Pour mettre toutes ses chances de son côté lors d’un premier rendez-vous amoureux, mieux vaut s’assurer se son haleine et de l’état de ses dents, selon un sondage Ifop réalisé pour Email Diamant à l’occasion de la Saint-Valentin.

Pour 90 % et 96 % des Français, les dents jaunes ou abîmés et la mauvaise haleine font radicalement tourné les talons au premier rendez-vous, selon un sondage ifop qui a interrogé 1006 personnes.En matière de faux pas, les situations les plus embarrassantes citées par les français consistent à malencontreusement renverser son verre sur son prétendant (81%) ou encore avoir une feuille de salade coincée entre les dents (86%). Le rouge à lèvres sur les dents met en péril le rendez-vous pour 43% des intéressés.L’enquête a été réalisée par l’institut Ifop pour Email Diamant auprès de 1006 personnes nationales, représentatives de la population française, âgées de plus de 18 ans, interrogées selon la méthode des quotas. Un questionnaire leur a été adminsitré via internet entre le 25 et 27 janvier 2017.AFP/Relaxnews

Une nouvelle étude européenne, publiée cette semaine dans l’

International Journal of Cancer,vient ajouter ses résultats à un faisceau de preuves indiquant que le café peut avoir un effet protecteur contre le cancer de la prostate.

Une nouvelle étude publiée cette semaine ajoute au faisceau de preuves selon lequel le café a un effet protecteur contre le cancer de la prostate.

Conduite par le département d’épidémiologie et de prévention de l’IRCCS (hôpital de recherche) Neuromed, en Italie, en collaboration avec l’Institut national de santé italien et l’Istituto dermopatico dell’Immacolata de Rome (un autre IRCCS), l’étude montre qu’au moins trois tasses de café par jour peuvent réduire le risque de cancer de la prostate, si le breuvage est préparé à l’italienne.De nombreuses études précédentes ont montré non seulement que le café pouvait réduire le risque de cancer de la prostate mais aussi d’autres types de cancer ou d’autres maladies, comme la sclérose en plaques et les maladies du cœur.Cependant, George Pounis, auteur principal de cette étude, souligne que jusqu’à maintenant les preuves des bénéfices du café pour la santé étaient considérées comme insuffisantes pour pouvoir tirer des conclusions définitives ; ainsi, son équipe s’est attelée à en savoir davantage et à donner des réponses plus claires dans son étude.Pour cette étude, 6989 hommes de la région de Molise, en Italie, ont été observés pendant quatre ans en moyenne.L’équipe a analysé leur consommation de café et comparé ces données avec les cas de cancer de la prostate diagnostiqués dans ce laps de temps, pour découvrir que les hommes qui buvaient plus de trois tasses de café par jour profitaient d’une diminution de 53% du risque de développer un cancer de la prostate.Les chercheurs ont également testé en laboratoire des extraits de café et de décaféiné sur des cellules prostatiques cancéreuses.Ils ont pu constater que les extraits de café réduisaient de façon significative la prolifération des cellules cancéreuses et la production de métastases. Un effet qui n’était pas retrouvé avec le décaféiné.Si les études préalables ne permettaient pas de déterminer avec certitude quels composés du café étaient responsables de cet effet protecteur, l’équipe de chercheurs a conclu des résultats de son étude qu’il s’agissait très probablement de la caféine, et non des nombreuses autres substances présentes dans le café.Mais pour les personnes désireuses de profiter des effets bénéfiques du café, Licia Iacoviello, directrice du laboratoire d’épidémiologie moléculaire et nutritionnelle de l’hôpital Neuromed, souligne qu’il convient de “garder à l’esprit que l’étude a été conduite sur une population du centre de l’Italie, qui prépare le café rigoureusement, à la mode italienne : haute pression, eau très chaude et pas de filtre. Cette méthode, qui diffère des autres recettes pratiquées dans le reste du monde, pourrait conduire à une concentration plus forte en substances bioactives. Il sera maintenant intéressant d’explorer cet aspect des choses. Le café fait partie intégrante du mode de vie italien, qui n’est pas qu’une affaire d’ingrédients mais également de préparation“.

