Sources believe coronavirus pandemic started in Chinese laboratory



Sources tell Fox News that the belief is now is that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab, not as a bio weapon, but as China's effort to find and deal with viruses.

Pompeo: China's lack of transparency put people around the world at risk

Pompeo: China's lack of transparency put people around the world at risk



Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sits down with Martha MaCallum on 'The Story' to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and U.S.-China relations.

President Trump says data suggests US has passed peak of new coronavirus cases

President Trump says data suggests US has passed peak of new coronavirus cases



President Trump leads daily briefing of the White House coronavirus task force from the Rose Garden.

Trump warns he'll adjourn Congress if Senate does not confirm his nominees for administration vacancies

Trump warns he'll adjourn Congress if Senate does not confirm his nominees for administration vacancies



Every week they put up roadblocks, says President Trump at the daily briefing of the White House coronavirus task force.

US officials were reportedly concerned that safety breaches at a Wuhan lab studying coronaviruses in bats could cause a pandemic

Diplomatic cables obtained by The Washington Post raise more questions about the virus' origins and whether a top-level lab may have been involved.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2REbMSs

Guatemala calls US 'Wuhan of Americas' in battle over deportees

The country’s health minister says deportation flights are driving up coronavirus cases after a flight had 75% test positive * Coronavirus – live US updates * Live global updates * See all our coronavirus coverageUS deportation flights to Guatemala are driving up the country’s Covid-19 caseload, according to the country’s health minister, who said that on one flight about 75% of the deportees tested positive for the virus.Hugo Monroy said that the United States had become the “Wuhan of the Americas” referring to the Chinese province where the pandemic began.“We must not stigmatize, but I have to speak clearly. The arrival of deportees who have tested positive has really increased the number of [coronavirus] cases,” he said on Tuesday.“There are really flights where the deportees arrive … with fever – and they get on the planes that way,” said Monroy on Tuesday. “We automatically evaluate them here and test them and many of them have come back positive.”Later, the presidential spokesman, Carlos Sandoval, told reporters that Monroy was referring to a March flight on which “between 50% and 75% [of the passengers] during all their time in isolation and quarantine have come back positive”.Before Tuesday, Guatemala had reported only three positive infections among deportees flown back by the United States.Joaquín Samayoa, spokesman for the foreign affairs ministry, confirmed a fourth positive case for a migrant who arrived on a flight on Monday. At least three of the migrants who arrived Monday were taken directly to a hospital for Covid-19 testing.It remained unclear why before Tuesday the government had only reported three deportees who tested positive and how many more would have been among the high percentage who tested positive onboard that March flight.Guatemala again began receiving deportation flights from the United States on Monday after a one-week pause prompted by three deportees testing positive for Covid-19.The Guatemalan government had asked the United States to not send more than 25 deportees per flight, to give them health examinations before departure and to certify that they were not infected.However, the flights resumed on Monday with 76 migrants onboard the first and 106 on the second. Guatemala’s foreign ministry did not immediately clarify why the US had not complied with its requirements, but the flights came on the same day that the US state department announced that aid would continue to Guatemala and the other Northern Triangle countries.One of Monday’s flights also included 16 unaccompanied minors, according to the Guatemalan Immigration Institute.Since January, the US has deported nearly 12,000 Guatemalans, including more than 1,200 children.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2ylBZOB

Pelosi: Trump coronavirus missteps 'caused unnecessary death and economic disaster'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a letter in which she charged President Trump with missteps in handling the coronavirus pandemic that “caused unnecessary death and economic disaster” in the U.S.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2XDL3ZU

Trump administration aims to buy milk, meat to help farmers hit by coronavirus: Perdue

The decision comes amid rising pressure from the U.S. farm lobby for government purchases as growers and ranchers struggle to get their goods to market because of disruptions caused by the pandemic, forcing some of them to throw out their supplies. “We want to purchase as much of this milk, or other protein products, hams and pork products, and move them into where they can be utilized in our food banks, or possibly even into international humanitarian aid,” Perdue said in an interview on Fox News. Reuters reported on Monday that Department of Agriculture will spend up to $15.5 billion in the initial phase of its plan to bolster the nation's food supply chain against the impacts of the outbreak, the first big push to ensure the pandemic doesn't trigger consumer food shortages.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RF2Ig2

