Britain’s Out of Europe, Trump’s Set for Acquittal: Weekend Reads

(Bloomberg) --

Britain ended its bad-tempered 47-year marriage to the EU.  U.S. President Donald Trump won a major victory in his Senate impeachment trial and is now poised for acquittal. And the spread of a deadly virus has the world on edge.

Dig into these and other topics with the latest edition of Weekend Reads. 

Trump Protected by Republicans Adopting Defense Team’s Logic
Republican senators protected Trump — and each other — from confronting fresh evidence in the president’s impeachment trial by adopting arguments from his lawyers about why the proceedings had run their course. Steven T. Dennis explains why. 

Democrats Vow Trump Probes to Go On After Impeachment Trial Ends
Trump’s scrutiny by Congress won’t end with his expected acquittal in the Senate. As Billy House reports, House Democrats have a list of inquiries they plan to pursue when the impeachment saga is over.

Asia’s Governments Struggle to Crack Down on Virus Rumors
Mounting anxiety surrounding the coronavirus epidemic has governments scrambling to tamp down on social media falsehoods that may fuel fear and lead to a breakdown in security or spread of dubious health information. Philip J. Heijmans, Anisah Shukry and Siraphob Thanthong-Knight take a closer look. 

Mistrust Hampers Hong Kong’s Battle to Hold Back China Virus
Hong Kong was always going to face a huge challenge holding back a disease outbreak raging in mainland China. As Alfred Liu, Shelly Banjo and Annie Lee report, deep mistrust built up over seven months of protests is making that task even harder.

Democrats Rally to 2020 Candidates on Surge of Anti-Trump Energy
New data shows that the surge of Democratic activism around the country in 2020 has already eclipsed the record level of the midterm elections two years ago — and is still growing. Joshua Green and Tyler Pager take a closer look, with the party’s nominating process set to kick off Monday in Iowa. 

What It's Like When a Wildfire Sweeps Through Your Home (With You Inside)
Max Atkins had known Australia’s wildfires were headed toward his property on Australia’s southeastern coast. But, as David Stringer reports, the 84-year-old was unprepared for the speed with which they arrived.

The Crisis That Shattered India's Economic Dreams
Wish Town was once a sought-after destination for India’s aspiring middle classes seeking a slice of the “good days” promised by an ambitious Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, it’s a symbol of lost hope, Vrishti Beniwal, Rahul Satija, Dhwani Pandya and Anirban Nag report. Click here for a list of winners and losers from Modi’s budget, announced today.

It’s the Kochs vs. the Mercers in the Right’s Big Tech Brawl
Conservative Republicans and their backers think libertarian groups and right-wing nonprofits are shielding tech companies from regulation. Naomi Nix and Joe Light look at the divide.

And finally … Bargain flights between Hong Kong and New York have emerged with the coronavirus’s spread — as long as travelers are willing to stop in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. As Angus Whitley and Janet Paskin report, flying with China Southern Airlines to John F. Kennedy International on May 20 costs only $193. The trip includes 6 hours and 35 minutes in Wuhan. 

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Karl Maier at kmaier2@bloomberg.net

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