TRUMP CALLS INDIA TRIP ‘PRODUCTIVE’… President Trump called his trip to India a “very productive visit” despite his inability to strike a trade accord. Trump and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi did agree on defense, energy and telecoms deals and vowed to continue negotiating on trade. Bilateral trade between the two countries slowed last year after the U.S. ended preferential trade status for India, prompting the Asian country to impose retaliatory tariffs on 28 U.S. products.
DEMS DEBATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA… Seven presidential candidates gathered in Charleston, South Carolina, for last night’s 10th Democratic debate. It was a fiery event, as candidates made last-minute pleas ahead of Saturday’s South Carolina primary and next week’s Super Tuesday, when nominating contests will be held in 14 states. Senator Bernie Sanders and former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg were often targeted in last night’s verbal sparring from a field that also included former vice president Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar and investor Tom Steyer. Biden stumbled in the first three contests but remains the favorite to win in South Carolina despite his lead shrinking from 28 points to single digits.
HEALTH OFFICIALS TURN UP CORONAVIRUS WARNING… President Trump continues to claim that the coronavirus situation is “under control” despite a harsh warning issued yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Vaccine expert Dr. Nancy Messonnier warned that health officials are “preparing as if we are going to see community spread in the near term” during a press call yesterday. Recent outbreaks in Italy and Iran have sparked fears among infectious disease experts that the virus may be past the point of containment. The coronavirus has infected more than 80,000 people and killed at least 2,700 overseas in less than two months. The CDC has outlined safety precautions schools and businesses will likely need to undertake if the virus becomes a global pandemic.
WALL STREET TUMBLES FOR SECOND STRAIGHT DAY... Fears of the coronavirus spread are being blamed for Wall Street plunging for a second straight day yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 879.44 points, or 3.15 percent, at the end of trading while the S&P 500 dropped 3.03 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slid 2.77 percent. The 10-year Treasury yield hit an all-time low of 1.32 percent while the 30-year bond also fell to a record low.
STATES JOIN IN JUUL INVESTIGATION… A coalition of 39 states has announced an investigation into the marketing and sales of vaping products by Juul Labs. Investigators want to know whether the company targeted youths and made misleading claims about nicotine content in its devices. They also plan to probe the risk, safety and effectiveness of Juul’s vaping products as smoking cessation devices. Attorneys general from Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Oregon and Texas are leading the probe into San Francisco-based company, which also is facing lawsuits by teenagers and others who say they became addicted to the company’s vaping products.
ENTERTAINMENT
NETFLIX ACQUIRES CATE BLANCHETT DRAMA… Netflix has acquired the rights to the drama “Stateless,” which was co-created by and stars Cate Blanchett. The limited series is set in Australia and tells the story about four strangers whose lives intersect as they battle immigration issues at a detention center in the middle of the desert. The series is expected to debut on Netflix later this year.
REPORT: PLACIDO DOMINGO MADE INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL ADVANCES… Opera singer Plácido Domingo subjected more than two dozen women to sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior while he held senior management positions at Washington National Opera and Los Angeles Opera, according to a report released yesterday by the U.S. union representing opera performers. Lawyers hired by the American Guild of Musical Artists found that complaints about Domingo revealed a clear pattern of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. A second inquiry launched by Los Angeles Opera is still ongoing.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES…
INDIANA 119 – Charlotte 80… The Pacers built a 25-point lead at halftime and never looked back in their blowout of the Hornets. Domantas Sabonis had 21 pints and 15 rebounds.
Milwaukee 108 – TORONTO 97… The Bucks took control with a big third quarter and held off the Raptors. Kris Middleton scored 22 points to lead a balanced scoring attack. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points and as many boards.
Oklahoma City 124 – CHICAGO 122… The Thunder took over down the stretch and edged the Bulls after letting a 17-point halftime lead. Dino Gallinari scored 24 points to lead six players in double figures. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
DENVER 115 – Detroit 98… Jerami Grant came off the bench to score a career-high 28 points in leading the Nuggets past the Pistons. The loss was Detroit’s seventh in a row.
Boston 118 – PORTLAND 106… Jayson Tatum knocked down a career-best eight 3-pointers on his way to 36 points and the Celtics downed the Trail Blazers. Jaylen Brown tossed in 24 points.
