IF iDir.com

The novel coronavirus has now killed more than 750,000 people worldwide. Over 20.6 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:16:00 -0400

President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates, agreed Thursday to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, according to a joint statement from the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, tweeted by Trump. "Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates' lead," he added.

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:01:00 -0400

A federal prosecutor called the case “historical and unprecedented."

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 11:54:36 -0400

Hiring at small businesses, shifts worked across a range of industries, credit card spending and even gasoline demand that typically grows through the summer remained flat and mired far below the levels a year ago. Initial filings for unemployment insurance did fall below 1 million for the first time since the March onset of the coronavirus-driven economic downturn, and the number of people continuing to collect benefits fell 604,000 to 15.486 million in the week ending August 1. Concerns are growing that the continued spread of the virus and the inability of the White House and U.S. Congress to agree on new government support for ailing businesses and the unemployed may stifle the recovery altogether.

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 11:53:42 -0400

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday left in place a lower-court ruling that relaxes voting restrictions in Rhode Island during the coronavirus pandemic. The justices rejected an emergency request made by the Republican National Committee and the state's Republican Party. The unsigned order left intact a decision by Rhode Island-based U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy, who ruled on July 30 that the Republican groups had waited too late to intervene in the case.

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 11:42:47 -0400