Le mouvement "Body-posi" (ou acceptation de son corps) vise à encourager l’estime de soi et pourrait constituer la principale tendance beauté de la décennie. La partie du corps qui reçoit cette fois toute l’attention des réseaux sociaux est… le nez.

Radhika Sanghani sur Instagram<br />
©Instagram / @radhikasanghani

Les grands nez font l’objet d’une campagne virale sur les réseaux sociaux depuis que la journaliste britannique Radhika Sanghani a lancé le mouvement #sideprofileselfie dans un article pour 

Grazia.Expliquant qu’elle avait “toute sa vie évité les photos la montrant de profil”, Sanghani propose un hashtag encourageant les femmes à publier des selfies montrant leur nez de profil. Grec, crochu, bossu ou délicat, ils apparaissent dans toute leur splendeur. Un vrai pied de nez au diktat de la chirurgie esthétique et de la retouche numérique.Ce hashtag a atteint les 8 millions de publications dans le monde, selon un nouveau billet 

Instagram de Sanghani. Des centaines d’utilisateurs de Twitter et d’Instagram ont ainsi choisi de rendre hommage à leur profil et à transmettre un message simple : un grand nez est un beau nez.Le #sideprofileselfie est le tout dernier d’une longue liste de hashtags ‘body-posi’ à devenir viraux sur les réseaux sociaux. Ces prolifiques campagnes ont pour objectif de normaliser et d’apprécier la beauté du corps dans son intégralité, du ventre aux cuisses sans oublier les vergetures et les taches de rousseur.(AFP/Relaxnews)Click Here: West Coast Eagles Guernsey

OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing countries, collectively known as OPEC+, have reached a tentative deal to cut oil output by 9.7 million barrels a day due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Talks between the countries had hit a last-minute hurdle last week when Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared reluctant to cut his country’s production levels. But Mexico’s energy secretary confirmed Sunday that a deal had been reached.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump shares tweet from supporter calling for Fauci to be fired Trump lashes out at New York Times over report on coronavirus response Fox News host hits back at Trump over Chris Wallace criticism: ‘Enough’ MORE confirmed Sunday that a deal had been reached.

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The countries’ delegations are set to hold an emergency meeting Sunday evening to finalize talks, Azerbaijan’s energy minister said, telling CNBC the meeting will be chaired by the Russian and Saudi energy ministers.

The agreement falls just below the initial proposal of 10 million barrels cut per day, with the U.S., Brazil and Canada contributing another 3.7 million barrels, Bloomberg reported. OPEC representatives were still waiting to hear back from other Group of 20 members as of Sunday afternoon. Mexico will only be required to cut 100,000 barrels, according to the outlet.

Prices have fallen 40 percent since March in response to an impasse between Saudi Arabia and Russia on a potential emergency plan to address the pandemic’s effect on oil market supplies, which in turn prompted a price war between the two nations.

While the two reached an agreement last week, Saudi Arabia had also been under pressure from President Trump to reach a compromise with Mexico.

As recently as Thursday, Mexican Energy Minister Rocío Nahle would only commit to a third of the 350,000 barrels a day Saudi Arabia asked Mexico to cut, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Treasury Department plans to hold firm on the requirements for its $25 billion airline aid plan, which could give the government a 3 percent stake in American Airlines, officials reportedly said Monday.

The government plan requires airlines to repay 30 percent of the borrowed funds and provide the government with warrants amounting to 10 percent of the loan amount, officials said, according to Reuters. 

The plan, aimed to help airlines continue their payrolls during the pandemic, could be agreed upon within the coming days. 

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Under the current plan, the government could own the largest equity stake in American Airlines, which was looking for $6 billion in payroll support. American Airlines has the most employees of all U.S. airlines and has the lowest market capitalization of the four main carriers at $5.3 billion.

The government could also end up owning about 2.3 percent of United Airlines, 1 percent of Delta Air Lines, 1.3 percent of JetBlue Airways and 0.6 percent of Southwest Airlines, according to Reuters. 

Airline shares dropped sharply on Monday, but one industry official told the news service that the warrant price was locked before this happened. 

If they take the deal, the airlines cannot conduct mass layoffs until Sept. 30.

Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth told Reuters that airlines are concerned to increase their debt before travel begins again, leading to more layoffs later. 

 “That’s the calculation that they have to make: do you say OK, for the long-term health of the company does it make sense to take this money and make furlough decisions later where you might be in a worse debt position, or to maybe walk away from this money and take some of the pain early and then be in a better position once we’re out of the worst of this to try to recover,” Syth said.

About 90,510 travelers went through security on Sunday, down from almost 2.5 million on the day in 2019.

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The fallout from the coronavirus is shaking up the U.S.-China relationship on Capitol Hill, as a group of hawkish lawmakers fiercely criticize Beijing’s response to the disease.

Republicans are pushing for their colleagues and the Trump administration to take a more aggressive stance toward Beijing, which they say downplayed the virus’s danger.

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China’s government has become a target for criticism for Republicans, along with the World Health Organization (WHO). President TrumpDonald John TrumpPompeo says WHO needs ‘to do its job’ as Trump moves to halt funding Trump campaign fundraising pitch seeks donations to ‘hold China accountable’ Schumer: Trump thinks coronavirus crisis ‘revolves around him’ MORE on Tuesday said he would halt funding to that organization.

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“We have seen them, along with the WHO, hide the coronavirus, not tell us the full story, not give us the full scope of the problem in China, and that has led to a hugely deleterious outcome,” Rep. Trey HollingsworthJoseph (Trey) Albert HollingsworthPelosi: Ignore Trump, listen to scientists GOP lawmaker: We must choose ‘loss of American lives’ over ‘loss of our way of life as Americans’ The housing affordability crisis is a reality: Lawmakers need to act, but responsibly MORE (R-Ind.) said Tuesday in an interview with WIBC, an Indiana radio station.

Asked if China has to “pay” for the fallout, he added: “You find out who is responsible for that and you go after who is responsible. … We have been really harmed by China’s negligence.”

Sen. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnTop Georgia Republican endorses Doug Collins Senate bid Trump must cut our dependence on Chinese drugs — whatever it takes Senate passes House’s coronavirus aid bill, sending it to Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) in a tweet on Tuesday wrote, “Communist China has lied to the world about COVID-19 since day one and is now responsible for over 100,000 deaths.”

GOP lawmakers are calling for a myriad of responses ranging from legislation that would penalize China, promises of their own investigations and questions about future U.S. support for the WHO, which has drawn scrutiny for its response to the virus and whether or not it was too acquiescent to Beijing.

Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – States seek plans for economic revival; feds talk ‘hope’ Pressure for quick action on next relief bill strains GOP unity On The Money: Trump calls decision on reopening economy biggest of his life | IG finds Treasury handled House request for Trump tax returns properly | Federal deficit jumps to 3B in March MORE (R-Mo.) — who has been skeptical of China on many fronts — introduced legislation Tuesday that would strip China of its sovereign immunity and allow it to be sued for “any reckless action it took that caused the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, such as its decisions to withhold information and to gag doctors.”

“The CCP unleashed this pandemic. They must be held accountable to their victims,” Hawley said in a statement.

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Hawley, Sen. Tom CottonThomas (Tom) Bryant CottonJoint chiefs chairman says majority of evidence points to coronavirus being created through nature Top Georgia Republican endorses Doug Collins Senate bid Lawmakers cry foul as Trump considers retreating from Open Skies Treaty MORE (R-Ark.), a longtime defense hawk, and a group of GOP House lawmakers have also introduced sanctions legislation that would target any foreign official who suppressed or distorted information about a public health crisis.

And Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Rep. Debbie Dingell’s diamond analogy; Cuomo says Trump isn’t a king Lawmakers cry foul as Trump considers retreating from Open Skies Treaty Lawmakers announce legislation to fund government purchases of oil MORE (R-Texas) introduced his own sanctions legislation Tuesday targeting Chinese officials who “prohibit, limit, or penalize” Chinese citizens for discussing the coronavirus, including on social media; or those who penalize Chinese citizens for disseminating accurate information about the virus, or limits access to print, broadcast, digital or social media.

