Covid-19: UN Security Council cuts schedule over coronavirus

UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council will scale back its schedule for March as a precaution against the new-coronavirus pandemic, China said on Wednesday. China, which holds the presidency of the Security Council during March and is also the epicenter of the virus, wants to ensure…

Covid-19: El Salvador bans foreigners entering country over coronavirus fears

SAN SALVADOR, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — El Salvador will ban entry to all foreigners for a period of 21 days in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Central American country’s president announced.President Nayib Bukele said on state television that immigration authorities would prohibit entry “of any…

Covid-19: Up to 70% of Germany could become infected – Chancellor Merkel

Chancellor Merkel addressed reporters alongside Health Minister Jens Spahn BERLIN, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the country’s population – some 58 million people – could contract the coronavirus. Merkel made the stark prediction at a news conference on Wednesday alongside…

Covid-19: UK pledges ‘whatever it takes’ to protect economy from coronavirus

UK chancellor Rishi Sunak has big spending plans LONDON, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain pledged to do whatever it takes to protect the economy from the impact of coronavirus, shortly after the Bank of England slashed interest rates in a double-barrelled stimulus package to tackle the risk of a recession.…

Covid-19: Europe’s auto industry shuts factories, cuts output as virus hits

Automobile companies in Europe are temporarily halting operations LONDON, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe’s major car and parts makers rushed to close factories and cut output in Italy and considered sending workers home elsewhere, in the first signs that coronavirus is disrupting the region’s struggling automotive industry. Fiat Chrysler (FCHA.MI)…

US Congress votes to restrain Pres Trump on Iran

Both chambers of the US Congress on Wednesday gave final approval to a resolution to restrain President Donald Trump from attacking Iran. The vote comes after months of soaring tensions WASHINGTON, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Congress on Wednesday gave its final approval to a bid to restrain President…

Covid-19: Death toll in Italy from coronavirus jumps to 827

ROME, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll in Italy from the coronavirus surged to 827 on Wednesday, as 196 more fatalities were confirmed over the past 24 hours, according to an official. Civil protection chief Angelo Borelli said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 10,590, while the…

WHO declares COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic

GENEVA, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus outbreak has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks. He said he was “deeply concerned” by “alarming levels of…

Covid-19: Pres Trump says US restricting all travel from Europe over coronavirus

WASHINGTON, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US will restrict all travel from Europe with the exception of the UK starting later this week in an effort to curtail the spread of the new coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced.Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, Trump said the restrictions, which will…

Algerian ex-diplomat eyed as next UN Libya envoy

Former Algerian foreign minister, Ramtane Lamamra UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra is being considered as UN envoy to Libya, diplomatic sources said, after Ghassan Salame resigned from the post earlier this month. When asked Wednesday if UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had put forward…