From Japan to United States: Ten most powerful passports in 2021

Germany, France, Spain and Italy witnessed a new wave of coronavirus as Spanish capital Madrid asked residents to stay home as it recorded 8,000 cases in 24 hours.

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France recorded 4,000 new cases for the second successive day even as Czech authorities said 506 new coronavirus cases were reported on Friday.

Germany had recorded 2,000 in 24 hours on Saturday with the country's disease control authority reporting 2,034 new cases and seven deaths, taking the total deaths to 9,267 and 232,082 infection cases.

The Czech Republic reported 21,551 coronavirus cases with 411 deaths. Nineteen people have died due to the virus in the past week in Czechia. The country has removed restrictions in May.

Switzerland recorded 306 new coronavirus cases on Friday which was highest since April as Health Minister Alain Berset said, "The situation is under control, but remains fragile." Switzerland has a total of 39,232 coronavirus cases with 1,505 new cases reported in the past one week. The country has recorded &nbsp;1,719 deaths so far due to the virus.

As schools reopened in Switzerland authorities have increased testing to 10,000 a day with a million test conducted as reports say 5.1 per cent have tested positive.&nbsp;

As the pandemic continues to rage in the continent, Austria said it would curb ski partying in order to keep the virus in check after thousands of international holidaymakers had become infected with the virus in Ischgl in the western Tyrol in March.

Austria has recorded 24,600 coronavirus cases with 730 deaths but has seen a recent surge in cases with 347 new infections in recent times as the country lifted its lockdown which was imposed in April.

Germany, France, Spain and Italy witnessed a new wave of coronavirus as Spanish capital Madrid asked residents to stay home as it recorded 8,000 cases in 24 hours.

Germany, France, Spain and Italy witnessed a new wave of coronavirus as Spanish capital Madrid asked residents to stay home as it recorded 8,000 cases in 24 hours. Watch: France recorded 4,000 new cases for the second successive day even as Czech authorities said 506 new coronavirus cases were reported on Friday. Germany had recorded 2,000 in 24 hours on Saturday with the country's disease control authority reporting 2,034 new cases and seven deaths, taking the total deaths to 9,267 and 232,082 infection cases. The Czech Republic reported 21,551 coronavirus cases with 411 deaths. Nineteen people have died due to the virus in the past week in Czechia. The country has removed restrictions in May. Switzerland recorded 306 new coronavirus cases on Friday which was highest since April as Health Minister Alain Berset said, "The situation is under control, but remains fragile." Switzerland has a total of 39,232 coronavirus cases with 1,505 new cases reported in the past one week. The country has recorded 1,719 deaths so far due to the virus. As schools reopened in Switzerland authorities have increased testing to 10,000 a day with a million test conducted as reports say 5.1 per cent have tested positive. As the pandemic continues to rage in the continent, Austria said it would curb ski partying in order to keep the virus in check after thousands of international holidaymakers had become infected with the virus in Ischgl in the western Tyrol in March. Austria has recorded 24,600 coronavirus cases with 730 deaths but has seen a recent surge in cases with 347 new infections in recent times as the country lifted its lockdown which was imposed in April.

COVID-19: Germany, France face new surge as Europe grapples with virus

The coronavirus pandemic&nbsp;has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

It said the crisis had, though, revealed the strength of collective action in the face of a common threat and urged the world to show the same force on climate change.

''The Covid-19 pandemic is unleashing a human development crisis,''&nbsp;the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report.

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Other shocks such as the financial crisis of 2007-2009 or the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 have dealt a blow but did not prevent year-on-year development gains overall, said UNDP head Achim Steiner.

''Covid-19, with its triple hit to health, education, and income, may change this trend,''&nbsp;he added.

Besides deaths from Covid-19, which have now topped 320,000, the crisis could indirectly mean an extra 6,000 children die each day from preventable causes in the next six months, UNDP said.

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Six out of 10 children globally are not getting an education due to school closures, and with deep recessions hitting most economies, the decline in UNDP's human development index would be equivalent to erasing all the progress of the past six years.

