India passes 1 million virus cases as global crisis worsens

NEW DELHI (AFP) -- India on Friday became the third country in the world to record one million coronavirus cases, following Brazil and the United States where infections also continued to surge. The virus has killed more than 588,000 people and infected nearly 14 million around the world since first being detected in China late last year. But, despite extraordinary restrictions on people travelling that have crippled the global economy, the pandemic is worsening in many parts of the world. I

World NewsJuly 17, 2020

Beijing 2022 Games 'pressing ahead' despite coronavirus threat

BEIJING (AFP) -- Beijing 2022 organisers were "pressing ahead" with preparations for the Winter Olympics Friday after a senior IOC official warned the coronavirus could force the Games to be postponed. Dick Pound, a former International Olympic Committee vice-president, told AFP that all options would have to be considered if the Beijing Games cannot be held in 2022. Beijing is due to host the Winter Olympics just six months after the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, which have been put ba

World NewsJuly 17, 2020

Putin orders massive snap military drills

MOSCOW (AFP) -- President Vladimir Putin has ordered snap military drills involving 150,000 personnel and hundreds of aircraft and naval vessels to ensure "security in Russia's southwest," the defence ministry said Friday. "In accordance with the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces snap exercises are being conducted by troops of the Southern and Western military districts," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying in a statement. The

World NewsJuly 17, 2020

Beijing says US officials have 'lost their minds' over China

BEIJING (AFP) -- US officials have "lost their minds and gone mad" in their dealings with Beijing, China's foreign ministry said Friday, in the latest verbal salvo between the two superpowers. Tensions between Washington and Beijing have run high this year and some of the most outspoken critics of China in American congress were this week hit with sanctions, days after the US imposed visa bans and asset freezes on several Chinese officials. US Attorney General Bill Barr added fuel t

World NewsJuly 17, 2020

[Graphic News] PC sales climb as virus keeps consumers at home

　PCs, somewhat left behind in the mobile internet age, are making a comeback as people stuck at home due to the coronavirus rely on them for work, education and entertainment, industry watchers say. 　Gartner and International Data Corp. reports show shipments of desktop computers, laptops and workstations grew in the second quarter as pandemic-related disruptions to the supply chain were overcome. 　IDC determined that PC shipments worldwide jumped 11.2 percent to 72.3 million units on the

World BusinessJuly 16, 2020

New York Times plans to move part of Hong Kong office to Seoul

The New York Times said it plans to relocate its Hong Kong-based digital news operation to Seoul, amid growing concerns over the impact of China’s national security law. Seoul has been chosen as the location for the US paper’s digital media operation for South Korea’s openness to foreign business, freedom of press and its impact on news in Asia. By next year, one-third of its Hong Kong office will be moved to Seoul. Hong Kong has been a desirable location to many English-lan

World NewsJuly 15, 2020

[Graphic News] Amazon becomes world’s most valuable brand

　Amazon has overtaken Apple as the world’s most valuable brand, according to global market research conducted by Kantar. 　The report, titled 2019 Top BrandZ, claims the value of the e-commerce giant’s brand grew to $415 billion. 　Apple came second, valued at $352 billion, with Microsoft in third place at $326 billion 　South Korea’s Samsung had the 40th biggest value at almost $32 billion.

World BusinessJuly 15, 2020

[Graphic News] Global shipbuilding orders at historic low in H1

　New orders of ships worldwide fell to a historic low in the first half of the year amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry sources said. 　In the January-June period, global new shipbuilding orders totaled 5.75 million compensated gross tons, or a total of 269 ships, according to data provided by global market researcher Clarkson Research Service. 　The tally is the lowest since 1996, when the market tracker began to compile related data, and a 42 percent drop from the previous year, the

World BusinessJuly 10, 2020

[Newsmaker] US says foreign students whose classes move online cannot stay

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States said Monday it would not allow foreign students to remain in the country if all of their classes are moved online in the fall because of the coronavirus crisis. "Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States," US Immigration and Custom Enforcement said in a statement. "Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such program

World NewsJuly 7, 2020

China urges 'fair' treatment after France restricts Huawei

BEIJING (AFP) -- China urged France Monday to guarantee a "fair and just" environment for its companies after Paris decided to restrict licenses for telecom operators using 5G technology from Huawei. The United States and Australia have banned Huawei from their 5G networks and the Financial Times reported Monday that Britain could decide this month to phase out the company's equipment from its system. France's National Agency for Security of Computer Systems said Monday, however, th

