News Archives - Page 62 of 81

8May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Hong Kong, China, News

Hong Kong MPs Clash With One Another

Pro-China MPs and pro-Democratic members of the Hong Kong Parliament clashed on Friday. The brawl is a sign that political tensions are re-emerging in the former British Crown Colony, now an autonomous part of China, after curbing the coronavirus outbreak. The brawl between members of the so-called Hong Kong Legislative Council followed an argument over the appointment of the chairman of an important committee. MEPs shouted at each other and pushed each other during the session. Some pro-China MPs also fisted with security to escort one of them out. Beijing has accused Hong Kong's pro-democratic elected representatives of "malicious" delaying techniques that would prevent them from voting on proposals.

Prime Minister Johnson is Back in Parliament and Promises to Relax

6May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

UK, News

Prime Minister Johnson is Back in Parliament and Promises to Relax

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has returned to parliament for the first time since his contamination with the new coronavirus and promises cautious relaxation of anti-coronary measures. Johnson said the death rate in the country is appalling, but he believes he can start a cautious easing of the restrictive measures from Monday, British media report. He comes with more details on Sunday and then unfolds the continuation of the strategy against the dreaded virus. First, "scientific data" on the spread of the virus will be further examined. According to the Conservative Prime Minister, the government must fight the disease and get the economy going again. An important part, he says, is to nearly double the number of tests to 200,000 a day by the end of this month. The last ...

French President: Nothing Sure About Summer Holidays Yet

5May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

France, Europe, News

French President: Nothing Sure About Summer Holidays Yet

It is too early to say whether there will be holidays in France next summer. That should become clear in early June, French President Macron said on French television. After the "extremely cautious" relaxation of the corona measures on May 11, the French will still have to take into account controls and restrictions on long journeys, Macron said. The rules for this will be laid down on Thursday. But according to Macron, it is already clear that during the summer holidays large international trips will hardly be possible. It all depends on the coronavirus containment progress. "We didn't win the fight against the virus. It's still there, we slowed it down," said Macron.

Deputy Prime Minister Wants to End Idiosyncratic Merkel Policy

4May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Germany, Europe, News

Deputy Prime Minister Wants to End Idiosyncratic Merkel Policy

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Joachim Stamp, has accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of dictating corona policy as a monarch. He anticipates Merkel's Wednesday meeting with the sixteen state prime ministers, where policies against the coronavirus are outlined as usual. Merkel is increasingly under fire for its resistance to rapid relaxation of the restrictive measures. For example, Stamp threatens to open the daycare centres in NRW itself if no decisions are made on Wednesday in Berlin. "We can't be kept on the leash for another week and we'll go our own way." He thinks that the federal states should decide for themselves how they should take measures or relax them because the virus has managed in different ways in the federal sta...

Residents of India Have to Stay Inside Longer Because of Coronavirus

1May

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

India, Asia, News

Residents of India Have to Stay Inside Longer Because of Coronavirus

The approximately 1.3 billion inhabitants of India will have to stay inside for at least two more weeks after May 4 because of the corona crisis. However, the measures are being relaxed here and there. The Indian Interior Ministry announced on Friday that the lockdown would be extended by two weeks. Travelling between the states will, therefore, remain prohibited for the time being. Restrictions are eased in areas where no new infections are reported. This is mainly intended to get the economy going again. The country was locked on March 25 when just over 600 infections had been diagnosed, and 10 patients had succumbed. There are now officially 35,000 infections with more than 1,000 deaths.

More Than A Million People are Cured of Coronavirus

30Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News

More Than A Million People are Cured of Coronavirus

More than a million people worldwide have now been cured of coronavirus infection. The number of people who have recovered is currently less than a third of the total number of infections found. According to the site counts, this is more than 3.2 million. The number of fatalities has risen to more than 228,000.

Hong Kong Activist Edward Leung (28) Has to Go to Jail for Six Years

29Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Hong Kong, China, News

Hong Kong Activist Edward Leung (28) Has to Go to Jail for Six Years

Hong Kong activist Edward Leung (28) has to go to jail for six years. Leung had appealed a prison sentence but to no avail. The activist was convicted of involvement in riots surrounding a demonstration in 2016. Renowned as a radical 'localist', Leung is popular among people demonstrating against the Chinese government because of its political colour. He was convicted in 2018 for leading protests two years earlier. Leung wanted to receive a sentence but got zero on Wednesday in the judge's plea. Hong Kong protesters are taking to the streets again to demand more democracy. Previous mass protests had been squashed by the outbreak of the new coronavirus and government action to stem the epidemic. The ratification of Leung's verdict could rekindle discontent in Hong Kong.

Number of Corona Infections in Russia Now Above 90,000

28Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Russia, News

Number of Corona Infections in Russia Now Above 90,000

Thousands of corona cases have once again come to light in Russia. The authorities report that 6411 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the past 24 hours. That is the most substantial increase to date in the country. So far, 93,558 coronavirus infections have been detected. The death penalty has risen from 72 to 867 in the past 24 hours, making Russia the deadliest day since the outbreak began. Most corona cases have been identified in the capital Moscow, according to local media. There the 12 million inhabitants are only allowed to leave their houses if they have a valid reason, such as walking the dog, working or shopping.

New Zealand Says the Transmission of the Coronavirus Has Stopped in the Country

27Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

New Zealand, News

New Zealand Says the Transmission of the Coronavirus Has Stopped in the Country

New Zealand says the transmission of the coronavirus has stopped in the country, effectively eliminating the virus. With new cases in the single numbers in recent days, one further contamination on Sunday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus has been "currently" eliminated, the BBC reports. But government officials warn against complacency and say this does not mean that new cases of the coronavirus will come to an end. The news comes just before New Zealand eases its strictest social restrictions. Some non-essential business, healthcare and education activities can be resumed from Tuesday. Most people still have to stay at home and avoid all social interactions. "We open the economy, but we don't open people's social lives," Ardern said in the daily government brie...

NATO Calls on Afghans to Seize the Opportunity for Peace

24Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Afghanistan, US

NATO Calls on Afghans to Seize the Opportunity for Peace

The warring parties in Afghanistan must end their hostilities and seize the "historic" chance for peace, NATO believes. In a statement, the 30 Member States call on the Taliban to reduce violence and to come to the negotiating table, as previously agreed with the US. The Taliban have ignored a government call for a truce during Ramadan. "The current level of violence caused by the Taliban is unacceptable," said the Western alliance, which is training Afghan security forces. Political leaders and their supporters in Afghanistan must resolve their disagreements and form a government together, the statement said. As a gesture of goodwill, NATO encourages both sides to accelerate the release of prisoners and to embrace the call for an immediate ceasefire. The prospect of negotiati...