No more touching in the elevators as a Thai shopping mall in Bangkok installed foot pedals for customers to step on instead of pressing the buttons, lowering the risk of having to be exposed to germs.

No more touching: Thai mall installs foot pedals in elevators

US President Donald Trump has said that he is pleased that the United States tops the list in terms of coronavirus cases in the world. On Monday, Donald Trump said he views it as "badge of honour".

Donald Trump views highest COVID-19 cases as 'Badge of Honour'

As Japan's restaurants and bars slowly open up from a coronavirus lockdown, many are looking to reassure the public that dining out is safe again and one Japanese-style izakaya pub thinks it has found the perfect solution.

New normal? Japanese pub disinfects customers with spray machine

A park in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn has installed social distancing circles to help people enjoy the outdoors while respecting the latest coronavirus guidelines.

Circles drawn in Brooklyn park to foster social distancing

Boisterous mariachi music usually heard at family celebrations and birthday parties has burst out into the open on the empty streets of Colombia's capital, Bogota. Surprised residents often record the serenades on their cell phones and some sing along.

Mariachis delight quarantined Colombians with joyous street music

US President: So when we have a lot of cases, I don't look at that as a bad thing

Air India's flight from Thailand carrying Indian nationals is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. This is the first special flight arranged by the Government of India to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Thailand --&nbsp;due to the closure of international air travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic --&nbsp;as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.

The special flight departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, carrying 236 Indian nationals.

The Indian nationals were stranded in different parts of Thailandincluding Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, besides Bangkok.&nbsp;

"Check-in of passengers for AI335 - Bkk - Del. First repatriation flight from Thailand to India. Embassy personnel led by HoC Pankaj Sharma help in the procedures and distribute food and water - with a smile!" the Indian Embassy in Thailand wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, the Indian mission team led by Attache Titus Eduri had arranged bus services to escort nationals stranded in Phuket and Pattaya, located 150 kilometres from Bangkok.

<img alt="Vande Bharat Mission" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f6a65bf8-b56a-4c9f-adf2-b7ca4b3f4956" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-20%20at%2020.16.00%20%281%29_0.jpeg" />

Ambassador of India, HE SuchitraDurai, accompanied by Embassy officials, greeted and interacted with the passengers at the Suvarnabhumi airport before seeing them off.

<img alt="Vande Bharat Mission" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9b11345e-0dd6-4493-8a00-e299184d1bc5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-20%20at%2020.16.01.jpeg" />

On May 13, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that the second phase of Vande Bharat from May 16 to 22 would include flights from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand and Ukraine.

"In 1st phase of Vande Bharat, we were to bring back 14,800 Indians on 64 flights. 8,500 Indians have already returned till this morning. More flights are underway. In the 2nd phase, the numbers are being doubled. 30,000 more Indians will return from 31 countries on 149 flights," he said.

Air India's flight from Thailand carrying Indian nationals is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. This is the first special flight arranged by the Government of India to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Thailand -- due to the closure of international air travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic -- as part of the Vande Bharat Mission.

Air India's flight from Thailand carrying Indian nationals is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. This is the first special flight arranged by the Government of India to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Thailand -- due to the closure of international air travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic -- as part of the Vande Bharat Mission. The special flight departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, carrying 236 Indian nationals. The Indian nationals were stranded in different parts of Thailandincluding Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, besides Bangkok. "Check-in of passengers for AI335 - Bkk - Del. First repatriation flight from Thailand to India. Embassy personnel led by HoC Pankaj Sharma help in the procedures and distribute food and water - with a smile!" the Indian Embassy in Thailand wrote on Twitter. Earlier, the Indian mission team led by Attache Titus Eduri had arranged bus services to escort nationals stranded in Phuket and Pattaya, located 150 kilometres from Bangkok. Ambassador of India, HE SuchitraDurai, accompanied by Embassy officials, greeted and interacted with the passengers at the Suvarnabhumi airport before seeing them off. On May 13, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that the second phase of Vande Bharat from May 16 to 22 would include flights from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand and Ukraine. "In 1st phase of Vande Bharat, we were to bring back 14,800 Indians on 64 flights. 8,500 Indians have already returned till this morning. More flights are underway. In the 2nd phase, the numbers are being doubled. 30,000 more Indians will return from 31 countries on 149 flights," he said.

Vande Bharat Mission: Air India's repatriation flight from Thailand to arrive in Delhi on Wednesday

The new cluster of coronavirus cases in the northeast region of China is showing a different kind of manifestation among patients as compared to the original outbreak in Wuhan, doctors have found.&nbsp;

This implies the pathogen may be changing in unknown ways and complicating efforts to stamp it out.

Patients found in the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang are carrying the virus for a longer period of time and are taking longer to test negative.

Patients in the northeast also appear to be taking longer to develop symptoms after infection, and this is making it harder for authorities to catch cases before they spread.

Scientists, however, are still doubtful over this delayed onset. Few believe the differences Chinese doctors are seeing could be due to the fact that they’re able to observe patients more thoroughly and from an earlier stage than in Wuhan.&nbsp;

When the outbreak first exploded in Wuhan, the local health-care system was so overwhelmed that only the most serious cases were being treated.&nbsp;

The northeast cluster is also far smaller than Hubei’s outbreak, which ultimately sickened over 68,000 people. Among the northeast cluster, only 10 per cent have turned critical and 26 are hospitalised.

Researchers worldwide are anyway trying to ascertain if the virus is mutating in a significant way to become more contagious as it races through the human population.

The new cluster of coronavirus cases in the northeast region of China is showing a different kind of manifestation among patients as compared to the original outbreak in Wuhan, doctors have found.

The new cluster of coronavirus cases in the northeast region of China is showing a different kind of manifestation among patients as compared to the original outbreak in Wuhan, doctors have found. This implies the pathogen may be changing in unknown ways and complicating efforts to stamp it out. Patients found in the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang are carrying the virus for a longer period of time and are taking longer to test negative. Patients in the northeast also appear to be taking longer to develop symptoms after infection, and this is making it harder for authorities to catch cases before they spread. Scientists, however, are still doubtful over this delayed onset. Few believe the differences Chinese doctors are seeing could be due to the fact that they’re able to observe patients more thoroughly and from an earlier stage than in Wuhan. When the outbreak first exploded in Wuhan, the local health-care system was so overwhelmed that only the most serious cases were being treated. The northeast cluster is also far smaller than Hubei’s outbreak, which ultimately sickened over 68,000 people. Among the northeast cluster, only 10 per cent have turned critical and 26 are hospitalised. Researchers worldwide are anyway trying to ascertain if the virus is mutating in a significant way to become more contagious as it races through the human population.

New cluster of cases shows coronavirus may be mutating

All eyes are on the World Health Assembly (WHA) meet of the World Health Organisation (WHO), where major decisions regarding the furture course of treatment of COVID-19 will be taken.

The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019.

The world has since been questioning China and the WHO over their handling of the deadly virus.

The WHA, to this end, has become nothing short of a ground for blame game -- between the United States and China.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-china-fight-dominates-world-health-assembly-299783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $2 billion over the next two years to help deal with COVID-19, especially in developing countries.