Carnival's CEO said the company has enough money to make it through the rest of 2020 without bringing in any revenue

Carnival has raised over $6 billion in debt and equity this year after drawing $3 billion from its credit lines.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2XAClvr

U.S. Justice Department sides with church in COVID-19 religious dispute

The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday weighed in on the potential imposition on religious rights caused by COVID-19 state shutdown orders, siding with a Mississippi church that sued the city of Greenville. Department lawyers filed a statement of interest in support of Temple Baptist Church, which claims Greenville is seeking to prevent it from holding drive-in church services that comply with social distancing guidelines. Greenville has since said it will not seek to collect the penalties, the Justice Department noted.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VrDcMh

Obama Bursts Back on the Scene With Biden Endorsement

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RFjxrb

Panama registers 102 new cases of coronavirus: health ministry

Panama registered 102 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the country's total to 3,574 cases, the health ministry said.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/3el4QmQ

Mexico registers 5,399 cases of coronavirus and 406 deaths

Mexico registered 385 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing its total to 5,399 cases and 406 deaths, the health ministry said.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/3emmB5k

Trump halts World Health Organization funding over handling of coronavirus

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has instructed his administration to halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic while his administration reviews its response to the global crisis.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2REhbc0

Technology deployed to keep those on front lines of COVID-19 fight as virus-free as possible

Technology deployed to keep those on front lines of COVID-19 fight as virus-free as possible



Hospitals, local law enforcement embrace drones, autonomous vehicles with novel uses; Phil Keating reports.

Reporters Confront Trump on His Past Praise for China’s ‘Transparency’ In Coronavirus Response After He Bashes WHO

Want to avoid video ads? Subscribe to

As President Donald Trump used his latest coronavirus press conference to condemn the World Health Organization, he ended up facing a plethora of questions on why he also praised China earlier this year for how that country handled the pandemic.

Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would investigate and suspend funding for the W.H.O. The organization has been widely criticized for their early mishandling of the pandemic and for parroting misinformation from the Chinese government.

While Trump declined to say anything about his administration’s inaction after being warned about Covid-19’s seriousness earlier this year, it’s worth noting that the president also praised China back in January for “their efforts and transparency.”

China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

When Trump took questions at the White House, Bloomberg reporter Jordan Fabian called out the contradiction: “You were just criticizing the WHO for praising China as transparent but you were saying many of the same things about China just a couple of months ago. So how do you square your decision?”

Trump ignored the core of the question in order to wax on about his administration’s trade dealings with China. Shortly afterwards, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins attempted to follow up and asked if Trump wanted to walk back his praise for China.

“I’m always respectful of China! I’m respectful of other countries” Trump answered, once again ignoring the actual question. Collins repeatedly attempted to grill Trump on his past comments, to which, he eventually claimed “I don’t talk about China’s transparency. If I’m so good to China, how come I’m the only leader of a country that closed our borders tightly against China?”

Minor little detail: but even after Trump restricted travel from China, approximately 40,000 people were reportedly able to travel from China to the U.S. in the last few months.

Want to avoid video ads? Subscribe to

Watch above, via Fox News.

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/3enQv9i

Fox News Hits Back at Activist Group That Sued Over Coronavirus Coverage: ‘Can’t Silence Us with a Lawsuit’

Read the rest of this entry »

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2VsNMTo

CNN’s John King Mocks Trump ‘Authorizing’ Governors to Do Their Jobs: ‘Full Retreat Wrapped in Trumpian Bluster’

Want to avoid video ads? Subscribe to

CNN’s John King called out President Donald Trump for completing a full reversal in just 24 hours on his baseless claim that he had unlimited power to override — and cease — any state or local guidelines or rules put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

King’s comments came amidst Tuesday’s daily White House briefing on the pandemic, which the network cut away from to offer context on Trump’s latest narrative on the timing of reopening the economy. The CNN anchor told Wolf Blitzer that the president was now pretending to have granted permission to the governors that he didn’t have and that they didn’t need.

