Coronavirus Update

Global cases rose to more than 1.6 million yesterday with nearly 96,000 deaths. The number of U.S. cases rose above 468,000 with 16,691 confirmed deaths.

• On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s attempt to add $250 billion to the $2T stimulus bill’s small business loan program by unanimous consent was blocked.
• British PM Boris Johnson was moved to a regular ward yesterday after spending the previous three days in intensive care.
• Two separate teams of scientists have concluded that the outbreak in New York began weeks prior to the first confirmed case, and came to the area via travelers from Europe.
• A Hong Kong appeals court on Thursday ruled that the government can ban the use of facemasks at illegal gatherings, but cannot restrict mask-wearing at legal gatherings.
• EU finance ministers last night agreed to a more than half a trillion euro stimulus plan limited to health-related programs, and decided against issuing joint bonds.
• A two-week ceasefire in the Yemen War began at noon local time on Thursday due to rising concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

Afghan Gov't Releases Prisoners

One day after releasing 100 Taliban prisoners, the Afghan government on Thursday said it would release an additional 100 prisoners, even as a Taliban spokesperson called the piecemeal release “unacceptable.” The two sides met last week to discuss a prisoner swap, but Taliban officials walked out of the talks on Tuesday.

Iraq Nominates Third PM In Ten Weeks

Iraqi President Barham Salih nominated the country’s intelligence chief, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, as prime minister and tasked him with forming a cabinet that will pass a parliamentary vote. Kadhimi is the country’s third potential leader nominated in the past ten weeks, as the previous two withdrew after failing to garner enough support in parliament.

The Coronavirus Effect

• U.S. stock indexes rose an average of more than 1% Thursday, as the S&P recorded its biggest one-week gain since 1974.
• 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, bringing the total of the past three weeks up to nearly 17 million.
• The Federal Reserve announced the creation of nine different programs to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to states, cities, and businesses.
• WeWork has reportedly failed to pay April’s rent at numerous locations, and recently hired two brokerage firms in an attempt to negotiate rent relief from landlords.
• LinkedIn announced it will be connecting essential businesses, such as hospitals, with qualified potential employees and volunteers, free-of-charge.
• UFC 249 - at one point scheduled for a private island to circumvent U.S. lockdowns - has been canceled after intervention from ESPN and parent company Disney.

One On One

Startup Esports One has launched the first “all-in-one fantasy platform” for gaming. The site will feature a fantasy esports option for users to compete with others, as well as the resources to research players, read relevant articles, and watch live games.

Mexico Says NOPEC

OPEC+ appeared to have agreed to a historic 10 million barrel per day production cut early Thursday, but Mexico reportedly refused to agree to its share of cuts later in the day following a more than nine-hour meeting. Talks are set to resume today.

More: The original agreement calls for OPEC+ members to participate in a cumulative 10 million barrel per day decrease for May and June, followed by an 8 million barrel cut for the next six months, then a 6 million barrel cut for the next four months.

The Perks Of Being A Wall-Dollar

Like many other restaurants across America, the Sand Bar has fallen on hard times. Unlike other restaurants, though, the Sand Bar’s walls have been accumulating dollar bills signed by patrons over the past fifteen years.

Jennifer Knox, the owner, was sitting in the closed bar when inspiration suddenly struck. Over the next two weeks, she enlisted workers to carefully take down the battered money - amounting to nearly $4k - and distributed the entire sum to her staff.

The Home Depot

The coronavirus outbreak and resulting quarantine have left engineers, mechanics, and other at-home tinkerers with nothing but time on their hands, many harboring a desire to help out their community - while still practicing proper social distancing, of course.

ABC News recently took an inside look at how Americans across six different states have stepped up to the challenge, using their home workshops to 3D print and manufacture personal protective equipment for local hospitals in need.

Madea Goes To The Grocery Store

Elderly shoppers at more than 70 Kroger and Winn-Dixie locations across Atlanta and New Orleans were baffled - but delighted - early Wednesday morning when their respective cashiers informed them that groceries would be free of charge during “senior hour.”

The shoppers later found out that Tyler Perry was behind the generous donations, which he directed towards his hometown (New Orleans), as well as the place where his career began (Atlanta).

What is art?

Per Wikipedia, art is “the expression of imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.”

And that describes Steve Tate’s work perfectly
Twenty years of experience with paints and applications gives his work a sophistication and elegance that is unparalleled. The end result? A relationship of thoughts, feelings, and emotion on canvas.

Pure and dynamic. Raw and from the heart.
An accidental experiment, tinged with a dash of inspiration, magic, humility, and romance - see what happens when it all comes together.