The amount almost matches the WHO’s entire annual programme budget for last year, and more than compensates for Trump’s freeze of U.S. payments worth about $400 million a year.

United States President Donald Trump -- who did not attend the meeting personally -- said later in Washington that the WHO, which he called a “puppet of China”, had “done a very sad job” in its handling of the coronavirus and he would make a decision about U.S. funding to the body soon.

“The United States pays them $450 million a year; China pays them $38 million a year. And they’re a puppet of China. They’re China-centric, to put it nicer, but they’re a puppet of China,” Trump told reporters at a White House event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-and-china-spat-over-coronavirus-inquiry-gets-uglier-299755">Also read | Australia and China spat over coronavirus inquiry gets uglier</a>

Trump has already suspended US funding for the WHO after accusing it of being too China-centric, and at the same time led international criticism of Beijing’s perceived lack of transparency in the early stages of the crisis.

He also posted a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dated Monday, on his Twitter page overnight.

Among other things, Trump pointed to his decision to suspend US contributions to the WHO pending a review of its actions in response to the outbreak.

He faulted its "repeated missteps" in the response to the pandemic, saying they have proven "very costly for the world".&nbsp;

The four-page letter ended with a threat. Trump said he wanted the WHO to commit to "substantive improvements" within 30 days; "else, the US would permanently cut off funding to them.

A spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation, to this end, said the UN health agency doesn't have an immediate reaction to a letter from US President Donald Trump that listed his complaints against it, including that it had shown "an alarming lack of independence" from China in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, defended the agency's role after the United States again withheld full support for a resolution on the pandemic.

WHO officials running the meeting clapped and cheered after the resolution was passed without a vote hours after Trump tweeted his threat to pull the United States out of the body. It calls for a review into the WHO-led global response, something the United States has demanded.

The entire rigmarole hence brings the narrative to a pertinent question -- will there be an outcome of this WHA meet? Or will the credibility of the WHO be the ultimate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic?

 
&nbsp;

All eyes are on the World Health Assembly (WHA) meet of the World Health Organisation (WHO), where major decisions regarding the furture course of treatment of COVID-19 will be taken.

All eyes are on the World Health Assembly (WHA) meet of the World Health Organisation (WHO), where major decisions regarding the furture course of treatment of COVID-19 will be taken. The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019. The world has since been questioning China and the WHO over their handling of the deadly virus. The WHA, to this end, has become nothing short of a ground for blame game -- between the United States and China. Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $2 billion over the next two years to help deal with COVID-19, especially in developing countries. The amount almost matches the WHO’s entire annual programme budget for last year, and more than compensates for Trump’s freeze of U.S. payments worth about $400 million a year. United States President Donald Trump -- who did not attend the meeting personally -- said later in Washington that the WHO, which he called a “puppet of China”, had “done a very sad job” in its handling of the coronavirus and he would make a decision about U.S. funding to the body soon. “The United States pays them $450 million a year; China pays them $38 million a year. And they’re a puppet of China. They’re China-centric, to put it nicer, but they’re a puppet of China,” Trump told reporters at a White House event. Also read | Australia and China spat over coronavirus inquiry gets uglier Trump has already suspended US funding for the WHO after accusing it of being too China-centric, and at the same time led international criticism of Beijing’s perceived lack of transparency in the early stages of the crisis. He also posted a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dated Monday, on his Twitter page overnight. Among other things, Trump pointed to his decision to suspend US contributions to the WHO pending a review of its actions in response to the outbreak. He faulted its "repeated missteps" in the response to the pandemic, saying they have proven "very costly for the world". The four-page letter ended with a threat. Trump said he wanted the WHO to commit to "substantive improvements" within 30 days; "else, the US would permanently cut off funding to them. A spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation, to this end, said the UN health agency doesn't have an immediate reaction to a letter from US President Donald Trump that listed his complaints against it, including that it had shown "an alarming lack of independence" from China in its response to the coronavirus outbreak. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, defended the agency's role after the United States again withheld full support for a resolution on the pandemic. WHO officials running the meeting clapped and cheered after the resolution was passed without a vote hours after Trump tweeted his threat to pull the United States out of the body. It calls for a review into the WHO-led global response, something the United States has demanded. The entire rigmarole hence brings the narrative to a pertinent question -- will there be an outcome of this WHA meet? Or will the credibility of the WHO be the ultimate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic?

Can WHA meet save WHO's credibility from becoming coronavirus' ultimate casualty?

Australia's relative success in constraining the spread of the novel coronavirus has been overshadowed by the rift with its largest trading partner, China -- exacerbated by a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution in favour of a global inquiry into the origins of the pandemic.

China derided as "a joke" on Tuesday an Australian assertion that a resolution at the WHA for an enquiry into the novel coronavirus was a vindication of its push for a global review, another sign of worsening relations.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-vs-australia-the-knives-are-out-gravitas-299784/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019.

Australia was the first country hence to demand an inquiry into the outbreak. More than 100 countries have since backed the proposal.

China, however, has dismissed as groundless the questioning of how Beijing handled the coronavirus pandemic, saying it had been open and transparent, despite growing scepticism about the accuracy of its official death toll.

In retaliation, China imposed hefty tariffs on Australian barley exports

The Chinese ambassador had earlier warned of a consumer boycott of Australian goods, which prompted Australian accusations of “economic coercion”. Australian diplomats worked with the European Union to gather support from the majority of nations at the WHA to support the resolution which was put forward by the European Union, Australia said.

Chinese embassies have recently taken a more assertive approach to international affairs, including criticism of its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, a policy dubbed “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy in both Western and Chinese media.

Chinese newspaper, The Global Times, to this end, ran a piece on Tuesday that said, "Australia gets slammed to the face as global community welcomes China-sponsored resolution on COVID-19."

This is quite in contrast with the global narrative -- according to which China has been pushed into this inquiry. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, China is considering targetting more Australian exports. Wine, dairy, seafood, oatmeal and fruits are on target this time.

They could be subjected to stricter quality checks, anti-dumping probes, tariffs or custom delays.

But in the view of the several debts China has given to several smaller countries -- Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Sri lanka and a number of african countries, the trade war with Australia does not only appear useless, but also counter productive.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Australia's relative success in constraining the spread of the novel coronavirus has been overshadowed by the rift with its largest trading partner, China -- exacerbated by a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution in favour of a global inquiry into the origins of the pandemic.

