POLITICS 🏛️

Stimulus bill moves through Senate 

• After Senate leaders reached an agreement with the White House in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the bill passed in the Senate with a 96-0 vote later that day
• The bill is now to be voted on in the House on Friday through a voice vote. The voice vote permits ill or out-of-state members of Congress to remain absent 
• The large scale of the bill—$2 trillion for individuals, businesses, medical supplies, airlines, student loan debts, mortgage loans, and arts—may prove to be a setback for hopes of a quick passage in the House 

WORLD 🌎

India’s COVID-19 difficulties 

• India’s hospital system is at a critical point in being able to provide care to patients
• As the country has the second-largest population in the world (after China), the infection of a mere 10% of the population would put around 130 million people in the hospital
• In the face of disappearing hospital space and protective gear, more makeshift hospitals are being proposed, with social distancing encouraged above all else

BUSINESS 💰

President Trump wants business as usual after Easter

• President Trump’s concern for the suspension of nonessential businesses has him and his staff searching for a date to ease back to the status quo
• Analysts say that the return to work ought to be gradual so as to minimize any runaway inflation and unemployment. However, this did not stop Trump from declaring that he would “love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter” 

TECH 📱

COVID-19 inspires collaboration between Medtronic and Elon Musk 

• Medical device company Medtronic is teaming up with entrepreneur Elon Musks’ companies—Tesla and SpaceX—to begin production of ventilators and other supplies needed in the US
• Other donations from SpaceX include face shields, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, wipes, surgical masks, and other protective wear designed to minimize transmission of COVID-19

US 🦅

Chicago’s innovative quarantine 

• The first patients in Chicago, IL have been moved to Hotel 166, indicating the beginning of quarantining patients within one of 1,000 hotel rooms reserved to alleviate pressure on hospitals
• Similar efforts have been used in New York and Michigan, where basketball courts, dormitories, and convention centers have been put to use for treatment and containment

ECONOMY 📈

Bitcoin boom may soon bust

• Values of Bitcoin are steadily climbing to $7,000 USD per share despite market resistance with every increasing bid
• Analysts are saying that if the stimulus package does not get approved soon, the bubble could burst and send values of BTC down to their monthly lows around $4,800 USD

EXTRA BLING ✨

• Environment 🌲. Conscious efforts are being taken to protect apes from COVID-19
• Arts 🎭. The COVID-19 stimulus package will contain $25M for the Kennedy Center of the Arts in D.C.
• Entertainment 🎞️. Youtube temporarily reduces the quality of their videos amidst an increase of video consumption
• Science ⚗️. Three medical papers have been retracted due to image manipulation
• Interesting 🔎. Planting certain trees can help identify potential pests

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