Factbox: Apple, Starbucks warn of hit from virus; firms restrict travel, airlines cancel flights
Apple said it had baked into its outlook uncertainty related to a virus outbreak in China that has killed 132 and infected nearly 6,000. Starbucks warned results would be hit after it shut over half its cafes in the country.
Trump plan is moment to re-launch Middle East talks for ‘viable solution’, EU says
U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals to create a Palestinian state for Middle East peace are a chance to re-launch talks toward “a viable solution” for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the European Union said in a statement.
Mobile World Congress to go ahead despite China virus spread: GSMA
The Mobile World Congress, an annual telecoms industry event that draws more than 100,000 visitors to Barcelona, will go ahead as planned on Feb. 24-27 despite the international spread of a virus that has killed 132 people in China.
China virus toll crosses 130; Japan, U.S. evacuate citizens
The United States and Japan flew citizens out of the Chinese city at the epicenter of a new virus outbreak on Wednesday, as the death toll rose sharply to 132 and the first case appeared in the Middle East.
Thailand to screen tour guides for coronavirus
Thai health officials said on Wednesday they will start screening tourist sector workers for coronavirus as part of measures to control the spread of the new disease that has killed 132 people in China.
British Airways suspends direct flights to mainland China amid virus fears
British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China, one of the biggest names in aviation to do so, as worries grow about the impact of a spreading coronavirus on global travel.
Turkey to evacuate citizens from China’s Wuhan over virus outbreak: NTV
Turkey will evacuate 32 citizens and their families from China’s Wuhan, at the epicenter of a new virus outbreak, in the coming days, the country’s ambassador to China said on Wednesday as the death toll rose to 132.
Poetry and rap highlight the rift over India’s citizenship law
On a recent balmy evening at a Mumbai sports ground, writer Varun Grover, a pink flower tucked behind his ear, read his new poem to thousands of people protesting against a citizenship law.
Bulgarian government survives no-confidence vote over water crisis
Bulgaria’s government survived as expected on Wednesday a parliamentary vote of no-confidence brought by the opposition Socialists after thousands of people have been left with water shortages since November, leading to public protests.
China science database scraps paywall to aid virus battle
A major scientific database run by China’s Tsinghua University has made its contents available free of charge from Wednesday in order to help researchers work from home, following a virus outbreak in the central city of Wuhan.
