TheList 5279

The List 5279 TGB


To All,

16 April

The world news finally showed up so here are a few more items for your evening reading.

Regards,

skip



The straight dope from Micro



Here is the straight dope:



The Corona Rules explained (just in case you are confused)



1. Basically, you can't leave the house for any reason, but if you have to, then you can.



2. Masks are useless, but maybe you have to wear one, it can save you, it is useless, but maybe it is mandatory as well.



3. Stores are closed, except those that are open.



4. You should not go to hospitals unless you have to go there. Same applies to doctors, you should only go there in case of emergency, provided you are not too sick.



5. This virus is deadly but still not too scary, except that sometimes it actually leads to a global disaster.



6. Gloves won't help, but they can still help.



7. Everyone needs to stay HOME, but it's important to GO OUT.



8. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarket, but there are many things missing when you go there in the evening, but not in the morning. Sometimes.



9. The virus has no effect on children except those it affects.



10. Animals are not affected, but there is still a cat that tested positive in Belgium in February when no one had been tested, plus a few tigers here and there…



11. You will have many symptoms when you are sick, but you can also get sick without symptoms, have symptoms without being sick, or be contagious without having symptoms. Oh, my..



12. In order not to get sick, you have to eat well and exercise, but eat whatever you have on hand and it's better not to go out, well, but no…



13. It's better to get some fresh air, but you get looked at very wrong when you get some fresh air, and most importantly, you don't go to parks or walk. But don't sit down, except that you can do that now if you are old, but not for too long or if you are pregnant (but not too old).



14. You can't go to retirement homes, but you have to take care of the elderly and bring food and medication.



15. If you are sick, you can't go out, but you can go to the pharmacy.



16. You can get restaurant food delivered to the house, which may have been prepared by people who didn't wear masks or gloves. But you have to have your groceries decontaminated outside for 3 hours. Pizza too?



17. Every disturbing article or disturbing interview starts with " I don't want to trigger panic, but…"



18. You can't see your older mother or grandmother, but you can take a taxi and meet an older taxi driver.



19. You can walk around with a friend but not with your family if they don't live under the same roof.



20. You are safe if you maintain the appropriate social distance, but you can't go out with friends or strangers at the safe social distance.



21. The virus remains active on different surfaces for two hours, no, four, no, six, no, we didn't say hours, maybe days? But it takes a damp environment. Oh no, not necessarily.



22. The virus stays in the air - well no, or yes, maybe, especially in a closed room, in one hour a sick person can infect ten, so if it falls, all our children were already infected at school before it was closed. But remember, if you stay at the recommended social distance, however in certain circumstances you should maintain a greater distance, which, studies show, the virus can travel further, maybe.



23. We count the number of deaths but we don't know how many people are infected as we have only tested so far those who were "almost dead" to find out if that's what they will die of…



24. We have no treatment, except that there may be one that apparently is not dangerous unless you take too much (which is the case with all medications).



25. We should stay locked up until the virus disappears, but it will only disappear if we achieve collective immunity, so when it circulates… but we must no longer be locked up for that?





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Thanks to Barrett

I know these two guys from way back

The Fighter Pilot's Guide to Living.

LONG from 2016 but insightful.



https://medium.com/@BWBailey85/the-fighter-pilots-guide-to-living-48e044fdb435

Whatever my stage of life, I have always found appeal in fighter pilot stories. They contain tremendous life lessons in strength, bravery, and courage, though those lessons may be hidden beneath a truckload of ego and tomfoolery. The older I get, the stronger I'm pulled to the deepest message within the fighter pilot lore: that, for each of us, there is an unknowable distance between life and death. But the stalwart aviator also has the solution; it's written all over his every action. By living fast and loud and shamelessly, he ensures that, when his waterfall arrives, he'll be coming off one hell of a river ride.

And that, I've decided, is just how I want to do it.





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Thanks to Dutch

Been lots of finger-pointing, for sure - Dutch

Coronavirus timeline shows politicians', media's changing rhetoric on risk of pandemic



By Gregg Re | Fox News

As reporters looked on during a contentious White House briefing this week, President Trump stepped aside and played a brief video showing several media figures downplaying the coronavirus in January and February, including some personalities who now argue the president didn't act quickly enough.

Looking back, members of both parties have mud on their face for past predictions and assessments.

