Opinions
Trump sees limits of presidency in avoiding blame for virus
President Donald Trump is confronting the most dangerous crisis a U.S. leader has faced this century as the coronavirus spreads and a once-vibrant economy falters. As the turmoil deepens, the choices he makes in the critical weeks ahead will shape his reelection prospects, legacy and the character of the nation.… Read
Asia-Pacific response to COVID-19 and climate emergency must build a resilient, sustainable future
The unprecedented public health emergency triggered by the COVID -19 pandemic and its multi-faceted impact on people’s lives around the world is taking a heavy toll on Asia and the Pacific. Countries in our region are striving to mitigate the massive socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, which is also expected… Read
Privacy rights may become next victim of killer pandemic
Digital surveillance and smartphone technology may prove helpful in containing the coronavirus pandemic -- but some activists fear this could mean lasting harm to privacy and digital rights. From China to Singapore to Israel, governments have ordered electronic monitoring of their citizens' movements in an effort to limit contagion. In… Read
Covid-19: Restoring trust in government is key to addressing panic buying
Amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the phenomenon of panic buying has gone full circle. As the pandemic spreads, panic buying that started in Hong Kong became recurrent in Singapore, then in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, the United States and United Kingdom and Japan. Beyond surgical masks, sanitizers and foodstuff, toilet… Read
As world battles virus, governments under fire
As the world battles the coronavirus pandemic, the main question for most is simply: "When will it end?". But other, troubling questions are starting to be asked of governments. Why did Western governments not predict the risk of an epidemic in their territories after the novel coronavirus first emerged in… Read
U.S. weighs the grim math of death vs the economy
Hollstadt Consulting CEO Molly Jungbauer has had to let go 30 of the 150 employees at her St Paul, Minnesota firm to weather the drop in revenue from travel industry clients because of the coronavirus. She's worried about her daughter, who lives in New York and has the disease. But… Read
Viral virus briefing: Where science meets all things Trump
For a few moments in the Rose Garden, the coronavirus pandemic is a bucking bronco with President Donald Trump on its back. His arm swings an invisible rope. He seems to be hanging on for dear life. “Ride it like a cowboy," he growls. "Just ride it. Ride that sucker… Read
Cash in hand: Could basic income protect livelihoods in coronavirus crisis?
Once a radical idea on the fringes of mainstream economics, handing out cash to citizens has been mooted in the United States and Britain as a way to protect vulnerable peoples' livelihoods as the coronavirus crisis accelerates. Universal Basic Income (UBI) involves giving citizens cash payments each month to spend… Read
Now the reckoning - the bill to fight the virus
Whatever it costs, governments say they will pay to defeat the coronavirus and prevent the global economy from melting down. Economists are only now beginning to estimate what it might actually cost. The figure looks massive and will likely have a profound impact on policy for years to come. G20… Read
What's essential? In France: pastry, wine. In U.S.: golf, guns
The coronavirus pandemic is defining for the globe what's “essential” and what things we really can't do without, even though we might not need them for survival. Attempting to slow the spread of the virus, authorities in many places are determining what shops and services can remain open. They're also… Read
