The Marine Corps said on Wednesday its No. 2 officer, General Gary Thomas, had tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the second senior military official to do so this week, another sign of the danger to top brass who met both men at the Pentagon.Thomas, the Marine Corps’ assistant commandant, is suffering mild symptoms and is self-quarantining at home, the Marine Corps said. Reuters was the first to report Thomas’ positive result.Nearly all the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including its chairman, Army General Mark Milley, are in quarantine after attending top-level meetings last week with Thomas and the Coast Guard’s No. 2 official, Admiral Charles Ray, who tested positive on Monday for the disease caused by the coronavirus.The list of top generals quarantining reads like a “Who’s Who” of the U.S. military, including General Paul Nakasone, head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, as well as the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force.”At this time we have no additional senior leader positive test results to report,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.”We will continue to follow CDC guidance for self-quarantining and contact tracing,” Hoffman said, referring to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hoffman offered no further details, including whether any other top generals were experiencing potential symptoms.The disclosure risks adding to a growing sense of uncertainty about the degree of risk to America’s national security leadership, as President Donald Trump himself tries to bounce back from the illness.The White House says the rise in cases among senior White House officials and others in Washington has not disrupted the government.”Our adversaries are always looking for any weakness to exploit,” Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the Democratic-led House Armed Services Committee, warned in a terse statement on Tuesday that took aim at Trump.”While our military can still operate while leadership is quarantined, the national security implications of the President’s recklessness cannot be overstated,” Smith added. 
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Fake news about the coronavirus can do real harm. Polygraph.info is spotlighting fact-checks from other reliable sources here​.Daily DebunkClaim: COVID-19 is “in most populations far less lethal” than the flu.Verdict: MisleadingRead the full story at: FactCheck.orgSocial Media DisinfoScreenshotCirculating on social media: Claim that three children have died from wearing face masks in Germany.Verdict: FalseRead the full story at: Reuters Factual Reads on CoronavirusCovid: What would happen if Trump became too ill to be president?
He’s now returned to the White House and is determined to continue campaigning, but questions remain over his health and what would happen if he becomes too unwell to carry out his duties as president.
— BBC, October 6.
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Wisconsin health officials opened a field hospital Wednesday at the state fairgrounds near Milwaukee to cater to the swelling number of COVID-19 cases threatening to overwhelm hospitals.The 530-bed field clinic was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in April at the request of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration. Local leaders had warned about the possibility of area hospitals being overwhelmed, but hospitalizations didn’t reach the point where the hospital was needed, until now.Only 16% of the state’s 11,452 hospital beds were available as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the state’s Department of Health Services. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached 853, its highest during the pandemic according to the COVID Tracking Project, with 216 in intensive care.”This alternative care facility will take some of the pressure off our  health care facilities while expanding the continuum of care for folks who have COVID-19,” said Evers.The spike in cases has largely been blamed on the reopening of colleges and K-12 schools as well as people’s refusal to wear masks and practice social distancing. Wisconsin ranked third nationwide this week in daily new cases per capita, making it the hot spot for coronavirus infections.Over 31,000 coronavirus patients are hospitalized nationwide according to the COVID Tracking Project.The hospital, which is designed to provide low-level care, will accept only patients who have already been hospitalized elsewhere for at least 24 to 48 hours, according to the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Patients who qualify will be transported to the facility by ambulance. The facility will not accept walk-ins.It will be staffed mainly by volunteers, state workers, and National Guard members.Several other states moved to set up field hospitals in the early stages of the pandemic — at great expense — only to find that they got little to no use and many were shut down.
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Національний банк України встановив на 8 жовтня курс 28 гривень 32 копійки за долар, це на 4 копійки менше за офіційний курс на сьогодні. Від пікового за останні понад два роки курсу 28 гривень 40 копійок за долар національна валюта зміцнилася вже на 8 копійок.

Торги на міжбанківському валютному ринку завершилися ще оптимістичніше для гривні, котирування опустилися до 28 гривень 30–32 копійок за долар, свідчать дані Finance.ua.