L.A. LAKERS 118 – New Orleans 109… The Lakers fought off the Pelicans for their sixth straight victory. LeBron James pumped in 40 points. Anthony Davis had 21 points and 14 boards.
Sacramento 112 – GOLDEN STATE 94… Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points apiece as the Kings cruised past the Warriors. Four other players scored in double figures for Sacramento.
TONIGHT’S NBA SCHEDULE…
New York is at Charlotte…
Cleveland hosts Philadelphia…
Brooklyn is at Washington…
Miami hosts Minnesota…
Orlando is at Atlanta…
Houston hosts Memphis…
Dallas is at San Antonio…
Phoenix hosts the L.A. Clippers…
Boston is at Utah
NHL SCORES…
Calgary 5 – BOSTON 2… Sean Monahan netted back-to-back goals 1:12 apart in the second period as the Flames skated past the Bruins. Mikael Backlund added two goals and assisted on another.
Vancouver 4 – MONTREAL 3 (OT)… The Canucks outlasted the Canadiens after spotting them an early two-goal lead. Newly acquired Tyler Toffoli scored at 1:35 of overtime. Jake Virtanen had a goal and an assist.
Toronto 4 – TAMPA BAY 3… John Tavares scored a pair of goals to lead the Maple Leafs past the Lightning. William Nylander had a goal and an assist.
N.Y. Rangers 4 – N.Y. ISLANDERS 3 (OT)… Mika Zibanejad found the net 28 seconds into overtime to send the Rangers past the Islanders. Ryan Lindgren set up two goals.
PHILADELPHIA 4 – San Jose 2… The Flyers doubled up on the Sharks for their fourth straight win. Kevin Hayes netted two goals and had an assist. Travis Konecny had a goal and two assists.
WASHINGTON 4 – Winnipeg 3 (SO)… Alex Ovechkin netted his 701st career goal and added the decisive goal in the shootout as the Capitals topped the Jets. Dmitry Orlov assisted on two goals.
Dallas 4 – CAROLINA 1… Tyler Sequin, Roope Hintz and Jason Dickinson scored first-period goals and the Stars breezed past the Hurricanes. Goalie Anton Khudobin made 49 saves.
New Jersey 4 – DETROIT 1… Nikita Gusev had a goal and an assist as the Devils handled the Red Wings. Cory Schneider stopped 27 shots at goal for his first win of the season.
ST. LOUIS 6 – Chicago 5… The Blues used a four-goal third period to rally past the Blackhawks. Zach Sanford’s second goal of the game broke a tie with 6:25 remaining. Robert Thomas had a goal and two assists.
NASHVILLE 3 – Ottawa 2… Ryan Ellis and Viktor Arvidsson netted third-period goals as the Predators upended the Senators. Goalie Juuse Saros stopped 33 shots.
MINNESOTA 5 – Columbus 4… Mikko Koivu scored two goals as the Wild held off the shorthanded Blue Jackets. Ryan Donato and Eric Staal both had a goal and an assist.
Florida 2 – ARIZONA 1… Mike Hoffman assisted on Brad Richardson’s first-period goal and scored the decisive goal in the third period as the Panthers clipped the Coyotes. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 37 shots at goal.
ANAHEIM 4 – Edmonton 3 (OT)… Sonny Milano opened the scoring with a first-period goal and netted the game-winner at 2:05 of overtime to lead the Ducks past the Oilers. Adam Henrique had a goal and an assist.
TONIGHT’S NHL SCHEDULE…
Buffalo is at Colorado…
Vegas hosts Edmonton…
Pittsburgh is at Los Angeles
TOP 25 COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCORES…
#2 BAYLOR 85, Kansas State 66…
#4 Dayton 62, GEORGE MASON 55…
35 SAN DIEGO STATE 66, Colorado State 60…
WAKE FOREST 113, #7 Duke 101 (2OT)…
#8 Kentucky 69, TEXAS A&M 60…
#15 AUBURN 67, Mississippi 58…
#24 MICHIGAN STATE 78, #18 Iowa 70
OKLAHOMA 65, #22 Texas Tech 51
Bob Sarber 