Around the World
'Under control': Putin seeks referendum vote despite coronavirus outbreak
Even the new coronavirus can't stop President Vladimir Putin when his power is on the line. As rumors abound that Russia’s capital is about to be locked down to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19, Mr. Putin said this week that an April 22 nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that could keep him in power until 2036 will proceed as planned.
Italy coronavirus death toll passes China's for first time
The number of people to have died from coronavirus in Italy has now surpassed that of China, where the disease originated, according to figures released Thursday.
China targeting U.S. Navy warships with electromagnetic weapons
China has called for using electromagnetic attacks on U.S. warships transiting the South China Sea, according to a state-run Chinese outlet.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel enters lockdown mode as PM announces unprecedented measures
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday tightened the national stay-at-home policy aimed at containing the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, announcing the guidelines he had introduced earlier this week would now be enforced by police under emergency orders.
IDF goes into higher state of readiness as it aids in fight against coronavirus
Dubbing its efforts against the coronavirus 'Ray of Light,' the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it was moving to a higher state of readiness, one normally reserved for preparation for an enemy attack, which the military stresses was not in light of external threats but rather because of the pandemic.

Inside the United States
Food service industry hit especially hard by coronavirus-induced unemployment spike
The number of people claiming unemployment has spiked significantly, with a new Department of Labor report claiming that a 33 percent week-to-week increase is the highest since the Great Recession.
Half a trillion dollars devoted to checks for individual Americans in proposed Trump stimulus package
President Trump Thursday continued to negotiate a one trillion dollar stimulus package for the economy that would see half a trillion dollars sent out to individual Americans within nine weeks.
Senate GOP unveils $1,200 direct cash payments in massive stimulus proposal
Senate Republicans on Thursday announced a $1 trillion stimulus plan to combat the economic damage caused by the effort to control the coronavirus.
U.S. jobless claims could top record 1.5 million next week - economists
A wave of layoffs at restaurants, bars and hotels, as efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic bring much of everyday American life to a halt, could drive new applications for U.S. unemployment benefits to a record 1.5 million or more next week, economists warned on Thursday.
Coronavirus will kill over half of small businesses in three months
More than half of U.S. small businesses will close within three months if the coronavirus crisis is not solved.

Christian News
Op-Ed: Christianity is growing faster than any time in history. Why is the Church in Europe, America declining?
When we look at the state of Christianity in the world today, we see a decidedly mixed picture. In many parts of the world, there is incredibly good news: God is authoring a season of multiplication instead of addition in many parts of the world.