Частково на поведінку ресурсного та валютного ринку вплинули позитивні результати аукціону Міністерства фінансів із розміщення ОВДП, пишуть експерти сайту «Мінфін». «Чиновники продали облігацій на загальну суму 7,245 млрд гривень, в тому числі і на $ 135,3 млн. Сьогодні день розрахунків за ці папери, і певний дефіцит гривні спрацює на користь нацвалюти», – відзначали експерти ще на почактку торгової сесії.

Попри незначне зростання, гривня все ще перебуває поблизу до найнижчих цього року показників. Близько двох місяців тому, 17 серпня торги завершилися на рівні 27 гривень 23,5–25,5 копійки за одиницю американської валюти.
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Two scientists have won this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing a method of gene editing. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences jointly awarded the $1.1 million prize to Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of the United States. The academy recognized their work on a tool called the CRISP/Cas9 genetic scissors, which allows scientists to cut a string of DNA at a precise position and edit genomes of animals, plants and microorganisms. Applications for the tool include plant breeding and contributing to cancer therapies. The academy said the work of Charpentier and Doudna has “revolutionized the life sciences.” The Nobel Prize in literature will be awarded Thursday, followed by the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Three scientists won the physics prize Wednesday for their discoveries related to black holes. Three scientists also shared the medicine prize for the discovery of Hepatitis C. 
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The U.S. National Hurricane Center Wednesday said Hurricane Delta has come ashore along the northeastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour.The storm, which had exploded in strength Tuesday, weakened somewhat over the past 18 hours but remains a powerful and dangerous storm. Forecasters say life-threatening winds and storm surge are hitting the Yucatan peninsula and flash flooding is likely in urban areas and rural areas, where mudslides are possible.Heavy rain from the storm continues to batter Cuba to the east.Forecasters predict Delta will intensify as it moves into the warm, deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico later Wednesday.  They say all computer models indicate Delta will once again become a category 4 storm.A category 4 storm — based on the Sapphire-Simpson scale by which hurricane strength is measured — has maximum sustained winds of between 209 and 251 kph. The hurricane center projects Delta will turn to the northwest towards the central U.S.  gulf coast over the next day. While it could weaken as it approaches the coast by late Thursday, it is expected to become considerably larger and is likely to bring hazardous conditions from western Louisiana to Florida.Forecasters say if Delta maintains hurricane strength through landfall, it will become the fourth to hit the region this year, following Hanna, Laura and Sally. Weaker tropical storms Marco and Beta hit the area this year, as well. Delta is the 25th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. When it officially formed Monday, it marked the earliest a hurricane season has reached 25 named storms since records have been kept. 
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У 2020 році валовий внутрішній продукт України скоротиться на 5,5%, прогнозує Світовий банк у своєму звіті.

При цьому у 2021 році Світовий банк очікує зростання української економіки на 1,5%.

Згідно з прогнозам, найбільшого падіння серед країн регіону Європи та Центральної Азії (до цього переліку не включають країни Західної Європи) зазнають Чорногорія (мінус 12,4%), Косово (мінус 8,8%), Албанія (мінус 8,4%) та Хорватія (мінус 8,1%).

У 2014 році українська економіка обвалилася після анексії Росією Криму та початку збройного конфлікту на Донбасі. За даними Світового банку, через два роки ВВП знову почав зростати й у 2019 році досяг 153,78 мільярда доларів.

 
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Частка боргу в українському валовому внутрішньому продукті зросте з 50,4% у 2019 році до 62% у 2020-му, йдеться у звіті Світового банку.

Аналітики прогнозують, що у 2021 році частка боргу впаде до 58,9%.

