International
Wuhan doctor who was among the first to alert other medics to the spread of coronavirus 'goes missing'
A Wuhan doctor who was among the first to alert other medics to the spread of coronavirus has disappeared sparking concerns that she has been detained, reports suggest. Dr Ai Fen said she faced 'unprecedented, extremely harsh reprimanded' by officials at Wuhan Central Hospital after she shared a pi
Israel starts mobile coronavirus testing centers for Arabs: Medics
Israeli medics started setting up mobile coronavirus testing centers for the Arab population on Monday, a medical organization said, after opposition politicians accused the Israeli government of neglecting its largest minority. Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross, sa
Fake news or the truth? Russia cracks down on virus postings
Two weeks ago, an opposition-leaning radio station in Russia interviewed political analyst Valery Solovei, who alleged the government was lying when it said no one had died in the country from the coronavirus. Solovei told radio station Echo Moskvy at least 1,600 people might have died since mid-Ja
CHINA'S MANUFACTURING EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS IN MARCH AFTER CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN
Manufacturing in China recorded a significantly better-than-expected performance in the last month, sounding a rare optimistic note at a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to pound the global economy. Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said China's official purchasing managers'
China defends against incoming second wave of coronavirus
A growing number of imported coronavirus cases in China risked fanning a second wave of infections when domestic transmissions had “basically been stopped”, a senior health official said on Sunday, while eased travel curbs may also add to domestic risks.China, where the disease first eme
France extends coronavirus ‘stay-at-home’ lockdown order until at least April 15
France is extending by two weeks until at least April 15 its stay-at-home order for all people to curtail the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Friday. President Emmanuel Macron had ordered people in France to stay at home from March 17 for two weeks for all but essential t
Israel's Netanyahu and rival Gantz move closer to unity government
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival, Benny Gantz, was elected parliamentary speaker on Thursday in a surprise maneuver that could herald a unity government keeping the veteran leader in power.With the support of Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and allied parties, former g
Merkel’s coronavirus test came back negative for second time
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for coronavirus for a second time and will undergo another test at the beginning of next week, a government spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday. Merkel has been self-quarantining and working from home after receiving a vaccination from a do
India to go under total coronavirus lockdown: PM Mod
India’s 1.3 billion people will go under “total lockdown” from midnight Tuesday (1830 GMT) for 21 days to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. “From 12 midnight today, the entire country will be in lockdown, total lockdown,”
Grandmother, 95, becomes the oldest person in Italy to recover from coronavirus after being diagnosed with it earlier this month
A 95-year-old grandmother who was diagnosed with the coronavirus this month has become the oldest patient in the Italian province of Modena to recover from the illness. Alma Clara Corsini, from Fanano, was rushed to a hospital in the city's northern province of Pavullo on March 5 after showing sign
China scrambles to curb rise in imported coronavirus cases, Wuhan eases lockdown
China reported 46 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, while the city of Wuhan, the pandemic’s ground zero, announced it would be loosening a two-month lockdown by gradually resuming public transportation and allowing healthy people to resume work.It was the fourth day in a row with an increase in
Australia searches for 2,700 cruise passengers
Australia issued an urgent call for 2,700 cruise ship passengers who disembarked in central Sydney to isolate themselves and contact authorities Friday, after four travelers tested positive for COVID-19. New South Wales authorities said they had deemed the New Zealand-bound Ruby Princess “low
Hong Kong and Tokyo airports are handling coronavirus very differently. Which one has it right?
Passing through airports in Hong Kong and Tokyo this week highlighted the differences in the approaches of the two Asian hubs in dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic. Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday, after disembarking directly onto the tarmac we were taken to a qua
80,000 EU citizens stranded abroad from coronavirus travel shutdown
An estimated 80,000 EU citizens around the world are stranded abroad waiting to get back into Europe amid a travel shut-down from the coronavirus outbreak, officials have estimated. EU leaders last night agreed to close the bloc's borders for 30 days to all but non-essential travel, in a bid to slo
Brother of 2017 UK Manchester suicide bomber found guilty of murder
The brother of the bomber who blew himself up at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in the English city of Manchester three years ago has been found guilty of murdering the 22 victims, the BBC reported on Tuesday. Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old Briton born to Libyan parents, detonated his bomb at Man
World needs to work together to respond to coronavirus pandemic: IMF Chief
Global governments must work together to provide massive spending as in the 2008 financial crisis to help the economy withstand the damage from the coronavirus pandemic, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Monday. Emerging markets are facing a massive outflow of cash and will need support as well,
France asks airlines to help citizens stuck in Morocco amid coronavirus fears
France has asked airlines to help bring back thousands of French citizens stuck in Morocco after the North African country halted flights because of the coronavirus, French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said on Sunday. Morocco suspended all international passenger flights on Sunday afte
Coronavirus death toll in Italy jumps to 1,441
The death toll in Italy’s coronavirus outbreak rose to 1,441 on Saturday, up almost 14 percent from the 1,266 total reported a day earlier, the civil protection authority said on Saturday. The total number of cases rose to 21,157 from 17,660, the authority said. Italy remains the worst affect
