Iran reports 85 new virus deaths, taking total to 514

TEHRAN (AFP) --Iran announced on Friday that the new coronavirus has claimed another 85 lives, the highest single-day death toll in one of the world's worst affected countries. "Sadly, 85 people infected with the COVID-19 disease have died in the past 24 hours", bringing to 514 the overall number of deaths in Iran, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference. "Across the country, at least 1,289 infected people have been added to the list of

March 13, 2020

UEFA postpone all Champions League and Europa League matches next week

PARIS (AFP) -- All UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches scheduled to be played next week have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, European football's governing body said on Friday. The move comes after two of next week's four scheduled Champions League last 16, second legs -- between Manchester City and Real Madrid, and between Juventus and Lyon -- had already been called off on Thursday. That followed Real's announcement that their squad had been placed in quaranti

March 13, 2020

Kenya confirms first case of coronavirus in East Africa

NAIROBI (AFP) -- Kenya announced Friday the first confirmed case of coronavirus in East Africa, as the region so far unscathed by the global pandemic scaled up emergency measures to contain its spread. A 27-year-old Kenyan woman tested positive for the virus on March 12 in Nairobi, a week after returning from the United States via London. She was in a stable condition and recovering, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe told reporters. "We wish to assure all Kenyans that the government will use

March 13, 2020

Pandemic shuts down Everest as Nepal suspends permits

KATHMANDU (AFP) -- Nepal on Friday barred climbers from all mountains — including Everest — over the coronavirus pandemic, in a major blow to its tourism industry. The Himalayan country, which has so far confirmed one coronavirus case, earns 4.4 million dollars a year from climbing permits while the losses to expedition organisers will be even higher. As well as suspending all climbing permits, Nepal stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival, Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister for Culture

March 13, 2020

China, US spar over origin of coronavirus

BEIJING (AFP) -- A Chinese government campaign to cast doubt on the origin of the coronavirus pandemic is fuelling a row with the United States, with a Beijing official promoting conspiracy theories and Washington calling it the "Wuhan virus". The spat comes as China tries to deflect blame for the contagion and reframe itself as a country that took decisive steps to buy the world time by placing huge swathes of its population under quarantine. With cases falling in China and soaring

March 13, 2020

Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi becomes first Premier League player with virus

LONDON (AFP) -- Chelsea's players and coaching staff were ordered into isolation as Callum Hudson-Odoi became the first Premier League player confirmed to have the new coronavirus late on Thursday. "Chelsea men's team player Callum Hudson-Odoi had a positive test result for coronavirus returned this evening," a club statement said. "Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men's team building will now self-isolate in line with government health guid

March 13, 2020

Canada PM's wife tests positive for new coronavirus

OTTAWA (AFP) -- The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tested positive for the new coronavirus, his office said late Thursday. "Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau was tested for COVID-19 today. The test came back positive," the Prime Minister's office said in a statement. "Following medical advice, she will remain in isolation for the time being. She is feeling well, is taking all the recommended precautions and her symptoms remain mild," it said. "The Prime M

March 13, 2020

Disney closes US and Paris theme parks, delays 'Mulan' over virus

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Disney will close its giant theme parks in Florida, California and Paris and pull the releases of major blockbusters including "Mulan" over the coronavirus, it announced Thursday. The resorts are among the largest theme parks in the world, each drawing tens of thousands of visitors each day. They will remain shut at least until the end of March. "In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the

March 13, 2020

Global stocks suffer historic rout, shrugging of central bank steps

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Global equity markets plunged again Thursday, with some suffering their worst losses in decades, as emergency measures by central banks failed to douse fears over the mounting economic toll from the coronavirus. The Dow lost 10 percent, dropping around 2,350 points, to 21,200.62 in its worst session since 1987. London recorded its worst day since the 1987 crash and Frankfurt its blackest day since 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell. Paris suffered its worst one-day l

