On Mother’s Day, leaders search for optimism amid pandemic

FRANK JORDANS and NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — As families in the U.S. and elsewhere marked Mother's Day in a time of social distancing and isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders projected optimism they could loosen lockdowns while controlling a potential second wave of infections. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin predicted the American economy would rebound in the second half of this year from unemployment rates that rival the Great Depression. Another 3.2 million U.S. workers applied for jobless benefits last week, bringing the total over the last seven weeks to 33.5 million. "I think you're going to see a bounce-back from a low standpoint," said Mnuchin, speaking on "Fox News Sunday." But the director of the University of Washington institute