US News
- The Department of Justice Inspector General found that every FBI FISA warrant had several problems and abuses. The average warrant had 20 problems, with one having as many as 65. [Link]
- The Pentagon wants to make its 5-year spending plan classified. [Link]
Coronavirus
- States across the US are releasing some prisoners to try to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Most people being released are low-level and non-violent offenders. In New York, at least three child rapists have been released. [Link]
- The amount of money the US spends annually on nukes could pay for 300,000 ICU beds, 10,000s of ventilators, and 100,000s of doctors and nurses. [Link]
- The Department of Defense planned to purchase 1,400 ventilators but has now increased the contract to acquire 8,000. [Link]
- An Army Captain assisting the NJ National Guard is the first soldier to die of coronavirus. [Link]
- The Captain of the USS Theodore Rosevelt, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is pleading for help from the Navy as several of his sailors have tested positive for coronavirus. At least 100 have the virus on the ship that is now docked in Guam. The Captain reports not having sufficient room to quarantine all the sick sailors. [Link]
- A UN human rights expert calls for the lifting of sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, and Zimbabwe because of the coronavirus. [Link]
- Indonesia is set to release 30,000 prisoners in response to the coronavirus. [Link]
- Turkey plans to release 45,000 prisoners in response to the coronavirus. [Link]
Venezuela
- The US unveils a new policy where if Maduro steps down and allows the opposition to appoint a new president, then the US will lift sanctions. The US said Maduro could run in elections that would be held in six to 12 months. [Link]
- Venezuela rejected the US proposal. [Link]
South Korea
- The disagreement between the US and South Korea – over how much South Korea will pay the US to keep nearly 30,000 American troops stationed in South Korea – has led to the US laying off 4,500 South Koreans who work for the US. [Link]
