Asia

WHO says Wuhan scientists were quizzed over virus origins by China team

Editorial Bureau August 4, 2020

GENEVA (Switzerland) – A spokesman said on Tuesday that World Health Organization team in China to probe the origins of COVID-19 had “extensive discussions” with scientists in Wuhan where the outbreak was first detected. It included updates on animal health research, he said.

UK

UK to do away with travel quarantine for 75 countries, Daily Telegraph says

Editorial Bureau July 2, 2020

LONDON (UK) – The British government will effectively drop its air bridge plans and put an end to the coronavirus quarantine rules for the people arriving from 75 countries so that they can go on holiday, according to reports from The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper said the UK would soon remove a ban on non-essential […]

Finance

Fund giant BlackRock ‘warming up’ to European assets

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

LONDON (Finance) – BlackRock’s Investment Institute said on Tuesday it was “warming up” to European assets following what it called the eurozone’s “impressive” efforts to tackle the coronavirus. The research arm of the world’s biggest fund manager said two factors would support Europe’s economy and financial markets in

UK

Survey predicts UK house prices to fall 5% this year

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

LONDON (UK) – A poll of property market analysts has revealed that British home prices are likely to fall this year and there is little chances to recover those losses until the 2022 in the wake of high unemployment rates following the spread of coronavirus. . Britain’s economy shrank by a quarter over March and […]

Business

Factory output in China perks up; consumers remain cautious though

Jim Stein June 15, 2020

BEIJING (Business) – China’s factories stepped up production for a second straight month in May, as the country shook off the economic torpor of the coronavirus, although the weaker-than-expected gain suggested the recovery remained fragile. Patchy data on Monday also showed sustained contractions in retail sales and investment, a sign many sectors were still

UK

PM Johnson is working on all schools reopening in September

Jim Stein June 14, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Education Minister Gavin Williamson are working to ensure the reopening of all schools in September. They are also working to provide support packages to aid students to catch up on lost learning. Schools, councils and unions are working to ensure all children can be back in […]

World

Russia’s total coronavirus cases exceed 520,000

Jim Stein June 13, 2020

MOSCOW (World) – Russia reported 8,706 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, raising its cumulative tally above 520,000 as data showed that more than 2,700 people infected with the virus had died in April. With 520,129 cases, Russia has the third highest number in the world after the United States and Brazil. Its official death toll […]

Asia

Mumbai readies itself for monsoon diseases amid a global pandemic

Jim Stein June 12, 2020

MUMBAI (Asia) – For doctors and healthcare workers in India’s financial capital Mumbai who are grappling with surging coronavirus infections, the onset of the annual monsoon poses a serious threat – a new wave of patients with vector-borne diseases. Already stretched by a shortage of medics and critical care beds, the situation in Mumbai might […]

Finance

Emerging market corporate credit quality down; not out

Jim Stein June 8, 2020

LONDON (Finance) – The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on companies around the world, but in poorer emerging economies where balance sheets and credit ratings were already weak, the damage is looking particularly widespread. Of the almost 1,800 rating cuts or downgrade warnings S&P Global has made since the virus exploded, 420 have […]

Tech

Canada postpones 5G spectrum auction citing COVID-19

Jim Stein June 6, 2020

OTTAWA (Technology) – Canada has postponed its 3500MHz spectrum auction process by six months to allow telecoms companies to focus on providing essential services during COVID-19 pandemic, the innovation ministry said in a statement on Friday. The band is key for telecom companies rolling out fifth generation (5G) mobile networks, which will have speeds fast […]