Italy's ports closed to migrant boats

Rome (IANS) Italy will keep its ports closed to NGO boats carrying out rescue operations in the Mediterranean for the duration of the coronavirus emergency in the country, Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said.

On Wednesday Lamorgese addressed…

WHO, Wuhan Institute data hacked

New Delhi/Washington (IANS) The digital data of World Health Organization, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the Gates Foundation and other institutes working on the novel coronavirus pandemic have been hacked, with thousands of their emails, passwords…

Missouri first US state to sue China over Covid-19 outbreak

Washington (IANS) Missouri became the first US state to sue the Chinese government over the novel coronavirus outbreak, citing it as "an appalling campaign of deceit".

The civil lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in a federal court by GOP state Attorney…

Trump suddenly announces he's stopping legal immigration

New York (IANS) In a sudden twist, US President Donald Trump has announced that he was shutting the country to legal immigration temporarily through an executive order.

"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to…

Netanyahu, Gantz form unity govt to end months of deadlock

Jerusalem, (IANS) Benjamin Netanyahu will remain Israel's Prime Minister after he agreed to form a national unity government with his main political rival, Benny Gantz, a deal which brings a year-long political crisis to an end.

In a joint…

Millions to claim as UK furlough scheme goes live

London (IANS) A UK government pay scheme to keep staff on the payroll despite not working due to the coronavirus pandemic went live on Monday.

Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government will cover 80 per cent of workers'…

China slams India's new FDI norms, says change violates WTO rules

New Delhi (IANS) Just days after the Centre amended the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy to check opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies amid the Covid-19 pandemic, China on Monday criticised the move and said that it violates the World…

Key Saudi Islamic body recommends home prayers during Ramzan

Riyadh (IANS) Saudi Arabias top Islamic authority has called on all Muslims around the world to perform prayers at home during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan in accordance with health guidelines to fend off the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Spain PM to seek 'state of alarm' extension until May 9

Madrid (IANS) Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that he would ask Parliament to extend the current 'State of Alarm' for a further 15 days until May 9 as coronavirus cases and deaths continued to surge.

Sanchez's announcement…

14 HK democracy activists held over 2019 protests

Hong Kong (IANS) Police in Hong Kong on Saturday arrested 14 pro-democracy activists for allegedly organizing unauthorized protests last year, local media and political sources said.

The League of Social Democrats political party said on social…