За даними Міністерства фінансів України, станом на 31 серпня державний та гарантований державою борг становив 85,1 мільярда доларів.
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As the COVID-19 pandemic marches on, new, rapid tests offer hope for pumping the brakes on the virus’ spread.  The United States is falling far short in its testing efforts. More than 4 million tests per day would be needed to control the spread of the coronavirus, according to an analysis by Brown University and A healthcare professional adds the extraction reagent and a patient specimen to Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag rapid test card, Sep. 2020.The right test for the job Experts say that the best test depends on the testing strategy.   “I think there’s definitely a time and a place for all of these tests, as long as they’re used properly,” said Wyllie. Currently, the CDC only recommends COVID-19 testing if people have symptoms or if they’ve been in close contact with an infected person. Because PCR picks up even tiny quantities of the virus it is much more sensitive than antigen testing. This means that PCR can more accurately diagnose COVID-19, particularly as the disease progresses and virus levels wane. “PCR is extremely sensitive. It can detect one molecule [of the virus],” said Michael Mina, epidemiology professor at Harvard University at a press conference. “I want to make it clear that PCR is a terrific tool. If I’m a diagnostic physician, I want to use PCR.”   However, because PCR tests are so sensitive, they may give a positive result when people are no longer contagious. “We’re actually missing people during the peak of their infection and we’re catching them too late,” said Mina.   Some experts say the best approach to tackling COVID-19 is frequent, widespread testing of asymptomatic people. Less-sensitive antigen tests may do the job because they perform well when virus levels are high and detect people when they’re most infectious. Best of all, these tests are cheap and quick. “If my goal is to use testing as a way to remove people who are infectious from the population, that’s where these rapid antigen tests really start to shine,” said Mina. According to Mina, the recent granting of an Emergency Use Authorization to a rapid antigen test is a step in the right direction. This type of simple, paper test could one day be available for use in homes. Although the FDA has not yet approved a home COVID-19 test, it recently provided recommendations for home testing standards, stating that these tests will be a “game changer in our fight against COVID-19.” “I really like the idea of a rapid test that you can do at home,” said Yale’s Wyllie. “This idea that we can get up in the morning and as we’re getting ready for work or whatever, taking a test.” But Wyllie says the success of this approach depends on test sensitivity and how often testing is done. “The problem with antigen tests at the moment is that I just don’t think they’re sensitive enough sometimes.”   Even with daily testing, a low sensitivity test could fail to identify the virus before a person becomes infectious. “In that 24 hours, they could go to a wedding, they could go to a funeral, they could go to a church choir. All these settings that we’re seeing become superspreading events.”How Superspreaders – People and Places – Drive the COVID-19 Pandemic A mix of biology, behavior and location is found to produce a majority of cases The limits of testing Experts agree that no test is perfect. Results depend on many factors such as the type of test, how the sample was collected and when the test was taken. “A negative [diagnostic] test doesn’t exclude the possibility that you will test positive tomorrow if you’re within that 14-day incubation period,” said UNC’s Weber. “I think testing is an important strategy but it’s not a substitute for physical distancing and mask wearing.” Steve Baragona contributed to this report.
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China’s international reputation has plunged sharply amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey of people in more than a dozen advanced democracies.   In a telephone-based poll of upwards of 14,000 people in 14 countries between June and August conducted by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center, 61% of all respondents said Beijing had handled the COVID-19 outbreak poorly, compared to 37% who gave the Asian economic giant a favorable response.   The negative views varied among each nation surveyed, with the highest numbers coming from Japan, Sweden and Australia, where more than 80% of those asked had an unfavorable opinion of China. Eighty-one percent of Australian’s disapproved of Beijing, compared to 57% in 2019, the sharpest increase of negative attitudes toward China among all nations.    Tensions between Australia and Beijing have risen since Canberra called for an independent probe into the origins of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was first detected last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Beijing has retaliated by imposing heavy tariffs on Australian barley and suspended Australian beef imports. Meanwhile, about 78% of all respondents had a negative view of Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying they had little or no confidence in Xi to do the right thing regarding global affairs. The other nations surveyed in the Pew Research poll include Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, and the United States. 
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Turkey’s bid to become a member of the European Union appears to be in jeopardy after the bloc’s executive branch on Tuesday said it is displeased by what it called Ankara’s failures to sustain democracy and fight corruption. In its annual report on the country, the European Commission cited too much political power in the hands of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which has resulted in a poor economy and eroded the independence of the judiciary. The report also said Turkish authorities continue to pressure civil society, aid groups and the media. “Turkey remains a key partner for the European Union. However, Turkey has continued to move further away from the European Union with serious backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary,” the commission said. But Turkey, which began its EU membership talks in 2005, rejected the commission’s criticisms, describing them as prejudiced, according to the AP. Turkey’s bid to become a member of the EU has not been an easy one in spite of its position as an important socio-economic partner to the EU, in part because Turkey has helped prevent migrants from entering the bloc through its borders with Greece and Bulgaria. For this reason, the EU has paid Turkey about $7 billion to motivate Ankara to stop Syrian refugees in the country from heading to Europe. Nonetheless, Turkish disputed claims over Cyprus and Erdogan’s crackdown on perceived opponents since a failed coup in 2016 have ruined much of the progress made in becoming the 28th member of the EU. “The report presented today confirms that the underlying facts leading to this assessment still hold, despite the government’s repeated commitment to the objective of EU accession,” said the commission. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the report reflects “the EU’s prejudiced, unconstructive and double-standard approach.” The report failed to mention the EU’s own “responsibilities and commitments” and criticized Turkey with “unfounded arguments,” the ministry said in a statement. “Our sincere wish is for the EU to look at the EU candidate country Turkey, not through the selfish and narrow vision of certain circles, but through the common interest and vision of our continent,” it said.  
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Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and speechwriter, tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday. A senior administration official said Miller had previously tested negative as White House officials have tried to contain an outbreak on the complex that has infected Trump, the first lady, and more than a dozen other aides and associates. Miller is an architect of the president’s “America First” foreign policy and restrictive immigration measures. His wife, Katie Miller, who serves as communications director to Vice President Mike Pence, previously had the virus and tested negative after the last time she saw him. Katie Miller had been in Salt Lake City with Pence, where he is preparing to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, but she left as soon as she found out about her husband’s diagnosis. 
 
