OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update, World and America

"Amid virus outbreak, U.S. communities brace for disruption" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  As U.S. cases of COVID-19 rise, officials are stepping up efforts to control the outbreak's spread.  Communities across the country are bracing for disruption, with many schools closing or holding remote classes.  Also, two GOP congressmen who were with President Trump recently are self-quarantining after a conference attendee with whom they met tested positive for the virus.  Amna Nawaz reports.

"How economic effects of global virus outbreak ripple beyond stock markets and travel" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  Monday was a tumultuous day in the global battle against coronavirus.  Italy’s government banned travel nationwide after new spikes in infections and fatalities.  Meanwhile, U.S. stocks had their worst day in over a decade.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay reports from Rome, and Judy Woodruff talks to Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics and Ben Mutzabaugh of air travel website The Points Guy.

"Why clear, consistent communication is so important during a public health crisis" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

Which we are NOT getting from the Trump Administration.

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SUMMARY:  Amid the growing U.S. coronavirus outbreak, some experts have criticized the way President Trump, his team and top public health officials are communicating information to the public.  For example, Trump made inaccurate statements Friday about the availability of virus tests.  Dr. Joshua Sharfstein of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"As impact of COVID-19 deepens, U.S. officials debate economic response" PBS NewsHour 3/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  The impact of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. is deepening.  On Tuesday, new cancellations, closures and quarantines were announced and President Trump and lawmakers huddled about potential measures to soften the crisis’ economic impact -- but the stock market rallied back from Monday’s major losses.  Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"How this school district is educating students at home during coronavirus outbreak" PBS NewsHour 3/10/2020

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SUMMARY:  A growing number of U.S. schools, including several colleges and universities, are shutting their doors to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Although only a small fraction of public elementary and high schools have closed, more than 430,000 students are affected already.  John Yang talks to Michelle Reid, superintendent of Washington state’s Northshore School District, about the decision to close.

"British government worries about virus outbreak, but residents carry on" PBS NewsHour 3/9/2020

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SUMMARY:  In the United Kingdom, novel coronavirus has killed six people as of Tuesday, with another 370 infected and quarantined.  The British government is watching how the illness spread quickly and pervasively in Italy, fearing the same could happen in the UK.  But as special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports, the current attitude among the British is very much to keep calm and carry on.

"What WHO doctor says Americans should do in face of COVID-19 pandemic" PBS NewsHour 3/11/2020

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SUMMARY:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a global pandemic.  The illness has infected about 120,000 people worldwide and claimed 4,400 lives, and public health officials both within the U.S. and abroad are warning that the crisis will get worse.  Amna Nawaz reports, and Judy Woodruff talks to WHO’s Dr. Margaret Harris about how people should be preparing.

"Why UVA joined scores of other colleges in asking students to stay off campus" PBS NewsHour 3/11/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the U.S. novel coronavirus outbreak worsens, colleges and universities around the country are asking students to stay off campus -- and essentially shutting down.  Though some classes are migrating online, the closures may still represent a hardship for students who rely on school for housing, meals and other services.  Amna Nawaz talks to James Ryan, president of the University of Virginia.

"Pandemic’s ‘unique uncertainty’ creates market shockwaves" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2020

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SUMMARY:  The economic consequences of the novel coronavirus pandemic are growing even more severe.  Stocks logged their worst day of trading since the 1987 market crash, cancellations and closures rippled across the globe and the fallout from President Trump’s decision to ban most travel from Europe became evident.  Nick Schifrin reports and Charles Schwab’s Liz Ann Sonders joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"Can Congress, Trump put pandemic response ahead of politics?" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2020

Answer, no, at least not at first.  Republicans will see anything from Democrats as a threat.

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SUMMARY:  On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are working on a multi-billion dollar novel coronavirus aid package to help the Americans hit hardest by the pandemic.  They, along with Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, also weighed in on President Trump’s response to the crisis.  Lisa Desjardins reports and joins Nick Schifrin, Yamiche Alcindor and Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"Why Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency — and what he denied responsibility for" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

Note the "and what he denied responsibility for."

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SUMMARY:  Friday was another day of mass closings and cancellations as schools, sports and travel shut down amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.  President Trump also declared a national emergency to increase funding for a federal response, and he appears to have a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for related legislation.  Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff.