The decline is affecting rich and poor nations, but is expected to be far steeper in developing countries that are less able to cope with the pandemic’s social and economic fallout.

''If we fail to bring equity into the policy toolkit, many will fall further behind,''&nbsp;said Pedro Conceição, director of the UNDP office that produces its annual Human Development Report.

''This is particularly important for the 'new necessities'&nbsp;of the 21st century, such as access to the internet, which is helping us to benefit from tele-education, telemedicine, and to work from home,''&nbsp;he added in a statement.

UNDP estimated that 86 per cent of children in primary education are effectively out of school in countries with low development, because they lack the tools for web-based learning, compared with just 20 per cent in the wealthiest nations.

Expanding access to the internet in low- and middle-income countries would cost US$100 billion, about 15 per cent of the income they will lose this year and 1 per cent of the fiscal stimulus the world has committed in response to Covid-19, the report said.

The coronavirus pandemic has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The coronavirus pandemic has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday. It said the crisis had, though, revealed the strength of collective action in the face of a common threat and urged the world to show the same force on climate change. ''The Covid-19 pandemic is unleashing a human development crisis,'' the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report. Also read: US: COVID-19 vaccine produces antibodies in mice, guinea pigs Other shocks such as the financial crisis of 2007-2009 or the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 have dealt a blow but did not prevent year-on-year development gains overall, said UNDP head Achim Steiner. ''Covid-19, with its triple hit to health, education, and income, may change this trend,'' he added. Besides deaths from Covid-19, which have now topped 320,000, the crisis could indirectly mean an extra 6,000 children die each day from preventable causes in the next six months, UNDP said. Also read: NASA finds evidence of parallel universe where time runs backward Six out of 10 children globally are not getting an education due to school closures, and with deep recessions hitting most economies, the decline in UNDP's human development index would be equivalent to erasing all the progress of the past six years. The decline is affecting rich and poor nations, but is expected to be far steeper in developing countries that are less able to cope with the pandemic’s social and economic fallout. ''If we fail to bring equity into the policy toolkit, many will fall further behind,'' said Pedro Conceição, director of the UNDP office that produces its annual Human Development Report. ''This is particularly important for the 'new necessities' of the 21st century, such as access to the internet, which is helping us to benefit from tele-education, telemedicine, and to work from home,'' he added in a statement. UNDP estimated that 86 per cent of children in primary education are effectively out of school in countries with low development, because they lack the tools for web-based learning, compared with just 20 per cent in the wealthiest nations. Expanding access to the internet in low- and middle-income countries would cost US$100 billion, about 15 per cent of the income they will lose this year and 1 per cent of the fiscal stimulus the world has committed in response to Covid-19, the report said.

Coronavirus pandemic may reverse human development for first time in three decades: UN

Goats and pawpaw (cheese) have tested postive for the deadly coronavirus in Tanzania.

As a result, the country's&nbsp;President John Magufuli&nbsp;dismissed the testing kits as ''faulty''.

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The COVID-19 testing kits had been imported from abroad, the President&nbsp;said during an event in Chato in the north west of Tanzania, although he did not give further details.

However,&nbsp;he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits.

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But they randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages.

These samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins.

Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the coronavirus.

Magufuli&nbsp;had&nbsp;previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said the kits had ''technical errors''.

His&nbsp;government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak.

&nbsp;

Goats and pawpaw (cheese) have tested postive for the deadly coronavirus in Tanzania. As a result, the country's President John Magufuli dismissed the testing kits as ''faulty''.

Goats and pawpaw (cheese) have tested postive for the deadly coronavirus in Tanzania. As a result, the country's President John Magufuli dismissed the testing kits as ''faulty''. Also read: US will have coronavirus vaccine by end of year, says Trump The COVID-19 testing kits had been imported from abroad, the President said during an event in Chato in the north west of Tanzania, although he did not give further details. However, he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits. Also read: Even in the pandemic, Jews flown to Jerusalem for burial But they randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. These samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins. Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the coronavirus. Magufuli had previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said the kits had ''technical errors''. His government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak.

