The world this week Politics
Governments around the
world tookemaordinazy
measures to curb the novel
co.ronavhus and alleviate its
economic consequences. In
America the Trump adminis-
bation proposed giving direct
cash transfers to every Ameri-
can as part of anemeigency-
spendingpackage. Some
Republicans balked at the idea,
but Mitch McConnell, the
leader of the Senate, said that
now was thetimetor•urgent
bipartisan action·.
Joe Biden swept the board in
the latest Democratic prima-
ries. In Florida, the biggest
prize on offer, hewon62%of
thevoteto23% forBemie
Sanders. The pair also debated
in their first one-on-one clash.
Ohio postponed its primary
because of the pandemic, as
have Georgia and Louisiana.
The Justice Department
dropped charges against two
Russian entities indicted by
the Mueller inquiry because it
believes a trial would give
Russia access to sensitive
documentsitwould have to
share with the defence.
- Ifs war
The president of France, Em-
manuel Macron, declared that
the country is "atwar" with the
coronavirus. He announced
the suspension of local elec-
tions, a day after France bad
voted in the first round.
The constitutional court in
Russia approved amendments
to the countty's constitution
that will reset to zero the nwn-
ber of terms already served by
Vladimir Pu tin. He would
otherwise have been ineligible
to run again when his current
term expires in 2024.
The brother of the suidde-
bomber who killed22 people at
an Ariana Grande concert in
Manchesterin2017wasfound
guiltyofthemurderofeach
victim. He was convicted for
obtaining the materials for the
bomb and of helping in the
plot In addition to those
murderedafurther8oowere
hurt, more than go with life·
changing injuries.- Anoth1rchanc.forGlntz:
Benny Gantz, the leader of the
opposition in Israel, was given
the first shot at forming a
government after a tight elec-
tion earlier this month. But his
coalition is divided. Binyamin
Netanyahu, the prime min-
ister, has tried to push Mr
Gantz into forming a unity
government, underMrNetan-
yahu, todealwithcovid-19.
The presidentorlmq named
Adnan al-Zurfi as prime min-
ister-designate in a bid to end a
months-long political dead-
lock. The previous prime min-
ister resigned in November
amid large anti-government
protests. Powerful shia parties
have already lined up against
MrZurfi's nomination.Sweden promised tosend
commandos and helicopters to
Mali to join a French-led mis-
sion fightingjihadists in the
Sahel. Security in the country
has continued to deteriorate.Peter Mutharlb, president of
Malawi, sacked the head of the
army, dissolved his cabinet and
refused to sign new laws allow-
ing for fresh elections in May.
Malawi's top court had
annulled his re-election vic-
tory, citingvote-rigging. He
plans to stick around anyway.- Risky IMlhavlour
Bmzil's president, JairBolso-
naro, joined supporters who
were holding demonstrations
in favour of him. Hefist-
bumpedhis fans and took
selfies with them even though
at least17 people who accom-
panied him on a recent visit to
Mar-a-Lago, Donald TIUmp's
getaway in Florida, tested
positive forcovid-ig. MrBolso-
naro describes the reaction to
thevirus as nhysteriau.A court in Guyana temporarily
blocked a recount of votes cast
in the general election on
March 2nd. A candidate from
the president's coalition
brought the suit seeking the
injunction. International
observers had said there was
credible evidence of fraud in an
initial tally. which gave victory
to the president.- Repressinsthe press
China ordered American
citizens working for the New
York Times, the WaUStreet
Joumaland the Washington
Post to leave the country. It was
the biggest mass expulsion of
westemcorrespondents from
China since the Communist
takeoverin1949. Thegovem-
ment said it was a response to
America's decision to limit the
number of people working for
China's main state-owned
news organisations stationed
inAmerlca to loo.
Amid criesorshame·, opposi-
tion MPS s13geda walkout from
the Rajya Sabha, India's upper
house, whenRanjan Gogoi
took oath as a new member.Mr
Gogoi recently retired as chief
justice: critics of the ruling
BharatiyaJanataPartyclaim
his seat is a pay-off for rulings
that favoured the government.EutTimor entered its third
week of political flux after the
prime minister resigned. The
president is mulling whether
to call a snap election or
appoint as prime minister
:xanana Gusm:lo, a former
presidentwho says he has the
support of a majority of MPS.America urged thegovemment
of Afghanistan.and the Tali-
ban to proceed with a proposed
exchange of prisoners, as
promised in the agreement the
Taliban signed with America in
February. The.Afghangovem-
ment wants the exchange to
proceed alongside peace talks,
but the Taliban say talks can-
not begin until the prisoners
are released.The Eeonomist March 21st 2020 7- Coron11¥11111 briefs
To Miid> 11th 2020
.AdMC..W bf week. 'GOO
a.rna
120Rallt.ofworid 800
22)11n SFeb 4Mar 1810,l:a: : ....
1005 10 15 lO lS
1J8VS since 10th demSoo.rce:,lahns HopkinsCSSE; NHS
"Ccnftnned casa1 mlrNS recovered and deed10Countries imposed strict
restrictions on bonier cress-
inp, including between
America and Canada.Stringent curbs on the
mavement of people were
enforced in Plance, Spain, the
San Francisco Bay Area and
other places.The number of deaths surged
in Italy. For the first time
cbma reported no new daily
local infections.The Philippines declared a
•state of calamity".Researchers were concerned
about a second wave of
infections in Hong Kong.
Singapore and Taiwan.supermadceb took steps to
ration the sale of products
and to set aside shopping
hours forthevulnerable.In what some saw as a blow,
the Eurovision song contest
was cancelled.~For our latest coverage of the
virus and its consequences
p•evisit economist.com/
coronavirus or download the
Bmnomist app.