"What the U.S. health system needs now to fight COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  President Trump has declared the pandemic of novel coronavirus a national emergency, allowing him to direct additional funds toward the federal government’s outbreak response.  Will it mean faster virus testing and more ventilators?  Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, and The New York Times’ Dr. Sheri Fink join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

"South Korea proves pandemic response requires more than money" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2020

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SUMMARY:  South Korea’s government is spending nearly $10 billion to fight novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 8,000 people there.  But the effort to contain the illness requires more than just money -- entire communities must come together, sharing information, volunteering at testing centers and limiting consumption of vital medical supplies.  Bruce Harrison of Feature Story News reports.

"New York launches drive-thru testing site for COVID-19" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

Again, a state responds better than the federal government.

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SUMMARY:  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has deployed the National Guard and created a one-mile containment zone around the town of New Rochelle, just north of New York City, where at least 158 cases of COVID-19 have been reported.  And on Friday, the state launched its first drive-thru mobile testing facility in the region.  NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker has more.

"The economic fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  With businesses shuttering, professional sports leagues suspending their seasons and widespread travel restrictions initiated around the world, the economic fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak may continue for months.  Vijay Vaitheeswaran, U.S.business editor for The Economist, joins Hari Sreenivasan for more on the financial impact of the virus.

"Outbreak tests Italy’s limits a week after lockdown began" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  A week after Italy’s government began locking down the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, new cases are emerging as the death toll climbs.  The scenario is overwhelming a medical system already reeling from an influx of patients.  NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Chris Livesay joins Hari Sreenivasan from Rome with updates on the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

"Coronavirus in the US: things are ‘changing hour by hour’" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2020

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SUMMARY:  The response to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is changing on an almost hourly basis.  But as health care workers face a volley of new challenges amid an American populace wary of the global pandemic, there has been an increase in testing and guidelines to consider.  Caroline Chen, a ProPublica reporter who is covering the outbreak, joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

"Coronavirus outbreak is ‘a time of sacrifice for all of us’" PBS NewsHour 3/15/2020

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SUMMARY:  To help contain transmission of coronavirus, the CDC has issued guidelines for “social distancing.”  But as the virus continues to spread, many more questions on when to close schools, how to seek day-to-day healthcare and the extent of the outbreak in the coming weeks remain unanswered.  Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

OUTBREAK - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Update, Political and Financial Fallout

COMMENT:  The U.S. response has been bungled, especially since the response has been put in the hands of a politician rather that our health experts.  At one point our political control has gagged our health experts from making comments.

"Why Washington health officials fear novel coronavirus may have been quietly spreading" PBS NewsHour 3/2/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is now blamed for six deaths, all in Washington state.  Health officials worry the illness may have been spreading undetected near Seattle for weeks, possibly resulting in many undiagnosed cases.  Can hospitals in Washington and across the country accommodate a “surge” of patients?  Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to The New York Times’ Dr. Sheri Fink.

"With novel coronavirus deaths rising, health officials face grilling on Capitol Hill" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  As states discover increasing numbers of new novel coronavirus cases, public health officials are scrambling to respond -- while also facing questions from a Senate panel on Tuesday about why the U.S. has been so slow to roll out effective tests for the virus.  COVID-19 is responsible for nine deaths so far, all of them in Washington state.  William Brangham reports.

"In Iran, government distrust rises amid deadly outbreak of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/3/2020

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SUMMARY:  The global spread of novel coronavirus has hit Iran hard.  Nearly two dozen members of the nation’s parliament as well as its director of emergency services are infected with the illness, and a third government official died from the virus Tuesday.  Special correspondent Reza Sayah reports from Tehran about how the country is handling the crisis -- and where they are placing blame.

"As virus deaths rise, Congress agrees on $8.3 billion to fund public response" PBS NewsHour 3/4/2020

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SUMMARY:  The novel coronavirus has claimed more lives in the U.S., with a total of 10 deaths in Washington state and one in California.  As the number of infections also continues to rise, the House and Senate have agreed on a bipartisan, multi-billion dollar emergency spending measure to fight the outbreak.  The bill includes money for vaccine research, medical supplies and more.  William Brangham reports.

"How the IMF is trying to reduce the economic fallout of novel coronavirus" PBS NewsHour 3/5/2020

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SUMMARY:  Restrictions intended to control the global outbreak of novel coronavirus continue to increase.  In many countries, schools are closed, travelers face quarantine and business has ground to a halt.  William Brangham reports and Judy Woodruff talks to Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, about how it is attempting to offset the economic implications of the virus.