Goats and cheese test positive for coronavirus in Tanzania

Students forced to sail across Atlantic due to coronavirus

Sweeping testing of the entire crew of the coronavirus-stricken US&nbsp;aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt may have revealed a&nbsp;clue&nbsp;about the pandemic: The majority of the positive cases so far are among sailors who are asymptomatic, officials say.

The possibility that the coronavirus spreads in a mostly stealthy mode among a population of largely young, healthy people showing no symptoms could have major implications for US&nbsp;policy-makers, who are considering how and when to reopen the economy.

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It also renews questions about the extent to which US&nbsp;testing of just the people suspected of being infected is actually capturing the spread of the virus in the United States and around the world.

The Navy's testing of the entire 4,800-member crew of the aircraft carrier,&nbsp;which is about 94 per cent&nbsp;complete,&nbsp;was an extraordinary move in a headline-grabbing case that has already led to the firing of the carrier's captain and the resignation of the Navy's top civilian official.

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Roughly 60 percent of the over 600 sailors who tested positive so far have not shown symptoms of COVID-19, the potentially lethal respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, the Navy says. The service did not speculate about how many might later develop symptoms or remain asymptomatic.

"With regard to COVID-19, we're learning that stealth in the form of asymptomatic transmission is this adversary's secret power," said Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the Navy.

The figure is higher than the 25 per cent&nbsp;to 50 per cent range offered on April 5 by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking in a television interview on Thursday, said the number of asymptomatic cases from the carrier was "disconcerting."

"It has revealed a new dynamic of this virus: that it can be carried by normal, healthy people who have no idea whatsoever that they are carrying it," Esper told NBC's "Today" morning show.

Such data present challenges to the Pentagon, which is deployed around the world, sometimes in confined environments like submarines, ships and aircraft.

Testing the entire military is not yet feasible, given still-limited testing capacity, officials say, and detecting enough cases without tests is impossible if most cases are asymptomatic.

The U.S. coronavirus death toll - the highest in the world - surged past 31,000 on Thursday after doubling in a week.

It also claimed the life of a sailor from the Theodore Roosevelt this week. Five other members of the crew are hospitalized.

Sweeping testing of the entire crew of the coronavirus-stricken US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt may have revealed a clue about the pandemic: The majority of the positive cases so far are among sailors who are asymptomatic, officials say.

Sweeping testing of the entire crew of the coronavirus-stricken US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt may have revealed a clue about the pandemic: The majority of the positive cases so far are among sailors who are asymptomatic, officials say. The possibility that the coronavirus spreads in a mostly stealthy mode among a population of largely young, healthy people showing no symptoms could have major implications for US policy-makers, who are considering how and when to reopen the economy. Also read: Trump announces gradual US reopening against dire economic backdrop It also renews questions about the extent to which US testing of just the people suspected of being infected is actually capturing the spread of the virus in the United States and around the world. The Navy's testing of the entire 4,800-member crew of the aircraft carrier, which is about 94 per cent complete, was an extraordinary move in a headline-grabbing case that has already led to the firing of the carrier's captain and the resignation of the Navy's top civilian official. Also read: US provides health assistance to India to help battle COVID-19 Roughly 60 percent of the over 600 sailors who tested positive so far have not shown symptoms of COVID-19, the potentially lethal respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, the Navy says. The service did not speculate about how many might later develop symptoms or remain asymptomatic. "With regard to COVID-19, we're learning that stealth in the form of asymptomatic transmission is this adversary's secret power," said Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the Navy. The figure is higher than the 25 per cent to 50 per cent range offered on April 5 by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking in a television interview on Thursday, said the number of asymptomatic cases from the carrier was "disconcerting." "It has revealed a new dynamic of this virus: that it can be carried by normal, healthy people who have no idea whatsoever that they are carrying it," Esper told NBC's "Today" morning show. Such data present challenges to the Pentagon, which is deployed around the world, sometimes in confined environments like submarines, ships and aircraft. Testing the entire military is not yet feasible, given still-limited testing capacity, officials say, and detecting enough cases without tests is impossible if most cases are asymptomatic. The U.S. coronavirus death toll - the highest in the world - surged past 31,000 on Thursday after doubling in a week. It also claimed the life of a sailor from the Theodore Roosevelt this week. Five other members of the crew are hospitalized.