At Monday’s coronavirus press briefing, the president notably tried to argue that his “authority was total” in terms of being able to rescind governors’ and mayors’ shelter-in-place and social distancing decrees. Trump’s unlimited powers claim was swiftly shot down on both MSNBC and Fox News as flagrantly unconstitutional. And on Tuesday morning, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised a lawsuit if Trump tried to follow through on his empty boast.

“John King, I want your analysis as well,” Blitzer said. “He realizes that he doesn’t have total authority over the governors, but he still is pretending that he does?”

“Exactly right,” King agreed, before zeroing in on the president’s flip-flop. “That was a full retreat wrapped in Trumpian bluster: ‘I will authorize the governors to do their jobs.’ He has no authority. As you noted with Daniel [Dale], he recognized that as most appropriate in each state — in other words, ‘I today agree that the governors will do this as they see fit in their states,’ which is what the governors were saying all along and what they were going to do no matter what the president said. So this ‘I authorize,’ so he can seem like he still has power was a full retreat from yesterday.”

“Now he’s trying to clean it up,” King continued. “There’s a couple little pieces of what he’s talking about today that would actually be helpful for the American people to hear. Have they finally got the supplies lined up and running? Are they actually producing ventilators at the right speed? Are they doing some of the things that they did not do early on now? Have they learned lessons? That would be great.”

“Instead we get the daily airing of grievances at the White House,” King pointed out. “Things we have to fact check and we have to correct, which some of our viewers get mad at us, too, they want to know: ‘Am I safe? Can I go back to work? When can I go back to work? Can I trust my governor and mayor when they tell me I can go back to work? Can I trust my boss when they say it’s okay to come back to work?’

Watch the video above, via CNN.

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2yiNN4w

Figures show hundreds of COVID-19 deaths in UK care homes

Leading British charities said the new coronavirus is causing “devastation” in the country’s nursing homes, as official statistics showed Tuesday that hundreds more people with COVID-19 have died than were recorded in the U.K. government’s daily tally. The Office for National Statistics said 5,979 deaths that occurred in England up to April 3 involved COVID-19, 15% more than the 5,186 deaths announced by the National Health Service for the same period. As of Tuesday, the government reported a total of 12,107 virus-related deaths across the U.K.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2wDb1BP

Putin says Russia may need the army to help battle coronavirus

President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia might need to call in the army to help tackle the coronavirus crisis and warned the contagion was getting worse after the number of confirmed cases rose by a record daily amount. Russia reported 2,558 new cases on Monday, bringing the overall nationwide tally to 18,328. Moscow, the worst-hit area, and several other regions have imposed a lockdown, ordering residents to stay at home except to buy food, seek urgent medical treatment, take out the rubbish, or go to work if absolutely necessary.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/34w3C3P

