Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Upending Global Assumptions On American Exceptionalism, Leadership April 24, 2020 News Summary New York Times: ‘Sadness’ and Disbelief From a World Missing American Leadership “…The pandemic sweeping the globe has done more than take lives and livelihoods from New Delhi to New York. It is shaking fundamental assumptions about American exceptionalism — the special role the United States played for decades after…
Senate Democrats Call For USAID Representation On White House Coronavirus Task Force, Citing Importance Of Combining Domestic, International Response April 24, 2020 News Summary The Hill: Senate Democrats call for USAID to join coronavirus task force “Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday called for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to be added to the White House’s coronavirus task force, saying the administration needs to combine its domestic and international…
Chinese Diplomats Defend Country’s COVID-19 Response; Trump Administration Looks To Shift WHO Funding To Other Groups As House Democrats Call For Funding Resumption April 24, 2020 News Summary AP: China’s diplomats show teeth in defending virus response “From Asia to Africa, London to Berlin, Chinese envoys have set off diplomatic firestorms with a combative defense whenever their country is accused of not acting quickly enough to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. They belong to a new…
STAT Examines Involvement Of BARDA Official In Emergency Use Authorization Decision Over Malaria Drug, Usually Overseen By FDA April 24, 2020 News Summary STAT: Why was an obscure federal bureaucrat involved in Trump’s emergency hydroxychloroquine authorization? “Rick Bright, a bureaucrat at an obscure federal agency, burst onto the political stage this week with allegations that the Trump White House put politics ahead of science to advance an untested malaria drug as a coronavirus…
U.S. Intelligence Community Investigating Possibility Novel Coronavirus Could Be Used As Bioweapon; Former U.N. Ambassador Power Discusses Importance Of Pandemic Security April 24, 2020 News Summary POLITICO: Officials probe the threat of a coronavirus bioweapon “The Pentagon and the intelligence community are more forcefully investigating the possibility that adversaries could use the novel coronavirus as a bioweapon, according to defense and intelligence officials, in a shift that reflects the national security apparatus’ evolving understanding of the…
Subdued Ramadan Begins Under Coronavirus-Related Lockdowns April 24, 2020 News Summary AP: Muslims begin marking a subdued Ramadan under virus closures “Muslims worldwide began Ramadan on Friday with dawn-to-dusk fasting, but many will have to forgo the communal prayers and family gatherings that make the holy month special, as authorities maintain lockdowns aimed at slowing the coronavirus pandemic. Ramadan is usually…
Maintaining Regular Immunizations During Pandemic Vital To Preventing Childhood Disease Resurgence, WHO Warns April 24, 2020 News Summary The Hill: WHO warns against closing immunization services during coronavirus pandemic “The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned against shutting down immunization services during the coronavirus pandemic, saying closures could risk resurgences of easily preventable diseases. The WHO said in a press release that illnesses like measles and polio…
Financial Times Special Report Examines Global Efforts, Challenges To Combating Malaria April 24, 2020 News Summary Financial Times: FT Health: Combating Malaria In this special report, the Financial Times examines “[h]ow the fight against coronavirus could set back malaria progress by 20 years; lockdown and drug ‘hijack’ fears in India; a childhood malaria sufferer turned medical scientist on why Africa needs treatments that fit,” and more…
Bill Gates Examines Behavior Change, Innovation Needed To Emerge From COVID-19 Lockdowns April 24, 2020 News Summary STAT: In long essay, Bill Gates says time and innovation needed before coronavirus lockdowns end “Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday warned that the world’s emergence from coronavirus lockdowns will be slow, and cautioned that it will take innovation before people feel safe enough to attend large public events or…
43% Increase In COVID-19 Cases In Africa Over Past Week; 20 European Countries Likely Pass First Peak; Syria Faces Coronavirus While Protracted War Continues April 24, 2020 News Summary AFRICA AP: Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear (Anna et al., 4/24). AP: Africa’s 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts (Imray, 4/23). New Humanitarian: Township lockdown: How South Africa’s poor bear the cost of coronavirus (Oliver, 4/23). PRI: In fight against coronavirus, Ghana…