Italian coronavirus deaths rise to 34, number of cases hits almost 1,700: official
The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by five to 34 over the past 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said on Sunday, with the accumulative number of cases totaling some 1,694.
Paris’ Louvre Museum closed as staff walk out over coronavirus
Tourists and art lovers were unable to visit the Louvre in Paris on Sunday as workers staged a walkout at the world’s most-visited museum after a staff meeting about the coronavirus outbreak.
Iran’s coronavirus death toll jumps to 54, with 978 infected
Iran’s death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 54, Health Ministry spokesman told state TV, adding that the number of people infected had reached 978.
Turkish police briefly detain Russia’s Sputnik Turkiye editor-in-chief
Turkish police on Sunday detained the editor-in-chief of Russia’s Sputnik Turkiye news agency in Istanbul, the global head of the state-run agency said, but he was released after a phone call between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Iraq reports six new coronavirus cases
Iraq reported six new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases there to 19, the health ministry said.
Turkey strikes Syrian planes and airports, escalating Idlib fight
Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes over Idlib on Sunday and struck a military airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation of its military operations following the death of dozens of Turkish soldiers last week.
Pompeo sees inter-Afghan negotiations in coming days after U.S.-Taliban deal
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday expressed hope that negotiations would begin in the coming days between Afghanistan’s government and the Taliban after the United States signed an agreement with the Taliban on a U.S. troop pullout.
Pope, blaming a cold, skips Lent retreat for first time in his papacy
Pope Francis announced on Sunday that a cold he is suffering from has forced him to skip a Lenten spiritual retreat with senior Vatican officials near Rome for the first time in his papacy.
Afghan President Ghani rejects Taliban prisoner release under U.S deal
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani rejected on Sunday a Taliban demand for the release of 5,000 prisoners as a condition for talks with Afghanistan’s government and civilians – included in a deal between the United States and the Islamist militants.
Greek police fire teargas at stone-throwing migrants in Evros
Greek police fired teargas to disperse migrants throwing stones at them at the country’s border in the northern region of Evros, a Reuters witness said.