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Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who co-founded the influential rock band Van Halen, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer at the age of 65. “I can’t believe I’m having to write this but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” his son Wolfgang Van Halen said Tuesday on Twitter. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift.” Wolfgang Van Halen toured as the bass player in recent years in Van Halen, a band known for songs such as “Panama,” “Jump,” and “Ain’t Talking About Love.”  FILE – Eddie Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen attend a press conference announcing the dates of “Van Halen’s” North American concert tour, Aug. 13, 2007.Eddie Van Halen also played guitar on pop star Michael Jackson’s mega hit song “Beat It.” The Dutch-born Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex, a drummer, founded Van Halen in the early 1970s. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1978. It featured the blistering instrumental “Eruption” which highlighted Eddie Van Halen’s use of two-handed tapping, and the band’s cover of the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”   Van Halen went on to become one of the best-selling rock bands of all-time, led by the self-taught guitarist who revolutionized the instrument with his memorable guitar riffs, solos and use of harmonics. The band’s original lineup featured singer David Lee Roth and bass player Michael Anthony.  They recorded several successful albums together including the multi-platinum “1984.”  FILE – David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen perform during U.S. Festival in Devore, Calif., May 29, 1983.After that record, the band parted ways with their lead singer and brought in Sammy Hagar.  They also toured with singer Gary Cherone before reuniting with Roth and playing shows across the country in 2012 and 2015, with a lineup that featured 3 original Van Halen members as well as Eddie’s son, Wolfgang.  Eddie Van Halen struggled with alcoholism but had been sober since 2008. He lost one-third of his tongue to cancer that eventually spread to his esophagus. Reaction from musicians Van Halen’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians on social media. Lenny Kravitz said “Legendary guitar and musical innovator Edward Van Halen. 1955-2020. Heaven will be electric tonight.” Legendary guitar and musical innovator Edward Van Halen. 1955-2020. Heaven will be electric tonight. pic.twitter.com/hdLd7atI74— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) October 6, 2020Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx said “RIP Eddie Van Halen. You changed our world. You were the Mozart of rock guitar. Travel safe rockstar.” Country artist Kenny Chesney said, “I am devastated at the news of the passing of my friend Eddie Van Halen.” I am devastated at the news of the passing of my friend Eddie Van Halen. pic.twitter.com/hUyIdKXsdG— Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) October 6, 2020Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea said, “I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker. I hope you jam with Jimi (Hendrix) tonight. Break through to the other side my brother.”Oh man, bless his beautiful creative heart. I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker. I hope you jam with Jimi tonight. Break through to the other side my brother. ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/XpcTlPJq9A— Flea (@flea333) October 6, 2020 
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