New Delhi: The novel coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, and the number of confirmed cases around the world has reached 2,486,964 as of Tuesday. With more than 170,000 deaths having been reported so far, the world is following various degrees of restrictions and lockdown measures to arrest the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Here are some of the latest headlines as ThePrint brings you eight important global stories linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Donald Trump says he will temporarily suspend immigration
In big news late Monday night, US President Donald Trump announced that given the coronavirus pandemic, his government would be passing an executive order that would temporarily ban all forms of immigration to the US.
“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens. I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” tweeted Trump.
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020
The executive order could see the temporary suspension of new green cards and work visas. Although the Trump government had already recently banned asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants from entering the country, the new ban would be the most comprehensive and wide-ranging.
US oil price back above zero after historic plunge
The other story making headlines is the oil crisis. After plunging into negative territory for the first time on record, US crude oil prices jumped back to above the zero dollar mark, reported the Financial Times. In early Asian trades, West Texas Intermediate — the benchmark US crude oil index — was trading at $1.67 a barrel, when a few hours earlier, its price had slipped to -$14, which means producers were paying the buyers to take oil from their hands.
Israel’s Netanyahu and Gantz sign unity government deal
Given the coronavirus pandemic and the year-long political deadlock in Israel, the country’s leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have formally agreed to form an emergency unity government, reported the BBC. This government will see the two leaders become the prime minister on a rotational basis, with Netanyahu going first. The move comes after the country has been in a political deadlock for a year — as neither of the two coalitions managed to reach the majority mark. Over the past year, Israel has held three general elections in an attempt to end this deadlock.
Also read: Hezbollah to Taliban to Brazil’s gangs: Terrorists, militants and criminals join Covid fight
Virgin Australia collapses as Covid-19 wipes out global air travel
The aviation industry has had its first global novel coronavirus casualty: Virgin Australia, which was partially owned by Singapore Airlines, became the first global airline to fall during the pandemic, reported Bloomberg. “Administrators at Deloitte will take control of the Brisbane-based carrier, it said in a statement on Tuesday (April 21). They’ll seek to bring in new investors, reorganize borrowings or find a buyer to save the business,” noted the report. Last month, UK’s largest domestic airline, FlyBe, was the first airline to collapse, but Virgin Australia is the first one with global operations.
New Zealand’s PM may be the world’s ‘most effective leader’
A news feature in the Atlantic looks at how New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s liberal-democratic leadership style has managed to become such a major success. The writer examines Ardern’s “empathy-centric” leadership style and how it has not only resonated with citizens, but has also been dubbed one of the most effective responses against the coronavirus pandemic.
‘We are not the culprit’: Beijing tells US
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang asked the US to stop blaming China for the coronavirus pandemic, as it was “also a victim” of the virus, reported South China Morning Post. This comes are global pressure has been mounting on Beijing for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Latin American grave-diggers fear higher toll
According to grave diggers in Latin American countries, the number of daily burials has substantially increased, suggesting the number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 is higher than what governments of these countries are acknowledging, according to a report in the Financial Times. Whether it is Brazil or Mexico, while the government denies a cover-up, the evidence paints a different picture, said the report.
Also read: ‘Everything is fragile’ — how two refugees see the world during the Covid-19 crisis
Australia could reopen schools soon
Students in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, are expected to start returning to schools next month, as the province sees a rapid fall in the number of new infection cases, reported Reuters. “Australia is one of the few nations around the world to detail plans to re-open schools after infection rates plummeted from more than 25% in mid-March to its current level of less than 1% a day,” noted the report.
Trump always wanted to ban Work Visas. He has got an excuse now. We must not forget that USA elections are approaching, and he had won the first time around on America(ns) First slogan.