Coronavirus clue? Most cases aboard US aircraft carrier are symptom-free

Google and Apple have come together to help authorities track the coronavirus pandemic by using Bluetooth technology.

The two Silicon Valley giants will work on a platform to enable&nbsp;contact tracing, a measure that identifies people who have been exposed to the virus and who they have been in contact with.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-5g-waves-do-not-transmit-coronavirus-290786" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/no-5g-waves-do-not-transmit-coronavirus-290786&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjs6-a-leroAhXnwTgGHUW3AoYQFjAFegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1BzEvUzb7iVByk_scusGwk" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-5g-waves-do-not-transmit-coronavirus-290786" target="_blank">No,&nbsp;5G&nbsp;waves do not transmit coronavirus!</a>

Initially, interfaces built on existing public health apps that can work on iOS or Android systems will be released by the companies&nbsp;in May.

This will be followed by a more comprehensive platform in the coming months to which users will be able to opt in.

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According to press statement released by Google, smartphone user that tests positive for the coronavirus can input their result into an app from a public health authority, which will feed into an anonymous "identifier beacon".

This identifier will then be anonymously exchanged with anyone the user comes into contact with who also has the service enabled.

Users then upload their identifier records to the cloud, following which they will receive a notification if they have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for the virus.

Authorities around the world are&nbsp;using technology to&nbsp;track exposure and enforce quarantines.

Last month, Facebook&nbsp;and&nbsp;Google had&nbsp;confirmed that&nbsp;they were looking into the use of&nbsp;cellphone location data&nbsp;to help track the spread of the virus.

Google and Apple have come together to help authorities track the coronavirus pandemic by using Bluetooth technology. The two Silicon Valley giants will work on a platform to enable contact tracing, a measure that identifies people who have been exposed to the virus and who they have been in contact with.

Google and Apple have come together to help authorities track the coronavirus pandemic by using Bluetooth technology. The two Silicon Valley giants will work on a platform to enable contact tracing, a measure that identifies people who have been exposed to the virus and who they have been in contact with. Also read: No, 5G waves do not transmit coronavirus! Initially, interfaces built on existing public health apps that can work on iOS or Android systems will be released by the companies in May. This will be followed by a more comprehensive platform in the coming months to which users will be able to opt in. Also read: 2021: No new emojis to be launched due to coronavirus pandemic According to press statement released by Google, smartphone user that tests positive for the coronavirus can input their result into an app from a public health authority, which will feed into an anonymous "identifier beacon". This identifier will then be anonymously exchanged with anyone the user comes into contact with who also has the service enabled. Users then upload their identifier records to the cloud, following which they will receive a notification if they have been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for the virus. Authorities around the world are using technology to track exposure and enforce quarantines. Last month, Facebook and Google had confirmed that they were looking into the use of cellphone location data to help track the spread of the virus.

Google and Apple collaborate to track coronavirus pandemic

Thailand has&nbsp;reporting the first fatal case of COVID-19 being transmitted from a dead patient to a medical examiner, a finding that experts say adds to safety concerns for morgue and funeral home workers amid the global pandemic.

The incident was confirmed by scientists in&nbsp;the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine study.

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The death of the forensic team member was only the second case reported among medical personnel in Thailand.

According to the authors of the study, Won Sriwijitalai of Bangkok’s RVT Medical Center and Viroj from China’s Wiwanitkit of Hainan Medical University, ''anyone coming into contact with a Covid-19 positive body, alive or dead, should be using personal protective equipment to prevent exposure''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/misinfo-demic-about-covid-19-proliferating-falsehoods-putting-more-lives-at-risk-un-chief-292584" hreflang="en">'Misinfo-demic' about COVID-19 proliferating falsehoods, putting more lives at risk: UN chief</a>

''Autopsies and the ensuing investigations pose real risks for coroners to get infected by Covid-19.&nbsp;Given how there is a surge in mass burials of the deceased, medical professionals managing the remains of the patients need to be provided with protective equipment,'' they added.