“When Congress returns, introducing this legislation is just one of the necessary steps I will take to hold the Chinese officials involved in covering up the coronavirus outbreak accountable,” Cruz said in a statement.

Lawmakers are pushing for actions beyond just legislation. For example, Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamDemocrats blast Trump’s move to suspend WHO funding Graham: Democrats worried more about impeachment than coronavirus Guiliani slams WHO, China for coronavirus response MORE (R-S.C.), a foreign policy hawk who is a close ally of Trump’s, has floated suspending debt payments to China. Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesGOP senators target WHO as part of coronavirus probe Coronavirus response could be key factor in tight governor’s races How much damage? The true cost of the Senate’s coronavirus relief bill MORE (R-Mont.) has called on the State Department to investigate China’s role in the response to the pandemic.

Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonGOP senators target WHO as part of coronavirus probe Senate Republican: Coronavirus response has ‘hampered’ Hunter Biden investigation Senate committee to investigate origin of, response to coronavirus pandemic MORE (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a member of the panel, are also investigating the U.S. and international response to the virus, including a focus on China and the role of the WHO.

They joined with five other Republican senators Tuesday to send a letter to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, requesting details on its response ahead of a congressional hearing on “helping the Chinese Communist Party cover up information regarding the threat of the Coronavirus.”

“American taxpayers fund the WHO, and it is up to us to make sure those taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely,” they added.

Some Republicans have referred to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus,” descriptions critics say are racist. They’ve also sought to use China as a political weapon against Democrats amid the coronavirus pandemic. The National Republican Congressional Committee, for example, accused Rep. Sean CastenSean CastenIllinois governor endorses Biden one day before primary House votes to temporarily repeal Trump SALT deduction cap Pelosi warns of ‘existential’ climate threat, vows bold action MORE (D-Ill.) of “unwittingly spewing” Chinese propaganda or being a “Chinese asset.”

Some critics have said the attacks appear aimed in part at deflecting blame from Trump, who at various points earlier this year said the coronavirus was under control and would “miraculously” go away when the weather warmed in April.

But people in both parties have questioned whether China concealed information about the initial COVID-19 outbreak and failed to tell the world of its seriousness. Officials in China denied in January that it could be transmitted between humans.

Asked about potential actions the administration would take, Trump demurred during a White House press conference Monday, telling reporters they would “find out.”

“We have a relationship with China that — we’re not happy with certain things that happened over the last period of time, as you know, and I’ve been very explicit on that,” Trump said.

Reducing U.S. dependence on China for key medicines and supplies is an area that could draw bipartisan support.

A bill from Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio Rubio13 things to know about coronavirus for today On The Money: Trump set to unveil guidelines on reopening economy | Food supply worries grow after Smithfield meat plant closure | Business tax provisions in coronavirus relief law spark controversy Trump sparks GOP backlash with claim of ‘total’ power to reopen the country MORE (R-Fla.) that advocates for the U.S. to reprioritize its productive capability in order to achieve less supply chain dependence on China has garnered support from three Democratic senators, including Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenBiden needs a history-making women’s agenda in response to COVID Democrats slam EPA proposal not to tighten air quality standards The Hill’s Campaign Report: Obama gives Biden boost with endorsement MORE (Mass.).

Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocrats blast Trump’s move to suspend WHO funding Trump sparks GOP backlash with claim of ‘total’ power to reopen the country Trump and Senate Republicans at a showdown over government oversight? MORE (D-Conn.), who supports Rubio’s bill, said he would back “good faith efforts” to understand the origin of the virus but questioned the GOP motives.

“Right now, there is a very coordinated effort amongst the White House and their allies to try to find scapegoats for the fatal mistakes that the president made during the early stages of this virus,” Murphy told reporters during a Tuesday conference call.

“It is just widely ironic that the president and his allies are now criticizing China or the WHO for being soft on China, when it was in fact the president who was the chief apologist for China during the early stages of this crisis,” he added. “The mistakes that China and the WHO made did not mean that it was inevitable that the United States faced tens of thousands of deaths.”

