The pandemic could reshape the world order. Trump's chaotic strategy is accelerating US losses
Updated 0437 GMT (1237 HKT) May 23, 2020
Europe outright rejected US President Donald Trump's vision of the world this week. Tensions between these historic democratic allies that have been simmering since Trump came to office three years ago have now come to a boil during the coronavirus pandemic.
Covid-19 has shocked the world by the speed of its spread, but it is also accelerating another global change in the balance of power -- and not in America's favor.
The extent of the divide became clear on Tuesday during a vote at the World Health Organization annual assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, backing Europe's conciliatory approach to China relating to an investigation into the outbreak. Power had visibly ebbed away from the United States as its demand for a tougher approach was dismissed, a move that should sound alarm bells in Washington.
US security officials 'considered return to nuclear testing' after 28-year hiatus
Discussion held this month as way to press Russia and China into agreeing arms control deal, officials say
US officials have debated whether to carry out the first US nuclear tests in 28 years as a way to pressure Russia and China into make a trilateral arms control deal, according congressional aides and former officials.
They said the discussion took place at a “deputies meeting” of senior national security officials at the White House on 15 May, but that the proposal was shelved for the time being.
“There are still some professionals in the room who told them this is a terrible idea, thank God,” a congressional aide said.
Expletive-filled video of Bolsonaro swearing at cabinet meeting released by Brazil's Supreme Court
'If you can't change (the official), change his boss. You can't change the boss? Change the minister. End of story. We're not kidding around,' says Brazilian president
Expletive-filled footage of Brazil’s far-right president complaining about not being able to get intelligence from the police has been released by the country’s Supreme Court.
Jair Bolsonaro vows, in the clip, that he will not let his friends and family get “screwed” because he is unable to overhaul law enforcement officials.
The populist president, who has faced sustained criticism over his approach to the coronavirus emergency as Brazil’s death toll surges to over 20,000, is at the centre of a criminal investigation into claims he sought to replace top federal police officials.
INSIDE THE INFLUENTIAL EVANGELICAL GROUP MOBILIZING TO REELECT TRUMP
“THE COVID VIRUS has been a gift from God,” began Ken Eldred. “The kingdom of God advances through a series of glorious victories, cleverly disguised as disasters.”
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Eldred noted, millions of Americans are turning to Christ, Walmart is selling out of Bibles, and online church broadcasts have hit record numbers.
But while religiosity was growing, there have been setbacks from the disease outbreak. “Satan has been busy too,” Eldred, a major donor to evangelical and Republican causes, explained. “The virus has messed up many of our plans involving our in-person meetings with voters.”
Ecological planning for post-capitalism
The future starts right here
The pandemic has already forced governments to break the old rules, and put people’s needs before pleasing the markets. Now is the time to drop the austerity that left governments powerless to deal with the environment and start coordinated ecological planning. Before the conservatives do.
by Cédric Durand & Razmig Keucheyan
Martin Luther King described capitalism as ‘socialism for the rich and rugged free enterprise for the poor’. That is certainly true in normal conditions. Over the last 40 years the French government has created a market for public debt giving private operators control of its credit. It is even more true in a crisis. After the 2008 financial crash, governments around the world implemented economic support measures worth 1.7% of global GDP; by early April this year they had already spent 2.6%. Some countries have gone much further: the US had spent 10% of its GDP, and the UK 8% (Le Monde, 4 April 2020). And this is only the beginning.
I took chloroquine. This is what it did to me
Chloroquine, a similar drug to hydroxychloroquine, has some uncomfortable side effects, as one reporter found out.
by Imran Khan
US President Donald Trump was, in his typical fashion, blunt at a press briefing on Monday.
He rather proudly told everyone assembled that he was taking a drug, untested for COVID-19, called hydroxychloroquine.
"I've been taking it for the last week and a half. A pill every day," the president said.
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