UK lorry driver admits manslaughter over 39 people found dead in container

British lorry driver Maurice Robinson on Wednesday pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants who were found dead in a refrigerated container last year.

French aircraft carrier heading home due to suspected COVID-19 cases

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had to interrupt its mission in the North Sea and head home after the discovery of around 40 suspected COVID-19 cases on board, the French Ministry of Armed Forces said on Wednesday.

Xi says China will help Turkey purchase medical supplies

China will continue to support Turkey in its fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in line with its needs, and facilitate its purchase of medical supplies in China, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Xi says China will continue to support Africa in COVID-19 battle, capacity building

China stands ready to continue support for African countries in their battle against the COVID-19 epidemic and help Africa improve its capacity of disease prevention and control, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday in a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

World trade to fall by up to 32 pct in 2020: WTO

World trade is expected to fall by between 13 percent and 32 percent in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts normal economic activity and life around the world, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said Wednesday in its latest report.

UK PM clinically stable: spokesperson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains clinically stable and is responding to treatment, a Downing Street spokesperson said Wednesday.

Xi chairs leadership meeting on regular epidemic control, work resumption

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday chaired a leadership meeting to make new arrangements on implementing regular epidemic prevention and control measures and fully advancing work resumption.

HK introduces 80 bln-HK dollar package to help businesses stay afloat during COVID-19 pandemic

The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has rolled out a scheme worth 80 billion Hong Kong dollars to keep businesses afloat and help keep people's jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

China sends medical team to Myanmar for COVID-19 control

The Chinese government has sent a team of medical experts to Myanmar to help the country cope with the COVID-19 epidemic, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced Wednesday.

China to continue to support WHO as U.S. threatens to hold funding

China will continue to support the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its role in coordinating the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday at a daily press briefing held in the wake of the U.S. threat of withholding funding to the WHO.

Hello again! Wuhan ends lockdown

A medical staff rides on a bicycle at sunset in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei province, March, 20, 2020.

Fighting COVID-19 demands more collective efforts, less indigenous nationalism

World leaders should "temper, not inflame, indigenous nationalism" for a collective win over COVID-19 that has infected over 1.4 million people with 80,000-odd fatalities by Tuesday, experts said.

First flight from Wuhan arrives in Sanya since outbound travel restrictions lifted

Flight MU2527 was the first flying from Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, after it lifted outbound travel restrictions on Wednesday following almost 11 weeks of lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19.

China's top mobile operators to launch 5G messaging services

China's three major mobile operators on Wednesday unveiled plans to upgrade traditional text messaging services with the help of 5G technology.

Husband of nurse who died makes his way home

The husband of a nurse who died on Monday after helping fight COVID-19 in Hubei province for two months is expected to return home soon from Africa despite the difficult international travel difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Official stresses regular, emergency epidemic control as Wuhan lockdown lifted

China will further integrate emergency and regular COVID-19 prevention and control as Wuhan lifted outbound travel restrictions on Wednesday, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).

Hubei urges Taiwan authorities to allow stranded Taiwan residents to return home

Hubei Province on Wednesday urged Taiwan authorities to allow people stuck in the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan to go home as the city reopens road and rail links and fights.

In pics: painted sculpture art in Dunhuang

Painted sculpture art is a traditional art form in Dunhuang and the craftsmanship has been inscribed in the provincial cultural heritage list of Gansu. Du Yongwei, 60, has been working in the field for over 40 years. He has started training class for youngsters to learn the art.

American folk songwriter dies of COVID-19 complications

John Prine, an American legend folk songwriter, died of complications of COVID-19 on Tuesday, media reports said.

Asia-Pacific's GDP may lose 172 bln USD from COVID-19 trade disruption: report

The COVID-19 pandemic may cost the Asia-Pacific region 0.8 percent of the gross domestic product, an estimated 172 billion U.S. dollars due to a massive drop in global demand for their exports alone, said a report issued by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Wednesday.

Early bedtimes may help children avoid obesity: Aussie research

Sleeping early and following a consistent bedtime routine can significantly help reduce children's risk of becoming overweight or obese, according to latest Australian research.

China's leading pet food maker net profit up nearly 40 pct in 2019

China's leading pet food maker Yantai China Pet Foods Co., Ltd. (China Pet Foods) saw annual growth of 39.97 percent in net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company in 2019, the company announced Wednesday.

China accelerates 5G development in wider range of fields

More and more Chinese students and teachers have embraced online courses in the spring this year as the opening of schools is delayed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. However, students of a high school in Shanghai have experienced something different.

Spring scenery in Lhasa, Tibet

Blooming peach blossom is seen near an ancient temple in the mountains north of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 7

Wuhan resumes operation of nearly 100 passenger trains

The central Chinese city of Wuhan, once the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, will resume operation of nearly 100 passenger trains starting April 8, according to the local railway operator. Trains have started arriving in 17 stations in Wuhan since March 28, and outbound trains will start to resume services on April 8, according to local authorities.