Shale Giants Clash Over Oil-Supply Cut to Survive Crude Rout

(Bloomberg) -- One of the biggest Texas shale explorers warned it will halt all drilling if the state imposes OPEC-style production caps, raising the stakes in a debate over a contentious proposal to arrest free-falling oil prices.The stark pronouncement from Diamondback Energy Inc.’s finance chief stunned observers of Tuesday’s virtual hearing by the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees oil output in the Lone Star state. At issue was whether the state should restrict crude output for the first time in roughly 50 years.The proposal has deeply divided an industry already grappling with a global oversupply, escalating financial losses and the demand-killing Covid-19 outbreak.Diamondback Chief Financial Officer Kaes Van’t Hof said the company already is in the process of shutting down 30% of its drilling and would take it to zero if the state clamps down on production. Such a move would have dire consequences in the form of lost jobs and disrupted families, he said.In the event of quotas, “we’d let all our service providers go through the period of proration,” Van’t Hof said. “That turns that industry, the service industry, on to the same issues that the restaurant industry is facing today where they’re completely shut down with zero revenue and zero employment.”On a practical note, Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick wondered whether the agency even retains the expertise to enforce a statewide output limit. “We don’t even know how to do it any more,” she said.Force MajeureMeanwhile, opponents of quotas insinuated that some drillers are supporting such restrictions for selfish reasons such as voiding contractual obligations.Without naming specific companies or executives, Enterprise Products Partners Co-CEO Jim Teague suggested that advocates of mandatory output cuts may be just asking for a government order that will allow them to negate contracts. Marathon Oil Corp.’s Lee Tillman voiced similar concerns.A state order to curtail oil output would presumably provide drillers with justification to declare force majeure, the so-called “act of God” provision in contracts that relieves a party of liability for events outside their control.Web of ContractsThe hearing began with executives from the biggest pro-quota companies: Pioneer Natural Resources Co. and Parsley Energy Inc. Chief executives from both firms urged the commission to cap production or risk deep and long-lasting damage to the industry and economy.“Are they really trying to fix a problem?” Teague asked more than two hours into the marathon hearing. Oil explorers ensnared by the sudden slump in oil prices still must honor contracts with pipeline networks, storage operators and hard-hat contractors that drill and frack their wells.In-State Fields“Anyone who knows Pioneer will write off these comments as meaningless,” Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield said in an email. “Pioneer has the one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry and a robust hedging program.”Parsley supports quotas because they will soften “the blow to the U.S. oil and gas industry, saving oil and gas jobs, supporting our national security, and perpetuating the Texas miracle,” CEO Matt Gallagher said in an email.Marathon’s Tillman warned that Texas caps would be unfair to companies that also drill in other states because it could force them to curtail output at fields that are more profitable than other parts of their portfolio. Pioneer and Parsley are focused almost exclusively on Texas drilling.“When a vocal minority takes a position in favor of artificial market manipulation, that is so far removed from the consensus of a vast majority of operators, one can only surmise that their motives and objectives are primarily company-specific, as opposed to broadly industry-supported,” Tillman said during the hearing.Pioneer’s Sheffield told the three-person commission that mandatory cuts are needed to prevent large swathes of U.S. shale from going under. They could also be used as leverage to squeeze additional curbs from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Group of 20 nations.Free MarketTillman and a bevy of anti-quota executive argued that such market intervention would create a dangerous precedent that would undermine the entire industry.“The best solution to our current crisis is to get the world healthy and back to work while not abandoning the free market principles that have created U.S. energy independence,” Tillman said.Sheffield has been the leading voice advocating for state-imposed cuts, even as the biggest players in the sector -- Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. -- staunchly oppose the proposal. Still, the fact that the idea is even on the table in a state that prides itself on self reliance and unhindered trade is a measure of the swift and startling plunge in oil prices.At current prices, 80% of the U.S. shale industry will go bankrupt, Sheffield estimated. Oil-storage capacity across the country will be full in a matter of weeks, and that will create a backup effect that will force drillers to shut wells, he said.OPEC+The OPEC+ agreement this past weekend to cut 9.7 million barrels of daily output won’t make a notable impact on prices given the stark impact the Covid-19 contagion is having on energy demand, Sheffield argued.Texas should start with a 20% cut, which would amount to more than 1 million barrels a day, he said. Parsley’s Gallagher agreed.“If we slam into a train wreck at full speed at a peak rate that we can predict, then it’s going to be much worse,” Gallagher said.(Updates with Pioneer CEO’s comments in 12th paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3coJiEh

Fox News Anchor: ‘Conservatives’ Heads Would've Exploded’ if Obama Claimed ‘Total’ Authority

Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Tuesday called out conservatives for exhibiting some hypocrisy over President Donald Trump asserting he had “total” authority over states’ decisions, pointing out that their “heads would’ve exploded” if the previous president made similar remarks.During an unhinged coronavirus briefing on Monday, the president insisted that he had absolute power when it comes to states’ social-distancing guidelines, claiming that he has authority over governors to decide when states should reopen amid the pandemic. Despite legal experts rebutting his assertion, the president doubled down on Tuesday and likened Democratic governors to mutineers. Appearing on Fox News’ The Daily Briefing on Tuesday, Baier was asked by host Dana Perino to react to the growing back-and-forth between Trump and governors, especially with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo firing back at president’s claims.“First of all, the Constitution is pretty clear,” Fox News’ chief political anchor replied. “Constitutional scholars will say that this is not the president flicking on the switch, it’s the governors and the local authorities that have that going forward.”“I think that there’s hypocrisy here in that, one, if President Obama had said those words that you heard from President Trump, that the authority is total with the presidency, conservatives’ heads would’ve exploded across the board,” he continued.Andrew Cuomo Slams Trump Briefings: Governors ‘Should Not Watch That’ At the same time, Baier felt that both sides have been hypocritical, noting that recently there was “a lot of coverage” asking why the president wasn’t calling for a national stay-at-home order.“But now it’s, ‘No, he can’t open up,’” he added.“The bottom line is that the president can really influence these governors and work with them,” Baier concluded. “As far as the top-down order, by the Constitution, you can’t do that. So it’s working with these governors to open it up in a rolling kind of open is what I imagine would happen.”Baier calling out the right’s hypocrisy on Trump’s remarks came as one of his colleagues, Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume, brushed off the president’s declaration of absolute power as just “another of his serial exaggerations” that the media is giving too much attention to.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/34C5rvT

