Mar 18 Clean water access for India’s poor spawns virus concerns By Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press Experts say keeping hands clean is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent transmission of the new coronavirus, in addition to social distancing. But for India's homeless and urban poor who live in thousands of slums across major… Continue reading
Mar 18 Eurovision Song Contest canceled due to COVID-19 concerns By Associated Press The Eurovision Song Contest has been canceled, becoming the latest victim of the coronavirus epidemic. Continue reading
Mar 18 Ravaged by war, Middle Eastern countries face a new scourge By Isabel Debre, Associated Press Long-running wars and conflicts across the Middle East have wrecked potential defenses against coronavirus outbreaks, leaving millions vulnerable in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and elsewhere. Continue reading
Mar 18 Iran reports single biggest jump in coronavirus as 147 more die By Nasser Karimi, Aya Batrawy, Associated Press It marks the biggest 24-hour rise in deaths since officials first acknowledged cases of the virus in Iran in mid-February. Continue reading
Mar 17 China to expel American reporters after U.S. curbs its media By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press China announced that it will revoke the media credentials of all American journalists at three major U.S. news organizations, in effect expelling them from the country. Continue reading
Mar 17 Watch 2:21 News Wrap: Rockets strike near U.S. embassy in Baghdad In our news wrap Tuesday, rockets struck near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, the latest in a series of assaults, including one on a coalition military base only hours earlier. There were no reports of injuries. Also, Russian company Concord… Continue watching
Mar 17 Venezuela seeks emergency $5 billion IMF loan to fight virus By Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Venezuela is believed to be the first country to try to tap the $50 billion in financing the IMF has available to help developing nations deal with the virus. Continue reading
Mar 17 EU to ban most foreign travelers for 30 days to curb pandemic By Lorne Cook, Associated Press The leaders of European Union nations have agreed to institute a travel ban that prohibits most foreigners from entering the bloc for 30 days to discourage the spread of the new coronavirus. Continue reading
Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day subdued across the world amid virus crisis By Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press St. Patrick's Day revelers across the world tried to salvage the holiday with makeshift celebrations after parades and parties were scrapped and residents were urged to hunker down at home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Continue reading
Mar 17 ‘How are we going to eat?’ Novel coronavirus tests Europe’s social nets By Aritz Parra, Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Governments across Europe are deferring tax payments, approving short-term unemployment schemes and paid sick leave to try to cushion the economic blow to businesses and blue collar workers alike from virus-containment measures. Continue reading