However, still not much is known about about how long the new coronavirus can survive in dead bodies or whether corpses can be contagious to people who handle them.

On March 25, the head of Thailand’s Department of Medical Services had announced the bodies of coronavirus victims&nbsp;were not contagious&nbsp;amid reports of temples refusing to perform funeral services.

However,&nbsp;some morgue workers worldwide have raised concerns&nbsp;as hastily built facilities have been erected to handle excessive deaths.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Thailand has reporting the first fatal case of COVID-19 being transmitted from a dead patient to a medical examiner, a finding that experts say adds to safety concerns for morgue and funeral home workers amid the global pandemic.

Thailand has reporting the first fatal case of COVID-19 being transmitted from a dead patient to a medical examiner, a finding that experts say adds to safety concerns for morgue and funeral home workers amid the global pandemic. The incident was confirmed by scientists in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine study. Also read: Potential COVID-19 vaccines make fast progress in China, US The death of the forensic team member was only the second case reported among medical personnel in Thailand. According to the authors of the study, Won Sriwijitalai of Bangkok’s RVT Medical Center and Viroj from China’s Wiwanitkit of Hainan Medical University, ''anyone coming into contact with a Covid-19 positive body, alive or dead, should be using personal protective equipment to prevent exposure''. Also read: 'Misinfo-demic' about COVID-19 proliferating falsehoods, putting more lives at risk: UN chief ''Autopsies and the ensuing investigations pose real risks for coroners to get infected by Covid-19. Given how there is a surge in mass burials of the deceased, medical professionals managing the remains of the patients need to be provided with protective equipment,'' they added. However, still not much is known about about how long the new coronavirus can survive in dead bodies or whether corpses can be contagious to people who handle them. On March 25, the head of Thailand’s Department of Medical Services had announced the bodies of coronavirus victims were not contagious amid reports of temples refusing to perform funeral services. However, some morgue workers worldwide have raised concerns as hastily built facilities have been erected to handle excessive deaths.

First case of coronavirus tranmission from a dead body confirmed by scientists

A furious, aggrieved President Donald Trump dismissed rumors Monday that he was going to fire his top medical advisor on the coronavirus pandemic but launched new fights with the Democrats and the media ahead of the high-stakes reopening of the shuttered US economy.

Unusually, the evening briefing at the White House began with a statement by the internationally renowned Dr Anthony Fauci, seeking to defuse speculation that he had fallen out with the Republican president.

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Referring to a CNN interview on Sunday in which he said that earlier mitigation measures would have dampened the escalation of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States, Fauci explained that he'd been answering a "hypothetical."

Fauci explained his reference in the interview to "pushback" against shutting down the economy -- a remark interpreted widely as signalling that Trump was reluctant to take drastic action -- as the "wrong choice of words."

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Trump, who on Sunday fueled speculation by retweeting a critical comment with the hashtag #FireFauci, sought to draw a line under the latest White House turmoil.

"I like him," he said of Fauci. "I hear I'm going to fire him. I'm not gonna fire him, I think he's a wonderful guy."

But Trump then launched into a sustained assault on other targets, demonstrating his frustration with accusations that he has mishandled the crisis.

With his reelection in November a tight contest against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump is under huge pressure both to crush the pandemic's spread and to rescue the world's biggest economy, which has been paralyzed by social distancing and other virus mitigation measures.

A furious, aggrieved President Donald Trump dismissed rumors Monday that he was going to fire his top medical advisor on the coronavirus pandemic but launched new fights with the Democrats and the media ahead of the high-stakes reopening of the shuttered US economy.

