International

Important bits of information around the world

US overtakes China as the most attractive country for renewables investments
International
US overtakes China as the most attractive country for renewables investments

According to the annual ranking of the top 40 renewable energy markets worldwide by consultancy EY, the United States has overtaken China to become the most attractive country in the world for renewables investment. The US topped the list for the first time since 2016. American growth was largely due to a short-term extension of a production tax credit for wind projects and a massive $57 investment plan

china us renewables

Tue May 19 - oedigital
Taiwan expressed disappointment and anger
International
Taiwan is disappointed and angry after exclusion from World Health Assembly

Taiwan expressed disappointment and anger over exclusion from this year’s World Health Assembly organized by the World Health Organization. “We feel disappointed and angry about WHO’s decision of not inviting Taiwan to join this year’s WHA. We feel we have so much to share about our successful experiences in this Covid-19 outbreak response” said Yi-Chun Lo, deputy director-general at Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

who taiwan wha

Tue May 19 - CNBC
UAE imposed $800 fine for not wearing a mask
International
UAE imposed $800 fine for not wearing a mask

The United Arab Emirates introduced revised penalties for violation of coronavirus rules in the region. Those who host parties will be fined 10,000 dirhams ($2,722.59). If you don’t wear a mask, you have to pay 3,000 dirhams ($817) A national curfew that was initially shortened by two hours will also be extended back to its original duration, lasting from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily

uae dubai rules

Tue May 19 - CNBC
3 simple steps to transform your body
International
3 simple steps to transform your body

The London-based fitness trainer Pete Geracimo who worked with Adele for four years, shared his thoughts about key steps to transform your body.
1. A well-balanced, inclusive food plan.
2. Exercising regularly, getting your heart rate up, and going outside your comfort zone.
3. Getting proper restful sleep to allow your body and mind to repair and recover
"Patience is key, you can’t get results overnight," Geracimo added

fitness trainer adele

Tue May 19 - Insider
Large scale evacuations in India ahead of Cyclone Amphan
International
Large scale evacuations in India ahead of Cyclone Amphan

India has started evacuations of millions of people on the Eastern coast ahead of Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal. The storm is expected to hit the West Bengal and Odisha states of India on Wednesday. This would be the first super cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal since the 1999 super cyclone that hit the Orissa coast and killed more than 9,000 people, according to BBC Weather

india bangladesh amphan

Tue May 19 - BBC
U.S. slams WHO again for its coronavirus response
International
U.S. slams WHO again for its coronavirus response

The U.S. criticized the World Health Organization again for its coronavirus response, saying the United Nations’ health agency failed to obtain information about the virus when the world needed it. “That failure cost many lives,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on the first day of the WHO’s two-day virtual World Health Assembly. President Donald Trump’s administration has been particularly critical of the WHO’s response

china us who

Mon May 18 - CNBC
University of Kentucky’s cheerleading fiasco
International
University of Kentucky’s cheerleading fiasco

The coaching staff of the University of Kentucky’s cheerleading program has been fired after a three-month investigation found them guilty of hazing and other inappropriate conducts. Head coach Jomo Thompson and assistant coaches Ben Head, Spencer Clan, and Kelsey LaCroix were all fired, according to a UK news release Monday. The investigation also found "lax oversight and poor judgment" by T. Lynn Williamson, the longtime adviser for the program

university kentucky cheerleading

Mon May 18 - USAToday
Coronavirus: A blessing in disguise for India
International
Coronavirus: A blessing in disguise for India

Coronavirus has weakened China’s position as a global manufacturing hub as the country is facing backlash for its role in handling the virus. China’s neighbor India has sensed an opportunity and looks keen to take advantage to be a global manufacturing hub. China's weakened global position is a "blessing in disguise" for India to attract more investment, transport minister Nitin Gadkari said in a recent interview

india china coronavirus

Mon May 18 - BBC
Her engagement has further pulled in other prominent individuals both from the crypto community and outside.
International
J.K Rowling: I’m Not Interested In Bitcoin, I’m Trolling To Boost Ethereum

