Mali announced its first two cases of novel coronavirus on Wednesday, to fears that the war-torn and impoverished West African state will struggle to handle an outbreak.
Two Malian nationals who arrived from France in mid-March tested positive for the virus, the government said in a statement on Wednesday, and are receiving medical treatment.
The statement added people should "remain calm and  strictly respect the recommended preventive measures".
There are fears that Mali is at particular risk in the event of an outbreak, however.
The country has been struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north in 2012, and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives since.
The conflict has since spread to the centre of the country -- and large swathes of the vast semi-arid state lie outside of government control.
All of Mali's seven neighbouring countries have also declared coronavirus cases.

Mali declares first two coronavirus cases

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Olympic chief Thomas Bach says "all options are on the table" over finding a new date to hold the postponed Tokyo Games.
Tokyo 2020 became the first Olympics in peacetime to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Announcing the unprecedented decision on Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee gave no specific new date, saying only it would be "beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021".
On Wednesday in a conference call, IOC president Bach said: "This is not restricted just to the summer months.
"All the options are on the table, before and including the summer of 2021."
World Athletics said Monday it was prepared to shift its world championships in 2021 in order to accommodate a rescheduled Games.
The world championships are due to be held in Eugene, Oregon on August 6-15 next year.
And the International Swimming Federation said Tuesday that it was open to moving next year's world championships to fit in with the rescheduled quadrennial sporting extravaganza.
The ...

'All options on table' over new date for Tokyo Games: Bach

With their health in jeopardy and customers evaporating, sex workers in France are struggling as the novel coronavirus threatens their livelihoods -- and there is no safety net in sight.
Many are being forced onto the streets as they lose their incomes, at a time when police are enforcing government orders for people to stay at home.
France has been in lockdown for a week, with only essential trips outside allowed, in a bid to halt the acceleration of the virus' spread.  "I have no choice since I work on the street and I travel to people's homes," said Pamela, a 46-year-old prostitute from the southwestern city of Toulouse who stopped working when the lockdown was announced.
Solicitations have not completely dried up, she said, but she has decided to ignore them: "Pay a fine of 135 euros ($145) for a client at 50 euros, no..." However, if the lockdown continues, her meagre savings will no longer be enough, she added.
"I will have to take risks. Even if I have two clients a week, it ...

Life under lockdown ups precarity for France's prostitutes

Spain's coronavirus death toll overtook that of China on Wednesday, rising to 3,434 after 738 people died over the past 24 hours, the government said.
The spiralling number of deaths came as Spain entered the 11th day of an unprecedented lockdown to try and rein in the COVID-19 epidemic that has now infected 47,610 people, the health ministry said.

Spain overtakes China virus toll with 3,434 deaths: govt

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday will address the Russian nation over the coronavirus crisis in a rare televised broadcast, the Kremlin said.
"The president will soon complete work on the text of his address to citizens," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, saying the address will be broadcast in several hours.  "Such a need emerged after yesterday's hours-long meeting," Peskov said.
Putin discussed the health crisis with top officials on Tuesday and visited a major hospital treating coronavirus patients wearing a yellow hazmat suit.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who is heading a coronavirus task force, warned Putin on Tuesday that the actual number of cases is probably "significantly" higher than official figures and asked him to get tough on regional authorities.
Russia, which has a population of 144 million people, reported 658 cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday.
Apart from traditional New Year's greetings Putin rarely addresses the public on ...

Putin to address Russians over coronavirus Wednesday: Kremlin

The Ryder Cup should follow the lead of the Olympics and Euro 2020 in postponing this year's edition to 2021 says one of the stars of the 2018 European win Tommy Fleetwood.
The 29-year-old Englishman told The Times on Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic will make qualifying for the biennial contest between the United States and Europe unfair.
The Ryder Cup is slated for September 25-28 in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin.  Qualifying for the event lasts from September 19 2019 to September 13 this year but already two of the four majors -- The Masters and the PGA -- have been postponed.
"It would be a shame and feel weird to have to wait for so long after the last Ryder Cup, but you just have to take whatever comes," said Fleetwood.
"And it would be fairer in qualification terms for it to be pushed back." Fleetwood should have no problem qualifying as he presently sits top of the European points list.
He formed a devastating partnership with Italian Francesco Molinari at the 2018 Ryder Cup .

