World News Updates

We've passed COVID-19 peak; will announce guidelines on reopening US: Trump

US President Donald Trump said during a press conference that data suggests the country has "passed the peak on new coronavirus cases". "Hopefully...we'll continue to make great progress," he added. "These encouraging developments have put us in a very strong position to finalise guidelines for states on reopening the country," he stated while adding that new guidelines will be announced.
read more at Reuters

China sends 6.5 lakh test kits to India, to send 20 lakh kits in next 15 days

China has dispatched 6.5 lakh test kits to India to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. The kits include Rapid Antibody Tests and RNA Extraction Kits, India's Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri tweeted. Over 20 lakh test kits being procured from China will be sent to India in the next 15 days, Misri told PTI.
read more at The Quint

Europe remains 'in the eye' of coronavirus storm: WHO

The World Health Organization's European office on Thursday said that despite some "optimistic signs" in some of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus, the number of cases was rising and approaching one million in the continent alone. "We remain in the eye of the storm," WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said.
read more at Hindustan Times

Over 600 sailors infected after COVID-19 spreads on French aircraft carrier

At least 668 sailors assigned to French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle's naval group have tested positive for the coronavirus, the armed forces ministry said on Wednesday. The results from a third of the tests are still not in and "more tests are being carried out". Thirty-one personnel on board the nuclear-powered carrier are in a hospital, a statement said.
read more at Reuters

Coronavirus cases in UK cross 1,00,000 mark, death toll surges to 13,729

The total number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to 1,03,093 after 4,618 more people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the death toll due to COVID-19 surged to 13,729 after 861 new deaths. Till now, a total of 3,27,608 people have been tested in the UK.
read more at DHSC

Coronavirus death toll in US crosses 31,000, total cases over 6.4L

The death toll due to coronavirus in the US has risen to 31,002, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. The total cases in the country crossed 6,40,000 while over 52,000 have recovered. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the country has "passed the peak on new coronavirus cases" and he will announce guidelines for reopening the economy soon.
read more at Johns Hopkins

Germany to ease COVID-19 lockdown with partial opening of shops, schools

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said that the country has achieved a "fragile intermediate success" in its fight against coronavirus and will take small steps out of lockdown with the partial reopening of shops which are up to 800 square metres. Schools would also start opening from May 4, with priority given to final-year students.
read more at The Guardian

Only a COVID-19 vaccine will allow return to normalcy: UN chief

A COVID-19 vaccine may be the only thing that can bring back 'normalcy' saving millions of lives, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. "We need an ambitious effort to ensure that international stakeholders operate through a harmonized, integrated...approach to maximize the speed and scale needed for the universal deployment of such a vaccine by the end of 2020," he added.
read more at Deccan Herald

Australia's Wagga Wagga cuts ties with Chinese city over 'COVID-19 destruction'

The Australian city of Wagga Wagga has moved to cut ties with its Chinese sister city Kunming over the coronavirus pandemic. "This is the same Chinese communist government that delights in lies, subterfuge and coverups...This very regime has brought death and destruction across the world with COVID-19," said Paul Funnell, the councillor who led the campaign to cut ties.
read more at The Guardian

29-day-old baby boy from Philippines believed to be youngest to die of coronavirus

A 29-day-old infant is believed to have become the world's youngest to die of coronavirus after he contracted pneumonia in the Philippines. The country's health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that the boy had difficulty breathing and was rushed to hospital where he tested positive for COVID-19. The baby boy from Batangas died of late-onset sepsis.
read more at Daily Mail

New York orders residents to wear masks to slow coronavirus spread

New York residents will now be required to wear masks in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained to stop the spread of coronavirus as the state sees flattening of infection curve, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "If you're going to be in public, and you cannot maintain social distancing, then...put the mask on," he said.
read more at Deccan Herald

Prez should release his test results: Brazil congress after 23 officials test +ve

Brazil's congress has given President Jair Bolsonaro an ultimatum to release the results of his coronavirus tests within 30 days. On the motion proposed by congressman Rogério Correia and agreed by leaders of the chamber of deputies, it was noted that 23 people who accompanied Bolsonaro on a visit to the US in March had since tested positive.
read more at The Guardian

WHO, India to use polio surveillance network to fight COVID-19

The WHO and India's Health Ministry have initiated a systematic engagement of the organisation's polio surveillance network for coronavirus response, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. They'll be tapping into "best practices and resources that helped India win its war against polio", he added. The WHO field staff will continue to support immunisation and elimination of other diseases.

