News

Wuhan to test all residents as COVID-19 returns

Published

4 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

RBA holds rates as investors shift from property to stocks

RBA holds rates at 3.6%, shifting investor focus from property to potential stock market gains amid persistent inflation pressures.

Published

2 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

RBA holds rates at 3.6%, shifting investor focus from property to potential stock market gains amid persistent inflation pressures.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held interest rates at 3.6 percent, signalling a steady approach as inflation pressures persist and prompting investors to reassess their strategies in an uncertain climate.

The decision has shifted attention away from the property market, with experts suggesting the stock market may offer stronger opportunities, especially for those looking to outpace inflation over the long term.

We speak with Dale Gilham from Wealth Within about what the RBA’s call means for investors, why confidence in housing is changing, and what smarter financial choices look like in 2025.

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News

U.S. retail sales slowdown sparks new fears ahead of Fed decision

U.S. retail sales weaken, raising concerns about consumer spending and economic resilience ahead of the holiday season.

Published

2 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

U.S. retail sales weaken, raising concerns about consumer spending and economic resilience ahead of the holiday season.

Retail sales in the U.S. have unexpectedly weakened, raising new questions about consumer strength and the resilience of the economy. As Americans pull back on spending, analysts are watching closely to see whether this signals a broader shift toward caution in the lead-up to the holiday shopping period.

The slowdown has amplified uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates, as policymakers weigh mixed economic signals against cooling demand. With some categories falling sharply, economists warn that faltering retail activity could ripple into GDP forecasts and overall market confidence.

Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies joins us to break down which categories were hit hardest, why shoppers are becoming more value-conscious, and what this means for the economy heading into 2025.

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#RetailSales #USEconomy #FederalReserve #ConsumerSpending #EconomicOutlook #MarketUpdate #InterestRates #TickerNews

News

xAI’s $15 billion raise, deadline pressure and Grokipedia launch

Elon Musk’s xAI plans $15 billion funding round, reaching $230 billion pre-money, amid fierce AI sector competition.

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Elon Musk’s xAI plans $15 billion funding round, reaching $230 billion pre-money, amid fierce AI sector competition.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI is preparing to close a huge $15 billion funding round next month, valuing the company at $230 billion pre-money. The raise highlights the intense investor appetite for advanced AI platforms as competition heats up across the sector.

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#xai #elonmusk #ai #startupnews #grok #grokipedia #technews #fundinground