A furious, aggrieved President Donald Trump dismissed rumors Monday that he was going to fire his top medical advisor on the coronavirus pandemic but launched new fights with the Democrats and the media ahead of the high-stakes reopening of the shuttered US economy. Unusually, the evening briefing at the White House began with a statement by the internationally renowned Dr Anthony Fauci, seeking to defuse speculation that he had fallen out with the Republican president. Also read: Worst is over, says New York governor as COVID-19 death toll crosses 10,000 Referring to a CNN interview on Sunday in which he said that earlier mitigation measures would have dampened the escalation of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States, Fauci explained that he'd been answering a "hypothetical." Fauci explained his reference in the interview to "pushback" against shutting down the economy -- a remark interpreted widely as signalling that Trump was reluctant to take drastic action -- as the "wrong choice of words." Also read: Why is Donald Trump threatening to fire his lead virus expert? Trump, who on Sunday fueled speculation by retweeting a critical comment with the hashtag #FireFauci, sought to draw a line under the latest White House turmoil. "I like him," he said of Fauci. "I hear I'm going to fire him. I'm not gonna fire him, I think he's a wonderful guy." But Trump then launched into a sustained assault on other targets, demonstrating his frustration with accusations that he has mishandled the crisis. With his reelection in November a tight contest against Democrat Joe Biden, Trump is under huge pressure both to crush the pandemic's spread and to rescue the world's biggest economy, which has been paralyzed by social distancing and other virus mitigation measures.

Angry Trump denies plan to axe coronavirus doctor but signals new fights

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a&nbsp;delay in&nbsp;its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whatsapp-introduces-new-restrictions-and-features-to-curb-misinformation-291108">WhatsApp introduces new restrictions and features to curb misinformation</a>

According to the company,&nbsp;the reason behind the delay is its heavy reliance&nbsp;on volunteers who are currently overwhelmed dealing with the pandemic.

However, the emojis that were&nbsp;announced earlier this year, like the olive, beaver, and plunger, will still be available this fall.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-5g-waves-do-not-transmit-coronavirus-290786">No, 5G waves do not transmit coronavirus!</a>

''Under the current circumstances we’ve heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date,''&nbsp;said Mark Davis, president of the consortium, in the group’s blog post.

''This year we simply can’t commit to the same schedule we’ve adhered to in the past,'' he added.

117 new emojis are already scheduled to be released on both android and smartphones this year.

&nbsp;

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a delay in its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19.

No new emojis will be released next year due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organisation responsible for the release of new emojis, has announced that there is going to be a delay in its new batch of emojis by six months from March to September 2021 because of the fallouts from COVID-19. Also read: WhatsApp introduces new restrictions and features to curb misinformation According to the company, the reason behind the delay is its heavy reliance on volunteers who are currently overwhelmed dealing with the pandemic. However, the emojis that were announced earlier this year, like the olive, beaver, and plunger, will still be available this fall. Also read: No, 5G waves do not transmit coronavirus! ''Under the current circumstances we’ve heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date,'' said Mark Davis, president of the consortium, in the group’s blog post. ''This year we simply can’t commit to the same schedule we’ve adhered to in the past,'' he added. 117 new emojis are already scheduled to be released on both android and smartphones this year.

2021: No new emojis to be launched due to coronavirus pandemic

Finding comfort in street art: Killer pandemic inspires world graffiti!

The innovative and the bizarre: Face masks receive the creative treatment!

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus, though Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government.

Johnson, who was isolating in Downing Street after testing positive last month, still had a high temperature and so his doctors felt he should go to an undisclosed hospital for tests in what the government said was a "precautionary step".

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"On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," his Downing Street office said in a statement. Johnson is expected to stay overnight.

"This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the statement added.

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News of his hospitalisation came only after an hour after Queen Elizabeth delivered a rallying call to the British public saying they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute.

Johnson, 55, on March 27 became the first leader of a major power to announce that he had tested positive. He went into isolation at an apartment in Downing Street and said on Friday he was staying there as he still had a high temperature.

Downing Street underscored that this was not an emergency admission and that Johnson remained in charge of the government. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair the government's emergency COVID-19 meeting on Monday, a source said.

With only an unwieldy collection of sometimes ancient and contradictory precedents to go by, there is no simple, formally-enshrined "Plan B" or succession scenario should the prime minister become incapacitated.

