Finally China gives in, agrees for probe into Covid-19 origin, WHO response

Loading

A woman wearing a protective mask is seen past a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a street as the country is hit by an outbreak of the coronavirus, in Shanghai, China.(via REUTERS) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ China on Monday gave in to mounting international pressure for a probe into the origin of Covid-19 and a review of the World Health Organisation’s response to the pandemic. President Xi Jinping told the World Health Assembly that China had acted with ‘openness, transparency and responsibility’ when the disease, which has impacted billions…

IPL cancellation could cost Indian cricket half a billion dollars

Loading

“Mumbai Indians players celebrate winning the IPL final against Chennai Super Kings on May 13, 2019. Scrapping this year’s tournament because of the official has told AFP. The world’s richest Twenty20 tournament is staring at a first wipeout in its 12-year history after the original March 29 start date was postponed repeatedly. Cancellation of the IPL for 2020 would mean a huge financial hit. “The BCCI is looking at a big revenue loss.In case the IPL does not take place, the loss would be close to 40 billion rupees ($530…

Covid-19: PM Johnson’s lockdown message under fire as UK death toll crosses 32,000

Loading

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves from 10 Downing Street in central London on May 11, 2020(AFP) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The Boris Johnson government on Monday came under fire from the opposition Labour, leaders of Scotland, Wales and members of the public for allegedly confusing messages on easing lockdown curbs, as the UK-wide death toll reached 32,065. Johnson dropped the hitherto core message to ‘stay home’ in a widely watched televised address on Sunday evening, but Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon pointed out that his announcement applied only to England…

China warns of countermeasures after US tightens visa rules for Chinese journalists

Loading

US President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping (Reuters file photo) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ China on Monday warned that it will take countermeasures in response to the US decision to tighten visa rules for Chinese journalists, urging Washington to immediately correct its mistakes. The US last week announced it was limiting the visa-period for Chinese journalists to 90 days with the option to extend it. The Chinese foreign ministry said Washington to correct its mistakes against Chinese journalists immediately or it will face countermeasures. Opposing the US move,…

WHO cautions against use of Madagascar anti-virus potion

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The World Health Organization on Thursday advised governments to clinically test a herbal drink touted by Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina as a remedy against coronavirus. The Covid-Organics infusion is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven anti-malarial properties — and other indigenous herbs. Rajoelina hopes to distribute the infusion across West Africa and beyond, claiming it cures COVID-19 patients within 10 days. Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Niger have already received consignments of the potion. Others such as Tanzania have expressed interest. But the World Health Organization…

Donald Trump tests negative for coronavirus after report valet infected

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative for coronavirus(REUTERS) President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative for coronavirus after finding out a member of the U.S. military who worked on the White House campus had become infected, a White House spokesman said on Thursday. The military official was identified by CNN as personal valet to Trump.

India kicks off op to fly back citizens, 363 evacuees from UAE land in Kerala

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Thirty nine pregnant women were among the 363 people who returned to India from the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night via two Air India Express flights that formed the first leg of a massive repatriation programme involving 12 countries and 15,000 passengers. The first flight of the ‘Mission ‘Vande Bharat’ carrying 181 people from Abu Dhabi landed in Kochi around 10pm on Thursday. The second flight with 182 passengers from Dubai landed in Kozhikkode roughly 20 minutes later. As the passengers – many of them aged, disabled or…

UK to pilot coronavirus contact tracing smartphone app

Loading

After the pilot of the “test, track and trace procedures” on the island, the app is expected to be made more widely available to the British public later this month.(AP file photo) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The UK government on Monday announced that after hitting its testing target for coronavirus of over 100,000 tests daily, it will now be moving into the track and trace phase of its fight against the deadly virus, which has claimed 28,734 lives across hospitals and the wider community in the country. UK Health Secretary Matt…

Delhi slaps ‘special corona fee’ on alcohol as Covid-19 cases near 5,000 mark

Loading

People stand in a queue to buy alcohol after authorities allowed opening of wines shops with certain restrictions during ongoing Covid-19 nationwide lockdown at Krishna Nagar in East Delhi. (PTI Photo) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Delhi registered another big spike of 349 new cases of Covid-19 that took the national capital’s tally to 4,898, the health department said in a statement Monday night. There are 3,403 active cases while 1,431 people have recovered from Covid-19. There was no casualty in the last 24 hours which remained at 64. Late Monday night,…

Iran says US push to extend Tehran’s arms embargo is ‘illegitimate’

Loading

President Donald Trump’s administration has been taking a harder line with the United Nations over its desire to extend and strengthen the embargo on Iran.(REUTERS) COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ Iran dismissed as “illegitimate” efforts by the United States to extend the U.N. Security Council arms embargo on Tehran, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. “Iran is not seeking to exit the 2015 nuclear deal with six powers … America’s move is illegitimate and our reaction will be proportionate,” Abbas Mousavi said in a televised weekly news conference. The United…