China's fight against the coronavirus epidemic has triggered anger over the neglect of frontline female workers who have struggled to access menstrual products, battled with ill-fitting equipment and had their heads shaved.
Reports that some medical staff were given birth control pills in order to delay their periods have also prompted outrage.
As the world marks International Women's Day, women in China have rallied against measures they deem discriminatory as the government races to contain the crisis, which has disrupted the lives of tens of millions of people under lockdown in central Hubei province, the virus epicentre.
Shanghai resident Jiang Jinjing became concerned about how female medical workers were dealing with their periods, after workers spoke out about avoiding using the toilet to conserve their protective suits.
The 24-year-old asked about the issue on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, and received thousands of comments, including urgent anonymous appeals from women 

China virus fight sparks outcry over female frontline

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The NBA has reportedly told teams to look into strategies on how to play games without fans in the arena amid concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak.
As fears grow over the spread of the virus, and sports leagues formulate contingency plans, the NBA on Friday sent a memo to its teams telling them to start "developing" plans on how to play games with only "essential staff" in attendance should that be deemed necessary, American sports broadcaster ESPN reported.
The NBA had sent out a previous memo to teams earlier this week, recommending players to use fist-bumps instead of high-fives with fans. It also said to avoid taking items such as pens, balls and jerseys from fans to sign.
"The health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount," the NBA said in a statement on Monday.
"We are co-ordinating with our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists on the coronavirus and continue to monitor the situation closely."
The global spread of .

NBA looks at coronavirus contingency plans - report

Underdogs Ecuador, maintaining their early lead, swept their Davis Cup qualifier against Japan on Saturday to win a ticket for the finals, played behind closed doors due the coronavirus outbreak.
Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo of Ecuador outperformed Ben Mclachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in a deciding doubles match in Miki, western Japan.
Ecuador, ranked 27, who took a 2-0 lead on Friday against world number 17 Japan, added another victory to win their qualifier 3-0 and advance to the Madrid finals in November.
The remaining two singles were cancelled on account of Ecuador's three wins.
Japan were without two star players -- injury-hit Kei Nishikori and world number 48 Yoshihito Nishioka, who decided not to join the team to avoid the possibility of being quarantined due to the outbreak on his return to the US.
The Davis Cup matches were held without spectators as a growing number of sporting events across the world are affected by the outbreak.
Sounds of ...

Ecuador upset Japan to advance to Davis Cup finals

The alpine skiing World Cup finals, scheduled for Cortina d'Ampezzo between March 16-22, have been cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Italian Winter Sports Federation announced.
The number of those killed by COVID-19 in Italy jumped to 197 on Friday with more than 4,600 cases recorded, and government emergency decrees have led to a swathe of sports events being cancelled or postponed.
The cancellation means there are just four men's races left of a scheduled 43 and three for the women from a scheduled 37 this season.
"It is with great regret that we cancel the event but the decision was unanimous," the Italian ski federation said.
The cancellation adds to the sporting drama in the alpine World Cup.
Both the men's and women's overall titles are tight affairs with Frenchman Alexis Pinturault and American Mikaela Shiffrin both under great pressure at the end of the season.
While 24-year-old Shiffrin has a run-in featuring her favoured slalom, Pinturault has a tough ...

Alpine skiing World Cup finals cancelled due to coronavirus

Saudi authorities have detained three princes including King Salman's brother and nephew on charges of plotting a coup, the US media reported Friday, signalling a further consolidation of power by the kingdom's de facto ruler.
The detentions cast aside the last vestiges of potential opposition to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and come as the kingdom limits access to Islam's holiest sites in a highly sensitive move to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus.
Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a brother of King Salman, and the monarch's nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were accused of treason and taken from their homes early Friday by black-clad royal guards, the Wall Street Journal reported citing unnamed sources.
The Saudi royal court has accused the two men, once potential contenders for the throne, of "plotting a coup to unseat the king and crown prince" and could face lifetime imprisonment or execution, the newspaper said.
The New York Times also reported the detentions, adding .

