News

Wuhan to test all residents as COVID-19 returns

Published

5 years ago

August 3, 2021

The entire population of the Chinese city of Wuhan, where COVID-19 first emerged, will be tested for the virus.

Chinese authorities are racing to curb a widespread outbreak, that is being fuelled by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

Fresh travel restrictions have been imposed as authorities battle to contain the outbreak, which has spread to around half of China’s 32 provinces.

This includes the Hubei Province, home to the city of Wuhan, where the first cases of COVID-19 were identified.

More than 400 local cases have been reported in China since mid-July, including 7 new cases in Wuhan on Monday.

State-run media outlet The Global Times reports that the outbreak is “posing great challenges to the country as it deals with the worst epidemic in months”.

The outbreak was triggered by cleaners at Nanjing Lukou International Airport. Xinhua News reports that the cleaners did not follow strict hygiene measures.

More than 1.6 billion vaccine doses have been administered in China, but the exact number of fully vaccinated people is not clear.

Entire population of Wuhan to be tested

The new cases are the city’s first local infections since June 2020, prompting a testing blitz.

The city, home to 11 million people, is “swiftly launching comprehensive nucleic acid testing of all residents”, according to senior Wuhan official Li Tao.

The first reported COVID-19 cases were in Wuhan in November 2019. The outbreak was quashed through a strict lockdown that lasted 76 days.

But the exact origin of the virus remains unclear.

The World Health Organisation has proposed a second phase of its investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

But Beijing has rejected the WHO’s proposal for a more rigorous probe.

News

Ukraine and Russia set for U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi

Published

7 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that new peace talks with Russia will take place in Abu Dhabi later this week. The discussions are part of U.S.-led efforts to find a path toward ending the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is prepared for meaningful dialogue aimed at achieving peace. The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty over the timing of the meeting.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described prior discussions with Russian officials as productive, though major disagreements over territorial issues remain unresolved.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

News

Tensions rise as Iran threatens conflict and U.S. increases naval forces

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Published

8 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Iran has warned of a potential regional conflict if the U.S. launches an attack, while labelling European armies as terrorists. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted that threats from President Trump will not intimidate the Iranian people.

The U.S. has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East in response to mounting threats, amid speculation over Iran’s next moves. Iranian officials have denied claims of imminent naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to global uncertainty.

#MiddleEastCrisis #IranUS #Geopolitics #NavalTensions #Trump #AyatollahKhamenei #EuropeanUnion #GlobalConflict

News

Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest man to complete career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Published

8 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the tennis world by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.

The world number one beat Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set match, finishing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. Djokovic missed out on claiming his 25th Grand Slam title. To mark the milestone, Alcaraz revealed he plans to add a new tattoo of a kangaroo on his leg, joining his existing Eiffel Tower and Wimbledon strawberry tattoos.

#CarlosAlcaraz #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam #TennisHistory #NovakDjokovic #SportsNews #TennisTattoo #YoungChampion