U.S., Japan pull nationals from China, big virus economic hit forecast
The United States and Japan flew nationals out of China’s virus epicenter on Wednesday and some big-name airlines suspended flights as deaths leapt to 133 and a senior economist predicted a major impact on growth.
American Airlines joins others in suspending some China flights as demand sags
American Airlines Group Inc, the largest U.S. carrier, said on Wednesday it would suspend flights from Los Angeles to Beijing and Shanghai, as demand has sagged amid a coronavirus outbreak in China that has prompted other airlines to also cancel flight…
Gays in Hungary facing increased government hostility: rights group
Hungary’s gay community is facing increased government “attacks” and fears that its hard-won rights, and an improvement in public acceptance of them, may be at risk, a rights group said.
Finland confirms its first coronavirus case
Finland on Wednesday confirmed its first coronavirus case, on a Chinese traveler from Wuhan, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said.
U.S. military won’t be in contact with Wuhan evacuees -Pentagon
U.S. military personnel won’t have any direct contact with U.S. evacuees who are being flown to a U.S. military base in southern California from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the center of an outbreak of the coronavirus, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Morgan Stanley says coronavirus could drag on global, Chinese GDP growth
Morgan Stanley said on Wednesday that assuming the coronavirus peaks in February and March, global economic growth could be hit by 0.15 to 0.3 percentage point during the first quarter.
U.S. agriculture secretary unsure whether coronavirus will slow Chinese buys of U.S. farm goods
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Wednesday he does not know whether China’s coronavirus outbreak will affect Beijing’s pledge to radically increase purchases of American farm goods under an initial trade deal.
Top Chinese, U.S. diplomats discuss coronavirus situation
China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi discussed the coronavirus outbreak with U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, telling him that Beijing has the confidence and ability to win the battle against the virus, state news agency Xinhua said.
Gaps emerge between Britain and EU over Trump Middle East plan
Days before it leaves the European Union, Britain put itself at odds with European allies on Wednesday in warmly welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan while France and the wider EU warned that it must respect international law….
Defense minister pushes to extend Israeli sovereignty to West Bank settlements
A leading government hawk called on Wednesday for Israel to establish sovereignty over nearly a third of the occupied West Bank, hours after U.S. Donald Trump announced a Middle East peace plan that Palestinians said amounted to apartheid.