"Can $8 billion in emergency spending help the U.S. curb novel coronavirus?" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  On Friday, President Trump signed a bipartisan, $8 billion emergency spending package to fund the U.S. government response to novel coronavirus.  Still, concerns remain over how quickly health officials are able to conduct tests for the illness.  Meanwhile, the number of novel coronavirus cases across the globe is approaching 100,000, according to the World Health Organization.  Amna Nawaz reports.

"How lack of paid sick leave is complicating U.S. virus response" PBS NewsHour 3/6/2020

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SUMMARY:  As COVID-19 spreads to communities nationwide, financial and logistical concerns about its impact are rising.  Among the major questions are whether employers will require workers to take unpaid sick leave, and who will pay for potentially significant medical bills.  William Brangham talks to Georgetown University’s Sabrina Corlette and Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz of Capital Area Asset Builders.

"With the coronavirus, ‘pay attention to the basics’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., the National Institute of Health on Sunday advised vulnerable people, particularly the elderly with underlying health conditions, to avoid large crowds and trips.  ProPublica reporter Caroline Chen, who has been reporting on the virus, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what people need to understand about testing, infection rates and more.

"Italy’s coronavirus outbreak sparks ‘a lot of panic’" PBS NewsHour 3/8/2020

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SUMMARY:  The coronavirus has now spread to 107 countries and there are close to 108,000 cases worldwide.  Italy is one of the hotspots, where more than 230 people have died from the virus.  In response, Italy's government this weekend issued a quarantine restricting travel for more than 16 million people in portions of the country.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay joins Hari Sreenivasan with more.

CANVAS - The Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit

"Blockbuster da Vinci exhibition showcases the master’s ‘endless curiosity’" PBS NewsHour 11/8/2019

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SUMMARY:  The blockbuster exhibit of the year celebrates Leonardo da Vinci, 500 years after his death.  People are flocking to the Louvre Museum in Paris to see the work of the master, who was born in Italy, died in France and personified the expression Renaissance man.  Jeffrey Brown went to see firsthand why da Vinci's art is drawing massive crowds.

CONNECTIONS - Vatican and the Mafia

"What the Mafia has in common with protecting the Vatican from terror attacks" PBS NewsHour 12/4/2017

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SUMMARY:  During Christmastime at the Vatican, more visitors means added security, especially in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris, London and many other European capitals.  In recent days, ISIS has called on lone-wolf terrorists to shed "Christmas blood" at the Vatican.  Special correspondent Christopher Livesay reports on what Italy learned about deterring terrorism from years of tracking the Mafia.

CULTURE AT RISK - Medieval Italian Town, Civita di Bagnoregio

"The crumbling, picture-perfect Italian town that’s making a comeback" PBS NewsHour 10/27/2015

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SUMMARY:  There are just seven year-round residents -- and who knows how many cats -- in the Medieval Italian town of Civita di Bagnoregio, also known as the dying city.  The picturesque hilltop town, visited by droves of tourists, is built upon layers of rock and shifting clay, susceptible to weather and natural disaster.  Jeffrey Brown reports on efforts to revive and reinforce the city.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Next, an Italian hilltop town hovering between life and death, and the efforts being made to save it.

Jeffrey Brown traveled there as part of our ongoing series Culture at Risk.

JEFFREY BROWN (NewsHour):  Each morning, as the sun rises on this medieval town seemingly plucked from a fairy tale, the narrow lanes of Civita di Bagnoregio are quiet.  By the latest count, there are just seven year-round residents, and who knows how many cats.

By mid-morning, though, the scene on this beautiful fall day has changed, as thousands of tourists make the difficult hike up a long, steep footbridge.  There’s no cars allowed here, drawn by the beauty and peculiarity of this place, where staircases lead off cliffs and windows lead into the clouds.

In Italian, it’s called la Citta Che Muore, the Dying City, dying because it’s literally crumbling before our eyes.  But now a mix a geological engineering and tourism is giving this ancient city new life.

CLAUDIO MARGOTTINI, Italy Geological Survey:  After we have a collapse, it takes about two, three, 10 years to have the next collapse in the same part of the cliff.

JEFFREY BROWN:  Claudio Margottini, with Italy’s Geological Survey, has worked in Civita for several decades.

So, here’s part of the problem, right, buildings falling down?

CLAUDIO MARGOTTINI:  Yes, exactly.  This is exactly an example of what the problem is in this town.  So, we are just close to the cliff.  And the cliff is falling down piece by piece, maybe five, six meters at a time.

