The Daily Star - Europe



Beirut blast toll rises to 154

The death toll from the Beirut port explosion has risen to 154, state news agency NNA reported yesterday as authorities detained sixteen staff members at the port amid public anger.

‘No one cares if you live or die’

Thousands of migrants have died after suffering “extreme” abuse while crossing Africa, according to a UN report that estimated 72 people perish each month on the continent’s routes.

Ethics probe: Trudeau to testify

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will give much-anticipated testimony this week over his role in awarding a government contract to a charity that paid members of his family large sums of money, the House of Commons said Monday.

No evidence of Russian meddling in Brexit vote

There is no evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 Brexit referendum and Britain’s spies did not take their eyes off the ball on Russia, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said yesterday.

Student files first climate change lawsuit against Australia

A 23-year-old student has filed a lawsuit against Australia’s government alleging it has failed to disclose climate change-related risks to investors in the country’s sovereign bonds, in the first such action.

UK virus deaths could reach 1,000 per day at Easter peak

UK deaths from coronavirus could reach as many as 1,000 per day around the peak of the country’s epidemic, which could come around Easter Sunday, health secretary Matt Hancock warned yesterday.

Worship that set a virus time bomb in France

From the stage of an evangelical superchurch, the leader of the gospel choir kicked off an evening of prayer and preaching: “We’re going to celebrate the Lord! Are you feeling the joy tonight?”

Germany ramps up virus testing

In the race against the coronavirus, Germany is betting on widespread testing and quarantining to break the infection chain, a strategy borrowed from South Korea whose success in slowing the outbreak has become the envy of the world.

Nature takes back world’s empty city streets

As humans retreat into their homes as more and more countries go under coronavirus lockdown, wild animals are slipping cover to explore the empty streets of some of our biggest cities.

Germany to carry out 5,00,000 tests

Germany has boosted its coronavirus test rate to 500,000 a week, a virologist said yesterday, adding that early detection has been key in keeping the country’s death rate relatively low.

Alarm as US, UK teen die of coronavirus

Two healthy teens in US and UK died of coronavirus raising doubts on the narrative that the virus is not deadly for youths.

Quarantine dodgers may get 7-year-jail in Russia

Russian lawmakers have proposed imposing severe punishments -- including up to seven years in prison -- for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules.

Social media sees virus solidarity bloom in UK

Help groups on social media are connecting people with those most in need during the coronavirus lockdown, fostering a community spirit often neglected in the capital’s fast-paced life.

Elite hackers target WHO as virus cyberattacks spike

Elite hackers tried to break into the World Health Organization earlier this month, sources told Reuters, part of what a senior agency official said was a more than two-fold increase in cyberattacks.

UK wakes up to lockdown

Britain awoke to a virtual lockdown yesterday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered people to stay at home, shops to close and an end to all social gatherings to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Loss of smell could reveal hidden cases

From a mother unable to smell her baby’s nappy to a lawmaker who suddenly could not taste food, some coronavirus patients have described a loss of olfactory senses -- and experts say this might be a new way to detect the virus.

US can be the new virus epicenter: WHO

The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has the potential to exceed that in Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday as the number of reported US cases surges.