Saudi detains three royal princes over 'coup plot': reports

China's exports plummeted in the first two months of this year on the back of a coronavirus epidemic that forced businesses to suspend operations, disrupting the world's supply chains.
Exports fell 17.2 percent, the biggest drop since February 2019 during the trade war with the United States, and imports dropped 4 percent, according to official data released Saturday.
A Bloomberg poll of economists had expected exports to drop less, by 16.2 percent, but had forseen a much starker drop on imports of 16.1 percent.
Consumers stayed home during the Lunar New Year break at the end of January and businesses saw a much slower return to work, as the country struggled to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has killed more than 3,000 people in China alone.
China's trade surplus with the US -- a key point of contention in the trade dispute between the two countries -- sharply narrowed 40 percent in the first two months, from USD 42 billion last year to USD 25.4 billion.
Chinese ..

China exports plunge on coronavirus epidemic

He calls himself "Pakistan's biggest feminist", but soap-opera writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar sparked a national row this week after he hurled abuse at a women's rights activist on live television.
The invective-laden diatribe came just days before thousands of people are expected to march in cities across Pakistan to mark International Women's Day, adding fuel to growing calls for greater freedoms in the ultra-conservative nation where pushback against such demands can sometimes be vicious.
Qamar's tirade targeting activist Marvi Sirmed quickly went viral, highlighting Pakistan's acrimonious conversation around women's rights and cultural values.
While appearing on a television panel to discuss the upcoming Aurat (women's) march, Qamar took aim at its slogan, "My body, my choice".
He told Sirmed that "no one would even spit on your body" -- adding she was a "cheap woman" who should "shut up".
Reaction was swift, with local media giant Geo Entertainment -- which recently signed Qamar ..

Pakistan's 'biggest feminist' under fire after sexist tirade

A fight over toilet paper in an Australian supermarket on Saturday prompted police to call for calm after the latest violence sparked by coronavirus-induced panic buying in the country.
A video widely shared online shows three women pulling each other's hair and screaming as they struggle over a large pack of the highly sought-after commodity in the aisle of a grocery store in Sydney.
"I just want one pack!" one of the women screams as two others guard a trolley stacked high with rolls.
Two staff members intervened to break up the scuffle and police were called but no one was arrested.
"It's not the Thunderdome, it's not Mad Max. We don't need to do that," Acting Inspector Andrew New from New South Wales police told reporters, referring to the post-apocalyptic action films.
The incident comes after police tasered a man involved in a scrap over toilet rolls in the NSW town of Tamworth.
Police were also called to a shop in Sydney when a knife was drawn in a tussle over the scarce ...

Aussie toilet paper tussle sparks call for calm

Influential US pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC said Friday that two people who attended its annual Washington conference alongside dozens of lawmakers had tested positive for coronavirus.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in an email to attendees, speakers and congressional offices that the pair had traveled from New York to go to the March 1-3 event.
"We have confirmed that at least two Policy Conference attendees from New York have tested positive for the Coronavirus," AIPAC said in the message, posted to its Twitter account.
Officials said on Friday that 22 new cases had been confirmed in New York state, mostly in a Westchester County cluster north of New York City, bringing the total to 44.
"We have continued to remain in constant communication with the Westchester County Health Department and the DC Health Department which is coordinating with the New York Health Department, and national health authorities," AIPAC added.
The event attracted high-profile attendees ...

Coronavirus confirmed in two attendees at US pro-Israel summit

An elderly man in virus-hit China pops out to use a public toilet without wearing a compulsory face mask. The next thing he knows, police are ordering him into a van to be taken into quarantine.
A video of the incident in the northern province of Hebei has been widely shared on social media amid growing anger over apparently arbitrary measures aimed at stopping the deadly epidemic from spreading.
Criticised for their slow response to the virus, which emerged in the central city of Wuhan in December, chastened authorities have gone on the offensive in recent weeks, as the death toll has risen to more than 3,000 with over 80,500 infected in the country.
From locking down tens of millions of people at the epicentre of the outbreak to imposing two-week quarantines on anyone who has travelled to virus-affected provinces or countries, officials are pulling out all stops to contain the virus.
But there are growing complaints that their efforts are excessive, with neighbourhood committees -- .

