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 Beijing inches back to normal
In one of the clearest signs yet of Beijing returning to a normal of
sorts after months of near-standstill, China announced on Wednesday
new dates for its annual parliament meeting, known as the National
People's Congress.
Delegations from far-flung regions attend the meeting, now scheduled
to start on May 22 after being postponed from March 5.
Beijing also plans to lift the two-week quarantine required for
domestic travellers, unless they come from high-risk areas, two
sources familiar with the situation said.
In tests we trust
France said on Tuesday it would adopt aggressive COVID-19 testing
from May 11 so it can slowly unwind its lockdown and avoid further
economic meltdown.
It is not alone: Australia plans to expand testing as well, with the
help of 10 million kits secured from China by Fortescue Metals Group
founder Andrew Forrest, who sold them to the government at cost
price of A$3.20 ($2.09) a kit.
U.S. feels the economic pain
Twenty-six million people in the United States have filed for
unemployment in just a month, with millions more likely waiting in
electronic queues at overburdened state unemployment systems.
Gross domestic product numbers released on Wednesday will probably
also show a large hit from the virus-fighting efforts that began in
mid-March. Forecasters expect anywhere from $2 trillion to $5
trillion of output to be wiped out by year's end.
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While such a hit to the world's largest economy is largely
unparalleled, optimists point out that, with overall output at
nearly $22 trillion, that still leaves a lot on the table.
"Can't complain", say pals stuck in London pub
If you are going to be stuck under lockdown, there are worse places
to end up than a spacious pub with free beer on tap.
Steve Pond and Dom Townsend consider themselves lucky to be sharing
an apartment above The Prince in Stoke Newington, north London. Like
all British pubs, it is closed until further notice as part of
measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
"I moved in just a couple of months before lockdown which has worked
out well, considering," said Townsend, 29, now assistant manager
after starting there as a barman.
"We've got fresh beer on tap," Townsend told Reuters as he poured a
pint and placed it next to the hand sanitizer on the bar.
(Compiled by Karishma Singh and Mark John; Editing by Andrew
Cawthorne)
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