Famous author J.K. Rowling trolled crypto community on twitter. But even without buying into Bitcoin, she has already done a great deal. By engaging about Bitcoin on Twitter, she has sent over 14 million of her followers to the Bitcoin rabbit hole. Those who already knew it will want to learn more

technology finance crypto bitcoin cryptocurrencies

Mon May 18 - CryptoMute
Anosmia added to the list of officially recognized coronavirus symptoms
International
Anosmia added to the list of officially recognized coronavirus symptoms

Anosmia is a partial or complete loss of the sense of smell in a person. British Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said the government is adding anosmia to the existing list of COVID-19 symptoms. According to the new guidelines, People who lose or detect a change in their normal sense of smell will now be asked to self-isolate as the government expands the list of officially recognized symptoms

corona anosmia symptom

Mon May 18 - Huffingtonpost
Irish Airline Ryanair cutting 3,000 jobs
International
Irish Airline Ryanair cutting 3,000 jobs

Ryanair DAC, an Irish budget airline founded in 1984, announced that the company will lay off 3,000 employees along with negotiations regarding pay cuts and unpaid leaves. Coronavirus pandemic reduced the number of passengers at the airline by more than 5 million. The majority of its airplanes were grounded from mid-March and the company expects to resume at-most 50% of its scheduled flights during the second quarter

jobs ireland ryanair

Mon May 18 - CNBC
Cyclone Amphan heading towards India and Bangladesh
International
Cyclone Amphan heading towards India and Bangladesh

A strong cyclone formed in the Bay of Bengal is heading towards India and Bangladesh, adding more worries to the countries already battling with Coronavirus. Cyclone Amphan is packing winds of 150 miles per hour (240 kilometers per hour), though forecasters expect the storm will weaken before making landfall late Wednesday near the Ganges River Delta. Even if the storm hits after weakening, it could cause significant damage

india bangladesh cycloneamphan

Mon May 18 - CNN
China’s lack of immunity can cause the second wave of COVID-19
International
China’s lack of immunity can cause the second wave of COVID-19

Dr. Zhong Nanshan, the Chinese government's senior medical adviser and the public face of the country's fight against Covid-19 has said that the country’s lack of immunity can cause a potential second wave of coronavirus in the country. Fresh clusters of coronavirus cases have emerged across China in recent weeks, in Wuhan as well as the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin

china us coronavirus zhong

Mon May 18 - CNN
International
Brazilian hospitals near collapse
Mon May 18
Brazilian hospitals near collapse
International
Brazilian hospitals near collapse

Bruno Covas, mayor of Sao Paulo, has said that the country's health system may collapse soon as hospitals are flooded with coronavirus patients. Bruno Covas said the city's public hospitals had reached 90% capacity and could run out of space in two weeks. The health ministry reported 7,938 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total above 241,000. Only the US, Russia and the UK have higher numbers

brazil coronavirus cases brunocovas

Mon May 18 - BBC
100 countries are pushing for a coronavirus investigation
International
100 countries are pushing for a coronavirus investigation

100 countries are now backing a resolution to investigate the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. At the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), countries will move the resolution for an independent inquiry. The European Union-drafted resolution comes on the back of a push by Australia for an inquiry into China's initial handling of the crisis. That was met with an angry response from Beijing, which accused Canberra of a "highly irresponsible" move

china coronavirus 100countries

Mon May 18 - CNN
Domestic tourism returns to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
International
Domestic tourism returns to Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay

Vietnam received appreciation across the world for an effective response to the coronavirus pandemic, and now the country opened domestic tourism in an effort to revive the devastated tourism industry. Hundreds waited to get on tourist boats to visit the famed karsts of the UNESCO heritage site of Ha Long Bay with few following social distancing norms. Most removed face masks as they climbed on board and posed for selfies

tourism vietnam halongbay

Sun May 17 - Jakartapost
US relies heavily on India for generic drugs
International
US relies heavily on India for generic drugs