The pound briefly fell 0.4 per cent&nbsp;vs the U.S. dollar to $1.2215 before trimming some losses to trade at $1.2230, down 0.3 per cent.

Queen Elizabeth had been informed of Johnson's admission to hospital, Buckingham Palace said. It made no further comment.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said Johnson was a "strong man" as he passed on his nation's best wishes.

"All Americans are praying for him," Trump told a news conference. "He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today but I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus, though Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus, though Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government. Johnson, who was isolating in Downing Street after testing positive last month, still had a high temperature and so his doctors felt he should go to an undisclosed hospital for tests in what the government said was a "precautionary step". Also read: UK PM Johnson's pregnant fiance had COVID-19 symptoms but on the mend "On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," his Downing Street office said in a statement. Johnson is expected to stay overnight. "This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the statement added. Also read: 9 UNSC members call for meet on COVID-19 News of his hospitalisation came only after an hour after Queen Elizabeth delivered a rallying call to the British public saying they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute. Johnson, 55, on March 27 became the first leader of a major power to announce that he had tested positive. He went into isolation at an apartment in Downing Street and said on Friday he was staying there as he still had a high temperature. Downing Street underscored that this was not an emergency admission and that Johnson remained in charge of the government. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair the government's emergency COVID-19 meeting on Monday, a source said. With only an unwieldy collection of sometimes ancient and contradictory precedents to go by, there is no simple, formally-enshrined "Plan B" or succession scenario should the prime minister become incapacitated. The pound briefly fell 0.4 per cent vs the U.S. dollar to $1.2215 before trimming some losses to trade at $1.2230, down 0.3 per cent. Queen Elizabeth had been informed of Johnson's admission to hospital, Buckingham Palace said. It made no further comment. US President Donald Trump said Johnson was a "strong man" as he passed on his nation's best wishes. "All Americans are praying for him," Trump told a news conference. "He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today but I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine."

UK PM Johnson hospitalised for tests after persistent coronavirus symptoms

Are animals next? See how many have tested positive for COVID-19 so far!

While the United States is struggling to combat the coronavirus pandemic, a new dating application called Quarantine Together has been launched in the country.

The app has been&nbsp;designed by Daniel Ahmadizadeh and Christopher Smeder, who plan&nbsp;to cash in on the fact that&nbsp;millions of Americans are currently staying at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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"People need to stay home and people will be lonely when they stay at home. They need an application that fulfils their desire&nbsp;to stay home and date simultaneously," Ahmadizadeh said.

The designers claim while other dating apps become ''irrelevent'' during such crisis, their unique app is perfect for such a situation. It is text-based and brings together&nbsp;hand washing with dating.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-coronavirus-death-toll-can-surge-to-200000-says-lead-virus-expert-289362" hreflang="en">US coronavirus death toll can surge to 200,000, says lead virus expert</a>

Every day at 6 pm, it&nbsp;asks its registered users whether they washed their hands. If they say yes, they are introduced to another user by text.&nbsp;After 15 minutes, the matched users will be offered a link to video chat.

According to the feedback received by the developers, the users found the app ''interesting'', ''engaging'' and ''a safe way&nbsp;to meet people''.

However, it is unclear whether the app could work beyond the pandemic. From a user proposition standpoint, it works right now, when virtual meetings are the most encouraged form of dating. But people will want to meet at some point.&nbsp;

While the United States is struggling to combat the coronavirus pandemic, a new dating application called Quarantine Together has been launched in the country. The app has been designed by Daniel Ahmadizadeh and Christopher Smeder, who plan to cash in on the fact that millions of Americans are currently staying at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