A timeline compiled by Fox News of coronavirus statements from journalists, world bodies, politicians and their senior advisers from January to March offers insights into how fluid and unclear the situation was. For example, Biden's top coronavirus adviser, Ron Klain, has variously praised and criticized China, and even encouraged travel to the country amid the outbreak.

The timeline also underscores the extent to which President Trump's rhetoric has changed, as he juggled a new trade deal with China and sought to project confidence even as the virus spread.

Soon after the coronavirus infected its first human in late 2019, China's government systematically hid key facts about the contagion and detained a doctor who tried to warn the public. The chronology begins here.

January

Jan. 4: The head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection warns that "the city should implement the strictest possible monitoring system for a mystery new viral pneumonia that has infected dozens of people on the mainland, as it is highly possible that the illness is spreading from human to human."

Jan. 6: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a "level 1 travel watch — the lowest of its three levels — for China's outbreak," according to the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. The CDC said the "cause and the transmission mode aren't yet known, and it advised travelers to Wuhan to avoid living or dead animals, animal markets, and contact with sick people." The CDC also offered to send a team to China, but China declined.

Jan. 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) declares, "Preliminary identification of a novel virus in a short period of time is a notable achievement and demonstrates China's increased capacity to manage new outbreaks."

Jan. 11: China reports its first coronavirus death.

Jan. 14: The WHO announces, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan, China." Meanwhile, according to The Associated Press, internal Chinese documents show that government officials acknowledged likely human-to-human transmission of coronavirus, and said they were following orders from the president of China.

Jan. 15: Trump and China sign "phase one" of a trade deal to rein in a historic and damaging trade war.

Jan. 17: The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security announce that travelers into the U.S. from Wuhan will undergo new screening at several major airports.

Jan. 19: The WHO hedges somewhat: "Not enough is known to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, the clinical features of the disease, the extent to which it has spread, or its source, which remains unknown."

Jan. 22: Trump responds to whether he's concerned about a possible pandemic, "No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It's going to be just fine." Trump was referring to a resident from Snohomish County, Wash., who came back from China on Jan. 15 and was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Jan. 23: Vox publishes an article stating that travel bans to fight viruses "don't work." The article initially referred to the "Wuhan coronavirus," before being edited weeks later. The article's URL remains unchanged.

China seals off Wuhan, canceling plane, train and bus travel.

Jan. 24: Trump tweets in praise of China's "transparency." (On April 1, the Biden campaign mocked the president for the tweet, and claimed Biden "publicly" warned Trump not to trust China.)

Jan. 27: The Biden campaign, including its top coronavirus adviser Ron Klain, praise China for being "transparent" and "candid." Speaking to Axios, Klain asserts: "I think what you'd have to say about China is, it's been more transparent and more candid than it has been during past outbreaks, though still there's problems with transparency and candor." Even as he says there were "many" areas in which China hasn't been transparent, Klain says China had helpfully released a "sequence of the virus." Klain says there wasn't "any reason" for anyone to postpone essential travel to anywhere except the Wuhan area.

Jan. 28: Three days before Trump closes off most travel from China, Klain says he opposes that measure.

Jan. 30: CNN publishes a piece by Brandon Tensley entitled, "Coronavirus task force another example of Trump administration's lack of diversity." Tensley, who claims to cover the "intersection of culture and politics," was unable to offer medical analysis in the article.

The WHO declares a global health emergency, and the State Department issues advisories against traveling to China.

Jan. 31: Trump issues the "Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus." Later in the day, Biden campaigns in Iowa and tells the crowd that Americans "need to have a president who they can trust what he says about it, that he is going to act rationally about it. ... This is no time for Donald Trump's record of hysteria and xenophobia – hysterical xenophobia – and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science."

Also in the wake of the ban on Jan. 31:
An article in The New York Times quotes epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm as saying that Trump's decision to restrict travel from China was "more of an emotional or political reaction."
The Washington Post runs a story quoting a Chinese official asking for "empathy" and slamming the White House for acting "in disregard of WHO recommendation against travel restrictions."
Vox tweets: "Is this going to be a deadly pandemic? No." The tweet was deleted weeks later.
Death counts indicated that 213 people had died and nearly 10,000 had been infected.

February

Feb. 2: "There's a virus that has infected 15 million Americans across the country and killed more than 8,200 people this season alone," CNN tweets. "It's not a new pandemic — it's influenza."