<p><strong>Happy&nbsp;Monday and welcome to Overnight Defense.&nbsp;</strong>I'm Rebecca Kheel, and here's your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.email.thehill.com/thehillreg/thehillreg/pref.action?lid=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.email.thehill.com/thehillreg/the… HERE to subscribe to the newsletter</a>.</p><p><strong>THE TOPLINE:</strong> The coronavirus outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt saw its first fatality Monday.</p><p>A sailor from the Roosevelt <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/492472-roosevelt-sailor-with-coronavi… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was declared dead</a> after being taken to an intensive care unit last week, the Navy said in a statement. The sailor’s identification is being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin is notified.</p><p>The sailor tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30 and was in the middle of a 14-day isolation period on Naval Base Guam when he was found unresponsive during a daily medical check Thursday.</p><p>CPR was administered by fellow sailors and the onsite medical team in the isolation house before the sailor was transferred to the ICU at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, the Navy said.</p><p><strong>Roosevelt’s numbers:</strong> The Navy also said Monday that 585 sailors from the Roosevelt have positive&nbsp;and 92 percent of the crew has been tested — the same numbers it gave on Sunday.</p><p>The number of crew members who have been moved to shore rose Monday, with 4,021 sailors from the 4,800-person crew now off the ship.</p><p><strong>Official condolences:</strong> Several top officials issued statements mourning the sailor’s death.</p><p>"We mourn the loss of the sailor from USS Theodore Roosevelt who died today, and we stand alongside their family, loved ones and shipmates as they grieve," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said in a statement. "This is a great loss for the ship and for our Navy."</p><p>Gilday added that officials "pledge our full support to the ship and crew as they continue their fight against the coronavirus."</p><p>In a separate statement, Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperPentagon awards 5M contract for machines to disinfect N95 masks Overnight Defense: Roosevelt sailor dies from coronavirus complications | House delays return to DC | Lawmakers fret over fate of surveillance flight treaty Roosevelt sailor with coronavirus dies MORE said "the entire department is deeply saddened by the loss of our first active duty member to COVID-19."</p><p>"Our thoughts are with the family of the USS Theodore Roosevelt sailor who lost his battle with the virus today," Esper said. "We remain committed to protecting our personnel and their families while continuing to assist in defeating this outbreak."&nbsp;</p><p>Acting Navy Secretary James McPherson said in his own statement that his “thoughts, prayers and eternal gratitude are with the sailor’s family during this difficult time.”</p><p>“My thoughts are also with the sailor’s shipmates, and the families of the entire crew,” he added. “I am keenly aware of the dedication and commitment of our sailors and Marines in service to our nation&nbsp;— in war, peace and this unfamiliar time of COVID-19. I will continue to do everything in my power to support their efforts and safety as we respond as one nation to this pandemic.”</p><p><em>In other coronavirus news …</em></p><p><strong>Latest Pentagon numbers:</strong> The&nbsp;Defense Department&nbsp;said Monday it now has 4,528 cases of coronavirus linked to it.</p><p>That includes 2,567 active cases among service members, as well as 372 troops who have recovered.</p><p>There are also 597 civilians, 491 dependents and 270 contractors with the virus. At least two dependents and five contractors have died, according to the Pentagon’s numbers.</p><p><strong>House delays coming back:</strong> The House is <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/492566-house-delays-expected-return-u… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">not expected to reconvene</a> until at least May 4, delaying a return originally planned for next week as stay-at-home orders remain in place across the nation.</p><p>Lawmakers had grown increasingly skeptical that the House could convene by the originally planned date of April 20, given that federal health guidelines for social distancing are still in place until at least the end of the month.</p><p>House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerOvernight Health Care: Trump fires back at critics during briefing | Trump claims he has authority on when to reopen states | Governors form groups to discuss plans | Fauci offers support to Trump | House delays return Overnight Defense: Roosevelt sailor dies from coronavirus complications | House delays return to DC | Lawmakers fret over fate of surveillance flight treaty House delays expected return until May amid coronavirus pandemic MORE's (D-Md.) office announced Monday that the expected date to return will be in early May "absent an emergency."</p><p>"Members are further advised that if the House is required to take action on critical legislation related to the coronavirus response or other legislative priorities, Members will be given sufficient notice to return to Washington, DC," the notice added.