Blast in Afghan capital Kabul kills several

China reports highest number of new coronavirus cases

China reported the highest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly six weeks, driven by a rise in infected travellers arriving from overseas and underscoring challenges Beijing faces in preventing a second wave of COVID-19. A total of 108 new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday, up from 99 a day earlier and marking the highest number of cases since 143 cases were reported on March 5. The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China now stands at 82,160, while the death toll

13 Apr, 2020

World risks ‘biblical’ famines due to coronavirus pandemic – UN

The world is at risk of widespread famines “of biblical proportions” caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN has warned. David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was needed to avoid a catastrophe. A report estimates that the number suffering from hunger could go from 135 million to more than 250 million. Those most at risk are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change, the WFP says. The fourth annual Global Report on Food Cri

22 Apr, 2020

Huge economic rescue plan agreed by EU leaders

A plan for injecting billions of euros of emergency aid into Europe’s battered economies has been agreed by EU heads. Meeting via video, they agreed to set up a massive recovery fund, closely tied to the bloc’s seven-year budget. They also confirmed that ?540bn (?470bn) of financial support would be released through existing mechanisms from 1 June. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the fund would mobilise ?1 trillion of investment. There has been a bitter argument over how

24 Apr, 2020