Taliban say US bombing insurgents at home contrary to deal

Washington peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad met with Pakistan’s military chief Tuesday, a day after discussing the lagging U.S.-Taliban peace deal in Afghanistan with the chief negotiator for the insurgent movement. The meetings included Gen. Scott Miller, head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Statements from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. military in Kabul said Washington was engaged in “ongoing efforts” to find a sustainable peace after decades of relentless war but the U.S. officials released no details.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cgStq8

Getting a coronavirus test in Wuhan: fast, cheap and easy

Coronavirus tests can be difficult to come by in many countries including in hard-hit parts of the United States and Britain, but in Wuhan, the Chinese epicentre of the pandemic, they are fast, cheap and easy to get. Cities including Beijing have required some arriving travelers to present test results when entering.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VpdN61

China McDonald's apologises for Guangzhou ban on black people

A ban at a Guangzhou branch of the fast-food chain came amid rumours Africans were spreading coronavirus.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3cp8GK5

Italy’s New Coronavirus Cases Fall as Daily Death Toll Rises

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2RBjuN8

Biden is botching his response to the coronavirus and struggling to convince Americans they can trust him

Confined to an in-home TV studio, Biden scored poorly even among Democrats in Insider's latest poll.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2K3HKmY

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says expect 'new normal' after stay-at-home order is eased: 'Normal it will not be'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday outlined numerous conditions for modifying the state's stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus crisis but noted residents should expect a "new normal" to follow until there is a vaccine.Newsom on Tuesday said California easing its statewide stay-at-home order will be dependent on its "ability to do six things": expand testing, protect vulnerable populations, address the needs of hospitals, develop therapeutics, ensure facilities allow for social distancing, and determine when the state might need to "reinstate more vigorous controls." Newsom didn't provide a date for when the stay-at-home order could potentially be loosened but said he wants to see hospitalizations and ICU numbers decline.At the same time, Newsom cautioned "there's no light switch here" and that there will be a "new normal" in California's next phase."Normal, it will not be, at least until we have herd immunity and we have a vaccine," he said, going on to provide one example of what restaurants might look like in this next phase."You may be having dinner with a waiter wearing gloves, maybe a face mask," he said. "Dinner where the menu is disposable, where half the tables in that restaurant no longer appear, where your temperature is checked before you walk into the establishment. These are likely scenarios as we begin to process the next phase and next iteration."Schools, Newsom also said, could potentially need to "stagger the times that students come in" going into the fall in order to reduce physical contact. As far as when large events can resume, Newsom said that "the prospect of mass gatherings is negligible at best until we get to herd immunity and we get to a vaccine," and so large events involving hundreds or thousands of people are currently "not in the cards."More stories from theweek.com Trump's frightening claim of 'total' authority The world's dominant ideology is breaking. What will replace it? New York City revises coronavirus death toll to add 3,700 more deaths

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2VvWDUe

North Korea fires barrage of missiles from ground and air

The launches came a day before the 108th birthday of North Korea’s late founder, and ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3bk0r1q

The rich have fled New York City. I’m sick of being told that I need to stay, because I want to escape too.

People with second homes and with funds to spare left NYC when the coronavirus hit. Those who couldn't afford to go are being lectured to stay put.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3b5mOI1