China’s parliament approves Hong Kong national security bill

The Chinese flag flutters at the office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing, China REUTERS/Tingshu Wang BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved directly imposing national security legislation on Hong Kong to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in a city roiled last year by months […]

Exclusive: India may need to pump $20 billion into coronavirus-hit

Nupur Anand, Manoj Kumar MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India may need to inject up to 1.5 trillion rupees ($19.81 billion) into its state-owned lenders as their pile of soured assets is expected to double during the coronavirus pandemic, three government and banking sources told Reuters. The government initially considered a budget of around 250 billion rupees […]

New WHO foundation could ask public for funds

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusImage cap The World Health Organization (WHO) has set up a foundation that will allow it to target new sources of funding, including the general public. The WHO Foundation, which will be based in Geneva but independent from the main body, will initially use any contributions to […]

What did we learn from the PM and UK briefing?

It’s been a busy afternoon, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson appearing before senior MPs and Health Secretary Matt Hancock giving the daily UK briefing. Here’s what we’ve learned: A system to track down people with coronavirus symptoms will start tomorrow in England The health secretary said anyone displaying symptoms, including under-fives, will now be eligible for […]

UK forced to close North Korea embassy

James Landale Diplomatic correspondent Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Foreign diplomats and embassy staff have their temperatures recorded at Pyongyang International Airport in MarchImage caption: Foreign diplomats and embassy st The UK has been forced to close its embassy in North Korea because of coronavirus travel restrictions imposed by Pyongyang, the Foreign Office says. The lockdown […]

Donald Trump vs Twitter

Anthony Zurcher BBC North America reporter Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on Donald Trump’s re-election plans. His promise to maintain record-breaking economic expansion and “keep America great” has been swept away by record unemployment and the financial toll that the nationwide business-closure and shelter-in-place orders have taken. During the outbreak, […]

‘Test and trace will require people to absorb new rules’

Jessica Parker BBC political correspondent The UK government is launching what it sees as a pivotal part of this country slowly emerging from the current lockdown: its test and trace programme. It’s a change that’s going to require people in England to absorb and act on new rules around self-isolation. Matt Hancock said that sticking by […]

Alabama Beachgoers Belittle Coronavirus Threat On Busy Memorial Day Weekend

Alabama Beachgoers Belittle Coronavirus Threat On Busy Memorial Day Weekend Footage showed Gulf Shores beach in Alabama packed with people as the state experienced an uptick in COVID-19 cases. By Lee Moran, HuffPost US A surge of coronavirus infections in Alabama didn’t deter people from descending on the state’s beaches over Memorial Day weekend, according to local media reports. Footage that […]

Coronavirus: China’s plan to test everyone in Wuhan By Reality

Coronavirus: China’s plan to test everyone in Wuhan By Reality Check teamBBC News China has been carrying out an ambitious plan to test everyone in Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began, following the emergence of a cluster of new infections. The authorities had pledged to test the city’s inhabitants over a 10-day period, […]

Coronavirus: China’s plan to test everyone in Wuhan

Coronavirus: China’s plan to test everyone in Wuhan By Reality Check teamBBC News China has been carrying out an ambitious plan to test everyone in Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began, following the emergence of a cluster of new infections. The authorities had pledged to test the city’s inhabitants over a 10-day period, […]