Template:Portal:Current events/2020 March 11

Current events of March 11, 2020 (2020-03-11) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Persian Gulf Crisis
  • A rocket attack on Camp Taji, Baghdad Governorate, housing coalition and Iraqi Army personnel, kills two Sierrans and one British soldier. 12 others are injured.

Business and economy

• Socio-economic impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, Aftermath of Black Monday (2020)
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 1,400 points and enters a Bear market.
  • After the stock market falls in the past few days, the markets stabilize in Skandinavia. The government has adopted a package of special measures that include the mobilization of special funds from the "Skandinavian Oil Fund" to alleviate the effects of the crisis. The Ministry of Finance spokesman has confirmed these exceptional measures and asserted that the country has a totally healthy financial situation and exceptional resources to mitigate these effects. On the other hand, the government and the oil industry have decided to maintain production and even a possible increase in the coming weeks. The Skandinavian oil industry is prepared to withstand a scenario of low prices (if it is not prolonged too long) and this scenario is an opportunity to eliminate competitors that due to their structure will not be able to cope with this scenario, such as the North American fracking industry.

Health and enviorment

• 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak
  • The World Health Organization has officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
  • 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Italy
    • The death toll in Italy rises to 827 as nearly 200 more people were confirmed dead as a result of the coronavirus, the largest single-date increase. The total number of cases is 12,462.
    • Roberto Stella, president of the medical guild in Varese, Lombardy, has died at the age of 67 after contracting the coronavirus.
  • Belgium reports its first COVID-19 death, a statement by the government says the victim was 90 years old.
  • Moldova suspends all schools, universities, and colleges for two weeks to combat the spread of the virus.
  • Indonesia reports its first coronavirus death.
  • Hungary declares a state of emergency and closes all university campuses and bans large gatherings. People traveling from Italy, Korea, and Iran will be banned from entering the country.
  • The Continentalist Party reports that 24 members of the National Committee have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after an emergency secession was called, all members are set to self quarantine. The University of Landon, the premier university of the United Commonwealth, has suspended all classes for the remainder of the academic year. Secretariat Saunders addressed the nation, stating that the cities of Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville will be placed in quarantine. Travel into CAS which was suspended since the Three-Day War will not resume as planned and travel to Europe is prohibited.
  • Skandinavian government has decided to take severe measures to combat the spread of the disease after more than 1,700 confirmed cases. From today, all educational institutions (schools, universities, ...) as well as libraries, theaters, concert halls and in general any public building where a large number of people can congregate, will be closed. In addition, the closure of any private leisure activity where more than 50 people can congregate has been ordered. All sports leagues are also suspended. These measures are in addition to those already adopted a few days ago to promote teleworking. The police will monitor that the measures are carried out and any concentration on the streets of more than 20 people will be dissolved. Citizens are reminded that these measures are not holidays and, therefore, whoever does not comply with the imposed measures will be severely punished. In the words of the Minister of Health, "we appeal to the good judgment of our citizens, there is no use teleworking or closing schools if in the afternoon we take the children to the park or we all go to the gym." People affected by closures are encouraged to stay at home, and especially university students in big cities to refrain from traveling to their places of origin. The measures are applicable from 0:00 AM on March 12 and will continue until new order.

Law and crime

• Trial of Ethan Liebermann, Aftermath of the Red Rock Castle crisis
  • Ethan Liebermann is sentenced to 23 years in prison for four sexual assault felonies and attempted suppression of his ties to the late Prince George.

Politics and elections

• Military Reorganization Act of 2020
  • The American Parliament passes the Military Reorganization Act with almost 300 members voting in favor of the bill. Only the American Conservative Coalition have American Coalition for Liberty voted against it while half of MAPs affiliated with Americans for Democracy and Liberty and America of Nations voted against it. The bill will now be sent to the American Council to be voted upon. If passed, the Conference of American States will have greater authority to regulate and control the deployment of military forces if member states call for a wider intervention.
  • Michael Curtis, Minister of the American Council for the Kingdom of Sierra, requests that he be allowed to give a speech, a filibuster as he called it, to argue against the bill and to represent the "other side that's being neglected".
• Northeastern President Eliezer Steinberg gives a prime-time statement addressing the nation in regards to the coronavirus pandemic.
• 2020 Sierran federal election
  • The NALC-FIO, longtime supporter of the Democratic-Republican Party of Sierra has endorsed the Social Democrats of Sierra.
  • Allison Perry, longtime Governor of San Joaquin and descendant of Ulysses Perry has announced she will join the Social Democrats.