'It's humiliating': China's virus controls raise hackles

Sofia Kenin reached her first semi-final since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last month by beating France's Oceane Dodin in the Lyon last eight.
The American top seed bounced back after losing a tight second set to win 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 against the world number 130.
Kenin had ended a three-match losing streak by beating Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round before saving a match point to edge out Romanian qualifier Jacqueline Cristian on Thursday.
"It was still not perfect today, but I definitely feel like I found my rhythm. I was playing well, dictating well," Kenin told wtatennis.com.
"I felt pretty good in the first round -- still not 100 percent, but I still got the win -- and I would say that today was my best game (in the tournament so far)."
The world number five will face Alison Van Uytvanck for a place in her sixth WTA final after the Belgian saw off French third seed Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-2.
Kenin raced through the opening set in just 26 ...

Kenin powers into first semi-final since Melbourne triumph

Organized interaction between players and fans will be limited at the Indian Wells hardcourt tennis tournament, one of several steps event organizers are taking amid coronavirus concerns.
Fans who purchased tickets directly from the tournament but don't want to attend during the outbreak can request a refund or a credit for the 2021 edition, organizers said in a statement released on Friday.
Additional measures announced to keep players, fans and others involved safe include requiring players to manage their own towels during matches, without the help of ball kids.
A chair will be placed at the back of each court for players to place their towels on during each match.
Ball kids will also wear gloves, as will food workers and volunteers taking tickets at the entrances.
Main draw play begins on Wednesday at Indian Wells, an ATP Masters series and WTA premier mandatory event.
Organizers said they had devised protective measures under the guidance of Doctor David Agus, Professor of ...

Indian Wells tennis event takes steps to combat coronavirus

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it will closely monitor anti-doping activity in areas hardest hit by the coronavirus to detect possible testing "gaps" that might require action.
WADA called upon global anti-doping organizations (ADOs) to prioritize health and safety while at the same time protecting the integrity of worldwide doping tests, especially with the Tokyo Olympics approaching in July.
"WADA continues to watch the evolving COVID-19 situation closely with particular regard to how the virus may impact the conduct of anti-doping testing activity worldwide," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement.
"To that end, WADA urges all ADOs to follow the advice of local health authorities to ensure proper protection of athletes and doping control personnel while protecting the integrity of doping control programs, particularly in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games."
WADA said it will "closely monitor testing activity in regions affected by 

WADA monitoring coronavirus-hit areas for dope test gaps

Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 game at Strasbourg on Saturday has been postponed over coronavirus fears, the French football league (LFP) announced.
"Following an order from the Bas-Rhin authorities concerning the spread of the coronavirus, the meeting is postponed," the LFP said in a statement.
It is the first French league match to be postponed because of the new coronavirus.
The decision was made after a number of people tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haut-Rhin region, which neighbours the Bas-Rhin region where Strasbourg is located.
"The arrival of 26,000 at the Stade de la Meinau, a quarter of which would come from the Haut-Rhin region, is likely to promote the spread of COVID-19," local authorities said in a statement.
On Friday, the French health ministry said that the number of coronavirus infections in the country had jumped by 154 to 577, with two more deaths bringing the total toll to nine.
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG will not be too put out by the postponement, as the .

PSG's game at Strasbourg postponed over virus fears

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said they had created a "crisis cell" to meet every two days to monitor the rapidly increasing global threat posed by the deadly coronavirus as motorsport reels from a number of cancelled events.
"An FIA Crisis Cell has been established and convenes every second day to consider the latest developments around the world," said a statement.
"The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming competitions and take any action required to help protect the global motor sport community and the wider public, including the postponement of competitions where necessary."
So far, the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, which was set for April 19 in Shanghai, has been axed as has the March 21 Formula E race slated for Sanya on the Chinese island of Hainan.
On Friday, the Formula E race in Rome, which was due to be held on April 4, was also cancelled.

FIA 'crisis cell' to meet every two days to discuss coronavirus

Reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods will miss next week's US PGA Tour Players Championship with a back issue as the 15-time major winner's return to defend his crown at Augusta National looms.
Woods, according to the tour website, told PGA commissioner Jay Monahan he would skip the signature event at TPC Sawgrass, which typically boasts one of golf's strongest fields, just before agent Mark Steinberg announced his 44-year-old client still suffered back troubles.
"Back just not ready," Steinberg told Golf Digest and ESPN. "Not concerning long term, just not ready."
It's the short term that is becoming of concern for Woods, who will miss the biggest Masters tuneup and have only three weeks of competition before chasing a sixth career green jacket -- if he's able to play by round one on April 9.
"The idea is to peak around Augusta," Woods told reporters last week in a conference call.
Woods, ranked 11th, skipped this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational with what Steinberg said was back ..

