New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 4.3 crore cases and more than 11 lakh deaths.
The lockdown is leading to an increase in sexual extortion crimes in Lebanon. A ‘bureaucratic wall’ is making it difficult for foreigners and non-Japanese residents to enter Japan. And protests against Covid-19 restrictions blow up in Italy.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Lockdown leading to increase in sexual extortion crimes in Lebanon
Numbers accessed from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces have revealed that there has been an increase in sexual extortion crimes in the last few months, reports Arab News.
“Authorities received 47 complaints during July and 96 in August. The number of people arrested for these crimes this year has reached 133,” said the report, which quotes an official who said, “Such incidents are repeated daily, and the perpetrators may be Lebanese or non-Lebanese.”
“These crimes increased during the presence of people in (their) homes as a result of quarantine due to the outbreak of coronavirus and people, old and young, resorted to social media,” the official said.
“Despite information warning people against taking inappropriate photos and videos and under any pressure exerted on them, the official said, sexual extortion crimes were repeated because fraud took many forms,” notes the report.
Lebanon has recorded 72,186 cases of Covid-19 and 579 deaths.
Increase in Covid cases leads to alarm on Wall Street
Monday marked the worst day on Wall Street in over a month after S&P 500 fell by 1.9 per cent, leaving investors “reeling” on Monday, reports The New York Times.
“Over the last couple of weeks, the outside chance that a last-minute stimulus package could be cobbled together by congressional Democrats and the White House has helped to offset concerns about the pandemic and fueled gains in stocks. But that optimism began to fade late last week as talks failed to advance and combined with the worsening virus,” analysts told The New York Times.
The US has reported 89,62,783 cases of Covid-19 and 2,31,045 deaths.
Also read: Eli Lilly won’t resume paused Covid antibody trial as drug unlikely to help advanced cases
‘Bureaucratic wall’ presents challenges to foreigners trying to enter Japan
Bureaucratic hurdles are making it difficult for even non-Japanese residents to return to the country, reports the Japan Times.
“The country’s strict border controls, in place since the spring to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, have made it difficult — and sometimes impossible — for even permanent residents to return home. Many have not been able to honor job contracts, or begin or resume studies at Japanese schools,” notes the report.
It further explains, “In some countries, it is near impossible to meet Japanese requirements for pre-departure tests. There are many reasons for this: Some places won’t test you if you don’t have COVID-19 symptoms; the type of test they commonly use is not one accepted by Japan; the labs can’t process results quickly enough; results are delivered by email rather than in the format specified by Japan; doctors are not available or are unwilling to sign the paperwork as required by Japan; or results are not available in English.”
Japan has recorded 97,074 cases of Covid-19 and 1,718 deaths.
Protests against Covid restrictions in Italy
Several protests against restrictions imposed in light of the emerging second Covid wave blew up in Italy, reports Reuters.
A number of luxury stories, such as Gucci, were ransacked in Turin by crowds who were bursting firecrackers. Police tried to restore order by releasing tear gas at the protests.
“The Italian government on Sunday ordered bars and restaurants to close by 6 pm and shut public gyms, cinemas and swimming pools to try to slow a second wave of coronavirus infections that is battering much of the country,” says the report.
Italy has recorded 5,42,789 cases of Covid-19 and 37,479 deaths.
Restrictions imposed in Malaysia’s Klang Valley
After more cases of Covid-19 were reported in many parts of Malaysia, a conditional movement curb was extended for two more weeks, reports The Straits Times.
While all economic activities will be allowed to run, social activities and inter-district travel will be curbed.
“Only two individuals are allowed to leave a house at a time. Those who have to cross district lines for work are required to show their work passes,” says the report.
Malaysia has recorded 27,805 cases of Covid-19 and 236 deaths.
Work from home is ‘damaging Britain’s creative potential’
Bank of England’s chief economist Andy Haldane has said that work from home is having a negative impact on Britain’s creative potential. Haldane added that it may also harm personal well-being along with the economy if people keep working from home even after the pandemic, reports The Guardian.
Haldane conceded “the mass shift to remote working during the Covid emergency had benefited many workers and their employers, helping to boost wellbeing and productivity,” but he added that it “had been far less constructive for others, and that the sharp decline of face-to-face interaction was destroying vital opportunities for creative expression and innovation.”
UK has recorded 8,94,690 cases of Covid-19 and 44,998 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Belgium’s intensive care units could be overrun in a fortnight — as it happened: The Guardian
Covid: Back to intensive care, where I notice one major change: BBC
Also read: This country is the real winner of the WFH economy