</p><p><strong>Trump claims he has authority to reopen states:</strong> President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate committee to investigate origin of, response to coronavirus pandemic Amash teases possibility of third-party presidential bid Overnight Health Care: Trump fires back at critics during briefing | Trump claims he has authority on when to reopen states | Governors form groups to discuss plans | Fauci offers support to Trump | House delays return MORE on Monday claimed that he, not governors, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/492503-trump-claims-he-not-g… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">has the ultimate authority</a> to loosen restrictions on states as the coronavirus outbreak eases, an assertion disputed by legal experts.</p><p>“For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States &amp; the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect,” Trump tweeted.</p><p>“It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons. With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue,”&nbsp;he continued. “A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”</p><p>Trump did not cite any particular legal authority.</p><p>Legal experts who spoke to The Hill said that, while Trump can issue federal regulations to prevent the spread of diseases, he does not have the authority to reverse a public health restriction put in place at the state or local level.</p><p>“The president can issue reasonable necessary federal-level quarantine orders,” said Elie Honig, a legal analyst and former federal prosecutor in New York. “I don’t see any mechanism or constitutional principle that would apply here that would allow the president to come in and overrule the governors.”</p><p><strong>MEANWHILE … TREATY IN PERIL?:</strong> Over the weekend, your Overnight Defense correspondent took a look at the state of play on the Open Skies Treaty,&nbsp;whose supporters are warning Trump could withdraw from it even as attention is focused on the coronavirus.</p><p>A House aide told The Hill that Esper and Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Roosevelt sailor dies from coronavirus complications | House delays return to DC | Lawmakers fret over fate of surveillance flight treaty WHO chief says he has good relationship with Trump despite president’s comments Lawmakers cry foul as Trump considers retreating from Open Skies Treaty MORE two weeks ago agreed to a withdrawal despite two planned National Security Council (NSC) meetings on the issue being canceled in February and March.</p><p>“Their decision to withdraw prompted strong objection from the UK, France, Germany and Poland,” the aide added.</p><p>A Democratic aide in the Senate similarly said “we have heard that Secretary Esper and Secretary Pompeo agreed to something” without NSC meetings, adding that “this week, French officials reiterated they object to any decision to withdraw from Open Skies.”</p><p>The aide said they haven't heard from the Germans, United Kingdom or Poland recently, but “they are already on record against a U.S. withdrawal from Open Skies.”</p><p>A senior administration official and the State Department told The Hill a review process into the treaty is ongoing, but did not dispute the aides’ characterization.</p><p><a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/492303-lawmakers-cry-foul-as-tr… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more here</a>.</p><p><strong>ON TAP FOR TOMORROW</strong></p><p>The United States Institute of Peace will host an online event on “The Impact of Coronavirus on North Korea” at 9 a.m. <a href="https://bit.ly/3a6BVzN" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://bit.ly/3a6BVzN</a></p><p>The Atlantic Council will host a virtual conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Turkey’s response to COVID-19 at 11:30 a.m. <a href="https://bit.ly/3b5xKoV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://bit.ly/3b5xKoV</a></p><p>The Hoover Institution will host an online briefing with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on COVID-19 and national security at 2 p.m. <a href="https://hvr.co/2Rzifhf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://hvr.co/2Rzifhf</a></p><p><strong>ICYMI</strong></p><p>—&nbsp;The Hill: Poll finds Americans see <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/492529-poll-finds-americans-see… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">infectious diseases, terrorism</a>, cyberattacks as top threats</p><p>—&nbsp;New York Times: ‘There Will Be Losses’: How a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/coronavirus-roosevelt-car… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">captain’s plea exposed</a> a rift in the military</p><p>—&nbsp;Associated Press: Guam <a href="https://apnews.com/e69e64d83ba4158991ae298579aade7d?utm_source=Daily%20o… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">worries as sailors from virus-hit</a> ship take over hotels</p><p>—&nbsp;Reuters: U.S. special <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-khalilzad/u-s-special… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">representative to meet Taliban</a> negotiators: State Department</p><p>—&nbsp;Navy Times: With deployment over, <a href="https://www.navytimes.com/2020/04/13/with-deployment-over-truman-carrier… target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Truman carrier strike group being kept at sea</a> due to COVID-19</p>