Australia's relative success in constraining the spread of the novel coronavirus has been overshadowed by the rift with its largest trading partner, China -- exacerbated by a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution in favour of a global inquiry into the origins of the pandemic. China derided as "a joke" on Tuesday an Australian assertion that a resolution at the WHA for an enquiry into the novel coronavirus was a vindication of its push for a global review, another sign of worsening relations. The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019. Australia was the first country hence to demand an inquiry into the outbreak. More than 100 countries have since backed the proposal. China, however, has dismissed as groundless the questioning of how Beijing handled the coronavirus pandemic, saying it had been open and transparent, despite growing scepticism about the accuracy of its official death toll. In retaliation, China imposed hefty tariffs on Australian barley exports The Chinese ambassador had earlier warned of a consumer boycott of Australian goods, which prompted Australian accusations of “economic coercion”. Australian diplomats worked with the European Union to gather support from the majority of nations at the WHA to support the resolution which was put forward by the European Union, Australia said. Chinese embassies have recently taken a more assertive approach to international affairs, including criticism of its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, a policy dubbed “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy in both Western and Chinese media. Chinese newspaper, The Global Times, to this end, ran a piece on Tuesday that said, "Australia gets slammed to the face as global community welcomes China-sponsored resolution on COVID-19." This is quite in contrast with the global narrative -- according to which China has been pushed into this inquiry. Meanwhile, China is considering targetting more Australian exports. Wine, dairy, seafood, oatmeal and fruits are on target this time. They could be subjected to stricter quality checks, anti-dumping probes, tariffs or custom delays. But in the view of the several debts China has given to several smaller countries -- Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Sri lanka and a number of african countries, the trade war with Australia does not only appear useless, but also counter productive. (with inputs from Reuters)

Australia and China spat over coronavirus inquiry gets uglier

Facing an increasing global backlash over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, China it seems is going on a charm offensive to repair its image.&nbsp;

Actor Jackie Chan -- perhaps the only Chinese actor famous in India -- has released a video delivering a message of peace and love to the&nbsp;Indians in&nbsp;fight against the pandemic.&nbsp;

The video was shared on Twitter by the Chinese Ambassador to India.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-enlists-jackie-chan-for-its-pr-campaign-299785/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019.

Countries across the globe have since been questioning China's role in the spread of the deadly virus. The country is being accused of not sharing information on the novel coronavirus in a transparent way.

Chinese diplomats have also not been of much use. Because all they have done is ruining it more for their country. 
&nbsp; 
To this end, Sun Weidong, Chines Ambassador to India, on Tuesday shared a video of Jackie Chan on Twitter in which he is wishing Indians a bright future.

Chan starts with ‘namaste’ and asks everyone to remain positive and strong. He signs off the video with another ‘namaste’.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Glad to share Jackie Chan <a href="https://twitter.com/EyeOfJackieChan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EyeOfJackieChan</a>, famous Chinese movie star's good wishes &amp; support to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a>. Jia You Yindu! Come on India! Fight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. <a href="https://t.co/l3XJkJRwoO">pic.twitter.com/l3XJkJRwoO</a>
— Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/China_Amb_India/status/1262607020294733827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Chan, who is very popular in India, also worked in Indo-China joint production titled Kung Fu Yoga.

This campaign of China's may not be a big hit in India -- especially in the face of the growing displeasure in the world.

In many cases, the campaign has in fact backfired.

In Britain, a parliamentary committee made an appeal to the government, accusing China of running a disinformation campaign.

The European Union, on the other hand, on two separate occassions ended up making concessions to China.

Facing an increasing global backlash over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, China it seems is going on a charm offensive to repair its image. Actor Jackie Chan -- perhaps the only Chinese actor famous in India -- has released a video delivering a message of peace and love to the Indians in fight against the pandemic.

Facing an increasing global backlash over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, China it seems is going on a charm offensive to repair its image. Actor Jackie Chan -- perhaps the only Chinese actor famous in India -- has released a video delivering a message of peace and love to the Indians in fight against the pandemic. The video was shared on Twitter by the Chinese Ambassador to India. The coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,20,957 lives and has infected 49,27,523 people across the world, broke out in China's Wuhan in December 2019. Countries across the globe have since been questioning China's role in the spread of the deadly virus. The country is being accused of not sharing information on the novel coronavirus in a transparent way. Chinese diplomats have also not been of much use. Because all they have done is ruining it more for their country. To this end, Sun Weidong, Chines Ambassador to India, on Tuesday shared a video of Jackie Chan on Twitter in which he is wishing Indians a bright future. Chan starts with ‘namaste’ and asks everyone to remain positive and strong. He signs off the video with another ‘namaste’. Glad to share Jackie Chan @EyeOfJackieChan, famous Chinese movie star's good wishes & support to #India. Jia You Yindu! Come on India! Fight #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/l3XJkJRwoO — Sun Weidong (@China_Amb_India) May 19, 2020 × Chan, who is very popular in India, also worked in Indo-China joint production titled Kung Fu Yoga. This campaign of China's may not be a big hit in India -- especially in the face of the growing displeasure in the world. In many cases, the campaign has in fact backfired. In Britain, a parliamentary committee made an appeal to the government, accusing China of running a disinformation campaign. The European Union, on the other hand, on two separate occassions ended up making concessions to China.

Jackie Chan’s message of peace to India amid coronavirus pandemic is China's charm offensive

China recorded five new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, down from six a day earlier, the National Health Commission reported on Wednesday. Four of the new cases were local transmissions and asymptomatic cases in Jilin Province and one was an imported case involving a traveller from overseas, the commission said in a statement, compared with three imported cases reported the previous day.

COVID-19 pandemic: Renewed lockdown in China's Jilin province

The Chinese government considers any country as it’s number one enemy, which recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Similarly, if any one country would demand that Tibet should be recognized as a sovereign country, China would protest very strongly. As a matter of fact, China holds a vice-like grip over Tibet and does not permit any foreigners to visit Tibet to see the conditions for themselves.

The ambition of China to annex Taiwan and firmly hold on to its occupation of Tibet is definite proof of Beijing's expansionist plans.

There seems to be a lot of similarity between the behaviour of the present Chinese government and Hitler’s Germany before World War II. The present Chinese government and Hitler’s Germany have something in common, in their ambitious goal of dominating rest of the world at any cost, with least concern for ethical or moral principles and fairness in dealing with other countries.

Just as many countries in the world are now trying to appease China, then British Prime Minister Chamberlain too visited Germany to appease Hitler before World War II. Churchill called the bluff of Hitler, which is a matter of history.

So far, China could not annex Taiwan, since &nbsp;Taiwan is heavily protected by the US government and China knows that any move to annex Taiwan would lead to a war with the USA.

On the other hand, China was emboldened to attack Tibet and aggressively occupy the region and China violently suppressed the Tibetan protestors, since the interest of Tibet was not supported or protected by any country in the world in a meaningful way. China continues to occupy Tibet and the world conscience remain suppressed as various governments want to appease China and keep it in good humour to protect their trade and business interests with China.

China now claims Arunachal Pradesh in India as part of China and continues to occupy thousands of kilometre of Indian territory, which it annexed during the 1962 Indo China war. China now claims ownership of islands in the South China Sea and Senkaku island and adopting aggressive postures,&nbsp;in spite of protests from Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and other countries.

So far, &nbsp;China has not been effectively challenged by any country in the world for its&nbsp;aggressive occupation of Tibet and claims on Indian territory and islands in the South China Sea as well as it claims on Taiwan.

Because of the non-caring attitude of most countries in the world, China is emboldened to carry on with its adventures to expand its territory and areas of influence.

While the voice of Tibetans is not being heard loudly around the world, there are countries which speak in support of Taiwan occasionally.

Taiwan has revealed to the world about the Chinese virus sufficiently earlier but &nbsp;WHO has ignored Taiwan’s warning, as Taiwan is not a member of the WHO. Now, the clamour for including Taiwan as member of WHO is being increasingly heard.

