World Briefs

CHINA The province at the center of China’s virus outbreak began allowing factories and some other businesses to reopen yesterday in a show of confidence that Beijing is gaining control over the disease that devastated its economy. Chinese leaders are trying to revive business after the most sweeping anti-disease controls ever imposed took effect in late January, sending shock waves through the global economy.

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel is citing expert estimates that up to 60% to 70% of the population could be infected by the new coronavirus as she insists on the necessity of measures to slow its spread. She said the reason is because people do not yet have immunity to the virus and there are so far neither vaccines nor therapies to fight it.

THE VATICAN representative to East Timor said a visit by Pope Francis has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Monsignor Marco Sprizzi of the Apostolic Nunciature told reporters in Dili that Francis had previously indicated his willingness to visit East Timor later this year. But Sprizzi cited concerns about large crowds, saying “because he did not want his people affected by the coronavirus, he canceled his visit.”

INDONESIA Achmad Yurianto, the government spokesman on efforts to contain the coronavirus, said yesterday a 53-year-old woman had diabetes and lung disease and had contracted the virus abroad. Yurianto did not reveal the patient’s nationality and said her husband will be repatriated soon. The spokesman said two of Indonesia’s 27 cases have recovered.

UK Health minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries (pictured) has been diagnosed with coronavirus. Dorries said she has been self-isolating at home. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she has since been told to do the same as she had met Dorries. The Department of Health said Ms Dorries first showed symptoms last Thursday – the same day she attended an event hosted by the prime minister.

MALAYSIA’s new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (pictured, left) said testerday that all of his Cabinet members will have to declare their assets as part of his pledge to have a government with integrity. The move comes amid concerns over the inclusion in his administration of the scandal-plagued party of disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is on trial for corruption charges.

RUSSIA The parliament approved a sweeping constitutional reform in the third and final reading in a move that will allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power for another 12 years after his current term ends in 2024. The Kremlin-controlled lower house, the State Duma, endorsed a set of amendments to the constitution and a provision resetting the term count for Putin after the revised constitution goes into force. It passed by a 383-0 vote with 43 abstentions.