The Pentagon will extend the freeze on service member travel and movement domestically and overseas past the current order’s May 11 end date, Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperOvernight Defense: 7 crew members on hospital ship test positive | Second Roosevelt sailor in intensive care | Pentagon extends troop freeze Pentagon to extend troop movement freeze past May 11 The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Obama endorses Biden for president MORE said on Tuesday.

The original 60-day stop movement order – which applies to all U.S. forces, civilian personnel and families — was put in place last month to attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus among troops. A new end date has not yet been set.

“This is a necessary measure to keep our people safe and our military ready to act,” Esper said of the extension during a Pentagon media briefing.

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He added that a new end date will be picked “in the next couple of days,” and that he and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley will review the pause in movement “every 15 days, to see if we can curtail it sooner or if we need to extend it further.” 

“Before I start moving people around . . .  I want to make sure I can do it with a high degree of confidence that it will not further spread the virus and contaminate units and communities,” Esper said.

As of Tuesday morning there were 2,618 recorded cases of coronavirus among service members, as well as another 1,509 spread among Defense Department civilians, contractors and dependents. 

Esper also said that the Pentagon plans to significantly increase testing of servicemembers in the next several weeks to address the issue of asymptomatic individuals that may be spreading the illness throughout the military unknowingly.

And Milley said military labs have the capability to process nearly 9,000 tests a day but they have “an objective . . . of ramping that up to about 60,000 tests here in about 45 days or so.”

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A second sailor from the USS Theodore Roosevelt who has the coronavirus has been moved to an intensive care unit, the Navy said Tuesday.

The sailor was admitted to the ICU at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam “for increased observation due to shortness of breath,” the Navy said in a news release.

Three other Roosevelt sailors are also at the hospital, but not in the ICU, it added.

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The news comes a day after the first Roosevelt sailor taken to the ICU died due to complications related to COVID-19.

The sailor, who has not been publicly identified, died Monday after being found unresponsive in his room Thursday.

The coronavirus outbreak aboard the Roosevelt has turned into a political firestorm after the ship’s former commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, wrote a letter pleading for permission to offload most of the ship’s crew. In the letter, Crozier warned that “sailors do not have to die.”

After the letter leaked in the media, Crozier was fired by then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly. Modly later resigned after he gave a speech on board the Roosevelt that berated Crozier as “naive” or “stupid.”

The Roosevelt’s coronavirus cases represent more than half of the Navy’s total of 950 among service members.

As of Tuesday, the Navy said 589 sailors from the Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus, out of 93 percent of the 4,800-person crew that has been tested.

The Navy has moved 4,024 sailors from the ship to shore in Guam, the service said Tuesday.

The Federal Reserve is pumping unrivaled levels of economic aid across the U.S., blowing through old taboos with trillions in rescue loans and bond purchases to buoy the American economy through the coronavirus pandemic.

Faced with a once-in-a-century economic crisis, the Fed under Chairman Jerome Powell has pledged to flood the U.S. with as much rescue lending and bond purchases as its legal charter allows and the economy requires.

The Fed has purchased more than $1 trillion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities — products that anchor U.S. financial markets — with no clear limit in sight.

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The central bank has also opened nearly a dozen special credit facilities to purchase a wide range of consumer, corporate and government debt in exchange for loans to financial firms, businesses and municipal governments.

“We will continue to use these powers forcefully, proactively, and aggressively until we’re confident that we are solidly on the road to recovery,” Powell said in a speech Thursday, shortly after the Fed announced it would offer another $2.5 trillion in economic relief, including unprecedented direct aid to nonfinancial businesses and municipal governments.

The Fed used its emergency lending powers and balance sheet to stimulate the economy and stabilize financial markets during the 2007-09 crisis and recession. While the Fed was criticized for its efforts to prop up banks a decade ago, few have questioned the necessity of its recent sprint to stop an economic collapse.

“Moral hazard is not part of the debate as it was within the Fed during the financial crisis in 2008-09,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, in a Thursday analysis.

“That is because this time really is different. We have to abandon our biases and warehouse them to deal with a health crisis. It is not the time to discuss who is worthy of our efforts.”

