Category: What We’re Reading

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

COVID-19: Lebanon and other countries report an uptick in cases after easing restrictions, some European students return to school, and President Trump appoints people to lead US vaccine effort. Live updates at CNN.

India: Cyclone Amphan is forming over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall in the next few days. Live updates at Times of India.

Yellowstone: A woman entered Yellowstone National Park and fell into a hot spring while taking pictures this week. The park remains closed due to stay-home orders. She was taken to a hospital in Idaho to be treated for burns. Full story at NBC.

Afghanistan: Sixteen people, including two newborns, were killed by gunmen at a Doctors Without Borders maternity ward in Kabul. The attack has prompted the Afghan government to resume “offensive operations” against the Taliban, putting a potential peace deal in jepoardy. More at Washington Post. 

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

COVID-19: White House staffers test positive, reopenings broaden to include schools in some states, and WA will allow certain counties to reopen earlier. Live updates at CNN.

Outrage in Georgia Shooting Death: Video footage from the death of Ahmaud Arbery has been recently released and shared on social media. Arbery, a 25 year old black man, was shot and killed in February by two white men while jogging in suburban Georgia, in what many believe to be a racially motivated attack. The assailants, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, have been charged with murder. Full story and updates at New York Times.

Seattle Street Closures: The City of Seattle will permanently close 20 miles of streets to allow for pedestrians to better distance themselves. More at Kiro 7.

Coronavirus Spending by Country: The BBC has published how various countries are attempting to cushion the economic impact of COVID-19 by spending. The US is the #5 country in terms of spending as a percentage of GDP. Malta is #1. Full story at BBC.

Russian Doctors: Several Russian doctors have fallen out of windows after speaking critically of the country’s response to COVID-19 and PPE shortages. More at Washington Post.

Michael Flynn: The Justice Department has dropped criminal charges against General Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor who confessed to lying to the FBI in a counterintelligence investigation. Attorney General William Barr said what Flynn did “was not a crime”. More at CBS.

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

COVID-19: States begin reopening, Remdesivir shows some promise, and a vaccine could be ready by autumn. Live updates here.

White House: Kayleigh McEnany gave her first press briefing on Friday as White House Press Secretary. Watch here.

Canada Weapons Ban: Canada has banned over 1,500 types of assault style weapons following the deadliest mass shooting in the nation’s history. More at Wall Street Journal.

Jeff Bezos: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has been called to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. Seven bipartisan members on the Committee sent a letter explaining some of Amazon’s statements may have been “possibly criminally false or perjurious”. Full story at CNBC.

USA Gymnastics: Maggie Haney, a top US gymnastics coach, has been suspended by USA Gymnastics for 8 years over abuse accusations. More at the New York Times.

UFOs: The US Navy has released declassified footage showing “unexplained aerial phenomena”. Many believe the footage shows UFOs. More at ABC.

Democratic Primaries: Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have come to an agreement which will allow Sanders to retain many of his delegates at the Democratic Party Convention despite not being an active candidate. Sanders believes this will allow him to more effectively advocate for his platform. Meanwhile, Biden is strongly denying accusations of sexual misconduct. More at CNN.

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

COVID-19: US deaths pass 50 thousand victims, some states begin reopening, more work being done to expand testing, and Illinois experienced its highest 24 hour increase in cases. Live updates at CNN.

Nova Scotia: A gunman killed 22 people across a 12 hour period in Nova Scotia, Canada. Victims included a teacher, a nurse, and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable. Full story at BBC.

Postal Service: The President has stated that the US Postal Service will not receive a $10 billion federal loan unless package delivery prices are increased significantly. More at Washington Post.

Kim Jong Un: Rumors circulated that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is very ill. US officials acknowledged they are monitoring the situation, but military assessments do not indicate he is incapacitated. More at CNN.

Derby Police Bust Party: A tweet by Derby Police in the UK went viral after they broke up a party of 25 adults and children violating social distancing guidelines. Full story at BBC.

German Soccer: The German Soccer League “Bundesliga” is preparing to resume playing on May 9th, making them one of the first professional soccer leagues to restart matches. More at Washington Post.

Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team read this week.

COVID-19: Stimulus checks are being sent, President Trump issues guidance to states, American protesters demand reopening of businesses, China increases death toll number by 50%, and worldwide cases show no sign of reprieve. Live updates at CNN.

NASA to Launch Astronauts from US Soil: For the first time since the 2011 termination of the Space Shuttle Program, NASA will launch astronauts into space from US soil. The launch is scheduled for May 27th at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Full story here.

Brian Dennehy: Actor Brian Dennehy passed away from natural causes at age 81. Full story at Washington Post.

2022 FIFA World Cup: Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said the US could alternatively host the 2022 World Cup. This comes amid new allegations that Qatar bribed officials to be the 2022 host. Full story at ESPN.

World Press Photo Winner: An image by AFP photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba has won the World Press Photo contest for 2020. The image depicts a young Sudanese protester reciting poetry during the uprisings which overthrew President Omar Al-Bashir. More at BBC.

Brexit: The UK has confirmed they will not allow any delay in exiting from the EU despite the current pandemic. Read at Politico.