Neither Taiwan nor Tibet is a member of UNO, obviously implying that UNO does not recognize these regions as sovereign countries.

The claim of China on Taiwan and Tibet and other regions indicate the mindset of the Chinese government and certainly represents a threat for stability in the world in the long run. With a free run that China already has, it is likely that China may further make claims on other countries too in the coming days. The world has to prevent this.

Taiwan and Tibet are two test cases of China’s unjustified territorial claims. with little resistance from the rest of the world.&nbsp;

It is necessary that Taiwan and Tibet should be recognized as sovereign countries, which is a necessary step to curtail and defeat China’s expansionist ambitions.

United Nations Organisation in its present structure and functioning style, is not in a position to do justice for Taiwan and Tibet.

Today, there is increasing suspicion in the world about &nbsp;China’s methodologies and practices. The fact that China concealed the information about the Wuhan virus and did not forewarn the world at the right time indicates that China could exhibit irresponsible behaviour. Today, the havoc that is happening in the world due to COVID 19 crisis is directly attributed to China’s indifferent attitude towards the welfare of the world community.

Certainly, nobody should think or say that China should be destabilized. But, certainly, the growing thought is that China should be prevented from destabilizing the world and its aggressive methods of occupying other countries should be resisted.

The starting point to initiate such world wide resistance to China’s territorial expansion plans is to recognize Taiwan and Tibet as independent and sovereign countries. This will show China it’s place.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Chinese government considers any country as it’s number one enemy, which recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Similarly, if any one country would demand that Tibet should be recognized as a sovereign country, China would protest very strongly.

The Chinese government considers any country as it’s number one enemy, which recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Similarly, if any one country would demand that Tibet should be recognized as a sovereign country, China would protest very strongly. As a matter of fact, China holds a vice-like grip over Tibet and does not permit any foreigners to visit Tibet to see the conditions for themselves. The ambition of China to annex Taiwan and firmly hold on to its occupation of Tibet is definite proof of Beijing's expansionist plans. There seems to be a lot of similarity between the behaviour of the present Chinese government and Hitler’s Germany before World War II. The present Chinese government and Hitler’s Germany have something in common, in their ambitious goal of dominating rest of the world at any cost, with least concern for ethical or moral principles and fairness in dealing with other countries. Just as many countries in the world are now trying to appease China, then British Prime Minister Chamberlain too visited Germany to appease Hitler before World War II. Churchill called the bluff of Hitler, which is a matter of history. So far, China could not annex Taiwan, since Taiwan is heavily protected by the US government and China knows that any move to annex Taiwan would lead to a war with the USA. On the other hand, China was emboldened to attack Tibet and aggressively occupy the region and China violently suppressed the Tibetan protestors, since the interest of Tibet was not supported or protected by any country in the world in a meaningful way. China continues to occupy Tibet and the world conscience remain suppressed as various governments want to appease China and keep it in good humour to protect their trade and business interests with China. China now claims Arunachal Pradesh in India as part of China and continues to occupy thousands of kilometre of Indian territory, which it annexed during the 1962 Indo China war. China now claims ownership of islands in the South China Sea and Senkaku island and adopting aggressive postures, in spite of protests from Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and other countries. So far, China has not been effectively challenged by any country in the world for its aggressive occupation of Tibet and claims on Indian territory and islands in the South China Sea as well as it claims on Taiwan. Because of the non-caring attitude of most countries in the world, China is emboldened to carry on with its adventures to expand its territory and areas of influence. While the voice of Tibetans is not being heard loudly around the world, there are countries which speak in support of Taiwan occasionally. Taiwan has revealed to the world about the Chinese virus sufficiently earlier but WHO has ignored Taiwan’s warning, as Taiwan is not a member of the WHO. Now, the clamour for including Taiwan as member of WHO is being increasingly heard. Neither Taiwan nor Tibet is a member of UNO, obviously implying that UNO does not recognize these regions as sovereign countries. The claim of China on Taiwan and Tibet and other regions indicate the mindset of the Chinese government and certainly represents a threat for stability in the world in the long run. With a free run that China already has, it is likely that China may further make claims on other countries too in the coming days. The world has to prevent this. Taiwan and Tibet are two test cases of China’s unjustified territorial claims. with little resistance from the rest of the world. It is necessary that Taiwan and Tibet should be recognized as sovereign countries, which is a necessary step to curtail and defeat China’s expansionist ambitions. United Nations Organisation in its present structure and functioning style, is not in a position to do justice for Taiwan and Tibet. Today, there is increasing suspicion in the world about China’s methodologies and practices. The fact that China concealed the information about the Wuhan virus and did not forewarn the world at the right time indicates that China could exhibit irresponsible behaviour. Today, the havoc that is happening in the world due to COVID 19 crisis is directly attributed to China’s indifferent attitude towards the welfare of the world community. Certainly, nobody should think or say that China should be destabilized. But, certainly, the growing thought is that China should be prevented from destabilizing the world and its aggressive methods of occupying other countries should be resisted. The starting point to initiate such world wide resistance to China’s territorial expansion plans is to recognize Taiwan and Tibet as independent and sovereign countries. This will show China it’s place. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

World should give recognition to Taiwan and Tibet

South Korea's high schools opened for the first time this year on Wednesday (May 20), with seniors returning to classes in the first wave of a phased plan to open all schools after months of delay in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

COVID-19 Pandemic: South Korean students return to schools

Italy's financial capital Milan seemed to take a breath of fresh air on Monday (May 18) as the country further eased some of the lockdown regulations.

Italy: Fashion stores in Milan open on Monday

India has sent 15 tonnes of protective items to Lisbon from Banglore, other than providing 2.5 million tablets of HCQ as part of the ongoing cooperation between the 2 countries.

India sends 15 tonnes of protective items to Lisbon. Exclusive conversation with Indian envoy to Portugal

US and China, two countries have been in a war of words for weeks as the outbreak of COVID-19 led to mistrust in reporting figures and commercial trade deals.

The latest showdown between the world's last superpower and the rising Asian giant vying to supplant it on the global stage — this time against the backdrop of a disease that has killed &nbsp;around 323,413 
people left hundreds of millions jobless and ground the world economy to a halt.

A recent survey by Deutsche Bank's big data platform dbDIG showed 41 per cent of Americans would not buy a "Made in China" product again and 35 per cent of Chinese would avoid buying products "Made in USA".

Even though most consumers were not ready to completely shun each other's goods, the survey results indicate a rise in commercial nationalism and a growing distaste for globalisation, as both economies emerge from the coronavirus crisis.

With the US election less than six months away, Trump is expected to keep China in his crosshairs to divert attention from his administration's handling of the virus and the resulting damage done to the economy, analysts said.

(With inputs from agencies)

US and China, two countries have been in a war of words for weeks as the outbreak of COVID-19 led to mistrust in reporting figures and commercial trade deals. The latest showdown between the world's last superpower and the rising Asian giant vying to supplant it on the global stage — this time against the backdrop of a disease that has killed around 323,413 people left hundreds of millions jobless and ground the world economy to a halt.

