Covid-19 cases surge to 400 in Italy

 ROME: Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has jumped to 400, amid international efforts to contain the spread of the deadly outbreak. The rise in Italy, the main focus of infection in Europe, represents a 25% surge in 24 hours. Several European countries announced new cases traced to…

Update: Iran has no plans to quarantine cities, Pres Rouhani says

TEHRAN, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran has no plans to quarantine any cities and towns despite the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak across the country, President Hassan Rouhani has said. He told a cabinet meeting that health authorities would continue to “only quarantine individuals”. Officials have asked people not to…

Covid-19: Iran coronavirus deaths jump to 26

TEHRAN, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus epidemic in Iran has cost 26 lives, the health ministry announced, with seven new deathsreported over 24 hours as the spread appeared to accelerate. Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour also told a press briefing that 106more cases of the disease had been confirmed, raising…

WHO says Covid-19 at ‘decisive point’ as world battles spread

GENEVA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization declared that the new coronavirus epidemic was at a “decisive point” as countries across the globe battled to contain the deadly outbreak. Saudi Arabia banned pilgrims from visiting Islam’s holiest sites as the number of deaths jumped in neighbouring Iran, while…

US Trade Show begins to promote economic ties with Bangladesh

DHAKA, Feb 28 (NNN-BSS) — A three-day ‘US Trade Show’ began here showcasing high quality, cutting-edge American products and services to promote US-Bangladesh economic ties. Forty-eight organizations including energy, agro-mechanization, food and beverage sectors are displaying their products and services at 78 stalls in the 27th annual show, organised by…

Covid-19: Bangladesh’s state-owned airline Biman to refund Saudi-bound passengers

DHAKA, Feb 28 (NNN-BSS) – Biman Bangladesh Airlines will refund to its passengers who, bought tickets for traveling to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah or tourism purposes, as the Saudi government has imposed a temporary ban on Umrah pilgrims and tourists to stop the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in the…

Pres Trump appoints VP Pence to oversee US response to COVID-19 outbreak

Vice President Mike Pence speaks as President Donald Trump listens during a news conference about the coronavirus WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Donald Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to oversee the country’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. “I’m going to be announcing exactly right now that…

Tear gas fired as Greek island protest intensify

Protesters took to the streets of Lesbos to protest against the new camps ATHENS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters on the Greek island of Lesbos over plans to build new migrant camps. Images from the island show protesters hurling objects at…

Five Latin American countries planning to issue green bonds

BOGOTA (Colombia), Feb 27 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — At least five Latin American governments and several companies are considering debt sales to fund environmentally friendly projects in what is expected to be the region’s most active year for the issuance of so-called green bonds since 2017. The governments of Mexico, Peru, Colombia,…

Argentina forensic anthropology team nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize

The EAAF team was involved in the identification of Argentine soldiers remains buried in the Falkland Islands BUENOS AIRES, Feb 27 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, EAAF, a non-profit scientific NGO, was nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for its investigative work into human rights violations in…