Beijing tells Pompeo it is futile to smear China over virus
Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi has told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by telephone that attempts to smear China’s efforts to control the coronavirus “will not succeed”, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday.
China urges U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran amid coronavirus response
China on Monday urged the United States to lift sanctions on Iran immediately amid the Middle Eastern country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Duterte puts Philippines under quarantine, says ‘we are in the fight of our lives’
The Philippines announced strict home quarantine measures on Monday for half of its population, shut down transport networks and ordered businesses to close or operate remotely in a bid to quell rising coronavirus cases.
Deserted streets, talking drones as Spain goes under state of emergency over virus
The streets of Spanish cities were eerily quiet on Monday, with the silence interrupted by police loudspeakers telling people to go home, as Spaniards spent their first working day under a lockdown due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Egypt to halt flights from Thursday to stem spread of coronavirus
Egypt will halt all air traffic at its airports from Thursday until March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Monday.
Saudis told to stay home as Bahrain reports Gulf’s first coronavirus death
Bahrain reported the Arab Gulf’s first death from the coronavirus on Monday and Saudi Arabia urged its citizens to stay at home as the region broadened measures to shield populations and economies from the outbreak.
Turkey suspends mass prayers in mosques over coronavirus fears: religious authority
Turkey suspended mass prayers in mosques until the risk of coronavirus outbreak passes, the head of Turkey’s religious directorate, Ali Erbas said on Monday.
‘It’s okay to feel scared’: countries across globe tighten steps against Coronavirus
Bars, restaurants, theaters and cinemas were shutting down in New York, Los Angeles and other global cities to combat the coronavirus pandemic as countries tightened borders and central banks acted aggressively to cushion the economic impact.
Regional leader of Spain’s Catalonia says he has coronavirus
The regional leader of Spain’s Catalonia, Quim Torra, said on Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus and that he was going into self-isolation in a government building.
Slovak president Caputova to appoint new government on March 21
Slovak President Zuzana Caputova will appoint a new center-right government led by Prime Minister Igor Matovic on March 21, she said on Monday.
