Algeria to close schools, universities after first coronavirus death
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered schools and universities to close until April 5 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, state media reported on Thursday, after the country’s first registered death from the disease.
Bahrain accuses Iran of ‘biological aggression’ as Gulf tries to stem coronavirus spread
Bahrain accused Iran on Thursday of “biological aggression” by covering up the spread of the new coronavirus and failing to stamp the passports of Bahraini travelers, as other Gulf Arab states boosted measures to stem rising infections.
Shia militia likely to blame for killing U.S. troops in Iraq: U.S. general
Shia militia groups in Iraq were likely responsible for the attack on Wednesday that killed one British and two American troops at a base north of Baghdad, a top U.S. general said on Thursday, in remarks that leave the door open to potential escalation…
EU disapproves of US travel ban, taken unilaterally and without consultation
The European Union disapproves of the U.S. decision to impose a unilateral travel ban on European countries, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel said in a statement on Thursday.
‘It’s ridiculous’: Trump travel ban sows panic in European airports
Weary and confused travelers, many wearing face masks, rushed to board flights from European airports to the United States on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping travel restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Romanian PM-designate renounces nomination: presidency
Romania’s Prime Minister-designate Florin Citu abandoned his bid to become premier on Thursday, minutes before a scheduled parliamentary vote of confidence, the presidency said in a statement.
Why COVID-19 ‘death rates’ are not what they seem
Italy and South Korea, two countries outside China that have been hard hit by the new coronavirus, have reported dramatically different numbers of deaths as a proportion of cases. Why are these not comparable?
Factbox: Latest on the spread of coronavirus around the world
The World Health Organization (WHO) described the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic and said Italy and Iran were on the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon join them.
Trump stops flights from Europe, global alarm over coronavirus spreads
Travelers scrambled to rebook flights and markets reeled on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping restrictions on travel from Europe, hitting battered airlines and heightening global alarm over the coronavirus.
Xi says China will win battle against coronavirus
Chinese President Xi Jinping told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday that China will certainly win its battle against the new coronavirus and reach its economic goals, state media reported.