World NewsJuly 6, 2020

India becomes third hardest-hit country for virus cases

NEW DELHI (AFP) -- India's densely populated cities ordered new restrictions as the confirmed number of coronavirus cases neared 700,000, passing Russia with the third-highest number of infections. More than 697,400 cases have now been recorded, a rise of 24,000 in 24 hours, the health ministry said, while Russia has just over 681,000. The surge has forced some cities to tighten their anti-virus measures -- including the eastern metropolis of Kolkata, which halted flights from other maj

World NewsJuly 6, 2020

US adds 40,000 new virus cases in 24 hours: tracker

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States recorded 39,379 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, a tally by Johns Hopkins University showed Sunday, as infections continue to trend up around the country. The country's total number of cases now stands at 2,876,143 . The world's largest economy also recorded a further 234 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 129,891, the Baltimore-based institution's tracker showed at 8:30pm (0030 GMT Monday). Sunday's tally comes after a string of surging daily new

World NewsJuly 6, 2020

China issues Canada travel warning in Hong Kong spat

BEIJING (AFP) -- China issued a travel warning for Canada on Monday and said bilateral relations could deteriorate further over Ottawa's response to a controversial national security law in Hong Kong. Canada last week suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and halted exports of sensitive military gear to the financial hub as Western nations voiced concern about the legislation's impact on the city's special rights. "China strongly condemns this and reserves the right to make fur

World NewsJuly 6, 2020

Tokyo governor wins 2nd term, buoyed by handling of virus

TOKYO (AP) -- Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has won a second term to head the Japanese capital, buoyed to Sunday's election victory by public support for her coronavirus handling despite a recent rise in infections that has raised concerns of a resurgence of the disease. In her victory speech, Koike pledged to do her utmost to take measures to protect Tokyo residents amid the pandemic. "The most pressing task is coronavirus measures,'' she said. "Now is a very important time to prepare fo

World NewsJuly 5, 2020

Girlfriend of Trump’s eldest son tests positive

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of President Trump’s eldest son and a top fund-raising official for the Trump re-election campaign, tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday before a Fourth of July event at Mount Rushmore, New York Times reported, citing a person familiar with her condition. Trump campaign later confirmed Guilfoyle has contracted the virus. Ms. Guilfoyle traveled to South Dakota with Mr. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., in anticipation of attending a huge firewo

World NewsJuly 4, 2020

[Graphic News] Half of Tokyo residents oppose Olympics in 2021: poll

　Just over half of Tokyo's residents don't think the postponed 2020 Olympics should be held next year, backing either a further delay or outright cancellation because of fears over the coronavirus, according to a poll. 　The survey carried out by two Japanese news organizations is only a single data point, but comes after health experts warned that even a year's delay may not be sufficient to hold the Games safely. 　The poll conducted over the weekend found 51.7 percent of respondents hope

World NewsJuly 3, 2020

[Graphic News] Canada ranks worst in elderly care home COVID-19 deaths: study

　Canada ranks worst among 16 OECD countries for its high number of coronavirus-related deaths in elderly care homes, according to a Canadian Institute for Health Information report. 　Eighty-one percent of COVID-19 deaths in Canada were recorded in long-term care homes, according to an analysis by the government agency. 　This is significantly higher than the average for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 42 percent. 　Canada also ranks last behind Spain (66 percent)

World NewsJune 30, 2020

Rolling Stones threaten to sue Trump over using their songs

LONDON (AP) -- The Rolling Stones are threatening President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-and-desist directives. The Stones said in a statement Sunday that their legal team is working with music rights organization BMI to stop use of their material in Trump‘s reelection campaign. "The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing

World NewsJune 28, 2020

In NYC, marking 50th anniversary of Pride, no matter what

NEW YORK (AP)  -- There will be protest, and rainbow flags and performances -- it is LGBTQ Pride, after all. But what is normally an outpouring on the streets of New York City is going to look a little different this year, thanks to social distancing rules required by the coronavirus. With the city‘s massive Pride parade canceled, the performances Sunday will be virtual, the flags will be flying in emptier than normal spaces, and the protesters will be masked. The disruption

World NewsJune 28, 2020

Over 10 million coronavirus cases registered worldwide: AFP tally

PARIS (AFP) -- More than 10 million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially declared around the world, half of them in Europe and the United States, according to an AFP tally at 0930 GMT Sunday based on official sources. At least 10,003,942 infections, including 498,779 deaths, have been registered globally. Europe remains the hardest hit continent with 2,637,546 cases including 195,975 fatalities, while the United States has 2,510,323 infections including 125,539 deaths. The rate

World NewsJune 28, 2020