Coronavirus may bring Asia's 2020 growth to halt for 1st time in 60 years: IMF

Asia's economy is likely to suffer zero growth this year for the first time in 60 years, the IMF said. The projection is worse than the 4.7% growth rate throughout the Global Financial Crisis, and the 1.3% increase during the Asian Financial Crisis. "That said, Asia still looks to fare better than other regions in terms of activity," IMF added.
read more at Reuters

South Korea's ruling party wins election amid coronavirus outbreak

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's ruling party has won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, which were conducted amid coronavirus pandemic spread. Moon's Democratic party and its allies took 180 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. The country saw 66.2% voter turnout, which is higher than any parliamentary elections held in South Korea since 1992.
read more at The Guardian

Trump halting WHO funding doesn't make any sense right now: Melinda Gates

Philanthropist Melinda Gates has said that US President Donald Trump's decision to halt WHO's funding "doesn't make any sense right now". "We (Melinda and Bill Gates) have been working with the WHO for over 20 years as a foundation," said Melinda. "WHO was created after World War II to deal with exactly these kinds of issues," she added.
read more at Daily Mail

One was shirtless, one in bed: US judge on lawyers not dressing up for trials via Zoom

A judge in Florida, US named Dennis Bailey has requested lawyers showing up for court hearings via video conferencing app Zoom to dress appropriately. "One male lawyer appeared shirtless and one female attorney appeared still in bed, still under covers," the judge wrote in a letter. "We've seen...lawyers in casual shirts and blouse, with no concern for ill-grooming," he added.
read more at Hindustan Times

China may have secretly conducted banned nuclear test: US

China may have secretly conducted a low-yield banned underground nuclear test, the US State Department said in a report. "China's possible preparation to operate its Lop Nur test site year-round, its use of explosive containment chambers...and a lack of transparency on its nuclear testing activities...raise concerns regarding its adherence to the zero yield standard," the report said.
read more at The Guardian

US is the 'Wuhan of Americas': Guatemala on deportation of migrants

Guatemala's Health Minister Hugo Monroy has called the US the "Wuhan of the Americas" after the US deported migrants back to the Central American country. He added that on one flight in March, about 75% of the deportees tested positive for coronavirus. "The arrival of deportees who have tested positive has really increased the number of (coronavirus) cases," Monroy added.
read more at The Guardian

Convince public your tools won't violate privacy: US Senator to Apple, Google

US Senator Richard Blumenthal said Apple and Google will have to convince people that any contact tracing technology to track those exposed to coronavirus will not lead to privacy violation. He even asked how users' interests would be balanced with "legitimate needs of public health officials". Apple and Google recently announced a partnership for developing a contact tracing tool.
read more at Reuters

Amazon's EU Vice President of operations resigns

Amazon's Vice President of European Union Operations Roy Perticucci has resigned from his position. The reason behind Perticucci's departure hasn't been revealed by Amazon. Previously, the company had temporarily shut its French warehouses after a court ordered Amazon to limit its deliveries to only essential items in France and ensure safety measures against COVID-19 for its workers.
read more at Reuters

World's largest mobile event MWC to be held in Barcelona till 2024

Telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, Mobile World Congress (MWC), will be held in Barcelona until 2024. The GSMA association, organiser of MWC, has extended its current contract by one year. MWC, scheduled to take place in Barcelona from February 24 to February 27 this year, was cancelled for the first time in 33 years due to COVID-19 concerns.
read more at Reuters

Israel President asks parliament to choose PM within 3 weeks

Israel President Reuven Rivlin has given the country's parliament three weeks to choose a prime minister. This comes after PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz failed to reach a power-sharing deal before a Wednesday deadline. If the parliament doesn't agree on a leader, the Knesset will be dissolved and Israel will head to its fourth election since 2019.
read more at The New Indian Express

32 Rohingya die on boat that drifted for weeks, 396 rescued: Bangladesh

The Bangladesh coast guard rescued 396 Rohingya survivors on board a ship that drifted for weeks after it failed to reach Malaysia, while at least 32 Rohingya died, officials said. "They were at sea for about two months and were starving," an official added. The 396 survivors would be handed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
read more at Reuters

North Korean defector elected MP in South Korea for the 1st time

Former North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong-ho, has won a constituency seat in South Korea's parliamentary elections. He was running as a candidate from Seoul's Gangnam district. The 55-year-old is the first North Korean defector to become a lawmaker in South Korea. Thae fled the London Embassy and defected to the South with his family in 2016.
read more at The Financial Express