According to an April 2020 study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and KPMG, in the US, 90% of all prescriptions are filled by generic drugs and, one in every three pills consumed is produced by an Indian generics manufacturer. India gets around 68% of its raw materials from China. While the US has good relation with India, recent tension with China can cause major problems in supply chain

india china us

Sun May 17 - CNN
Brazil crosses Italy in total coronavirus cases
International
Brazil crosses Italy in total coronavirus cases

According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Brazil now has more coronavirus cases than Italy. The country now has 233,142 total number of confirmed cases after adding 14,919 new infections in the last 24 hours, reported Reuters, citing the country’s health ministry. Only the U.S., Russia and the U.K. have reported higher numbers of confirmed infections compared to Brazil, Hopkins data showed

brazil coronavirus cases

Sun May 17 - CNBC
Wuhan tested 113,609 residents in a single day
International
Wuhan tested 113,609 residents in a single day

According to the local health authority in Wuhan, the city (the original epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak in China) conducted 113,609 nucleic acid tests on May 15. Wuhan has launched a city-wide testing campaign after confirming last weekend its first cluster of COVID-19 infections since its release from a virtual lockdown on April 8 to contain the spread of the pathogen

china wuhan tests

Sat May 16 - Reuters
25 Indian migrant workers killed in a truck accident
International
25 Indian migrant workers killed in a truck accident

India’s migrant worker's crisis is getting deeper as millions of workers are escaping major cities to travel to their villages. At least 25 migrant workers were killed and dozens injured in India when a truck they were traveling in collided with another vehicle early Saturday, police said. The incident took place in Auraiya district, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police official Suresh Kumar told the media

india workers accident coronavirus migrant

Sat May 16 - CNN
Latin America, the new epicenter of coronavirus
International
Latin America, the new epicenter of coronavirus

COVID-19 cases across Latin America are on the rise as Brazil and Mexico reported daily record highs. Brazil confirmed 15,305 new cases, bringing its total to 218,223, according to Reuters citing its health ministry. It had 824 deaths, to reach 14,817 fatalities in total. Mexico reported 2,437 new cases as the total reached 45,032. The total number of cases in Peru crossed 84,000

mexico brazil peru

Sat May 16 - CNBC
Italy plans to lift travel restrictions
International
Italy plans to lift travel restrictions

According to the latest reports, the Italian Government has signed an order to allow travel to and from the country from 3 June, as it moves to ease its coronavirus lockdown measures. It will also allow travel between the regions - which has so far been tightly restricted. The move marks a major step in the country's efforts to reopen its economy after more than two months of lockdown

travel italy restrictions

Sat May 16 - BBC
How a German cafe is enforcing social distancing
International
How a German cafe is enforcing social distancing

A German cafe has introduced an innovative way to enforce social distancing, rather than using floor markings and perspex screens to keep people apart, the owners of the Cafe Rothe in Schwerin, a small town in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's home state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania distributed straw hats with two colorful swimming noodles attached to the top. The motto at the cafe was: "Keep the social distance."

germany socialdistancing caferothe

Sat May 16 - CNN
India now has more coronavirus cases than China
International
India now has more coronavirus cases than China

India became Asia’s coronavirus hotspot as the country surpassed China in the total number of coronavirus cases. India is now ranked 11th on the list of countries with the most number of COVID-19 cases. India recorded 3,970 new coronavirus patients and 103 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 85,940 cases, the Union Health Ministry said. The number is more than the tally of China (82,941)

india china coronavirus

Sat May 16 - NDTV
Demand for private islands is on the rise amid coronavirus pandemic
International
Demand for private islands is on the rise amid coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus pandemic has paused all the tourism and travel activities around the world but demand for private islands is on the rise. Brokers and travel industry experts say that since March, prospective buyers and renters around the world are showing an increased interest in escaping to an exclusive island. Demand is mostly from the US and Canadian clients as they are interested in isles in the Caribbean and Central America

travel tourism private islands

Fri May 15 - CNN