5.26.2020

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NEED TO KNOW

America Ventures Out

Americans celebrated a Memorial Day weekend unlike any in recent memory, marking the unofficial start of summer after spending most of spring under varying levels of stay-at-home restrictions. Many states have put forth social distancing guidelines—they vary by state, see a rundown here—with concerns a second wave of cases could result from mass gatherings as the weather warms. Notable examples of partygoers flouting the advice were seen from Missouri to Florida. Public health officials noted the impact of such events wouldn't be known for days or weeks as symptoms develop.

Separately, the White House will restrict nearly all non-US citizens traveling from Brazil from entering the country. The virus's spread in Brazil has accelerated in recent weeks, and its total of nearly 375,000 cases is second only to the US. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has come under mounting criticism for downplaying the virus.

President Trump pushed states to reopen churches and houses of worship, deeming them essential businesses. The decision largely rests with governors and varies by state like many other restrictions. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) will allow in-person religious services to resume at limited capacity, while a federal court backed California Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) decision to keep churches closed.

Meanwhile, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made his first in-person appearance since the crisis began, visiting a veterans memorial park near his Delaware home with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.

The US has reported 1.66 million cases, with 98,223 deaths, as of this morning. Deaths rose 3.7% since Friday morning; see the moving three-day average here.

Have more questions? Check out our expert-curated coronavirus resource page.

Netanyahu Corruption Trial Begins

The corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began Sunday, with a defiant Netanyahu calling the charges politically motivated. It is the first time a sitting prime minister has gone on trial in the country and comes one week after Netanyahu was sworn in for a record fifth term (albeit under a power-sharing agreement with rival Benny Gantz).

The result of a four-year probe, the charges focus on three cases: allegedly taking improper gifts from a number of businessmen; pushing legislation that would weaken a competitor of Israel's largest paper, Yediot Aharonot, in exchange for favorable coverage; and taking bribes from Shaul Elovitz, who controls the country's biggest telecom company, in exchange for political favors. The third case is the most serious, with the regulatory benefits provided estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The trial could last more than a year—the next hearing is scheduled for July 19.

Hong Kong Protests Reignited

At least 180 people were arrested in Hong Kong Sunday as protesters clashed with police for more than seven hours. The confrontation was sparked by a new national security law pushed by mainland China that would broadly ban seditious activities. The march was a continuance of a series of pro-democracy demonstrations against Beijing that began last spring, but the first large-scale event since the pandemic began.

Hong Kong has maintained a tenuous relationship with China since being returned by the British in 1997, and the semi-autonomous region maintains separate governing and economic systems from the mainland. The majority of its 7.4 million residents identify as Hongkongers rather than Chinese (see 101). Critics have accused the central government of creeping authoritarianism over the region.

See an overview of the new national security law here.

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning top Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady at “The Match: Champions for Charity” golf match, collectively raise $20M for COVID-19 relief (More)

> Venice Film Festival to proceed as planned Sept. 2-12 (More) | Universal Orlando parks to reopen with “inherent risk” warning beginning June 5 (More)

> Jerry Sloan, basketball Hall of Famer and longtime coach of Utah Jazz, dies at 78 (More) | Jimmy Cobb, last surviving member of Miles Davis' First Great Sextet, dies at 91 (More) | Legendary college basketball coach and 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Sutton dies at 84 (More)

Science & Technology

> Large-scale study of antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine shows no benefit in treating COVID-19, with recipients more likely to experience adverse effects, including death (More) | See full peer-reviewed study, published in top medical journal The Lancet (More)

> New double-contrast MRI technique allows detection of small cancerous tumors with five times greater sensitivity; may improve the early detection rate for many cancer types (More)

> SpaceX's first crewed mission officially cleared to launch tomorrow; trip to the International Space Station is also the first crewed mission to launch from US soil since 2011 (More)

Business & Markets

Brought to you by The Ascent

> Rental car giant Hertz files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure nearly $19B of debt amid pandemic-induced slowdown (More)

> New York Stock Exchange reopens today, roughly 25% of traders returning required to wear masks and avoid public transit (More)

> Sources say Germany and German airline giant Lufthansa reach preliminary 9 billion euro bailout package (More)

A credit card that packs up to $1,148 of value? Secure the highest cash back rate on the market that we've come across—with no annual fee to boot. (More) #Ad

Politics & World Affairs

> Multistate manhunt underway for college student suspected in two killings; search stretches from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, suspect considered armed and dangerous (More)

> Florida judge strikes down state law requiring former felons to pay all outstanding fines before regaining the right to vote as unconstitutional; decision, which is expected to be appealed, affects nearly 775,000 potential Florida voters (More)

> United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson stands by aide Dominic Cummings after Cummings reportedly violated country's quarantine guidelines by driving to his parents' farm, 250 miles away from London (More)

IN-DEPTH

An Incalculable Loss

NYT | Staff. As the US nears the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths attributable to COVID-19, this visualization captures the lives led by 1,000 victims—while still capturing the scale of the crisis. (Read, $$)

From Homeless Refugee to Chess Prodigy

ESPN | Aishwarya Kumar. Three years after his family fled Boko Haram in Nigeria—and two years after picking up a chess piece for the first time—9-year-old Tani Adewumi is dreaming of becoming the world's youngest grandmaster. (Read)

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ETCETERA

America celebrates Memorial Day, in photos.

The majority of coronavirus conspiracy tweets are coming from bots.

Dr. Anthony Fauci makes a pair of surprise commencement addresses.

Explorers locate the USS Nevada, the ship that almost escaped Pearl Harbor.

The next threat? Aggressive rats short on garbage.

What each state has been binge-watching during quarantine.

Crayola unveils new pack of colors that reflect the world's skin tones.

Grapefruit-sized hailstones pummel a Texas town.

Clickbait: Owl chicks hatch outside man's window, watch television daily.

Historybook: Dow Jones Industrial Average begins with 12 stocks (1896); Actor John Wayne born (1907); Legendary jazz musician Miles Davis born (1926); First American woman in space, Sally Ride, born (1951); HBD musician Lenny Kravitz (1964).

"Young girls need to see role models .... You can't be what you can't see."

- Sally Ride

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