Bloomberg The world’s strongest storm this year killed at least 16 people in the Philippines, and sent tens of thousands more to evacuation centres, risking coronavirus infection. Nearly 458,000 people were evacuated mostly in the main island of Luzon, including 177 Covid-19 patients and more than 400 medical staff from 10 quarantine facilities, the nation’s disaster risk-monitoring agency said in ...
Read More »Politics
Trump, Biden close final race with sprint to election day
Bloomberg The final stretch of the race for the White House between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has been fraught with dramatic twists — a hospitalised president, a resurgent pandemic, the death of an iconic Supreme Court justice, and the rapid confirmation of her successor. Yet none of it appears to have altered the course of the race that was ...
Read More »HK pro-democracy politicians arrested
Bloomberg At least seven Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians were arrested on Sunday allegedly in relation to scuffles at a Legislative Council meeting in May, RTHK reported. Democratic Party members Wu Chi-wai, Andrew Wan and Helena Wong were arrested by police, the party said in a Facebook post. Former legislators Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan were also detained, according to their ...
Read More »England virus lockdown may be further extended
Bloomberg Less than a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a month-long lockdown for England, one of his top ministers and closest allies signalled the measures might have to be extended if they fail to contain the spread of the coronavirus. “It will get reviewed on December 2, but we’re always driven by what the data show,†Cabinet Office ...
Read More »Algerians vote on constitution amid cynicism
Bloomberg Polls opened in Algeria for a referendum on amendments to the constitution that authorities say will address the causes of long-running unrest in the state. Voting took place nationwide from 8 am to 8 pm on Sunday, with results due on Monday. Unfortunately for a government craving stability, many of the millions who joined mass protests since early 2019 ...
Read More »Merkel’s party to meet over leadership in Jan
Bloomberg Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union plans to meet in January as the party prepares to select the leader who will take it into next year’s elections. Three candidates are competing for prime position to replace Merkel, who will step down as chancellor after 16 years running Europe’s largest economy. Germany’s ruling party had originally planned to stage an in-person ...
Read More »Dems bid to retake Senate hinges on Biden showing
Bloomberg Democrats are on the brink of capturing the Senate to give the party full control of Congress, though the final outcome depends heavily on the strength of presidential nominee Joe Biden’s performance in Tuesday’s election. Polls and independent analysts indicate Democrats have a solid chance at winning at least a narrow Senate majority, with Republicans on the defensive in ...
Read More »Ardern secures Green Party support for new government
Bloomberg New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has secured the backing of the Green Party for her next term of government. Ardern announced on Saturday that her Labour Party entered a cooperation agreement with the Greens that gives the smaller party two ministerial posts outside cabinet in return for its support on matters of confidence and supply in parliament. Ardern will ...
Read More »Ivory Coast votes for president amid ‘boycott’
Bloomberg Ivorians began voting on Saturday in presidential elections the main opposition parties have urged their supporters to boycott because President Alassane Ouattara is seeking a third term in office. Ouattara, 78, looks to be a shoo-in for re-election. He is running against independent candidate Bertin Konan Kouadio, who received less than 4% of ballots in 2015. While Ouattara’s former ...
Read More »Tanzania president Magufuli wins big in disputed vote
Bloomberg Tanzanian President John Magufuli was declared the resounding winner of an election that the opposition said was rigged and the US government indicated was seriously flawed. Magufuli, 61, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s candidate, secured 84.4% of valid ballots cast in the October 28 vote, according to the results released by the National Electoral Commission. His main rival, Tundu ...
Read More »