UK’s Johnson says extension to Brexit transition period not being discussed
British Prime Minister said on Wednesday Brexit was not being regularly discussed in Downing Street at the moment because of coronavirus but he ruled out any extension to the transition period with the European Union which ends on Dec. 31 this year.
Israel moves towards mass testing as coronavirus detections rise
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel have jumped by 40% to 427 in the past 24 hours, authorities said on Wednesday, predicting a steeper rise as mass testing is implemented, and a blanket ban on entry of foreign nationals was imposed.
Rattled world ‘at war’ with coronavirus as deaths surge in Italy
Hundreds of millions of people faced a world turned upside down on Wednesday by once-in-a-generation emergency measures against the coronavirus pandemic that is killing the old and vulnerable and threatening prolonged economic misery.
Oman asks tourist groups to return to their countries due to coronavirus
Oman’s ministry of tourism said on Wednesday that it is asking tourist groups to leave the Sultanate and return to their countries due to a lack of clarity over the coronavirus outbreak, the ministry said on Twitter.
London lockdown? UK PM Johnson says keeping everything under review
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government was keeping everything under review when asked whether he would bring in measures to lock down London because people were flouting warnings to avoid social gatherings.
Special Report: How Korea trounced U.S. in race to test people for coronavirus
SEOUL – In late January, South Korean health officials summoned representatives from more than 20 medical companies from their lunar New Year celebrations to a conference room tucked inside Seoul’s busy train station.
Factbox: Highlights of Canada’s C$27 billion aid to fight coronavirus outbreak
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said his government would provide C$27 billion ($18.6 billion) in support directly to families and businesses struggling because of the coronavirus outbreak, and stands ready to do more.
Panic buying forces British supermarkets to ration food
Britain’s biggest supermarkets, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, limited purchases of all food products on Wednesday after frantic shoppers stripped shelves to prepare for possible isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.
Pakistan confirms first death from coronavirus – minister
Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed its first death from coronavirus as the total number of infected patients in the country climbed to 260, the health minister said on Twitter.
U.S. blacklists Chinese, South African companies over Iran oil trade
The United States on Wednesday identified seven companies that it has blacklisted for trade in Iranian petrochemicals – three based in mainland China, three in Hong Kong and one in South Africa – the State Department said in a statement.
