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The USS Theodore Roosevelt faces an outbreak of the coronavirus
April 1, 2020
The US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked off the island of Guam, a US territory. Onboard, an unknown number of sailors are sick with COVID-19. But Guam itself has its own coronavirus outbreak. And, the government of India has shut down the entire country, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, millions of Indians have lost their jobs, which has triggered unprecedented mass migration as poor migrant workers return home. Also, a herd of wild goats has taken over the seaside town of Llandudno in Wales, munching on hedges and flowers from gardens.
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China steps up support as US and Europe struggle to contain COVID-19
March 31, 2020
As the US and Europe struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak, China is sending aid and medical supplies around the world. And, over 70 million displaced people around the world are stuck in overcrowded refugee camps. The coronavirus outbreak is putting a strain on already poor living conditions. Also, archaeologists have discovered the remains of 3,400-year-old ball court in the mountains of Oaxaca in Mexico. The discovery may shed light on how Mesoamerican societies developed.
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Deciding how to allocate scarce medical resources
March 30, 2020
With masks and ventilators in short supply, how health care providers around the world deciding to allocate scarce resources? And, Moscow residents got a four-hour notice Sunday before the city went under a sweeping quarantine. The order from the mayor of Moscow came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a week-long, paid, stay-at-home holiday. Also, the new Social Distancing Festival was created as an online space for artists to showcase their work if a performance or exhibition has been impacted by COVID-19.
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Trump's medical advice triggers run on malaria drugs in Mexico
March 27, 2020
US President Donald Trump’s unproven endorsement of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 has triggered a run on the drug worldwide — including in Mexico. Also, the spread of the coronavirus and the border closures have slowed down humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria. Host Marco Werman speaks with David Miliband, the chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, about what help is available for Syrians. Also, a round of applause for doctors, nurses and medical professionals. That's what people in London, Madrid, Wuhan and other major cities around the globe have done to show their support for those on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Understanding COVID-19 from the front lines
March 26, 2020
The novel coronavirus is novel in a number of ways. It's disturbingly easy to spread, often coming from people with no symptoms. Infectious disease epidemiologist Gabriel Leung, who has been at the forefront of understanding the coronavirus, explains what we now know and what remains a mystery about COVID-19. And, we speak with former Pentagon chief Leon Panetta about the challenges that limit the movement and role of US troops to help combat the coronavirus crisis. Also, how do you explain a pandemic to kids so they get the gravity of the situation, but don't freak out?
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What's next after India's coronavirus lockdown?
March 25, 2020
As India settles into a nationwide lockdown, a looming question is whether its health care system will be prepared for what's next. And, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore have all been praised for "flattening the curve" of COVID-19 outbreaks. But sadly, these places can't celebrate just yet. If you're an ant the size of a sesame seed, danger can come in many forms. New research has found that Myrmecina graminicola ants have a unique defense: They tuck into a ball and roll.
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80: 'Harry Potter' and the Yiddish translation
March 25, 2020
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 80.
The worldwide sensation that is the "Harry Potter" series has been translated into over 80 languages. One of the latest translations is Yiddish. Translator Arun Viswanath describes the process and teaches us how to say some magical words including “magic wand” in Yiddish.
The Number in the News is a daily flash briefing for your smart speaker that we’re featuring as a special here in The World’s podcast feed. Listen to The Number in the News every morning to hear a shareable story in just two minutes. It’s one number you won’t forget, plus why it’s in the news today.
Click here to add The Number in the News to your smart speaker News Briefing on an Amazon or Google smart speaker. Produced by The World’s Bianca Hillier.
Number of lockdowns grows as countries try to counter the coronavirus
March 24, 2020
About a fifth of the world's population is now under some sort of lockdown to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus. At the same time, China has announced it will be lifting the restrictions on people in Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei, where the virus was first identified. And, in states like California, in shelter-in-place mode because of the coronavirus, farmworkers are considered essential. The farmworkers still go out and work, but there are increasing concerns about their safety on the job. Also, Verdant Spirits, based in Dundee, Scotland, is switching production from gin to hand sanitizer in the wake of coronavirus and hopes to produce more than 100 gallons of hand sanitizer gel.
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Doctors in Italy struggle to keep up with COVID-19
March 23, 2020
Italy now has reported the most deaths from COVID-19, and doctors are scrambling to keep up with the demand for hospital beds and ventilators. More than 300 million students in China are stuck at home and getting their schooling through online classes. We report what massive experiment in online learning has been like for kids, parents and teachers across the country. For many athletes around the world, the Olympics are a time to shine. The coronavirus has disrupted many athletes' training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and it's brought up concerns about health and safety.
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The week in coronavirus
March 20, 2020
Everybody, everywhere is discussing one thing: the coronavirus pandemic. The World's public health reporter Elana Gordon lays out we've learned about the science of the virus this week. And, The World speaks to a bioethicist to clear up several of US President Donald Trump's false statements on treatments for coronavirus. Also, radio DJs across Europe send a musical message to people across the continent: You'll Never Walk Alone.
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