Meanwhile, New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot tweets: "As we gear up to celebrate the #LunarNewYear in NYC, I want to assure New Yorkers that there is no reason for anyone to change their holiday plans, avoid the subway, or certain parts of the city because of #coronavirus."

Feb. 5: Over 5,000 passengers on two cruise ships in Asia are ordered into quarantine as the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus reaches 490.

Feb. 7: Barbot strikes again, assuring residents, "We're telling New Yorkers, go about your lives, take the subway, go out, enjoy life." City lawmakers have called for Barbot to be fired because of the comments.

Feb. 9: Mark Levine, the chair of New York City Council health committee and a Democrat, tweets: "In powerful show of defiance of #coronavirus scare, huge crowds gathering in NYC's Chinatown for ceremony ahead of annual #LunarNewYear parade. Chants of 'be strong Wuhan!' If you are staying away, you are missing out!"

Feb. 11: Klain, the Biden adviser, remarks that the evidence "suggests" the coronavirus won't be a "serious pandemic."

Feb. 13: "There are ZERO confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City, and hundreds of Chinese restaurants that need your business!" the New York City mayor's office tweets. "There is nothing to fear. Stop by any Chinatown for lunch or dinner!"

Feb 14: France announces Europe's first coronavirus death.

Feb. 18: In remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Trump states: "I think President Xi is working very hard. As you know, I spoke with him recently. He's working really hard. It's a tough problem. I think he's going to do — look, I've seen them build hospitals in a short period of time. I really believe he wants to get that done, and he wants to get it done fast. Yes, I think he's doing it very professionally. We're also working with him and helping him, as of the last few days, as you know." Pressed on whether he trusted China's coronavirus data, Trump responds, "Look, I know this: President Xi loves the people of China, he loves his country, and he's doing a very good job with a very, very tough situation."

Feb. 19: Iran reports two coronavirus cases — the country's first. Hundreds of passengers leave the Diamond Princess for the first time since the quarantine.

Feb. 23: Coronavirus infections surge in Italy and South Korea; authorities in Italy begin locking down towns.

Feb. 24: "It's exciting to be here, especially at this time, to be able to be unified with our community," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tells reporters as she visits San Francisco's Chinatown. "We want to be vigilant about what is out there in other places. We want to be careful about how we deal with it, but we do want to say to people 'Come to Chinatown, here we are — we're, again, careful, safe — and come join us.'"

Also on Feb. 24, the White Housesubmits a request to Congress for $2.5 billion in supplemental spending to help combat the coronavirus outbreak. The request includes $1.25 billion in new money, with the rest coming from unspent funds.

Feb. 29: The first coronavirus death in the U.S. is confirmed in Washington state.

March

Mar. 4: Barbot, the top New York City health official, declares, "There's no indication that being in a car, being in the subways with someone who's potentially sick is a risk factor."

Mar. 9: At a Fox News town hall, Bernie Sanders says he would not close the border, even if it were necessary to halt the spread of coronavirus. He then attacked Trump's "xenophobia."

Mar. 11: Trump blocks most travel from continental Europe.

Mar. 13: "Since I'm encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus, I thought I would offer some suggestions," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweets. "Here's the first: thru Thurs 3/5 go see 'The Traitor' @FilmLinc. If 'The Wire' was a true story + set in Italy, it would be this film."

Meanwhile, Trump declares a national emergency, authorizing $50 billion in federal funds to go to the states.

Mar. 17: France imposes a nationwide lockdown. European Union leaders agree to mostly seal off the bloc for 30 days.

Mar. 23: Britain imposes a nationwide lockdown.

Mar. 24: India imposes a nationwide lockdown.

Mar. 27: A senior WHO official cuts off an interview after a reporter implies Taiwan, which is not a WHO member state, is independent of China. The official, Canadian doctor Bruce Aylward, initially pretended not to hear the question before terminating the Skype call with the reporter.

Trump signs a $2 trillion stimulus bill into law.

Mar. 30: Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. issue stay-at-home orders, joining other states. In all, approximately 265 million Americans are now under indefinite lockdown





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I remember when this happened but I never knew how it all turned out. A very interesting story. Not quite Cinderella but close.

