Why science won’t ace its coronavirus test

A New York Times article published earlier this month proclaimed that, according to scientists, “never before have so many of the world’s researchers focussed so urgently on a single topic.” It went on to describe the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine and drugs for treating it, involving global collaborations of medical researchers. Epidemiologists are also labouring tirelessly to save ...

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Trump’s sign on checks unconstitutional in US

President Trump’s decision to include his signature on stimulus checks has struck many as unseemly, even unconstitutional. From the perspective of US history, it could have been worse. If not for a colourful little episode during the Civil War, Trump may have had the leeway to go bigger, putting himself on actual money. But he can’t — thanks to a ...

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Covid-19 crisis may keep Sanders revolution rolling

Now that Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed presumptive candidate Joe Biden, it’s worth considering just how profoundly Sanders seems to have shifted the policy landscape. Despite the rise of inequality and other long-term economic problems, a majority of Democrats probably felt too comfortable with the current system to embrace revolutionary change. Although the Sanders ...

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Top up small-business rescue fund now in US

The US government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides forgivable loans to small businesses, mainly to pay their employees during the current sudden stop. News that it has run out of money is more than a big setback to the well-being of the economy. It’s also a serious health obstruction and, unlike many related concerns, one that can and should be ...

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In Berkeley, hunting toilet paper and dodging hikers

A series of dispatches from America in the age of Covid-19. The hunt for a roll of toilet paper: It’s now one of those shared experiences in American life we will all one day tell our grandchildren about, just before they infect us with some new virus. None of the delivery services here in Berkeley, California, even pretend that they ...

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Bankers reluctant to give Asian commodity traders more credit

Bloomberg Bankers are increasingly reluctant to give commodity traders in Asia the credit they need to survive as the lenders grow ever more fearful about the risk of a catastrophic default. Their anxiety has reached new heights in recent days as fabled Singapore oil trader Hin Leong Trading (Pte.) Ltd. struggles to repay debts said to amount to almost $4 ...

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Dubai leads Middle Eastern stock gains

Bloomberg Middle Eastern stocks rose on Sunday following a rally in emerging-market assets at the end of last week as the US outlined steps to reopen its coronavirus-shuttered economy. Dubai’s DFM General Index climbed 2.6% as of 10:07 am local time, while gauges in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait advanced as much as 1.5%. MSCI Inc.’s index of developing-nation stocks strengthened ...

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Analysts stumped by 944% jump in Liberty Holding

Bloomberg TripAdvisor Holdings Inc.’s crazy week left analysts scratching their heads about what might have caused the stock to surge as much as 2,700% in one session. The series B shares soared on unusually high volume, and the move was so inexplicable that the company issued a statement indicating it was “not aware of the reasons for the recent volatility ...

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European banks seek to avert stashing billions for bad loans

Bloomberg European banks are seeking to avoid setting aside billions of euros to cover bad loans after the coronavirus outbreak, in a departure from US competitors collectively taking a $25 billion hit. European lenders are set to report comparatively small increases in loan loss reserves in the first quarter and plan a similar approach during the rest of the year, ...

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‘ECB is flexible, could do more if needed’

Bloomberg The European Central Bank (ECB) could take further action if needed to support the euro area through the economic crisis sparked by the coronavirus outbreak, policy makers at the institution said. The central bank has already unleashed a barrage of support over the past few weeks to cushion countries across the bloc, including committing to spend more than 1 ...

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