Rumor Buster: Do eating garlic, drinking alcohol help to prevent COVID-19?

The increasingly complicated tussle between mankind and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown one of its most conspicuous side effect: triggering the viral circulation of such unscientific health advice that eating garlic and drinking alcohol could fend off the coronavirus.

Thailand's Pattaya imposes temporary lockdown to keep out all visitors

Thailand's eastern seaside tourist city Pattaya is imposing a temporary lockdown to keep out all visitors in sustained effort to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.

First outbound train leaving Hubei from Wuhan reopens service

Train G431 from Wuhan to Nanning of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the first outbound train leaving Hubei Province from Wuhan since the outbound travel restrictions were lifted, reopened its service on Wednesday. Wuhan lifted outbound travel restrictions from Wednesday after almost 11 weeks of lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Band delivers serenade for medical staff in Mexico

A mariachi band delivers a serenade for the medical staff of the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Mexico City, Mexico April 7, 2020.

2,281 people taken to court for crimes related to epidemic

A total of 2,281 people have been taken to court by Chinese prosecutors for possible crimes relating to the novel coronavirus epidemic as of Tuesday, and among them, those using the outbreak to engage in fraud accounted for the largest proportion

China's telecoms unveil 5G rich communication services

China's big three telecom carriers unveiled a new 5G-enabled messaging service on Wednesday, which analysts said is likely to open a new era for social networking.

China to establish 46 pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce

China will establish 46 pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce to promote stable development of foreign trade, Sina reported on Wednesday.

Yunnan restricts border crossings into China

Yunnan province is stepping up measures to curb imported COVID-19 cases, with restrictions on the flow of people into China, officials said at a news conference on Monday in Kunming, the provincial capital.

S Korea adds 46 bln USD economic stimulus package over COVID-19

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that his government will add about 56 trillion won (46 billion U.S. dollars) for additional economic stimulus package to help prevail over the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak across the world.

Australia 'exposed' to global medical supply shortage: Minister

Australia's Finance Minister has warned that the nation's medical stockpile has been "somewhat exposed" to international shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tokyo Skytree lights up to send positive message amid coronavirus outbreak

A message reading "Together we can all win" is displayed at the Tokyo Skytree after Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tokyo, Japan April 7, 2020.

Guangzhou official says no need to panic as risk rises in areas

The COVID-19 epidemic situation is under control in Guangzhou, despite sporadic cases being reported in certain parts of the city, said a senior health official on Tuesday.

Real estate market on steady recovery track

The gradual resumption of business and production has contributed to the recovery of the property market in March, and experts suggest the worst impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the sector may have passed.

U.S.-China cooperation called for in virus fight

To fight the coronavirus pandemic, the governments and national public health organizations of the United States and China should cooperate closely while staying open-minded about the guidelines and measures adopted by one another, said Madelyn Ross.

Texas COVID-19 patients to get malaria drug

At a Texas nursing home south of Houston, 30 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been prescribed , an anti-malaria drug also used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which is now at the center of a medical controversy.

More infections reported in Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang province's health commission reported 25 new imported COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including two patients in serious condition, bringing the total to 87.

Reopened megacity Wuhan signals optimism in global post-virus future

After being put into lockdown for almost 11 weeks, Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, is finally reconnected with the rest of the world on Wednesday.

U.S. coronavirus cases near 400,000 as death toll exceeds 12,000

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 398,809 as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday (0300 GMT on Wednesday), with 12,895 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Chinese ambassador says attempt to stigmatize China is 'political virus'

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said on Tuesday that the attempt to stigmatize China is a "political virus" that undermines the international cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

UN chief condemns attacks on hospital in Tripoli

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the heavy shelling, for two consecutive days, of Al Khadra General Hospital in Tripoli, said his spokesman late Tuesday.

India COVID-19 death toll rises to 149 as total cases reach 5,194

India's federal health ministry Wednesday morning said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 149 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 5,194.

Egyptian zoo birds vaccinated against avian flu

An Egyptian veterinarian administers an avian flu vaccination to a pelican held by a zookeeper at the closed Giza Zoo, during the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt April 7, 2020.

Beijing says yes to travelers from Hubei

Beijing is requiring people who had been stranded in Hubei province — the initial epicenter of the outbreak — to undergo at least two tests for the coronavirus, one before leaving Hubei and the other after arriving in the capital.

ECB announces temporary collateral easing measures

The European Central Bank said Tuesday that it has decided to adopt an "unprecedented" set of temporary collateral easing measures to mitigate the tightening financial conditions across the euro area due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Los Angeles mayor issues facial covering mandate

Non-medical essential workers and customers at businesses in Los Angeles will be required to cover their faces starting Friday to help curb the spread of COVID-19.