Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
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1. Coronavirus
The Trump administration plans to open a new pandemic office to deal with the ongoing coronavirus threat. It closed the National Security Council's pandemic response office in 2018 and is now looking to launch a similar one at the State Department. Congress seems to support the move, though a new office may not be enough to get government action firing on all cylinders. The US set yet another daily record yesterday for new Covid-19 cases, with 51,504 new reports. And 36 states head into the holiday weekend with rising numbers. In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro will relax restrictions soon, even though the country is still being ravaged by the virus. In Honduras, the President has been released after spending 16 days in the hospital with Covid-19. Meanwhile, a new mutation of the coronavirus has made its way from Europe to the US. A study says the new form makes the virus more likely to infect people but does not seem to make them any sicker. It could complicate the race to find an effective vaccine.
2. Economy
The June jobs report was better than expected, and US stocks got a nice boost because of it. The government reported that the US economy added 4.8 million jobs in June, bringing the unemployment rate down to 11.1%. However, there's still a very, very long way to go before the economy can mend itself. The Congressional Budget Office predicts America's recovery from the pandemic recession could take the better part of a decade. The CBO's 10-year forecast also predicts the recession could end up quadrupling the federal budget deficit this year, pushing it to about $3.7 trillion.
The US Senate unanimously approved a final version of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, a bill that would punish China for moves that lawmakers fear will crush democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. The legislation would impose sanctions on businesses and individuals that help China restrict freedom in the autonomous city. Beijing put its new national security law into effect in Hong Kong this week, and it's already resulted in arrests and widespread unrest. Amid international concern over Beijing's crackdowns on Hong Kong, the US actions against China are the latest in a long line of escalating tensions between the two countries over coronavirus responses, trade and the future of the South China Sea.
4. Jamal Khashoggi
Turkey has opened the trial of 20 Saudi nationals charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The suspects include Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of Saudi Arabia's general intelligence, and Saud al-Qahtani, a former adviser to the Saudi Crown Prince. Both men are charged with "instigating premeditated torturous murder with monstrous intent." The 18 other suspects face charges of "premeditated torturous murder with monstrous intent." Khashoggi was killed in Istanbul in October 2018, sending ripples of shock through the world and casting a wary eye on the Saudi government. Agencies including the CIA concluded that the murder was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement in Khashoggi's murder.
5. Jeffrey Epstein
Ghislaine Maxwell, the onetime girlfriend and alleged accomplice of the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested and charged with six counts related to the ongoing federal investigation into Epstein's deeds. Maxwell is charged with enticement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, along with two counts of perjury. Prosecutors say the British socialite earned the trust of Epstein's victims, and her name has come up in lawsuits filed by women who say they were abused by Epstein. Epstein, who died by apparent suicide in August, was awaiting trial on federal charges that he sexually abused underage girls and ran a sex-trafficking ring.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
FedEx wants the Washington Redskins to change their name
The NFL name debate has been going on for years, but this is a BIG development.
Young people are throwing coronavirus parties, with payouts for whoever gets infected first
Taiwan's first 'pretend to go abroad' tour takes off with fake airplane flight
You know things are dire when people yearn to recreate the most tedious parts of travel without actually going anywhere.
Walmart is transforming 160 of its parking lots into drive-in movie theaters
Now THAT's adapting to change.
A friendly reminder that fireworks and hand sanitizer don't mix
Our Independence Day wish for you is that you end it with as many fingers as you had when it began.
TODAY'S NUMBER
$172 billion
That's about how much Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is now worth. The staggering figure is a new record for the world's richest person.
TODAY'S QUOTE
"I think I have enough scars from bringing up things about Russia that he probably didn't want to hear."
Former White House national security adviser John Bolton, who says he has personally weathered President Trump's anger over receiving intelligence briefings about Russia. Bolton's comments follow denials from the White House that Trump was briefed on reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban fighters to kill US troops in Afghanistan, despite sources saying he was.
TODAY'S WEATHER
AND FINALLY
A field guide to fireworks
Your next fireworks-watching experience will be even cooler when you know all the different effects. It's hard to pick a favorite! (Click here to view.)
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July 03, 2020 at 05:14PM
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5 things to know for July 3: Coronavirus, economy, China, Khashoggi, Epstein - CNN
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