Politics

Bloomberg President Donald Trump’s push to reopen the world’s largest economy hinges on a breakthrough that has so far eluded him: ratcheting up testing capacity to stave off another wave of coronavirus. Trump is anxious to end economy-crushing social distancing practices that have curbed the spread of the illness. He declared that he has “total” authority to reopen the country, ...

Bloomberg Vietnam may extend its social distancing order in provinces and cities that have a high risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus spread, the government said in a posting on its website. The government initiated a 15-day social distancing and stay-at-home order on April 1. It is now looking to divide provinces and regions of the country into ...

Bloomberg Trupti Katdare was in a slum in the central Indian city of Indore when the mob attacked. She and a group of other public-health workers had been tracking down a man who might have had contact with a recently confirmed case of the coronavirus. When they found him, he cursed at them, asking why they wanted his information and ...

Bloomberg Parts of the US may be ready in May to ease emergency measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic but there’s no universal “light switch” to flip on, Dr Anthony Fauci said. There’s also the possibility of a Covid-19 rebound in the fall which could be a factor in November’s elections, he said. Fauci and a range of others, including ...

Bloomberg China’s top agency overseeing Hong Kong said lawmakers blocking action by the local legislature were potentially violating their oaths, in a signal that Beijing was losing patience with the months-long legislative logjam. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office urged the city’s Legislative Council in a statement released on Monday to end the stalemate and resume normal operations. Opposition ...

Bloomberg China rejected criticism about the alleged mistreatment of Africans by authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou, a dispute that could set back Beijing’s diplomatic outreach to help the continent cope with the coronavirus pandemic. The government has treated foreigners equally and attaches great importance to their life and health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said in ...

Bloomberg North Korean leader Kim Jong-un raised the standing of his sister as a key player in the secretive state and bolstered his new foreign minister in a cadre shuffle that comes as he tries to fend off the coronavirus pandemic. Part emissary, part personal assistant, Kim Yo Jong was reinstated to her position as an alternate Politburo member of ...

Bloomberg Indonesia’s government is ramping up its coronavirus testing capacity and expanding the partial lockdown to areas outside the capital after facing criticism for having one of the region’s lowest testing rates per capita. President Joko Widodo said the country will increase its testing capacity by 9,000 samples per day while regulators extended stricter social distancing measures, which includes closing ...

Bloomberg American deaths from the coronavirus passed Italy’s, affirming the US’s spot as the epicenter of the global pandemic. Deaths from the virus reached more than 19,880 in the US, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Italy had almost 19,500 fatalities. The US figure will rise throughout the day as more states report data. The heavy toll in ...

Bloomberg UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital after a week, including three days in intensive care as he battled coronavirus. “On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work,” Johnson’s office said on Sunday. The premier will continue his recovery at his country retreat, Chequers. Johnson was taken to the ...