Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020
Foreign Workers Banned, Facebook Boycott & Baseball Returns
All the news in less than 10 min:
This episode is brought to you by www.Skillshare.com/newsworthy.
Story Summaries
All the news stories mentioned in today's episode are listed with links below, so you can spend as much -- or as little -- time as you want to read the latest happenings...
WHO on COVID-19 Outbreaks
The world hit a record level of new daily COVID-19 cases this week. The W.H.O. said it’s because the pandemic is peaking in several big countries at the same time. Those include India, Brazil, and the United States. The U.S. accounts for just more than 4% of the world’s population, but 20% of all new reported infections.
Read More: Reuters, AP, Politico, UN
Infections Spike in the U.S.
One out of every five COVID-19 tests in Arizona is coming back positive. That’s the highest rate in the country. Also, hospitalizations are dramatically increasing in Texas and Georgia. Some city and state leaders are now scaling back plans to reopen. For example, Louisiana’s governor announced he would delay the next phase or reopening for another month.
Read More: CBS News, Orlando Sentinel, Politico, Axios, WaPo, Johns Hopkins
NYC More Reopening
There are fewer confirmed cases and deaths in New York City, so the city lifted more restrictions this week. That reportedly allowed another 300,000 New Yorkers to go back to work in the city that was once the global epicenter of COVID-19. Restaurants and stores are back open. Kids can even return to playgrounds.
Read More: AP, WSJ, CBS News, NY Times
Fauci, Others Testify Today
Leaders of the CDC and FDA will testify on Capitol Hill today, along with the Trump administration’s testing czar and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. They plan to tell a House committee the pandemic is not expected to end anytime soon and the upcoming flu season could make matters worse.
Read More: AP, The Hill, Prepared Testimony
Remembering Rayshard Brooks
Today, family and friends of Rayshard Brooks will honor his life in the same church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as co-pastor. At the private funeral, King’s youngest daughter, Rev. Bernice King, will speak. Brooks is the Black man who was shot by a white police officer earlier this month in Atlanta, Georgia. Actor, producer, and director Tyler Perry has offered to cover today’s funeral costs.
Read More: AJC, Reuters, NBC News
Trump Limiting Work Visas
President Trump is banning hundreds of thousands of foreign workers from the U.S. until at least the end of the year. He signed an order to suspend a variety of work visas. The president says this will help safeguard jobs for unemployed Americans who have been out of work during the coronavirus pandemic. However, business groups and high-tech companies say suspending visas will slow down recovery, making it harder for companies to recruit top talent into the U.S. The order is likely to be challenged in court.
Read More: WSJ, USA Today, NBC News, Reuters, Axios
Bolton Book Released Today
Starting today, people can buy and read the full tell-all book from former national security adviser John Bolton. In the memoir called The Room Where it Happened, Bolton wrote about his 17 months in President Trump’s inner circle. He didn’t paint a flattering picture of the president. The Trump administration had tried to stop the book’s release, but a judge sided with Bolton over the weekend. Already, the book is on top of the “best seller” charts.
Read More: Reuters, AP, CNN, NPR
5 States Primaries
It’s primary Election Day in five states: Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. There’s a lot of interest in a few races. In Kentucky, a progressive black state rep. is up against a well-funded Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat. The winner will take on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this fall. Also, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel face primary challengers. We’ll let you know about any big upsets.
Read More: The Hill, NBC News, Roll Call
Hand Sanitizer Warning
The FDA has put out a new warning about nine hand sanitizers all manufactured by the same company in Mexico. Federal officials say they could contain methanol, a substance that can be toxic if absorbed through the skin or ingested. The FDA says if you’ve used any of the sanitizers, you should call your doctor. They should also be discarded in hazardous waste containers.
Read More: NY Times, CBS News, FOX Business, FDA
Retailers Pull Ads from Facebook
Several well-known companies are pulling their ads from Facebook and Instagram. Patagonia, NorthFace, and REI all say they won’t be advertising with the social network through at least July. They’ve boycotting because they say Facebook hasn’t done enough to remove hateful content and stop the spread of misinformation. Facebook says it’s going to keep working with civil rights organizations to improve standards.
Read More: The Hill, FOX Business, CNN, Reuters, AP
Apple’s Worldwide Developers’ Conference
Apple has already unveiled a ton of new features at its annual developers’ conference. The company says it’s developing a new line of Apple chips to power the Mac computer. iPhones will also get a new operating system that will include an app library to more easily find programs on your smartphone. The Apple Watch will also have a feature that will recognize when you’re washing your hands and remind you to do it for 20 seconds. The developers’ conference goes on all week, so expect a lot more.
Read More: TechCrunch, Cnet, CNBC, Mashable
MLB 60-Game Season
Major League Baseball says it is ready to move forward with a 60-game schedule. The first game could happen as early as July 24, the last by September 27. Under this plan, what’s usually “Spring Training” will start July 1st. Players will have to report to their home ballparks then, to cut down on travel. The player’s union just needs to sign off on the health protocols by this afternoon.
Read More: ESPN, USA Today, NY Times, CNN
New Stonehenge Discovery
Archeologists say they’ve discovered a major prehistoric monument under the Earth. The new find includes at least 20 huge pits that form a circle that’s about a mile in diameter. Scientists think they were dug about 4,500 years ago. It’s only a mile from Stonehenge, another prehistoric monument of massive, standing stones in England.
Read More: USA Today, AP, CNN