India cancels order for ‘faulty’ China rapid test kits

’India has cancelled orders for about half a million coronavirus rapid testing kits from China after they were found to be “faulty“. Delhi has also withdrawn the kits that were already in use in several states. The kits take around 30 minutes to deliver a result and are supposed to detect antibodies in the blood of people who may have had the infection. They help officials quickly understand the scale of infection in a particular area. China disputes India's claims.’

Read here (BBC, April 28, 2020)

Covid-19 has a grandma, grandpa and great grandpa. Where are they?

‘In an unusual move last weekend, China’s envoy to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui highlighted that the whole story about Covid-19 is only unfolding and there are surprises in store for the world community.  It is inconceivable that Ambassador Zhang spoke without the knowledge of Beijing. Significantly, the Chinese envoy chose the Russian state news agency Tass for making some startling disclosures.’ The Tass story is entitled “Ambassador says coronavirus imported to China, points to genetic sequence as proof”.

Read here (Indian Punchline, April 21, 2020)

David Nabarro underscores and defends WHO's role in the pandemic

With nation states across the world struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, there is an urgent need for an internationally coordinated response. That is where the UN agency the World Health Organisation should have a vital role to play, but right now the WHO is at the centre of a political storm. Donald Trump has withdrawn US funding, accusing the agency of being China-centric. Stephen Sackur speaks to WHO special envoy for Covid-19 David Nabarro. Is his organisation failing its greatest test?

View here (BBC, Youtube, April 20, 2020)