FAUX NEWS - American Tourist in Italy

"American Tourist in Italy Excited to Visit the ‘Sixteenth Chapel’" by Jeff Boldt (Faux News), Humor Times 6/22/2014

Seeking to broaden his horizons, an American tourist visits Italy

American tourist and college grad, Richard Head, recently decided it was time to get some culture in his life.

Or, in his words, 16th century porn.

After “learning” about the paintings that ornamented the lavish walls of the Vatican’s famous “Sixteenth Chapel,” he logically assumed that this was how all Italians lived and dressed, and so, of course, he wanted to see it for himself.

However, he hesitated for a brief moment because he thought it a bit strange that so much nudity would be found in chapels of all places.  But he didn’t hesitate for long because so much culture awaited.

Upon arriving in the Fiumicino airport, he hurriedly made his way through the tarmac and into the waiting area, fully expecting a cornucopia of lounging flesh similar to what one might find on Mount Olympus.

The disappointment on his face was evident.

However, he quickly recovered and encouraged himself with the knowledge that they probably wouldn’t want to freak people out too much right off the bat, so the airport couldn’t have been a good indicator of the rest of the country.

But, as he exited and made his way to the cabs, he began to wonder if he had made a huge mistake.

“Do you know where I can find the Sixteenth Chapel?” he queried one taxi driver.  “And the other fifteen too if you have time.”

“Idiota Americano, si?” the driver asked in return.

“No, I don’t want a coffee.  Take me to see the good stuff.”

“Per l’amor di Dio!” exclaimed the driver in frustration as he got in his taxi and drove away.

OPINION - Rendition Program, Ex-CIA Agents, and Italian Law

The Rachel Maddow Show
MSNBC 8/7/2013

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ITALY - A Win For Sepration of Church and State

"In Italy, Gay Marriage Efforts Met With Strong Vatican Opposition" PBS Newshour 6/19/2012

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JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): Finally tonight, the effort to legalize gay marriage in Italy has been met with opposition, specifically from the Vatican, but a recent Supreme Court ruling has given supporters hope.

Fabiana Formica reports for our partner GlobalPost.

EUROZONE - From Greece and Italy

"Greece Reels as Government OKs More Austerity Measures" PBS Newshour Transcript 2/10/2012

JEFFREY BROWN (Newshour): And we turn to the European debt crisis in two parts.

The Greek government has signed off on a new round of austerity measures in exchange for another bailout. But European finance ministers say that may not be enough.

We begin with a report from Athens from James Mates of Independent Television News.

JAMES MATES: They thought they'd done what was required of them, passing another round of cuts to jobs, wages, and pensions, only to be told by the rest of the euro zone, that's not good enough.

The result was fury in Athens' central square. Through the trees, policemen, whose wages have been cut under the austerity package, are hit by petrol bombs. Six ministers have already had enough, resigning today from the government. The leader of the smallest of the three parties in the coalition has now withdrawn his support.

"I will not vote for more austerity," he told a news conference, amid complaints of being trampled by German boots.

That was a theme taken up by one paper here, who put German Chancellor Angela Merkel on its front page in Nazi uniform. That is how strong passions are running.

MAN: I don't want to leave my country, but I don't have a future here.

MAN: They have to vote, but not with a gun on their head.

JAMES MATES: The man holding that gun is the chairman of the countries that use the euro, and he's not loosening the purse strings.

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, Eurogroup: We cannot live with a system where promises are made and repeated and repeated, and where the implementation measures are from time to time too weak. So we are insisting on a real, true implementation.

JAMES MATES: And a vote in parliament, possibly as early as Sunday, that will attract another huge demonstration, it may make today's protests look like nothing more than a warm-up.

"Italy: Amid Eurozone Crisis, 'Going the Greece Way' Would Be Disastrous"
PBS Newshour 2/10/2012

ITALY - Cruse Ship Disaster (updated)

"Death Toll, Environmental Worries Mount in Wake of Italian Cruise Disaster" PBS Newshour 1/16/2012

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RAY SUAREZ (Newshour): Search teams in Italy struggled against rough seas today, as they looked for survivors and bodies on a capsized cruise ship. Two Americans were among the missing.

The huge vessel ran aground and tipped over Friday off Tuscany in the north of Italy. At least six people died. Another concern also emerged as oil began leaking from the ship.

And for a closer look....