Thanks to Dr.Rich



"Gimme the Keys, I'm Going For a Ride

Joyride 1986 the theft of a Marine A-4 Skyhawk

https://youtu.be/HersvTbNdC0





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Some world news thanks to Military Periscope for 16 April



USA—State Dept. Report Accuses China Of Violating Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Wall Street Journal | 04/16/2020 A new State Dept. report indicates that China may have conducted low-yield nuclear tests despite its stated commitment to international agreements banning such activities, reports the Wall Street Journal. The allegations are part of the latest State Dept. report on arms control that is to be made public soon. There is no direct evidence of the tests but several activities raised concern that Beijing is conducting prohibited activities at its Lop Nur test site in northwest China, the report says. The evidence includes a high rate of activity at the site, extensive renovations in the absence of other explanations and the use of special chambers to contain explosions. U.S. officials also say that data transmissions from sensors in China that monitor radioactive emissions and seismic tremors have been interrupted. That interruptions began in 2018 and ended in August 2019 during negotiations between the Chinese government and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization on placing the monitoring stations into operation, said a spokeswoman for the Vienna-based organization. Such tests would be a violation of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the U.S. and China have signed but not ratified. It is not legally in force because not enough countries have ratified it. Experts said that the available evidence was potentially consistent with low-yield or sub-critical tests. The latter do not involve fission and are permitted by the CTBT, reported the Guardian (U.K.). The evidence, however, was thin, the experts said, noting that China, Russia and the U.S. all conduct sub-critical tests that are indistinguishable from low-yield nuclear tests.



USA—IRGC Boats Harass U.S. Warships In Persian Gulf U.S. Naval Forces Central Command | 04/16/2020 Iranian fast boats have harassed U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels operating in the northern Persian Gulf, reports the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. On Wednesday, 11 small boats made "dangerous and harassing approaches" to U.S. ships in the area, the command said. The Iranian vessels, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), made passes that came within 10 to 50 yards of the U.S. ships, said the command. During the encounter, the American crews issued multiple warnings, including bridge-to-bridge radio calls, horn blasts and warnings via a long-range acoustic device. After around an hour, the Iranian crews responded to bridge-to-bridge radio calls and moved away from the U.S. ships. The expeditionary mobile base Lewis B. Puller, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Paul Hamilton, two Coast Guard Island-class cutters and two Cyclone-class patrol boats were conducting integration operations with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters when the harassment began, the Navy said.



USA—Su-35 Makes Unsafe intercept Of U.S. Aircraft Over Med, Navy Says U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa | 04/16/2020 A Russian fighter jet has made an unsafe intercept of a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, reports the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. On Wednesday, a Russian Su-35 intercepted a U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, including a high-speed, inverted pass about 25 feet (7.6 m) ahead of the surveillance plane, the command said. The crew of the Poseidon reported wake turbulence following the pass. The intercept lasted for about 42 minutes, said the command. U.S. Navy officials criticized the intercept and urged Russia to abide by the terms of the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas. USA—



Philadelphia Shipyard To Build MARAD Training Ships Defense News | 04/16/2020 Philly Shipyard has been selected to build up to five training vessels for the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), reports Defense News. On April 8, Alaska-based TOTE Services, which was selected as the construction manager for the program in May 2019, awarded Philly Shipyard a $630 million contract for the first two National Security Multimission Vessels (NMSVs), the newspaper reported on Tuesday. The deal includes options for three more ships that, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $1.5 billion, reported Marine Log. Production of the first vessel is expected to begin in early 2021. Delivery of the first two ships is scheduled for the spring and winter of 2023, respectively. The NSMVs are intended to replace the current training ships assigned to the State Maritime Academies and will provide at-sea training to merchant marine cadets. The vessels will be equipped with modern navigation and bridge systems, as well as a roll-on/roll-off ramp, crane and helicopter deck. They are designed to accommodate up to 600 cadets and instructors. The NSMVs will also be available for disaster relief and other government sealift missions.



USA—Air Force Seeks Technologies To Monitor Lunar Space Space News | 04/16/2020 The Air Force has awarded a contract to a team of startups to study ways to collect and analyze information about activity around the moon, reports Space News. The $50,000 small business innovation contract was awarded to Rhea Space Activity, a startup based in Washington, D.C., which has partnered with Saber Astronautics, an Australia-based company with U.S. operations in Colorado. Under the first phase the program, the team will develop a concept for collecting and managing lunar intelligence. The companies are expected to propose using a three-dimensional space situational awareness portal to track objects and display data about the space around the moon. The initial phase is expected to last three months. That data will be displayed in a "space cockpit" ground mission control tool, which is being developed by Saber Astronautics under a 2019 Air Force contract. The system uses 3D graphics and gaming-style controls to create a more intuitive control system, according to company officials. A commercial variant is already used by satellite operators to monitor, fly and diagnose issues with spacecraft. At the end of Phase 1, the firms will submit a proposal for a second stage focused on developing the technology.



