The dollar fell against most currencies on Thursday as a rally in riskier assets such as global equities and commodities put a dent in safe-haven demand for the U.S. currency. China’s yuan rose to a four-month high against the greenback, extending recent gains as investors of all stripes increase positions in Chinese stocks due to growing signs of a recovery in the world’s second-largest economy. Lingering worries about the spread of the coronavirus could keep...
The United Nations has said a new version of Bob Marley’s iconic song, One Love, is to be released to support children badly affected by COVID-19. According to the organisationa in a report published on Thursday, the initiative is aimed at raising funds for that purpose, adding that the late musician’s family had given its blessings. The fundraising is coming amid warning by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that an additional 6,000 children could die...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says its experts will travel to China to work together with their Chinese counterparts to prepare scientific plans for identifying the zoonotic source of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). WHO, in a statement posted on its website, said the experts would develop the scope and Term of Reference (TOR) for a WHO-led international mission. “Identifying the origin of emerging viral disease has proven complex in past epidemics in different countries. “A well-planned...
Iran has reported 200 coronavirus deaths in a single day for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, a health ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Over the same period, the country reported 2,600 new infections, driving the total number of cases to 245,688, with 11,931 deaths. The Health Minister, Saeed Namaki, who likened the virus to a “bomb”, said “If we continue like this, we will be knocked out.” Namaki said many Iranians...
Wearing a face mask on public transport in Switzerland became mandatory on Monday for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Previously, authorities had recommended passengers cover their mouth and nose only during rush hour, though most people seemed to ignore the instruction. “It is looking good, more than 95 per cent of people are wearing a mask,’’ Guido Schoch, director of public transport in Zurich, to local media, said. Schoch noted that...
Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra, on Sunday said he would call a referendum on parliamentary immunity to be held together with upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. In a televised speech, Vizcarra said the popular vote was necessary after the measure did not get the support needed in congress in spite of being a campaign promise of “almost all candidates” in the most recent election. “Once again, disagreements, interests, and political calculations prevailed,” the president said. “For...
Russia added 6,632 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising its total number of infections to 674,515, its coronavirus response centre said in a statement on Saturday. The death toll grew by 168 to 10,027, while 446,879 people have now recovered, including 8,986 over the last 24 hours, according to the statement. Moscow, the country’s worst-hit region, reported 680 new cases, taking its tally of infections to 224,210. As of Friday, 280,415 people were...
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is likely to launch the first COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 15 in partnership with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturing company Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), a letter said on Friday. “It is envisaged to launch the vaccine for public health use latest by 15th August 2020 after completion of all clinical trials. “BBIL is working expeditiously to meet the target, however, final outcome will depend on the cooperation of all clinical...
China on Thursday threatened to retaliate after Britain promised Hong Kong residents a path to citizenship in the wake of a new, controversial national security law. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Britain was violating its previous commitments to China by promising to expand residency rights for hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong British passport holders. “The Chinese side strongly condemns this and reserves the right to make further responses,’’ Zhao said, according to...
New Zealand’s Health Minister has resigned, following a series of missteps during the COVID-19 pandemic. David Clark called a surprise news conference on Thursday, announcing he had stepped down from the role. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern demoted Clark in April after he was twice caught breaching the country’s coronavirus lockdown rules. He offered his resignation at the time; however Ardern said it would cause too much disruption. He also came under fire in recent weeks...
