World | Common News Update

Apr72020 by adminNo Comments

China reports zero deaths; Japan declares state of emergency

April 7 (UPI) -- China on Tuesday reported no deaths associated with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours -- a first since it started publishing updates on the coronavirus outbreak in late January. Beijing's National Health Commission announced the milestone in its daily briefing that it first started publishing in late January, nearly two months after the deadly and infectious coronavirus is believed to have emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Tuesday's update reported zero deaths and 32 new cases of the virus over Tuesday, all of which were imported, increasing its total infections to 81,740 while its death toll stands pat from the day prior at 3,331, according to the commission. It also said it recorded 30 asymptomatic cases, which are people who test positive for the virus but d...

Apr62020 by adminNo Comments

Japan to declare emergency in seven areas

World

April 6 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic for Tokyo and six other prefectures starting as early as Tuesday, official media reported. State-owned broadcaster NHK said Abe's declaration will give local governors power to close schools and restrict non-essential travel and gatherings. The declaration will cover Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures and is expected to be in place for about a month. Abe had previously resisted calling for a lockdown even as Japan's coronavirus toll increased, instead urging voluntary cooperation in enforcing social distancing measures. More than 3,600 people have tested positive for the coronavirus disease and 85 have died, according to Johns ...

Apr62020 by adminNo Comments

Coronavirus: Trump voices hope for ‘levelling-off’ in US hotspots

World

President Donald Trump has expressed hope coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in US hotspots, saying he saw "light at the end of the tunnel". On Sunday, New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, reported a drop in the number of new infections and deaths.Mr Trump described the dip as a "good sign", but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its "peak" in the US."In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic," Mr Trump said at his daily coronavirus briefing.He said more medical personnel and supplies, including masks and ventilators, would be sent to the states that are most in need of assistance.Deborah Birx, a member of the president's coronavirus task force, said the situation in Italy and Spain, wh...

Apr52020 by adminNo Comments

Premier infuriated by Trump, says Canada helped US amid 9/11

World

A Canadian premier of a province that sheltered thousands of stranded American airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks is questioning the humanity of U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump banned the export of N95 protective masks to CanadaBy ROB GILLIES Associated PressApril 5, 2020, 8:54 PM4 min read4 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleTORONTO -- The premier of a Canadian province that sheltered thousands of stranded American airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks questioned the humanity of U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday after Trump banned the export of N95 protective masks to Canada. The conservative leader of another province compared it to one family member feasting while letting another one starve. And yet another premier said it reminded him of ...

Apr52020 by adminNo Comments

PALM SUNDAY: Pope celebrates without public in St. Peter’s

World

Pope Francis is celebrating Palm Sunday Mass without the public, since the traditional ceremony in St. Peter's Square was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemicByThe Associated PressApril 5, 2020, 10:05 AM2 min read2 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis is celebrating Palm Sunday Mass without the public, since the traditional ceremony in St. Peter’s Square was scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic. Normally, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims, clutching olive tree branches or palm fronds would have flocked to an outdoor Mass led by the pontiff. Instead, Francis was leading the ceremony inside St. Peter’s Basilica, which seemed even more cavernous than usual because it was so empty. Besides his aides, a few i