Thursday 23 April
BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
Thursday 23 April 2020 News Briefing – Today’s headlines are dominated by the global Coronavirus Pandemic. As of 6:30 am (GMT), these are the global active numbers.
The breaking story this Thursday morning: US will shoot Iranian boats ‘out of the water’ says Trump.
Global COVID-19 UPDATE
Coronavirus Cases: 2,638,909
Deaths: 184,249
Recovered: 722,055
- Coronavirus: Global cases top 2.6 million.
- Japanese asked to hunker down during Golden Week.
- Social restrictions will remain in the UK for the rest of the year: Prof Whitty.
- Half of UK health workers suffering from mental stress because of covid-19.
- Iranian regime accused of corruption over test kits.
- France faces a second wave when the lockdown is lifted in May!
Coronavirus: Live updates
CNN says the novel coronavirus has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed at least 183,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 46,000 people have died in the US.
President Donald Trump said he has signed an executive order banning all immigration into the US over coronavirus fears.
Read the full story on CNN
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Japanese asked to hunker down during Golden Week as virus numbers grow
Japan Times says despite early signs that the number of new covid-19 cases may be slowing, the government warned residents they must stay home. And avoid travelling even during the Golden Week holidays – which start from later this month until early May.
“I’m alarmed that efforts to decrease (the number of new patients) have been insufficient,” said economic minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who spearheads the government’s coronavirus measures.
Read the full story on Japan Times
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Social restrictions ‘to remain for the rest of the year’
BBC News says the UK will have to live with some disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year, the government’s chief medical adviser said.
Prof Chris Whitty said it was “wholly unrealistic” to expect life would suddenly return to normal soon. He said: “In the long run” the ideal way out would be via a “highly effective vaccine” or drugs to treat the disease.
Read the full story on BBC News
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Half of UK health workers suffering stress because of covid-19
The Guardian says half of the health workers are suffering mental health problems such as stress and trauma as a result of dealing with Covid-19, new research reveals.
The pandemic is having a “severe impact” on the mental health of NHS staff as well as agency staff, GPs and dentists, with rates of anxiety and burnout, also running far higher than usual.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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Iranian regime accused of corruption over Covid-19 test kits
Arab News says London-based Iran International TV said on Wednesday that it had obtained a leaked document that reveals widespread corruption in the Iranian Health Ministry, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The document is a letter sent by a private company to an official at Iran’s national coronavirus taskforce in the health ministry regarding the importation of testing kits for the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Read the full story on Arab News
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France faces a second wave when the lockdown is lifted in May, researchers warn
The Independent says France faces a second wave of coronavirus infections when it lifts lockdown restrictions next month, according to three leading research institutions.
Scientists calculated the current transmission rates would mean less than 6 per cent of the French population will have been infected when containment measures begin to ease on 11 May.
Read the full story on The Independent
- Kim exit won’t change US goals says Mike Pompeo — following reports Kim Jong Un is gravely ill.
- US will shoot Iranian boats ‘out of the water’ – Trump’s threat to Iranian ships as tensions flare.
- Canada’s worst mass shooting leaves 22 dead, as police hunt for a motive.
Kim exit won’t change US goals: Pompeo
France24 says the United States will keep seeking North Korea’s denuclearisation no matter who is in charge in Pyongyang, Mike Pompeo said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s comments came amid speculation about Kim Jong-Un’s health.
US officials including President Trump have declined to discuss Kim’s condition after a report, downplayed by South Korea, that the reclusive authoritarian was ‘gravely ill’ following surgery.
Read the full story on France24
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US will shoot Iranian boats ‘out of the water’ says Trump
RT News says US forces in the Persian Gulf have been authorised to open fire on Iranian ships if they ‘harass’ them at sea, President Trump said. Trump’s words came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate even amid the pandemic.
“We’re not going to stand for it. If they do that, that’s putting our ships in danger and our great crews and sailors in danger – I’m not going to let that happen. And we will – they’ll shoot them out of the water,” Trump said on Wednesday.
Read the full story on RT News
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Canada: At least 22 people killed in Nova Scotia mass shooting
Sky News says at least 22 people were shot dead after a gunman went on a rampage in Nova Scotia over the weekend in Canada’s deadliest mass shooting to date.
The suspected gunman, Gabriel Wortman, a 51-year-old denturist, was dressed as a police officer and had disguised his car to look like a police vehicle.
Read the full story on Sky News
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