US and China, two countries have been in a war of words for weeks as the outbreak of COVID-19 led to mistrust in reporting figures and commercial trade deals. The latest showdown between the world's last superpower and the rising Asian giant vying to supplant it on the global stage — this time against the backdrop of a disease that has killed around 323,413 people left hundreds of millions jobless and ground the world economy to a halt. A recent survey by Deutsche Bank's big data platform dbDIG showed 41 per cent of Americans would not buy a "Made in China" product again and 35 per cent of Chinese would avoid buying products "Made in USA". Even though most consumers were not ready to completely shun each other's goods, the survey results indicate a rise in commercial nationalism and a growing distaste for globalisation, as both economies emerge from the coronavirus crisis. With the US election less than six months away, Trump is expected to keep China in his crosshairs to divert attention from his administration's handling of the virus and the resulting damage done to the economy, analysts said. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid-19 drives commercial world war: China and US consumers turn on each other's goods

There are tentative signs that children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults, two top epidemiologists said on Tuesday, though they cautioned that the bad news was that human immunity may not last that long.

As Europe and the United States start to return to work after lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, world leaders are trying to work out when it is safe for children and students to get back to their studies.

Dr Rosalind Eggo, an infectious disease modeller at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said she had seen some indications from research that children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults.

"There are hints that children are less infectious but it is not certain," Eggo, who sits on a panel that advises the British government about transmission of COVID-19 among children and within schools, told the science committee of the House of Lords, the second chamber of Britain's parliament.

Eggo said that for children who show no sign of being infected it was very difficult to tell how contagious they were, though she said there was a little bit of evidence starting to appear that there may be a lower possibility of infection from them.

"We need more studies to really pin this down as it is so important," Eggo said.

She said that her research had shown that there was a much lower level of symptomatic infection in those under 20 years-old - perhaps as little as 20% of infections showing clinical symptoms.

"We think that children are less likely to get it so far but it is not certain," she said. "We are very certain that children are less likely to have severe outcomes."

Eggo could not immediately be reached for further comment on the research she was referring to.

IMMUNITY MAY NOT LAST

John Edmunds, a member of Britain's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), told the same science committee hearing that it was striking how children did not seem to play much of a role in spreading the novel coronavirus.

"It is unusual that children don't seem to play much of a role in transmission because for most respiratory viruses and bacteria they play a central role, but in this they don't seem to," said Edmunds, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

"There is only one documented outbreak associated with a school - which is amazing; you would normally expect most of the outbreaks to be associated with schools but yet in global literature there is only one documented study," Edmunds said, citing a study of a French secondary school. "It is pretty remarkable."

He said that, more broadly, the evidence of transmission from asymptomatic individuals - which may be about 30 or 40 percent of adults - was not clear.

But he added there was potentially bad news - that human immunity to the novel coronavirus may not last long.

"Antibody responses decline over time from survivors of SARS so after a couple of years their antibodies have declined quite significantly," Edmunds said, referring to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which is also caused by a type of coronavirus.

"We can also see from other coronaviruses - the ones that cause coughs and colds - that individuals again do seem to not have particularly long-term immunity to many of those viruses and so allowing them to be infected later.

"So that's potentially bad news for us: that immunity may not last that long against this virus," he said. 
&nbsp;

There are tentative signs that children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults, two top epidemiologists said on Tuesday, though they cautioned that the bad news was that human immunity may not last that long.

There are tentative signs that children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults, two top epidemiologists said on Tuesday, though they cautioned that the bad news was that human immunity may not last that long. As Europe and the United States start to return to work after lockdowns imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, world leaders are trying to work out when it is safe for children and students to get back to their studies. Dr Rosalind Eggo, an infectious disease modeller at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said she had seen some indications from research that children may not spread the novel coronavirus as much as adults. "There are hints that children are less infectious but it is not certain," Eggo, who sits on a panel that advises the British government about transmission of COVID-19 among children and within schools, told the science committee of the House of Lords, the second chamber of Britain's parliament. Eggo said that for children who show no sign of being infected it was very difficult to tell how contagious they were, though she said there was a little bit of evidence starting to appear that there may be a lower possibility of infection from them. "We need more studies to really pin this down as it is so important," Eggo said. She said that her research had shown that there was a much lower level of symptomatic infection in those under 20 years-old - perhaps as little as 20% of infections showing clinical symptoms. "We think that children are less likely to get it so far but it is not certain," she said. "We are very certain that children are less likely to have severe outcomes." Eggo could not immediately be reached for further comment on the research she was referring to. IMMUNITY MAY NOT LAST John Edmunds, a member of Britain's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), told the same science committee hearing that it was striking how children did not seem to play much of a role in spreading the novel coronavirus. "It is unusual that children don't seem to play much of a role in transmission because for most respiratory viruses and bacteria they play a central role, but in this they don't seem to," said Edmunds, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "There is only one documented outbreak associated with a school - which is amazing; you would normally expect most of the outbreaks to be associated with schools but yet in global literature there is only one documented study," Edmunds said, citing a study of a French secondary school. "It is pretty remarkable." He said that, more broadly, the evidence of transmission from asymptomatic individuals - which may be about 30 or 40 percent of adults - was not clear. But he added there was potentially bad news - that human immunity to the novel coronavirus may not last long. "Antibody responses decline over time from survivors of SARS so after a couple of years their antibodies have declined quite significantly," Edmunds said, referring to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which is also caused by a type of coronavirus. "We can also see from other coronaviruses - the ones that cause coughs and colds - that individuals again do seem to not have particularly long-term immunity to many of those viruses and so allowing them to be infected later. "So that's potentially bad news for us: that immunity may not last that long against this virus," he said.

Children with COVID-19 may be less contagious than adults, UK epidemiologists say

Iraq witnesses new Ramzam rituals as worshippers pray in their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Muslims in Iraq are redefining Ramzan traditions amid COVID-19

Chinese fashion designer Zhou Li is combining fashion with function, by creating trendy silk masks embroidered with orchids, camellias and Chinese characters symbolizing good luck, as she believes there will be a long-term demand for masks to protect people's health amid ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.

Chinese designer creates fashionable masks and suits to prevent coronavirus spread

The USS Theodore Roosevelt -- sidelined in Guam with a rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak -- will return to sea later this week.

The ship will sail with a scaled-back crew of about 3,000, leaving about 1,800 sailors on shore who are still in quarantine.

Close to 92 per cent of the carrier's crew members had tested for the virus, with 550 positive and 3,673 negative results. And as many as 3,696 sailors had moved ashore.

Roosevelt had weapons, munitions and expensive aircraft on it. It had a nuclear power plant too, and thereby required a certain amount of people on that ship to maintain the safety and security of the ship.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-scare-looms-larger-as-danger-lurks-at-sea-289989">Also read | Coronavirus scare looms larger as danger lurks at sea</a>

The ship is expected to leave in the next few days, and it is expected to conduct naval operations in the Pacific region for some period of time before heading home to San Diego.

