Informing, engaging & connecting the people of the world. MAY 7, 2020

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The pace of unemployment claims slowed marginally in the U.S. last week, but another 3.2 million still filed for the benefits as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the world’s largest economy and the rest of the world.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On May 7, 1901, famed actor Gary Cooper is born in Helena, Montana. Cooper’s career spanned five decades, during which the actor won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice for his roles in Sergeant York(1941) and High Noon (1952). Cooper started his career as a cowboy extra in a silent Western. By 1929, he was making “talkie” movies, starting with The Virginian(1929). He was noted as the one of the top ten film personalities for 23 years straight and was one of the top paid actors for 18 years. Cooper died from cancer in 1961.

As its coronavirus death rate ebbs,  Spain is at last easing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. But analysts fear its political polarization will hamper its ability climb back from what is expected to be the deepest economic recession since the 1936-39 civil war.

VIDEO: Major airlines are requiring passengers to wear face masks during flights to protect passengers and crew members from the coronavirus. As a temporary measure, some are blocking middle seats to create spacing between passengers. They are also suspending snacks and beverage services to limit interaction.

VIDEO: Top U.S. and Chinese officials continued their sharp exchanges over the origins and response during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak. Beijing is accusing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of playing politics, claiming COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab. Pompeo is pressing for more information.

VIDEO: Moscow is now in its second month of quarantine as the confirmed number of coronavirus infections in the capital—and across Russia—continues to rise. In addition to criticism over the effectiveness of the country’s health system, there is growing uncertainty about how the battered economy will recover.