Even so, the unrivaled scale and breakneck speed of the Fed’s latest intervention have raised concerns about who may still get left behind and how much the rest of Washington should depend on the Fed’s last-resort loans.

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“If the Fed continues to go down this road and opens new windows and picks more sectors to support, particularly in this top-down way, the political consequences of this for independent central banking are going to be pretty interesting,” said Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner at Washington, D.C., research and consulting firm Federal Financial Analytics.

The Fed’s primary responsibilities fall into two main buckets: keeping prices stable and unemployment low through monetary policy and ensuring the safety of the U.S. banks through regulation and supervision. But a provision of the bill that created the modern Fed system allows the central bank to become the lender of last resort in extreme economic downturns, with the consent of the Treasury secretary.

The catastrophic toll of the coronavirus pandemic and the recession it has created spurred few political challenges to the Fed’s leap to action. With the blessing of Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinTreasury Dept. orders Trump’s name to be printed on coronavirus stimulus checks: report Airlines and Treasury Department reach agreement on coronavirus aid The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump rips critics at testy press conference MORE — Powell’s chief ally within the Trump administration — the Fed has rewritten the playbook for responding to an economic crisis.

While Powell has pledged to stretch the Fed’s lending authority to its legal boundaries, his hand was forced in part by President TrumpDonald John TrumpPompeo says WHO needs ‘to do its job’ as Trump moves to halt funding Trump campaign fundraising pitch seeks donations to ‘hold China accountable’ Schumer: Trump thinks coronavirus crisis ‘revolves around him’ MORE and Congress. A provision in the $2.2 trillion economic rescue bill signed by Trump orders the Fed to use some of the $454 billion appropriated to backstop its emergency lending programs in facilities for businesses and municipal governments.

The Fed faced criticism during the Great Recession for its unwillingness to extend the same discounted loans to businesses and local governments that it offered to banks. It’s refusal to do so was largely attributed to the political implications of choosing which specific municipalities or businesses would receive help and a concern over losing money on behalf of the U.S.

But the scale of the coronavirus pandemic and steep costs it will impose on states have largely erased any hesitation to the Fed aiding municipal governments. The central bank announced last week it would purchase up to $500 billion in bonds from cities with more than 1 million residents and counties with more than 2 million.

The Fed also announced it would offer four-year loans to companies with up to 10,000 employees or less than $2.5 billion in annual revenue that were financially solid before the coronavirus outbreak through a “Main Street Lending Facility.”

“The latest actions from the Fed and the likelihood of further substantial fiscal support mean that the risk of an uncontained failure of the economy beyond, say, the end of May, has greatly diminished,” wrote Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, in a Tuesday research note.

“The speed and extent of the subsequent rebound remains deeply uncertain, but it is clear that both Congress and the Fed appreciate the depth and extent of the problem.”

Few have questioned the necessity of the Fed’s ambitious rescue plan. Even Trump, who ridiculed and berated Powell for nearly two years before the pandemic, has praised the Fed for its swift action.

Even so, the long-term implications of the central bank’s scramble to save the economy worry some Fed watchers and analysts, especially because of the coronavirus’s unique threats to the most vulnerable.

Brookings Institution fellow Aaron Klein and senior fellow Camille Busette wrote in a Tuesday analysis that while black Americans make up a disproportionate number of COVID-19 victims, “none of the thirty-five most African American cities in America meets the Fed’s criteria for direct assistance.”

These parameters would exclude the entire metropolitan statistical areas of Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh and Detroit and all counties in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey, they wrote.

“We are not suggesting that the Fed had racist intentions when setting this limit. To the contrary, everything suggests the Fed was just acting quickly in an unprecedented area,” Klein and Busette wrote.

“Quick actions can have unintended consequences, and the Fed has time to fix this one,” they added.

Petrou also noted that the Fed’s cutoff for the Main Street lending program was well above the size and revenue of most small businesses facing uncertain financial danger.

“The only Main Street I know that looks like that is Park Avenue,” Petrou said.

“When you’re putting a $2.3 trillion program together and trying to open a lot of these complex windows essentially overnight, things will go wrong,” she said.

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