France—2 Killed In Cougar Helo Crash In Pyrenees Aerotime | 04/16/2020 Two French soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southwestern France, reports the Aerotime aviation news portal. On Wednesday, an AS 532 Cougar helicopter went down during a hoist exercise near Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyrenees department, said an army spokesman. The helicopter was part of the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment based in Pau, reported Reuters. Five other crewmembers aboard the helicopter were injured, two seriously. Both were transported to a nearby hospital. A probe has been launched into the crash. Italy—



Mafia Using COVID-19 Pandemic To Recruit Reuters | 04/16/2020 Organized criminal groups in Italy are exploiting the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to recruit from poor families, say Italian officials cited by Reuters. Mafia clans are offering loans and food to those in economic distress from the COVID-19 outbreak in what has been described as a longstanding recruiting tactic, said prosecutors and officials. Loan sharks offer funds at competitive rates and later entrap borrowers by hiking interest rates to up to 300 percent, said a Catholic group that fights loan sharking. In Naples, prosecutors noticed that the Camorra gang has offered free food to poor families in the area. Criminals often seek repayment in the future, which could be provided by performing tasks for the mafia, such as transporting drugs, said the prosecutor. The government has offered up to 400 million euros (US$425 million) in food aid to dissuade citizens from accepting mafia assistance. Some analysts believe that the mafia may be suffering from the shutdowns, which are making moving contraband difficult.



Estonia—Police Apprehend 13-Year-Old Leader Of Neo-Nazi Group Business Insider | 04/16/2020 Police in Estonia have identified the leader of a violent neo-Nazi group as a 13-year-old living on the western island of Saaremaa, reports Business Insider. Estonian police identified the individual in January following a tip from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The individual, who used the account "HeilHitler8814" on the Steam gaming network, was a leader of the "Feuerkrieg Division," an offshoot of the larger Atomwaffen Division, according to German media. The suspect allegedly used the account to recruit for the group, which was based in the Baltic states. The teenager reportedly shared bomb-making instructions and discussed planning an attack in London and holding military training camps in February, reported Deutsche Welle. The suspect was also reportedly in contact with two individuals in the U.S. who were arrested by the FBI for planning to carry out attacks in Las Vegas and Atlanta. Those investigations led to the initial FBI interest in the Feuerkrieg Division. The group announced its dissolution on Feb. 8, although authorities have uncovered evidence that it planned to continue its activities under a different name. Since the individual is under 14, they cannot be prosecuted under Estonian criminal law. Authorities are seeking other legal measures to protect him from himself and others.



Russia—Moscow Tests Anti-Satellite Missile U.S. Space Command | 04/16/2020 Russia has tested an anti-satellite missile, reports the U.S. Space Command. On Wednesday, Russia conducted a trial of a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile, said the command. Analysts cited by Reuters indicated that the test likely involved a PL-19 Nudol missile that was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, about 500 miles (800 km) north of Moscow. The test followed an incident in February in which two Russian satellites approached a U.S. government satellite in a dangerous and unsafe manner, said Gen. John Raymond, the head of SPACECOM and chief of space operations for the Space Force. The incident is evidence of "Russia's hypocritical advocacy" of space arms control measures intended to restrict American capabilities, while demonstrating no intent to end its own counter-space efforts, Raymond said.



Malaysia—U.S. Returns Another US$300 Million Stolen From Development Fund Dept. Of Justice | 04/16/2020 The United States has returned around US$300 million in stolen monies from a Malaysian economic development fund, reports the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak created the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund to promote economic development in the Southeast Asian country. From 2009 to 2015, Najib and his associates, including Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, embezzled some US$4.5 billion from the fund, reported the Voice of America News. Combined with funds previously returned to Malaysia in May 2019, the U.S. has returned or helped Malaysia recover some US$600 million, said a Justice Dept. release on Tuesday. The U.S. has recovered or assisted in the recovery of more than US$1 billion in assets stolen from the 1MDB fund, reported Reuters. Last year, a U.S. court entered judgments calling for the forfeiture of US$700 million in assets acquired by Jho Low and his family and located in the U.S., U.K. and Switzerland. The assets included high-end real estate in Beverly Hills, New York and London and tens of millions of dollars in business investments made by Low.