The outbreak at the Roosevelt led to the firing of the ship's previous captain, the resignation of the Navy secretary and an expanded investigation into what triggered the outbreak and how well top naval commanders handled it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-103-sailors-from-us-carrier-test-positive-for-coronavirus-292041">Also read | Another 103 sailors from US carrier test positive for coronavirus</a>

As of Monday, 14 sailors had tested positive for a second time, and 30 others who came in contact with them were sent ashore for quarantine.

(with inputs from agencies)

The USS Theodore Roosevelt -- sidelined in Guam with a rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak -- will return to sea later this week. The ship will sail with a scaled-back crew of about 3,000, leaving about 1,800 sailors on shore who are still in quarantine.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt -- sidelined in Guam with a rapidly growing coronavirus outbreak -- will return to sea later this week. The ship will sail with a scaled-back crew of about 3,000, leaving about 1,800 sailors on shore who are still in quarantine. Close to 92 per cent of the carrier's crew members had tested for the virus, with 550 positive and 3,673 negative results. And as many as 3,696 sailors had moved ashore. Roosevelt had weapons, munitions and expensive aircraft on it. It had a nuclear power plant too, and thereby required a certain amount of people on that ship to maintain the safety and security of the ship. Also read | Coronavirus scare looms larger as danger lurks at sea The ship is expected to leave in the next few days, and it is expected to conduct naval operations in the Pacific region for some period of time before heading home to San Diego. The outbreak at the Roosevelt led to the firing of the ship's previous captain, the resignation of the Navy secretary and an expanded investigation into what triggered the outbreak and how well top naval commanders handled it. Also read | Another 103 sailors from US carrier test positive for coronavirus As of Monday, 14 sailors had tested positive for a second time, and 30 others who came in contact with them were sent ashore for quarantine. (with inputs from agencies)

Cruise liner sidelined by coronavirus to head back to the sea this week

An Austrian minister has become the honorary godmother of a baby elephant born at Vienna Zoo. A small ceremony to mark the occasion was held at the newly-reopened zoo.

Austrian minister becomes godmother to baby elephant

A growing number of African countries have made it compulsory to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the highly infectious respiratory disease. Fashion lovers in the continent's biggest cities are combining style and safety by donning colourful masks, sometimes coordinating the fabric with their outfits.

Style-conscious Africans turn compulsory masks into fashion accessories

A Palestinian artist uses her time during a 14-day quarantine to create educational drawings for children, showing them proper methods of protecting themselves against the coronavirus.

Palestinian artist educates children on coronavirus using cartoons

Museums in Spanish city of Valencia opened for the first time on Monday (May 18) on International Museum Day as the region entered in 'Phase 1' of the de-escalation plan over the coronavirus emergency.

Art and culture returned to Spaniards on International Museum Day

India has made a case for capacity building of developing and least-developed countries in areas like digital skills and broadband infrastructure, under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), rather than negotiating binding rules on e-commerce as coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the shift to a digital economy.

In a special virtual meeting of the WTO's General Council on COVID-19 trade-related measures last week, India stated that there is a digital divide between developed and developing countries.

Almost half of the world's population does not have access to high speed broadband and is deprived of the access to virtual platforms, tele-medicine, distance education and e-payments, it said.

"This emphasizes the urgent need to build the capacity of developing countries and LDCs (least developed countries) in areas like digital skills and broadband infrastructure, rather than negotiating binding rules on e-commerce, which will freeze the non-level playing field against their interests," it added.

Rich nations wants developing countries like India to negotiate binding commitments on e-commerce under the aegis of the WTO.

India has also said that the narrative-push by some WTO members to seek permanent tariff (or customs duties) liberalization on a range of products in response to a temporary crisis, appears to be a "thinly-veiled bid" to use the current crisis as an opportunity to gain market access for their exporters.

It stated that members are free to reduce customs duties on imports of certain medical or agricultural products to zero, on a voluntary basis, if it serves their health and food security objectives.

"We have donated and exported critical medical supplies to more than 120 countries and have also dispatched teams of Indian doctors to many," it said.

It added that developing countries seeking to shore up manufacturing capacity in medical products will require tariff protection for their nascent domestic industry.

"Further, job losses in many service sectors have to be compensated elsewhere. Therefore, India, like many other developing countries cannot agree to permanent tariff concessions, and a dilution of the tariff bindings that we have paid for in the Uruguay Round," it said.

On ensuring food and livelihood security of the most vulnerable, it said the member countries should agree to eliminate the historic asymmetries in AMS (aggregate measures of support) entitlements in the Agreement on Agriculture and addressing growing hunger through effective food security programmes.

Along with the flow of vital goods, it said, the pandemic has also highlighted the need for ensuring easier cross-border movement of medical professionals and the need for multilateral initiatives in this respect.

This statement was delivered by India's Ambassador to the WTO J S Deepak on May 15.

 
&nbsp;

India has made a case for capacity building of developing and least-developed countries in areas like digital skills and broadband infrastructure, under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), rather than negotiating binding rules on e-commerce as coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the shift to a digital economy.

India has made a case for capacity building of developing and least-developed countries in areas like digital skills and broadband infrastructure, under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), rather than negotiating binding rules on e-commerce as coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the shift to a digital economy. In a special virtual meeting of the WTO's General Council on COVID-19 trade-related measures last week, India stated that there is a digital divide between developed and developing countries. Almost half of the world's population does not have access to high speed broadband and is deprived of the access to virtual platforms, tele-medicine, distance education and e-payments, it said. "This emphasizes the urgent need to build the capacity of developing countries and LDCs (least developed countries) in areas like digital skills and broadband infrastructure, rather than negotiating binding rules on e-commerce, which will freeze the non-level playing field against their interests," it added. Rich nations wants developing countries like India to negotiate binding commitments on e-commerce under the aegis of the WTO. India has also said that the narrative-push by some WTO members to seek permanent tariff (or customs duties) liberalization on a range of products in response to a temporary crisis, appears to be a "thinly-veiled bid" to use the current crisis as an opportunity to gain market access for their exporters. It stated that members are free to reduce customs duties on imports of certain medical or agricultural products to zero, on a voluntary basis, if it serves their health and food security objectives. "We have donated and exported critical medical supplies to more than 120 countries and have also dispatched teams of Indian doctors to many," it said. It added that developing countries seeking to shore up manufacturing capacity in medical products will require tariff protection for their nascent domestic industry. "Further, job losses in many service sectors have to be compensated elsewhere. Therefore, India, like many other developing countries cannot agree to permanent tariff concessions, and a dilution of the tariff bindings that we have paid for in the Uruguay Round," it said. On ensuring food and livelihood security of the most vulnerable, it said the member countries should agree to eliminate the historic asymmetries in AMS (aggregate measures of support) entitlements in the Agreement on Agriculture and addressing growing hunger through effective food security programmes. Along with the flow of vital goods, it said, the pandemic has also highlighted the need for ensuring easier cross-border movement of medical professionals and the need for multilateral initiatives in this respect. This statement was delivered by India's Ambassador to the WTO J S Deepak on May 15.

India pushes for building broadband infra, digital skills in LDCs, developing countries at WTO meet

People taken ill by coronavirus infection may experience mental health issues such as delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while hospitalised and potentially even after they recover, a study has claimed.

