Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
Watching patients die alone breaks doctors’ hearts in Italy hospital
News Business Article
CREMONA, Italy: Doctor Romano Paolucci, who came out of retirement to help at a hospital in Italy’s coronavirus epicentre, says one of the hardest things for him is not so much seeing people die: he is used to that. It is seeing them die alone, without a loved one by their side, often having to
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
COVID-19: California governor issues statewide ‘stay at home’ order
News Business Article
LOS ANGELES: California’s governor on Thursday (Mar 19) issued a statewide “stay at home” order to residents, telling them to leave their homes only when necessary during the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Gavin Newsom said that modeling has shown that 56 per cent of California residents were expected to contract COVID-19 over the next eight weeks, requiring
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
Japan welcomes Olympic flame as doubts swirl over Games
News Business Article
TOKYO: The Olympic flame arrives in Japan on Friday (Mar 20), with what should have been a joyous celebration dramatically downscaled as doubts grow over whether the Tokyo Games can go ahead during the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers have already taken the “heartbreaking” decision to pare back events surrounding the torch relay, as the world battles
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
Cruise ships could become floating hospitals, Trump says
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: Cruise ships could be converted into floating hospitals to treat cases of the novel coronavirus, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Mar 19). Micky Arison, the chairman of Carnival Corp, which operates Carnival Cruise Line, “made the offer, it was a generous offer”, Trump said during a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement “He said
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
South Korea reports 87 new coronavirus cases, total 8,652
News Business Article
SEOUL: South Korea reported 87 new coronavirus cases on Friday (Mar 20), bringing the country’s total to 8,652, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The daily tally for new infections has been trending downward over the past week, despite a slight uptick on Thursday as small-scale outbreaks continued to emerge across the country. Advertisement Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
India hangs four men over 2012 Delhi bus gang-rape
News Business Article
NEW DELHI: India executed four men on Friday (Mar 20) for the gang-rape and murder of a woman on a Delhi bus in 2012 that sparked huge nationwide protests and international revulsion. The four were hanged before dawn at Tihar Jail in the Indian capital, the head of the prison, Sandeep Goel, told AFP, in
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
COVID-19: Singapore Anglican Diocese suspends services at all 27 parishes
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The 27 parishes of the Anglican Church in Singapore on Thursday (Mar 19) suspended all worship services and gatherings until Apr 3, said the Anglican Diocese of Singapore. “The Diocesan leadership has closely monitored the escalating COVID-19 situation and makes this contribution towards the concerted national effort to ‘flatten the coronavirus curve’,” it said in a
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
China sees zero local coronavirus cases for second day, imported infections rise
News Business Article
BEIJING: Mainland China reported zero locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus for the second straight day, while the daily tally for infections involving travellers arriving in the country surged to a new record, authorities announced on Friday (Mar 20). Mainland China had 39 new confirmed cases on Thursday, the country’s National Health Commission said, all
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
China ready to step up coronavirus cooperation, Xi tells Putin
News Business Article
BEIJING: China is prepared to “work with all other countries” to intensify the global fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, state media on Friday (Mar 20) quoted President Xi Jinping as saying. Xi made the comments in a late-night telephone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Advertisement READ: As coronavirus moves west, China
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
Spain orders closure of all hotels due to coronavirus
News Business Article
MADRID: Spain has ordered all hotels in its territory to close to help stem the spread of coronavirus, under a new measure announced in the state official bulletin on Thursday (Mar 19). The measure orders “the suspension of opening to the public of all hotels and similar lodgings, tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation … situated
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
India bans incoming international flights for a week over coronavirus
News Business Article
NEW DELHI: All incoming international flights to India will be banned for one week starting on Sunday, the government said on Thursday (Mar 19) as it announced the latest raft of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of a national address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Thursday, the government said in
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
Commentary: COVID-19, the once-in-a-generation, global emergency the world faces
News Business Article
LONDON: Once in a generation, maybe once in a century, political leaders must light a bonfire of contemporary preconceptions to confront a shared emergency. This is such a moment. History may ultimately define the 21st century by the strong geopolitical rivalry between the US and China. For the immediate future the national interests of these
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 20, 2020
US urges citizens to avoid all international travel, return home
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday warned against any international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic and advised citizens to return home if possible. “In countries where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad
Commentary: How prepared are parents for suspension of schools if that happens?
SINGAPORE: Parents were slightly spooked last week. After the Singapore Government announced a fresh round of border restrictions, Minister for National Development and co-chair of the multi-ministry taskforce Lawrence Wong had said on Wednesday (Mar 11) he would not rule out the possibility of closing schools to stem the spread of COVID-19 here. Advertisement Advertisement However,