India—Army Locks Down To Slow Spread Of COVID-19 Press Trust Of India | 04/16/2020 The Indian army has issued a stay-in-place order to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), reports the Press Trust of India. On Thursday, the army command instructed all military establishments, cantonments, formation headquarters and units to remain in place and ensure no movement of their forces until April 19 as part of a wider government lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. At the army headquarters, units tasked with operations, intelligence, logistics and strategic movement will operate with skeleton crews. Command headquarters units in the manpower, logistics and operations specialties will carry out their functions with minimum staff as well. After the order is lifted, staffing will be increased to half of normal levels. Intelligence wings in the northern and eastern commands will be unaffected. The army's Directorate General Medical Services will remain fully staffed to assist with the COVID-19 response, reported the Print (New Delhi). New Delhi imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, one of the largest efforts undertaken by any country to combat the spread of COVID-19. The stay-at-home order has been extended until May 3, but some measures are expected to be lifted on April 20.



Syria—Hezbollah Vehicle Transporting Arms To Lebanon Hit In Airstrike Times of Israel | 04/16/2020 A vehicle reportedly carrying arms from Syria into Lebanon for the Hezbollah militant organization has been hit in an Israeli airstrike, reports the Times of Israel. On Wednesday, the car was destroyed in Syria near the Lebanese border. Reports indicate that several people were injured in the attack, which was attributed to Israel. Imad Karimi, a senior Hezbollah operative, was reportedly in the car at the time. Israel and Hezbollah did not immediately acknowledge the strike. Israel does not typically comment on such operations. Israel has accused Syria of violating an agreement reached with Russia that was supposed to keep Hezbollah and Iranian-backed forces away from their mutual border. Israel says Syria is helping Hezbollah establish a permanent presence in the Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces recently released a video of a Syrian general and a Hezbollah commander touring an area known to be used by the militant group.



Lebanon—Peacekeepers Defuse Standoff With Israeli Troops Middle East Monitor | 04/16/2020 The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has intervened in a standoff between Israeli and Lebanese troops along the mutual border, reports the Middle East Monitor. On Tuesday, UNIFIL peacekeepers broke up a short standoff between the southern Lebanese village of Adaisseh and the northern Israeli town of Metulla, a UNIFIL spokesman told the Times of Israel. Israeli forces crossed into Lebanon while working on a concrete wall on the Israeli side of the border, said Lebanese media. The area is officially on the Israeli side of the Blue Line but is contested by Lebanon. UNIFIL denied that the Israeli troops had crossed the border. UNIFIL troops placed themselves between the Israeli and Lebanese troops to prevent misunderstandings and decrease tensions, the spokesman said. Photos of the incident show the peacekeepers standing between the two forces, both of which had weapons drawn.



Libya—GNA Head Rejects Further Talks With Haftar Anadolu News Agency | 04/16/2020 Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, says his government will no longer negotiate with Khalifa Haftar, the head of the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) that supports a rival government in Tobruk, reports the Anadolu Agency (Ankara). Sarraj accused Haftar of exploiting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to renew an offensive against the GNA in Tripoli. In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he emphasized that he "will never sit down with Haftar" due to the crimes "committed against all Libyans." LNA forces have indiscriminately attacked "Tripoli, residential zones, civil institutions and even the public hospital of Al Khadra," Sarraj said. Further negotiations are pointless since previous attempts to resolve the ongoing civil war through a political process have all been rejected by Haftar, the GNA prime minister said. Democratic



Republic of the Congo—30 Killed In Separate Attacks In East Agence France-Presse | 04/16/2020 More than two dozen people have been killed in separate attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reports Agence France-Presse. Over the weekend, members of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), a political-religious sect primarily consisting of members of the Lendu ethnic group, attacked the village of Koli in the northeastern Ituri province, killing 22 members of the Hema community, a local administrator said on Wednesday. The motivation for the attack was not immediately clear. The Hema are a Bantu ethnic group whose members have traditionally been pastoralists. The Hema and Lendu have a long history of conflict. Separately, two soldiers, a civilian and five members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militant group were killed in Beni, North Kivu province, said an army spokesman. No further details were provided about that incident.