The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, compiled results from short- and long-term studies of people hospitalised due to COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

The research analysed 65 peer-reviewed studies and seven recent pre-prints that are awaiting peer review, which included data from over 3,500 people who have had one of the three related illnesses. The review only included results from people who were hospitalised, and not people with more mild cases.

The researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK found that one in four people hospitalised with COVID-19 may experience delirium during their illness.

The post-recovery effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, so long-term risks such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety are based on SARS and MERS studies, which may or may not apply to COVID-19 as well.

Most people with COVID-19 will not develop any mental health problems, even among those with severe cases requiring hospitalisation, but given the huge numbers of people getting sick, the global impact on mental health could be considerable, the study added.

Almost one in three people hospitalised with SARS or MERS went on to develop PTSD, at an average follow-up time of almost three years, especially if they had ongoing physical health problems.

Rates of depression and anxiety were also high, at roughly 15 per cent one year or longer after the illness, with a further 15 per cent also experiencing some symptoms of depression and anxiety without a clinical diagnosis.

The study found that over 15 per cent infected also experienced chronic fatigue, mood swings, sleep disorder or impaired concentration and memory.

In hospital, a significant minority of people with coronavirus infections experienced delirium symptoms such as confusion, agitation and altered consciousness.

Almost 28 per cent of people hospitalised for SARS and MERS experienced confusion, and early evidence from the ongoing pandemic suggests that delirium could be similarly common in COVID-19 patients.

They found some preliminary evidence that delirium may have been associated with raised mortality during the MERS outbreak.

Researchers found that worrying a lot about the illness was associated with worse mental health in the long run.

Healthcare workers had worse long-term mental health outcomes than other groups, while making a good physical recovery predicted better long-term mental health.

(with inputs from PTI)

People taken ill by coronavirus infection may experience mental health issues such as delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while hospitalised and potentially even after they recover, a study has claimed.

People taken ill by coronavirus infection may experience mental health issues such as delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while hospitalised and potentially even after they recover, a study has claimed. The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, compiled results from short- and long-term studies of people hospitalised due to COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The research analysed 65 peer-reviewed studies and seven recent pre-prints that are awaiting peer review, which included data from over 3,500 people who have had one of the three related illnesses. The review only included results from people who were hospitalised, and not people with more mild cases. The researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK found that one in four people hospitalised with COVID-19 may experience delirium during their illness. The post-recovery effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, so long-term risks such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety are based on SARS and MERS studies, which may or may not apply to COVID-19 as well. Most people with COVID-19 will not develop any mental health problems, even among those with severe cases requiring hospitalisation, but given the huge numbers of people getting sick, the global impact on mental health could be considerable, the study added. Almost one in three people hospitalised with SARS or MERS went on to develop PTSD, at an average follow-up time of almost three years, especially if they had ongoing physical health problems. Rates of depression and anxiety were also high, at roughly 15 per cent one year or longer after the illness, with a further 15 per cent also experiencing some symptoms of depression and anxiety without a clinical diagnosis. The study found that over 15 per cent infected also experienced chronic fatigue, mood swings, sleep disorder or impaired concentration and memory. In hospital, a significant minority of people with coronavirus infections experienced delirium symptoms such as confusion, agitation and altered consciousness. Almost 28 per cent of people hospitalised for SARS and MERS experienced confusion, and early evidence from the ongoing pandemic suggests that delirium could be similarly common in COVID-19 patients. They found some preliminary evidence that delirium may have been associated with raised mortality during the MERS outbreak. Researchers found that worrying a lot about the illness was associated with worse mental health in the long run. Healthcare workers had worse long-term mental health outcomes than other groups, while making a good physical recovery predicted better long-term mental health. (with inputs from PTI)

Coronavirus infection may lead to mental health issues, says study

The United States is set to donate 200 ventilators to India with the first tranche of 50 expected to arrive soon -- as a part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The US has pledged USD 3.6 million to assist the government of India in response to COVID-19 and the selection of partners for the aid was based on the scope of work and in concurrence with the ministries of the Indian government.

US President Donald Trump had announced last week that America would donate ventilators to India to treat the patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/united-states-will-donate-ventilators-to-india-says-president-trump-299011">Also read | United States will donate ventilators to India, says President Trump</a>

USAID Acting Director Ramona El Hamzaoui, during a tele-briefing with the media, had then asserted that it was a "donation". These ventilators would complement India's ongoing efforts to make the best of care immediately available to those most in need, she added.

Asked if the ventilators were being provided as part of some sort of a deal after India supplied hydroxychloroquine to the US, Hamzaoui said, "I do not think it is a quid pro quo. It is a partnership."

The US is providing ventilators to countries based on what is available and supporting partner countries. With regard to India specifically, the USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help India provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance.

The US National institutes of health has allocated USD 350 million towards this effort, while an additional allocation of USD 2.6 billion for the development and bringing to market has also been pledged.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-thanks-trump-for-providing-ventilators-to-india-amid-coronavirus-crisis-299040">Also read | PM Modi thanks Trump for providing ventilators to India amid coronavirus crisis</a>

The United States is set to donate 200 ventilators to India with the first tranche of 50 expected to arrive soon -- as a part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The United States is set to donate 200 ventilators to India with the first tranche of 50 expected to arrive soon -- as a part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The US has pledged USD 3.6 million to assist the government of India in response to COVID-19 and the selection of partners for the aid was based on the scope of work and in concurrence with the ministries of the Indian government. US President Donald Trump had announced last week that America would donate ventilators to India to treat the patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy". Also read | United States will donate ventilators to India, says President Trump USAID Acting Director Ramona El Hamzaoui, during a tele-briefing with the media, had then asserted that it was a "donation". These ventilators would complement India's ongoing efforts to make the best of care immediately available to those most in need, she added. Asked if the ventilators were being provided as part of some sort of a deal after India supplied hydroxychloroquine to the US, Hamzaoui said, "I do not think it is a quid pro quo. It is a partnership." The US is providing ventilators to countries based on what is available and supporting partner countries. With regard to India specifically, the USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help India provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance. The US National institutes of health has allocated USD 350 million towards this effort, while an additional allocation of USD 2.6 billion for the development and bringing to market has also been pledged. Also read | PM Modi thanks Trump for providing ventilators to India amid coronavirus crisis

US to donate 200 ventilators to India, first tranche of 50 to arrive soon

Karnataka on Tuesday recorded 127 more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/total-covid-19-cases-in-india-near-100000-over-36000-cured-299552">coronavirus</a> cases which is the highest number of cases in a single day in the state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-records-500-new-coronavirus-cases-as-tally-reaches-10554-299609">Also Read: Delhi records 500 new coronavirus cases as tally reaches 10,554</a>

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 1,373 which includes 802 active cases, Karnataka's health department said, while adding that 41 people have died due to the virus.

In Rajasthan, 128 new coronavirus cases were reported including one death taking the total number of cases to 5,757. One hundred and thirty-nine people have died due to the virus in the state with 2,386 active cases.

Uttarakhand reported eight new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 104 in the state. According to the state health department, one person has died due to the virus in the state.

