World

Brazil reopens skies despite surging number of coronavirus infections

Editorial Bureau July 30, 2020

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (BRAZIL) – The country reopened its skies for international tourists on Wednesday even as the coronavirus infections are surging. It is the world’s second worst in terms of infections. As long as they are covered by health insurance for the trip, tourists from all

Europe

WHO advance team to head to China to conduct an inquiry into virus origin

Editorial Bureau July 10, 2020

GENEVA (SWITZERLAND) – An advanced team of World Health Organization (WHO) has headed to China to organise an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus which triggered the pandemic, a spokeswoman said on Friday. WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing, The two WHO experts, specialists in animal science and epidemiology, will work with […]

Business

Lufthansa to bring down leadership positions, 1,000 admin jobs

Editorial Bureau July 7, 2020

BERLIN (GERMANY) – Lufthansa announced a new package of restructuring measures on Tuesday. This includes a 20% cut in leadership positions and the cutting down of 1,000 administrative jobs, as it grapples with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Lufthansa said it would also reduce the investment volume for new aircraft in half, while its […]

USA

Washington state makes face masks compulsory as some states see new COVID-19 surge

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

WASHINGTON (US) – The governor of Washington state on Tuesday made it mandatory for residents to wear masks in public as officials across the country sought new measures to control the coronavirus pandemic. The move by Washington Governor Jay Inslee came as Arizona, California, Mississippi and Nevada reported record numbers of new cases. Washington state, […]

Europe

German minister highlights coronavirus risk despite low infection numbers

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

BERLIN (Europe) – German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday stressed that the coronavirus remains a risk after the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday put two municipalities back into lockdown after an outbreak at a meatpacking plant. Guetersloh and the neighbouring town of Warendorf became the first areas in Germany to fall […]

World

Honduras president needed oxygen to battle coronavirus: Doctors

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS) – A military doctor said Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez needed oxygen after being hospitalised with the coronavirus last week. He added that the leader remained in a “delicate” situation and would need to stay in hospital. The remarks of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Diaz, who works in the military hospital in the capital, […]

UK

Give your name to get a pint in England pubs

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Customers in England’s pubs will have to provide their name before ordering a pint, and there will be no live acts or standing at the bar, the government announced ahead of the sector’s re-opening next month. Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers have to maintain a record of customers for 21 days to assist […]

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 […]

Middle East

Israel, Palestinians tighten restrictions as coronavirus reemerges

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

JERUSALEM (Middle East) – Israeli and Palestinian authorities have brought back some coronavirus restrictions after the number of new cases jumped in what officials fear could herald a “second wave” of infections. A partial lockdown went into effect on Wednesday in a town in central Israel and several neighborhoods in the city of Tiberias where […]

Finance

Gold shines as coronavirus surge unnerves investors

Ren Leen June 24, 2020

LONDON (Finance) – Gold prices surged to their highest in nearly eight years on Wednesday, while global shares cooled as signs of an acceleration in coronavirus cases kept investors on edge. Fuelling concerns about sustained weakness in the pace of the economic recovery was data showing several U.S. states seeing record infections and the death […]