Asia

Kazakhstan dismisses Chinese reports of pneumonia fatal than coronavirus

Editorial Bureau July 10, 2020

SHANGHAI (CHINA) – On Friday, Kazakhstan dismissed a warning by China’s embassy for its citizens to guard against an outbreak of pneumonia in the central Asian nation. It was described as being more deadlier than the coronavirus. In a statement released on its official WeChat

Europe

Serbia withdraws from planned weekend lockdown after protests

Editorial Bureau July 9, 2020

BELGRADE (SERBIA) – Serbia on Thursday withdrew plans for a weekend lockdown in the capital to control a new spread of the coronavirus. This comes after two days of violent protests against any imposition of restrictions again. A government crisis group entrusted with fighting the virus decided on a limited ban on outdoor and indoor […]

Europe

New French PM says focus would be on any new coronavirus lockdown

Ren Leen July 8, 2020

PARIS (FRANCE) – In case of an outbreak of a new major coronavirus outbreak, any new lockdown would be aimed at, though not nationwide, New French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday. In an interview with news channel BFM, he also said that after talks on pension reform were suspended due to a two-month […]

Europe

Demonstrators take to Serbian parliament in protest over lockdown

Ren Leen July 8, 2020

BELGRADE (SERBIA) – A group of opposition supporters took to the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade on Tuesday in a protest against a lockdown planned for the capital this weekend to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening that tight measures including the lockdown of Belgrade over the […]

UK

Britain baking boom propels surge in revenue for Premier Foods

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

(UK) – With the coronavirus lockdown driving people to cook at home, UK’s Premier Foods, which makes OXO stock cubes and Bisto gravy, said on Wednesday it expected revenue and profit to exceed estimates for the fiscal year that began at the end of March. Chief Executive Officer Alex Whitehouse said there had been an […]

Europe

Ukraine to open more hospitals to tackle rising COVID-19 cases

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

KYIV (UKRAINE) – Ukraine is opening more of its hospitals to accommodate coronavirus cases as the institutions initially chosen to accept patients no longer have enough beds to cope with a surge in infections, the health minister said on Wednesday. Coronavirus cases hit a new high of 940 on Wednesday, bringing the tally to 39,014, […]

Business

Online seller Naked Wines witnesses rise in revenue as lockdown boosts orders

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Online wine subscription company Naked Wines said on Wednesday revenue soared 81% during the first two months of financial year 2021, with customers ordering more wine during the coronavirus-led lockdown. “We entered the new fiscal with good momentum as COVID-19 has influenced customer shopping behaviour and driven increased demand for the Naked

UK

Beware of the second coronavirus wave, British medics warn politicians

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Top medics have warned British political parties that local flare-ups of the novel coronavirus are likely and a second wave is a real risk. “While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave […]

Europe

COVID-19: Europe to train ‘army’ of medics fearing second wave

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – Amid the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures across Europe, hospitals are already preparing for the next wave of infections. While some intensive care specialists are trying to hire more permanent staff, others want to create a reserve “army” of medical professionals ready to be deployed in wards with seriously ill patients.

Europe

Pope, in first post-lockdown audience, thanks Italian doctors

Ren Leen June 20, 2020

VATICAN CITY (Europe) – Pope Francis on Saturday held his first audience for a group of people since Italy lifted its coronavirus lockdown, granting it to health workers from the Italian region most affected by the pandemic. “You were one of the supporting pillars of the entire country,” he told doctors and nurses from the […]