Coronavirus: Did Europe lock down too late amid the COVID-19 outbreak? | Culture Clash
As Asia locked down, Europe looked on. Once the severity of COVID-19 became clear, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore took rapid and uncompromising action. They now appear to have turned the tide. It’s only after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe the epicentre of...
Coronavirus: Generosity is infectious for those on COVID-19 frontline
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to sweep the United Kingdom, an initiative has begun to support doctors, nurses and other frontline hospital workers. At the centre of the efforts to rally behind health workers, businesses within the food and hospitality sector are offering up their...
‘Please stop all crime’: Polish police plea amid COVID-19 workload
“Please stop all criminal activities until further notice.” They were the light-hearted words of Polish police as they admitted COVID-19 had significantly added to their workload. In a viral tweet, they said the new coronavirus had “caused panic and imposed [them with] many new tasks”....
Coronavirus: London books 300 hotel rooms for the homeless to self-isolate
London will open 300 hotel rooms for the self-isolation of homeless people, the Mayor of London announced on Saturday as the UK prepares to enter weeks of social distancing to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “Homeless Londoners will benefit from vital protection against the coronavirus, as...
French parliament declares ‘state of health emergency’
The French Assemblée National approved on Saturday a legal text that would introduce a “state of health emergency” in France during the coronavirus pandemic. The law would give the French prime minister “the power to declare, by decree and upon recommendation of the Health minister,...
Coronavirus: First French hospital doctor dies of COVID-19
A French hospital doctor has died of coronavirus, the French Health minister announced on Sunday, adding that this is the first death of a doctor in the country. “I was informed on Saturday of the death of a hospital doctor”, Health minister Olivier Véran said...
Orthodox priest arrested in Greece for holding mass during coronavirus lockdown
An orthodox priest was arrested in Greece on Saturday after celebrating mass in a church, following the suspension of religious office ordered by the country during the coronavirus outbreak. Metropolite Seraphim of Cypher island, off the Greek coast, had celebrated religious office on Friday night,...
COVID-19: Italy slows industrial production as Lombardy toughens lockdown rules
In its most far-reaching measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, Italy is slowing industrial production nationwide, while the hardest-hit region of Lombardy has banned any outdoor exercise not on personal property and set distance limits on dog-walking. Franco Locatelli, president of Italy’s Higher Health...
Azerbaijan Grand Prix postponed because of coronavirus outbreak
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, due to take place on 7 June, has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The street race in Baku is the eighth race to be called off at the start of the 2020 World Championship season. Race organisers...
Earthquake rocks Croatia’s capital Zagreb
An earthquake has rocked Croatia’s capital Zagreb, damaging buildings and leaving cars crushed by falling chunks of masonry. A teenager is in a critical condition after a roof collapsed, local media say. The spire of the city’s cathedral also snapped off. After Sunday’s tremor, Zagreb’s...
Coronavirus: What is shielding?
More than a million people most at risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus are being asked to stay at home for at least 12 weeks. The strategy is called “shielding” and the aim is to protect lives. Why do it? Cases of...
Coronavirus: The fake health advice you should ignore
Coronavirus is emerging in more countries around the world and there’s currently no known cure. Unfortunately that hasn’t stopped a slew of health advice, ranging from useless but relatively harmless, to downright dangerous. We’ve been looking at some of the most widespread claims being shared...
Coronavirus: Harvey Weinstein tests positive
Former Hollywood producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for coronavirus while in prison. He is now in isolation, according to Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Weinstein was found guilty of rape and...
Bank of England cuts interest rates from 0.25% to 0.1% amid coronavirus-sparked economic turmoil
The Bank of England has slashed its key interest rate to 0.1%, its lowest-ever level, amid global economic turmoil sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee says the unanimous decision is part of moves “to meet the needs of UK businesses and...
COVID-19 spread prompts Federal Reserve to slash rates in surprise move
In a surprise move, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a sizable half-percentage point Tuesday in an effort to support the economy in the face of the spreading coronavirus. Chairman Jerome Powell noted that the coronavirus “poses evolving risks to economic activity.”...
Asian markets open in freefall amid coronavirus fears
Global stock exchanges suffered historic crashes as coronavirus panic gripped the financial world. On Friday morning, stock markets across Asia opened to a freefall in numbers, with benchmarks in Japan, Thailand and India sinking as much as 10% after Wall Street suffered its biggest drop...
Coronavirus: Marseille soap firm cleaning up as people urged to wash hands to stop COVID-19
While the coronavirus crisis is causing economic headaches across Europe, one manufacturer in southern France has seen a boom in demand. Marseille’s traditional soap is enjoying a surge in popularity as Europeans are urged to wash their hands to prevent COVID-19. With an abundance of...
Wall Street suffers worst week since 2008 amid coronavirus and fears of recession
Stocks sank to their worst week since the financial crisis of 2008 as traders went into full retreat out of fear that the coronavirus will plunge the US and other major economies into deep recessions. The Dow industrials dropped more than 900 points, extending their...
Coronavirus: German tourists stuck in Morocco, and they’re not happy with their government
They had hoped for sun, beach and relaxation. Instead, they got stuck in a foreign country as the world grapples with a global pandemic. Thousands of European tourists are stranded abroad as the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of their flights back to Europe....
Why are many people going out to brave coronavirus? Economists answer
Crowds going to open air markets versus a state leader who must lecture his compatriots: in France, not everyone is following the government’s order for general confinement. Too many people take self-isolation “lightly”, French President Emmanuel Macron estimated this week, after he asked the French...
Coronavirus: Latest figures on new COVID-19 infections and deaths
The pace of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak means information is changing all the time. Here is the latest data on infection hotspots and deaths from the virus.
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Croatia and its capital
A strong earthquake has shaken Croatia and its capital, causing widespread damage and panic. The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the earthquake measured 5.3 and struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (05:23 GMT) Sunday. At least two other tremors...
Coronavirus: Dutch PM appoints opposition minister as new Health Secretary
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has appointed an opposition MP as the country’s new health minister to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Martin van Rijn, the former Labour party health secretary, has been appointed the Minister for Medical Care on a temporary...
Coronavirus: France’s homeless ‘fined for not staying indoors’ during COVID-19 lockdown
French police have fined several homeless people for breaching a government order to stay indoors amid the coronavirus crisis, charities claim. President Emmanuel Macron declared a nationwide policy of self-isolation on Monday, with all French people asked to stay home as much as possible and...
Ireland ramps up testing amid fears of a surge in coronavirus cases
Ireland is not taking social distancing rules seriously enough, the country’s health minister has warned. Simon Harris made the claim amid fears infections could hit 15,000 by the end of March, even though this is regarded as a worst-case scenario. Ireland currently has 638 COVID-19...
Coronavirus: London books 300 hotel rooms for the homeless to self-isolate
London will open 300 hotel rooms for the self-isolation of homeless people, the Mayor of London announced on Saturday as the UK prepares to enter weeks of social distancing to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “Homeless Londoners will benefit from vital protection against the coronavirus, as...
French parliament declares ‘state of sanitary emergency’
The French Assemblée National approved on Saturday a legal text that would introduce a “state of sanitary emergency” in France during the coronavirus pandemic. The law would give the French prime minister “the power to declare, by decree and upon recommendation of the Health minister,...
