Mar 05 WATCH: ‘This is not a drill,’ WHO chief warns of COVID-19 By Matt Sedensky, John Leicester, Associated Press The global march of the new virus triggered a vigorous appeal Thursday from the World Health Organization for governments to pull out "all the stops" to slow the epidemic, as it drained color from India's spring festivities, closed Bethlehem's Nativity… Continue reading
Mar 05 Cruise ship is held off California coast for virus testing By Olga R. Rodriguez, Associated Press Princess Cruises did not immediately disclose how many people were aboard the vessel — which has a capacity of 3,650 passengers and crew — but said fewer than 100 had been identified for testing. Continue reading
Mar 05 Turkey deploying special forces to border amid migrant surge By Suzan Fraser, Associated Press ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey said Thursday it would deploy special forces along its land border with Greece to prevent Greek authorities from pushing back migrants trying to cross into Europe, after Turkey declared its previously guarded gateways to Europe… Continue reading
Mar 05 Russian, Turkish presidents announce Syria cease-fire By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press Both Russia and Turkey appear eager to avoid a showdown now also, but the sharply conflicting interests in Idlib province make it difficult to negotiate a mutually acceptable compromise. Continue reading
Mar 05 Global markets slide again amid concern over coronavirus By Associated Press Stocks are opening sharply lower on Wall Street, erasing 2% from major indexes, a day after surging 4% as the mood swings back to fear. Continue reading
Mar 05 Two-term UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar dies at 100 By Franklin Briceno, Associated Press Pérez de Cuéllar's death ends a long diplomatic career that brought him full-circle from his first posting as secretary at the Peruvian embassy in Paris in 1944 to his later job as Peru's ambassador to France. Continue reading
Mar 04 Hotter climate increased risk of Australia’s record fires by 30 percent By Christina Larson, Associated Press The researchers used high-resolution computer models to pinpoint how much an altered climate influences the likelihood of specific extreme wildfires, floods, droughts and heatwaves. This growing field of research is called climate change attribution. … Continue reading
Mar 04 Watch 4:53 News Wrap: Netanyahu appears to fall short of parliamentary majority In our news wrap Wednesday, hopes for Israel to end months of political deadlock have dimmed, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be short of a parliamentary majority. The result could mean a fourth election within a year. Also,… Continue watching
Mar 04 Virus prompts Italy to close schools, Louvre reopens with new measures By Associated Press More authorities are considering widespread school closures among a raft of measures being taken around the world to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Here are some of the latest developments. Continue reading
Mar 04 Virus halts pilgrimages to Mecca, Friday prayers in Iran By Amir Vahdat, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The coronavirus outbreak is disrupting Islamic worship in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities. The decisions affected both… Continue reading