North America

WASHINGTON (AP) — The sick who still go to work because they have no paid leave.

Families who face ruin from even a temporary layoff.

Front-line workers risking infection as they drive buses, bag takeout meals and mop hospital floors.

For years, financial inequality has widened in the United States and elsewhere as wealth and income have become increasingly concentrated among the most affluent while millions struggle to get by. Now, the coronavirus outbreak has laid bare the human cost of that inequality, making it more visible and potentially worse.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Every day, a team of public health officials turns up in the White House briefing room to lay out measures being taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. A different team, expected to be formally announced as early as Tuesday, has begun meeting behind closed doors in the West Wing to tackle another matter paramount to President Donald Trump: how to begin reopening the American economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump claimed the “total” authority to decide how and when to reopen the economy after weeks of tough social distancing guidelines aimed at fighting the new coronavirus. But governors from both parties were quick to push back, noting they have primary responsibility for ensuring public safety in their states and would decide when it’s safe to begin a return to normal operations.

Trump would not offer specifics about the source of his asserted power, which he claimed, despite constitutional limitations, was absolute.

WASHINGTON (AP) — New York’s coronavirus death toll topped 10,000 and the worldwide number of confirmed cases hovered around 2 million on Monday, even as the lack of fresh hot spots globally yielded a ray of optimism and fueled discussions about how some places might begin to reopen.

HOUSTON (AP) — Elsy was on the phone in an immigration detention center when guards showed up with face masks and forms to sign.

NEW YORK, Apr 13 (APP): After letters and phone contacts, Pakistan’s Consul General Ayesha Ali on Sunday reached out to the coronavirus-lockdown community members in New York by posting a video message to assure them of the consulate’s continued support and assistance, as U.S.’ worst affected region battles the deadly pandemic.

BRIDGETOWN, April 13 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has convened a special summit for Wednesday to analyze the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting was convened by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, current president of the regional mechanism, which groups 15 countries in the region.

The main goal of the event is to exchange ideas and experiences on the ‘impact of the deadly virus,’ said the president.

HAVANA, Apr 13 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — A Cuban medical brigade left for Togo, in West Africa, to join actions against SARS CoV-2.

This is the first time that Cuban doctors will work in Togo, according to official sources.

Angola was the first country on the continent to receive Cuban doctors with enthusiasm and hope, on April 9.

Other specialists from the Henry Reeve International Contingent are fighting Covid-19 in 18 countries such as Italy, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Belize.

(Reuters) - Results will be released on Monday for a hotly contested state Supreme Court race, a presidential primary and other elections conducted in Wisconsin last week despite health fears from the coronavirus and a flurry of 11th-hour legal challenges.

The chaotic process in Wisconsin, which featured an explosion in absentee balloting and long lines of voters braving health risks and stay-at-home orders, was seen as a potential preview of the national election in November if the pandemic lingers.

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday welcomed a deal to cut oil production reached by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some other major oil producing countries, known as OPEC+, as it will save hundreds of thousands of U.S. energy jobs.

"The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States," Trump tweeted.