Meanwhile, several states relaxed lockdown restrictions in the fourth phase with the Maharashtra government declaring it has allowed e-commerce activity for essential and non-essential items in Red Zones including work in construction and industrial sites in the Red Zones.

As a result of the relaxation of rules, shops opened in Ludhiana in Punjab with the state government allowing shops in "main markets" in urban and rural areas to open between 7am to 6 pm.

Karnataka on Tuesday recorded 127 more coronavirus cases which is the highest number of cases in a single day in the state. Also Read: Delhi records 500 new coronavirus cases as tally reaches 10,554 The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 1,373 which includes 802 active cases, Karnataka's health department said, while adding that 41 people have died due to the virus.

Karnataka on Tuesday recorded 127 more coronavirus cases which is the highest number of cases in a single day in the state. Also Read: Delhi records 500 new coronavirus cases as tally reaches 10,554 The total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 1,373 which includes 802 active cases, Karnataka's health department said, while adding that 41 people have died due to the virus. In Rajasthan, 128 new coronavirus cases were reported including one death taking the total number of cases to 5,757. One hundred and thirty-nine people have died due to the virus in the state with 2,386 active cases. Uttarakhand reported eight new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases to 104 in the state. According to the state health department, one person has died due to the virus in the state. Meanwhile, several states relaxed lockdown restrictions in the fourth phase with the Maharashtra government declaring it has allowed e-commerce activity for essential and non-essential items in Red Zones including work in construction and industrial sites in the Red Zones. As a result of the relaxation of rules, shops opened in Ludhiana in Punjab with the state government allowing shops in "main markets" in urban and rural areas to open between 7am to 6 pm.

COVID-19: Karnataka records highest number of cases in a single day

India has started reparation of its citizens from far way Argentina with 24 Indians set to arrive in Delhi later this week even as New Delhi will be gifting medicines to Uruguay & Paraguay.

Exclusive conversation with Indian Envoy to Argentina

A new study has suggested that quitting smoking might reduce the risk of a severe coronavirus infection, as cigarette smoke spurs the lungs to make more of the receptor protein which the virus uses to enter human cells.

The findings were published in the journal Developmental Cell, and may explain why smokers appear to be particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease.

Study senior author Jason Sheltzer, a cancer geneticist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the US, said, "We found that smoking caused a significant increase in the expression of ACE2, the protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter human cells."

According to the scientists, quitting smoking might reduce the risk of a severe coronavirus infection. They said most individuals infected with the virus suffer only mild illness, if they experience any at all.

However, some require intensive care when the sometimes-fatal virus attacks, the researchers said.

In particular, three groups have been significantly more likely than others to develop severe illness -- men, the elderly, and smokers.

Turning to previously published data for possible explanations for these disparities, the scientists assessed if vulnerable groups share some key features related to the human proteins that the coronavirus relies on for infection.

First, they focussed on comparing gene activity in the lungs across different ages, between the sexes, and between smokers and nonsmokers.

The scientists said both mice that had been exposed to smoke in a laboratory, and humans who were current smokers had significant upregulation of ACE2.

Smokers produced 30-55 per cent more ACE2 than their non-smoking counterparts.

While the researchers found no evidence that age or sex impacts ACE2 levels in the lungs, they said the influence of smoke exposure was surprisingly strong.

According to the data, the level of the receptors ACE2 in the lungs of people who had quit smoking was similar to that of non-smokers.

The study noted that the most prolific producers of ACE2 in the airways are mucus-producing cells called goblet cells.

Smoking is known to increase the prevalence of such cells.

(with inputs)

A new study has suggested that quitting smoking might reduce the risk of a severe coronavirus infection, as cigarette smoke spurs the lungs to make more of the receptor protein which the virus uses to enter human cells.

A new study has suggested that quitting smoking might reduce the risk of a severe coronavirus infection, as cigarette smoke spurs the lungs to make more of the receptor protein which the virus uses to enter human cells. The findings were published in the journal Developmental Cell, and may explain why smokers appear to be particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease. Study senior author Jason Sheltzer, a cancer geneticist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the US, said, "We found that smoking caused a significant increase in the expression of ACE2, the protein that SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter human cells." According to the scientists, quitting smoking might reduce the risk of a severe coronavirus infection. They said most individuals infected with the virus suffer only mild illness, if they experience any at all. However, some require intensive care when the sometimes-fatal virus attacks, the researchers said. In particular, three groups have been significantly more likely than others to develop severe illness -- men, the elderly, and smokers. Turning to previously published data for possible explanations for these disparities, the scientists assessed if vulnerable groups share some key features related to the human proteins that the coronavirus relies on for infection. First, they focussed on comparing gene activity in the lungs across different ages, between the sexes, and between smokers and nonsmokers. The scientists said both mice that had been exposed to smoke in a laboratory, and humans who were current smokers had significant upregulation of ACE2. Smokers produced 30-55 per cent more ACE2 than their non-smoking counterparts. While the researchers found no evidence that age or sex impacts ACE2 levels in the lungs, they said the influence of smoke exposure was surprisingly strong. According to the data, the level of the receptors ACE2 in the lungs of people who had quit smoking was similar to that of non-smokers. The study noted that the most prolific producers of ACE2 in the airways are mucus-producing cells called goblet cells. Smoking is known to increase the prevalence of such cells. (with inputs)

Quitting smoking might reduce severe coronavirus infection risk, says study

covid-19-0

Covid 19, News on Covid 19, stories on Covid 19, articles on Covid 19, Covid 19 stories at Wion, Covid 19 news, Covid 19 latest news

covid 19-0

No more touching: Thai mall installs foot pedals in elevators

Donald Trump views highest COVID-19 cases as 'Badge of Honour'

New normal? Japanese pub disinfects customers with spray machine

Circles drawn in Brooklyn park to foster social distancing

Mariachis delight quarantined Colombians with joyous street music

US President: So when we have a lot of cases, I don't look at that as a bad thing

Vande Bharat Mission: Air India's repatriation flight from Thailand to arrive in Delhi on Wednesday

New cluster of cases shows coronavirus may be mutating

Can WHA meet save WHO's credibility from becoming coronavirus' ultimate casualty?

Australia and China spat over coronavirus inquiry gets uglier

Jackie Chan’s message of peace to India amid coronavirus pandemic is China's charm offensive

COVID-19 pandemic: Renewed lockdown in China's Jilin province

World should give recognition to Taiwan and Tibet

World should give recognition to Taiwan and Tibet

COVID-19 Pandemic: South Korean students return to schools

Italy: Fashion stores in Milan open on Monday

India sends 15 tonnes of protective items to Lisbon. Exclusive conversation with Indian envoy to Portugal

Covid-19 drives commercial world war: China and US consumers turn on each other's goods

Children with COVID-19 may be less contagious than adults, UK epidemiologists say

Muslims in Iraq are redefining Ramzan traditions amid COVID-19

Chinese designer creates fashionable masks and suits to prevent coronavirus spread

Cruise liner sidelined by coronavirus to head back to the sea this week

Austrian minister becomes godmother to baby elephant

Style-conscious Africans turn compulsory masks into fashion accessories