"What Does Italy's Sinking Ship Mean for the Cruise Industry?"
PBS Newshour 1/16/2012


UPDATE

"More Bodies Discovered Aboard Capsized Cruise Ship"
PBS Newshour 1/17/2012

ENVIROMENT - Italy's Last Reactor

"Italy’s Last Reactor Town Goes Solar in Fight Against Nuclear" by Alessandra Migliaccio and Flavia Rotondi, Bloomberg 4/17/2011

Montalto di Castro, the town where Italy’s last nuclear plant was built before a two-decade ban, is fighting against a return to atomic power and staking its future on solar energy by hosting Europe’s largest photovoltaic park.

“We’ve come up with a better idea,” Mayor Salvatore Carai said in an interview in his Town Hall office, which has views of the old reactor between the sea and acres of farmland. “The solar panels keep us self-sufficient. We haven’t used a single kilowatt of ‘dirty energy’ since December 2009.”

Italy, the only Group of Eight nation without nuclear plants, passed legislation in 2008 to return to generation and the country planned to build its first new reactors by 2020. That was before the accident at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant prompted the government to set a one-year moratorium.

As Italy debates whether to return to nuclear generation, Montalto’s mayor is organizing protests and supporting a national referendum to stop the construction of new plants, saying they would hurt agriculture and tourism.

“There’s concern people will abandon the land for fear of leaks,” Carai said. “No compensation they can offer could make up for that.”

The Montalto reactor, which never went into service, was dismantled after Italians voted in a 1987 referendum to end nuclear generation in the wake of the Chernobyl accident. The empty shell of the facility now sits next to a thermoelectric plant run by Enel SpA (ENEL), Italy’s biggest electricity producer.

Residents of Montalto are concerned that their town is a prime candidate to host new generators once the moratorium ends.

‘Top of List’

“We’re at the top of the list,” said Stefano Sebastiani, a spokesman for Montalto’s anti-nuclear committee. The Japanese accident has raised awareness on safety issues and made residents nervous about the prospect of new plants, he said. “Nuclear is like a pressure cooker and sooner or later the steam comes out and people pay the price.”

Experts agree that if plant construction goes ahead, the town of 9,000 between the sea and the hills of the central region of Lazio would offer an ideal location.

“Montalto is one of the places where it makes sense to restart nuclear,” said Giovanbattista Zorzoli, a nuclear engineer and professor at Milan’s polytechnic university. “It has the right conditions and a network already set up for distribution of the energy.” There’s also a canal connecting the area to the sea to allow for cooling, he said.

Montalto has already moved on, said Raffaello Giacchetti, regional manager for SunRay Renewable Energy, a European solar power-plant developer and operator of the town’s main 45 megawatt photovoltaic field. Producing enough electricity to power 15,000 homes, it’s the largest field in Europe.

Economic Advantages

“Montalto and other towns in the area have understood that they’re not just getting economic advantages from the fields,” Giacchetti said. “They’re are also creating an alternative to nuclear power.” The town’s solar fields combine to provide 85 MW of power, which should rise to 120 MW by the end of this year, according to Mayor Carai.

Solar panel prices will likely fall to $1.50 per watt in the second half of 2011 compared with around $1.80 in 2010, Jenny Chase, a solar analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said March 29.

Demand for solar may be supported by a backlash against atomic generators after the Fukushima accident. The WilderHill New Energy Index has gained about 8 percent since the March 11 accident as governments around the world review their nuclear plans.

Electricity Prices

Some Montalto residents remain skeptical about whether solar power can have enough of an impact. “We pay too much for electricity,” said Quinto Del Papa, a retired farmer who supports nuclear power. “I think nuclear would help.”

Italian households pay 21 euro cents per kilowatt hour of electricity compared with 13 cents in France and 14 cents in the U.K., while Italian businesses pay 13 cents, compared with 7 cents in France and 11 cents in the U.K., according to Brussels- based research firm Europe’s Energy Portal.

Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo said last year that nuclear power will help balance Italy’s energy mix, reduce electricity prices and cut dependence on imported energy.

Del Papa, who remembers Montalto as a boomtown that nearly doubled in population as the old plant was built, said new reactors “would also give us jobs.” As for the dangers of having a reactor in the neighborhood, he shrugged. “I’d live near it,” he said. “Those accidents are rare.”

Zorzoli, the Milan-based nuclear engineer, said he’s more skeptical about atomic energy since the Fukushima accident. “One should not be alarmist” about the country’s power requirements, he said. “Italy’s existing capacity and renewable development will allow us to face our needs.”

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