New York scrambles to replace U.S. government’s faulty coronavirus test kits
New York health officials are trying to get their own coronavirus testing kits up and running after getting stuck with faulty tests from the federal government that they said left them unable to diagnose people quickly in the nation’s most populous cit…
Canadian National Railway starts calling back employees laid off during rail blockade
Canadian National Railway Co has started calling back many of the 450 workers it laid off earlier this month in eastern Canada, when blockades crippled operations on strategic rail lines, according to a company email sent to customers on Friday.
Biotechnology trade group taps former Biogen CEO as its coronavirus czar
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the biotechnology industry’s largest trade association, told Reuters on Friday that former Biogen Inc CEO George Scangos would coordinate its response to the global coronavirus outbreak.
Congo military intelligence chief dies of heart attack, wife says
Congo’s military intelligence chief died on Friday after suffering a heart attack, his wife said, following media reports that an investigation had been opened into allegations that he tried to destabilize the country.
Polanski wins best director at Cesar awards, several actresses leave in protest
Roman Polanski, who faces accusations of rape, won France’s Cesar Award for best directing for his film “An Officer and a Spy” on Friday, prompting several actresses to walk out of the ceremony in protest.
Exclusive: U.S. postpones summit with ASEAN leaders amid coronavirus fears – sources
The United States has decided to postpone a meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries it had planned to host on March 14 due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Honeywell sees surge in demand for face masks in North America, China
Industrial conglomerate Honeywell International Inc said on Friday it was seeing a surge in demand for its protective face masks in North America, Europe, India and China, following the coronavirus outbreak.
U.S. to push production of protective gear for coronavirus; new case confirmed in California
The United States will invoke a federal defense law to boost production of masks, gloves, gowns and other items to protect against the new coronavirus, the Trump administration said, as a new case was confirmed in California on Friday.
Global downturn looms as countries struggle to contain coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus spread further on Friday, with cases reported for the first time in at least six countries across four continents, battering markets and leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its impact risk alert to “very high.”
Slovaks poised to oust ruling Smer party in election clouded by graft
Voters look poised to oust the centre-left Smer party that has dominated Slovakia’s political landscape for more than a decade in a national election on Saturday overshadowed by anger over high-level graft.
