Coronavirus outbreak grows in northern Italy, 16 cases reported in one day
An outbreak of coronavirus in northern Italy worsened on Friday, with officials announcing 14 confirmed cases in the wealthy region of Lombardy, while two cases were reported in the adjacent region of Veneto.
World must act fast to contain coronavirus, says WHO’s Tedros
The window of opportunity to contain wider international spread of the epidemic of the new coronavirus disease is closing, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, after cases were reported in Iran and Lebanon.
U.N. says it fears ‘bloodbath’ in northwest Syria fighting
The United Nations warned on Friday that fighting in northwest Syria could “end in a bloodbath” and called again for a ceasefire, while Moscow denied reports of a mass flight of civilians from a Russian-led Syrian government offensive.
France, Germany call on political solution to ‘catastrophic’ Idlib crisis
The leaders of France and Germany told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that the humanitarian crisis in Syria’s northwest Idlib province needed a political solution and that the three should meet soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Workers strike at Mexican state news agency in austerity fight
Dozens of employees of Mexico’s state news agency Notimex launched a strike on Friday as the union battled deep spending cuts by the outlet’s director, a close ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Turkey’s Erdogan tells Russia’s Putin it’s necessary to control Syrian government in Idlib
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the necessity to control Syrian government forces and halt a humanitarian crisis in Syria’s Idlib region during a phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the Turkish presidency said on Friday.
Libya ceasefire talks going in ‘right direction’: U.N envoy tells Reuters
Ceasefire talks between Libya’s warring sides are going in the “right direction” while hitting hurdles over violations of an arms embargo and a truce declared last month, the United Nations envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame told Reuters on Friday.
Israeli on coronavirus-hit cruise ship tested positive upon return to Israel
An Israeli woman who was aboard the coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess tested positive for the illness after returning to Israel on Friday but was in good condition and not showing any symptoms, health officials said.
With selfie, Ukrainian health minister joins coronavirus evacuees in quarantine
Ukraine’s health minister joined evacuees from China in quarantine in a sanatorium on Friday in a show of solidarity after fears over the possible spread of the coronavirus led to clashes between protesters and police.
UAE records two new coronavirus cases, total number reaches 11
The United Arab Emirates said on Friday it had registered two new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in the Gulf Arab state to 11.