March 13, 2020

Man City player self-isolating over coronavirus fear

LONDON (AFP) -- Manchester City have revealed one of their players is self-isolating after a family member had tests for the coronavirus. The unnamed City star was reported to be France defender Benjamin Mendy by the British media, but the Premier League club have yet to confirm that. The player is taking the self-isolating precaution after the relative fell ill with symptoms of a respiratory illness at his Cheshire home. The family member is being treated in hospital and has undergone tests

March 13, 2020

Arsenal manager Arteta tests positive for coronavirus

LONDON (AFP) -- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting the Premier League to announce they will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss future fixtures. Arsenal have closed their training ground as a result of Arteta's positive test, with Gunners players and club staff who had recent contact with the Spaniard now forced to self-isolate. "This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly," Arteta said in a statement

March 13, 2020

Poland confirms first coronavirus death

WARSAW -- Poland has recorded its first death from the novel coronavirus outbreak in the western city of Poznan, its deputy mayor said Thursday. The 57-year-old female teacher, who had recently been hospitalised in critical condition with pneumonia, was put into an artificial coma and on a ventilator but "unfortunately she died not long ago," Poznan deputy mayor Jedrzej Solarski told reporters. Poland currently has 46 other confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the health min

March 12, 2020

[Graphic News] Huge locust outbreak in East Africa

　The worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years has reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war, officials announced. Around 2,000 locusts were spotted inside the country. 　According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the locusts have been seen in Eastern Equatoria state near the borders with Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. All have been affected by the changing climate in the region. 　Swarms

March 12, 2020

Tom Hanks in Australian hospital after testing positive for coronavirus

GOLD COAST (AFP) -- Hollywood megastar Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the new coronavirus while in Australia for a film project, the Oscar-winning US actor revealed Thursday. Hanks and Wilson, both 63, are in isolation at the Gold Coast University Hospital after being confirmed with the disease, Queensland state health officials said. Hanks is the first major Hollywood star to publicly state that he has the virus, which has sickened more than 125,000 people worldw

March 12, 2020

NBA suspends season until further notice, over coronavirus

MIAMI (AP) -- The NBA has suspended its season "until further notice" after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league's owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas. Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press o

March 12, 2020

NBA to suspend games after Jazz player tests positive for coronavirus

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- The NBA will suspend play starting on Thursday after a Utah Jazz player preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, the league said Wednesday. The test result was reported shortly before Utah's game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City was to begin, and that game was abruptly postponed. The league said the affected player was not at the arena. (AFP)

March 12, 2020

[Newsmaker] Tom Hanks announces positive test for coronavirus

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have both tested positive for coronavirus, the US actor said Wednesday. Hanks, 63, said he and Wilson came down with a fever while in Australia, where he is set to film a new movie about the life of Elvis Presley. "To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive," he wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. Hanks is the first major Hollywood star to

March 12, 2020

In battle against virus, Trump restricts travel from Europe

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Taking dramatic action, President Donald Trump sharply restricted passenger travel from 26 European nations to the US and moved to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting the daily lives of Americans. Trump, in a rare Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night, said the monthlong restriction on travel would begin late Friday, at midnight. After days of playing down the coronavirus threat, he blamed Europe for

March 12, 2020

Will heat stop the spread of new virus? No one really knows

JAKARTA (AP) -- As outbreaks of the new coronavirus that first emerged in China continue to spread in more than 100 countries -- particularly those experiencing winter -- one of the biggest unanswered questions is how it will behave in warmer weather. Like influenza, the new disease is a respiratory infection belonging to a family of viruses that typically survive longer in colder environments. Most people experience only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, but older

March 12, 2020

Juventus defender Rugani tests positive for coronavirus

MILAN (AFP) -- Juventus and Italy defender Daniele Rugani on Wednesday became the first Serie A footballer to test positive for coronavirus, the Italian champions confirmed. The 25-year-old "is currently asymptomatic," the Turin giants said, but the club is "currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him." Rugani is the first top-flight footballer to fall victim to the virus which has killed 827 in Italy and

March 12, 2020