While the United States is struggling to combat the coronavirus pandemic, a new dating application called Quarantine Together has been launched in the country. The app has been designed by Daniel Ahmadizadeh and Christopher Smeder, who plan to cash in on the fact that millions of Americans are currently staying at home due to the coronavirus outbreak. Also read: Domestic violence cases in Australia shoot up amid coronavirus-induced lockdown, PM announces relief package "People need to stay home and people will be lonely when they stay at home. They need an application that fulfils their desire to stay home and date simultaneously," Ahmadizadeh said. The designers claim while other dating apps become ''irrelevent'' during such crisis, their unique app is perfect for such a situation. It is text-based and brings together hand washing with dating. Also read: US coronavirus death toll can surge to 200,000, says lead virus expert Every day at 6 pm, it asks its registered users whether they washed their hands. If they say yes, they are introduced to another user by text. After 15 minutes, the matched users will be offered a link to video chat. According to the feedback received by the developers, the users found the app ''interesting'', ''engaging'' and ''a safe way to meet people''. However, it is unclear whether the app could work beyond the pandemic. From a user proposition standpoint, it works right now, when virtual meetings are the most encouraged form of dating. But people will want to meet at some point.

Quarantine Together: New dating app links you to new people, but only if you wash hands!

Life under coronavirus: 24 hours around the world in pictures

South Africa came under a nationwide military-patrolled lockdown on Friday, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus across the continent.

Some 57 million people are to be restricted to their homes during South Africa's three-week total lockdown which began at midnight.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/countries-under-lockdown-due-to-coronavirus-288385">Countries under lockdown due to coronavirus</a>

Kenya, Rwanda and Mali are some of the African countries that have imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has been confirmed to have infected 3,203 people and killed 87.

Although Africa's toll is far lower than in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, health experts say the world's poorest continent is especially vulnerable and the figures likely fall far short of the reality.

Also&nbsp;read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-third-of-humanity-under-coronavirus-lockdown-288458">One third of humanity under coronavirus lockdown</a>

Donning camouflage uniform complete with a cap, President Cyril Ramaphosa saw off soldiers before they deployed from a military base in Soweto township outside economic hub Johannesburg.

"I send you out to go and defend our people against coronavirus," Ramaphosa said. &nbsp;

"This is unprecedented, not only in our democracy but also in the history of our country, that we will have a lockdown for 21 days to go out and wage war against an invisible enemy coronavirus," he said.&nbsp;

During South Africa's shutdown there will be no jogging, dog-walking or sale of alcohol across the country, which so far has the highest number of detected infections in sub-Saharan Africa at 927, with Ramaphosa projecting it could reach 1,500 "within a few days".

Nigeria's government warned Thursday that Africa's most populous nation could soon see an "exponential" increase in infections unless contacts of confirmed cases are tracked down quicker.

South Africa came under a nationwide military-patrolled lockdown on Friday, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus across the continent.

South Africa came under a nationwide military-patrolled lockdown on Friday, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus across the continent. Some 57 million people are to be restricted to their homes during South Africa's three-week total lockdown which began at midnight. Also see: Countries under lockdown due to coronavirus Kenya, Rwanda and Mali are some of the African countries that have imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has been confirmed to have infected 3,203 people and killed 87. Although Africa's toll is far lower than in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, health experts say the world's poorest continent is especially vulnerable and the figures likely fall far short of the reality. Also read: One third of humanity under coronavirus lockdown Donning camouflage uniform complete with a cap, President Cyril Ramaphosa saw off soldiers before they deployed from a military base in Soweto township outside economic hub Johannesburg. "I send you out to go and defend our people against coronavirus," Ramaphosa said. "This is unprecedented, not only in our democracy but also in the history of our country, that we will have a lockdown for 21 days to go out and wage war against an invisible enemy coronavirus," he said. During South Africa's shutdown there will be no jogging, dog-walking or sale of alcohol across the country, which so far has the highest number of detected infections in sub-Saharan Africa at 927, with Ramaphosa projecting it could reach 1,500 "within a few days". Nigeria's government warned Thursday that Africa's most populous nation could soon see an "exponential" increase in infections unless contacts of confirmed cases are tracked down quicker.

South Africa begins 'unprecedented' military-patrolled lockdown

The coronavirus outbreak has triggered a wave of misinformation. In this report, WION's Palki Sharma fact checks some of the most popular claims around the Wuhan virus.

Gravitas: Debunking the fake news around Coronavirus