Oil prices set for biggest weekly drop since 2008
Oil prices were set for their biggest weekly slide since the 2008 financial crisis despite a 4% bounce on Friday, as the coronavirus outbreak threatened demand and crude producers promised more supply.
Bulgaria declares state of emergency over coronavirus
Bulgaria declared a state of emergency on Friday through till April 13 to contain the spread of coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases in the Balkan country more than tripled to 23 over one day.
Coronavirus hits politicians, sports and showbiz stars as it spreads across globe
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Australia’s minister for home affairs and a Chelsea soccer player are among new cases of the coronavirus that has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4,900 worldwide.
Iran security forces to empty city streets to fight coronavirus – IRNA
Iran’s security forces will empty the streets of its cities in the next 24 hours in a drive to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.
Berkshire Hathaway makes annual meeting purely virtual
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Friday it will hold its annual meeting as scheduled on May 2, but without shareholders in physical attendance due to the coronavirus outbreak.
North Korea had military forces on lockdown for 30 days over coronavirus – U.S. general
North Korea had its military forces on lockdown for about 30 days and in one instance did not fly a plane for 24 days, even though it has not confirmed any cases of coronavirus, the head of U.S. forces in South Korea said on Friday.
Bulgaria bans travel to Iran, raises risk on travels to 11 countries
Bulgaria’s foreign ministry on Friday banned all travel to Iran and advised Bulgarians to cancel all non-urgent travel to Spain and South Korea in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
More airlines could collapse if coronavirus crisis lasts 2-3 months – IATA chief
If the coronavirus crisis lasts another two or three months, it could force carriers to collapse and spark more consolidation in the beleaguered airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief told Reuters on Friday.
In China’s coronavirus epicenter, just five new cases
China’s Wuhan city, ground zero of the new coronavirus outbreak, reported five new cases on Friday, the second day in a row the tally has been less than 10, while no locally transmitted infections were reported in the rest of the country.
Outspoken Tesla chief Elon Musk faces $1 billion trial, test of temperament
Elon Musk is expected to defend a $2.2 billion deal in court next week criticized by shareholders as benefiting Musk at the expense of Tesla Inc, and the outcome may depend as much on the chief executive’s temperament as on the facts of the case.