News and updates

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

COVID-19: Cases continue to climb as states begin reopening, including a second highest daily spike in Florida. Worldwide, cases are on the rise in certain countries. Live updates at CNN.

George Floyd: Protests against police brutality were held in all 50 states and several other countries after the murder of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers. The officers were all arrested this week, however activists demand broader changes to American policing, especially as protest footage shows some police officers continuing to engage in overly-aggressive behavior. Live updates at New York Times.

Anti-Lynching Legislation: Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) had harsh criticism for Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) over proposed GOP amendments to a bill which would make lynching a federal crime. Senator Paul wanted to narrow the definition of lynching, however the two Democrats accused him of tampering with a bill which could easily pass with bipartisan support. More at Politico.

The Future of BLM: Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza discusses the future of the movement in this Vice article.

This Huffington Post article describes how to be a good ally on social media.

Ebola: The Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Health has reported another outbreak of Ebola in the city of Mbandaka. Health officials are utilizing containment strategies and a vaccine. More at The Independent.

Unemployment Rate: Data shows that overall, surprisingly, the US unemployment rate fell during May 2020. The US added 2.5 million jobs, many of which in the restaurant sector. However, the unemployment rate did rise for certain groups, including Black Americans. Details at New York Times.

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

COVID19: More states, including Washington, reopen, the CDC issues guidelines for workplaces, and the US death toll exceeds 100,000. Live updates at CNN.

George Floyd: After George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis Police Officer, protests erupted, and the officer, Derek Chauvin, has been arrested for murder. More at Seattle Times.

Mystery Mummies on the Canary Islands: Historians discover more about the Guanches, who lived on the Canary Islands in 100AD. More at BBC.

WHO: On Friday the US announced it will terminate its relationship with the World Health Organization. More at Washington Post.

Hong Kong: This week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared to Congress that Hong Kong should not be considered autonomous from China, in response to a Chinese national security law which would restrict secessionist activities in Hong Kong. This comes as the US makes several policy changes towards China. More at Washington Post.

New York: Governor Cuomo announced that New York City, which was hit hard by the coronavirus, could begin reopening as soon as June 8th. More at New York Times.