Tiger to miss Players Championship with back issue

Tyrrell Hatton kept his return from wrist surgery right on course, firing a three-under par 69 to share the halfway lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational with South Korea's Kang Sung.
England's Hatton, playing just his second tournament since right wrist surgery in November, notched his sixth straight round in the 60s and was tied with Kang on seven-under par 137.
Kang, who relished the chilly winds whipping across the Bay Hill course in Orlando, Florida, fired a four-under par 68.
The leading duo were one stroke in front of New Zealand's Danny Lee, whose four-under 67 was the round of the day.
World number one Rory McIlroy settled for a one-over 73 and headed a trio of players on 139 along with South Korean Im Sung-jae (69) and Harris English (70).
Hatton said his return tournament, the WGC Mexico Championship, was an ideal comeback event since it guaranteed him four rounds.
"That was interesting to see how my wrist kind of reacted to a full week's tournament golf, and it was ...

Kang, Hatton share halfway lead at windy Bay Hill

Bruno Fernandes can cement his status as Manchester United's new talisman when the Portugal midfielder gets his first taste of the derby rivalry with Manchester City on Sunday.
Fernandes has made a flying start with United following his January move from Sporting Lisbon for an initial ?47 million ($61 million).
The 25-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists in his seven appearances, helping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team extend their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions.
Since the Alex Ferguson era ended in 2013, United have struggled to find players with the personality and presence to cope with the pressure of trying to emulate those golden days.
But the influential Fernandes already appears a perfect fit.
He has shown no signs of being intimidated by the task of becoming United's leading man.
Said to be a vocal presence in training sessions, Fernandes displayed his leadership qualities with several animated discussions with Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay and ..

Influential Fernandes set for first taste of Manchester derby

Billy Gilmour has set his sights on becoming a mainstay of the Chelsea midfield after the diminutive teenager proved he can stand up to the Premier League's bully boys.
Gilmour delivered a coming-of-age performance as his smooth passing and tenacious tackling inspired Chelsea's FA Cup fifth-round win over Liverpool on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old was making only his third start for Chelsea, but he showed no signs of stage-fright against the runaway Premier League leaders.
Gilmour crunched into a tackle on Curtis Jones and cheekily nutmegged Fabinho to the delight of the Stamford Bridge crowd, who should see the youngster again when Everton visit west London on Sunday.
Mateo Kovacic is sidelined with an Achilles injury, while N'Golo Kante is still out with adductor trouble and Jorginho misses the match through suspension.
Those midfield issues for Blues boss Frank Lampard are likely to pave the way for Gilmour's full Premier League debut.
Even if all three were available, Lampard might ...

Teenager Billy Gilmour sizes up Chelsea chance

Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and his brother were arrested in Asuncion, Paraguay's public ministry said, after entering the country on fake passports.
"The Attorney General's office issued a warrant for their arrest, charged the player Ronaldinho with using a public document with false content and requested preventative detention," the ministry tweeted.
Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira had finished a court appearance and left the Palace of Justice Friday night at 8:15 pm (2315 GMT).
However, less than two hours later, they got into a closed van at the National Police headquarters.
The brothers' lawyer, Adolfo Marin, said he did not understand why they had been arrested.
"We don't know under what authority they were arrested," Marin told reporters.  The brothers had been questioned for more than seven hours on Thursday by the public prosecutor in Asuncion.
Prosecutor Federico Delfino said he had  decided not to pursue charges against the pair, as they ...

Ex-Brazil football star Ronaldinho, brother arrested in Paraguay

China on Saturday reported 28 new deaths from the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the nationwide toll to 3,070.
There were 99 fresh cases of infection, according to the National Health Commission, with a rise in new cases outside the virus epicentre of Hubei province for a third consecutive day.
There were 25 new cases reported outside the central province, which remains under lockdown in a bid to control the spread of the virus.
New infections reported from Hubei have been on a downward trend for several weeks and at 74, the number of new cases is the lowest since quarantine measures were placed on the province in late January.
But health officials also reported 24 confirmed imported cases -- fuelling fears in China that infections could swell again as people get infected overseas.
The number of coronavirus cases worldwide surged past 100,000 on Friday, as a wave of countries reported their first cases.

AFP

AFP

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