BREAKING: China to strip press credentials from several U.S. news organizations
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1239968503873994752
Moar Sauce
BREAKING: China to Expel New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal Reporters From Country
https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1239968837019156491
Nintendo said its online games were shut down as a result of an unspecified network problem, as internet-based systems faced pressures from people at home due to the global coronavirus outbreak
New York (AFP) - Nintendo said its online games were shut down Tuesday as a result of an unspecified network problem as internet-based systems faced pressures from people at home due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
The outage affected people using the popular Nintendo Switch console as well as its 3DS and Wii U models.
"We apologize for the situation where network services cannot be used on Nintendo Switch etc.," the Japanese gaming firm said in a tweet.
"We are still working on recovery, but it will take some time to resolve."
The news from Nintendo comes after other online game systems including Microsoft's Xbox Live dealt with problems related to increased demand.
Nintendo offered no explanation for the problem. According to the monitoring service downdetector, Nintendo's problems began around 1100 GMT.
The original Switch console, a hybrid that can be used for handheld play or hooked up to a screen at home, has become a huge global seller.
It is entering its fourth year. Last September, Nintendo also launched a scaled back, cheaper version of the console, called Switch Lite, which is a strictly handheld device. Its sales have also been solid.
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1239975033725952003
This is big news: Amazon pauses non-essential warehouse shipments, prioritizes 'household staples, medical supplies’ during virus crisis.
Amazon is suspending shipments of all non-essential products to its warehouses, the giant online retailer announced Tuesday.
Amazon will prioritize "household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products" until April 5, it explained in an email to sellers and vendors.
For the moment, this does not impact shipments between warehouses and and consumers, rather the relationship between vendors and Amazon warehouses.
It will primarily affect sellers who take advantage of a program called Fulfillment by Amazon, which allows them to use Amazon’s warehouse storage and delivery network. Vendors who wholesale their products to Amazon will also be impacted.
“We are seeing increased online shopping, and as a result some products such as household staples and medical supplies are out of stock,” read the memo.
Other prioritized categories will include baby products, beauty and personal care, groceries, industrial and scientific supplies, and pet supplies.
Amazon also announced on Monday that it was hiring 100,000 employees for warehouses and delivery networks, to help meet the increased demand from the site.
Amazon has seen enormous surges in orders of household items like toilet paper, hand soap, and sanitizer, which were out of stock on the website this past weekend.
https://twitter.com/jsolomonReports/status/1239973882297081856
The U.S. is taking action to sanction Assad regime Lt. General Ayoub for the violence perpetuated against the people of northern #Syria. Such violence that impacts civilians, humanitarian workers, and hospitals must not be tolerated. We stand on the side of the Syrian people.
https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1239972482766884873
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak promises "unprecedented package" of ÂŁ330bn to support companies during coronavirus pandemic, with more if needed.
The government has unveiled a package of financial measures to shore up the economy against the coronavirus impact.
These include ÂŁ330bn for companies to access loans, support for airlines, a business rates holiday, and help for small firms without insurance.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told a press conference it was an "economic emergency. Never in peacetime have we faced an economic fight like this one."
And he promised that if this package was not enough, he would go further.
From the hospitality industry to the airline sector, companies have warned that their long term survival is under threat.
Mr Sunak said: "Some sectors are facing particularly acute challenges. In the coming days, my colleague the Secretary of State for Transport and I will discuss a potential support package specifically for airlines and airports."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during the same media briefing that "we must do whatever it takes to support the economy". He added: "This a time to be bold, to have courage. We will support jobs, we will support incomes, we will support businesses… We will do whatever it takes."
The chancellor said he was extending the business rates holiday to all firms in the hospitality sector and funding grants of between ÂŁ10,000 and ÂŁ25,000 for small businesses. And Mr Sunak said that for those in financial difficulty due to coronavirus, mortgage lenders will offer a three-month mortgage holiday.
'No time for ideology'
He unveiled the measures after the government's chief scientific adviser said about 55,000 people in the UK now have Covid-19, as the NHS moved to cancel all non-emergency surgery and 71 people are now known to have died.
Mr Sunak said: "This is not a time for ideology and orthodoxy, this is a time to be bold, a time for courage. I want to reassure every British citizen this government will give you all the tools you need to get through this." The ÂŁ330bn package was, he said, equivalent to 15% of UK GDP.
"That means any business who needs access to cash to pay their rent, their salaries, suppliers or purchase stock will be able to access a government-backed loan or credit on attractive terms.
"And if demand is greater than the initial ÂŁ330bn I'm making available today, I will go further and provide as much capacity as required. I said whatever it takes, and I meant it."
He said the aid package was to help companies "meet the fixed costs of their staff without having to let them go".
https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/1239968648749441025
This is leading to NESARA/GESARA?
NEW: NJ Governor says all malls, amusement centers & amusement parks will close today "until this emergency ends" - WPVI
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1239982842836328449