Hong Kong leader rejects calls to close border despite virus fears
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam rejected calls from a medical union on Friday to close the border with mainland China to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, and urged health staff not to go through with a threatened strike.
U.S. and others tighten curbs on travel to China as virus toll hits 213
The United States and other countries tightened travel curbs on Friday and businesses said they were facing supply problems because of the coronavirus in China, a day after the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency.
Myanmar turns back China Southern flight over coronavirus fears: government spokesman
Authorities in Myanmar turned back a China Southern flight from Guangzhou with almost everyone on board on Friday after one of the passengers was found with flu symptoms similar to the fast-spreading coronavirus, a government spokesman said.
Factbox: Airlines suspend China flights due to coronavirus
Airlines are suspending flights to China in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak, which as of Friday had killed more than 200 people and infected nearly 10,000 people.
Siemens Healthineers supplies diagnostic equipment to Wuhan hospitals
Germany’s Siemens Healthineers has supplied two ultrasound machines and a CT scanner to the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of a rapidly-spreading virus epidemic.
Scotland’s Sturgeon: Could test power to call consultative independence vote in court
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday she did not rule out testing the legality of calling a consultative referendum on independence if Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government continued to oppose another vote.
Hungary to build more prisons to tackle overcrowding, halt inmates’ lawsuits
Hungary will begin an ambitious prison-building program in an attempt to stem a tide of costly lawsuits by inmates complaining of overcrowding and inhumane conditions, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.
In Senegal, online videos break silence over domestic abuse
For Senegalese activist Fatou Warkha, online videos play a vital role in her campaign to expose and end violence against women in a country where discretion and forbearance are traditionally prized.
UK well prepared to deal with virus: PM Johnson’s spokesman
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is very well prepared to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said on Friday.
Eastern EU states threaten lawsuit over looming trucking reform
Poland, Bulgaria and other eastern European Union states are mulling a legal challenge to new road transport rules that would force their trucks to return home every eight weeks, a change they say would harm their trucking companies, diplomats said.