Postponing Ryder Cup only fair way to do it: Fleetwood

Gun sales have exploded in the United States in the last two weeks as the coronavirus outbreak worsens, with people stocking up on weapons and ammunition out of fear the pandemic might lead to social unrest.
"We have had about an 800 percent increase in sales," said David Stone, owner of Dong's Guns, Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "I'm still not out of any caliber but I'm getting close to running out." Stone told AFP that the overall majority of customers rushing to stock up on firearms and ammunition are first-time buyers grabbing anything available.
"It's fear over coronavirus," he said. "I don't understand it myself and I think it's unreasonable." Several other store owners across the United States said they have also seen a surge in sales as people fear social order will unravel if the health and economic crisis caused by the virus escalates.
Tiffany Teasdale, owner of Lynnwood Gun, located in the state of Washington, one of the states hardest hit by the virus, said she ...

Coronavirus prompts a run on guns in US

Thousands of passengers on three cruise ships were stranded off Australia's west coast Wednesday as officials refused to let them land to avoid repeating the "utter disaster" of a previous cruise-related coronavirus surge.
The Artania and Magnifica were anchored off the West Australian port of Fremantle with a third, the Vasco de Gama, on its way.
"There are no circumstances we will allow passengers or crew to wander the streets in our state," West Australian Premier Mark McGowan told media on Wednesday.
The Magnifica, carrying around 1,700 passengers, departed Fremantle Tuesday after being allowed to refuel, but was forced to turn back when told it could not dock in Dubai.
Meanwhile health officials were testing some of the more than 800 passengers on board the Artania for coronavirus after the ship reported 25 people had a respiratory illness.
A string of virus cases have been connected with cruise ship arrivals in Australia.  The latest cluster came from the Ruby Princess, which ...

Thousands stuck on cruise ships off Australia over virus fears

Tottenham forward Harry Kane will leave the club next year if they fail to win a trophy in that time, Premier League all-time top-scorer Alan Shearer has warned.
Kane is yet to lift silverware in his career despite an eye-catching goalscoring record for both club and country.
The England captain has not played since January due to a serious hamstring injury and was on the losing side as Tottenham lost to Liverpool in last season's Champions League final.
That is the closest the 26-year-old has come to major honours and Shearer feels it may be time to move on if that does not change in the coming months.
"My guess is, if he doesn't win anything in the next 12 months then he has to leave," Shearer told the Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast.
"He'll do another year, I think, and if nothing comes in terms of trophies, then he'll be off." Shearer sits at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 260 goals.  Asked if Kane, currently on 136 goals, could one day overtake his tally, the .

Kane 'will be off' if Spurs don't win trophies, warns Shearer

Libya has reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, a particular source of concern in the North African country where civil war has badly degraded the public healthcare system.
Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi and is divided between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNA) and forces loyal to eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
The health minister of the UN-recognised GNA late Tuesday reported "a first contamination with the coronavirus in Libya," without giving details of the case.
"The necessary measures have been taken to treat" the patient, the minister, Ehmed Ben Omar, said in a brief online statement.
Badreddine al-Najar, director of the National Centre for Disease Control, said the 73-year-old patient had returned from Saudi Arabia via Tunisia a week ago.
He said that all persons who came into contact with the patient would be monitored and tested for COVID-19.
Even before this first case 

War-torn Libya reports first coronavirus case

International Olympic President Thomas Bach said Tuesday that the postponed Tokyo Games would require "sacrifices and compromises" from all sides to make them work.
"These postponed Olympic Games will need sacrifices, will need compromises from all stakeholders," Bach told reporters in a conference call the day after the IOC decided to delay the 2020 Games because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rescheduled Tokyo Olympics need sacrifices from all stakeholders: Bach

A 7.2-magnitude quake hit off Russia's Kuril Islands on Wednesday, prompting local residents to seek higher ground due to a tsunami threat, authorities said.
The Russian emergencies ministry said the quake's epicentre was 210 kilometers (130 miles) southeast of Severo-Kurilsk, a town of around 2,500 people on the Kuril island of Paramushir.
Officials reported no casualties or damage but said residents of Severo-Kurilsk were taken to higher ground.
The emergencies ministry reported a small tsunami with a wave of about 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) high.
The ministry said area residents would remain in a safe place for now as the threat of a tsunami remained.
"People's safety for us is the most important thing," Sakhalin governor Valery Limarenko was quoted as saying.
The US Geological Survey for its part estimated the strength of the quake at 7.5 magnitude.
The quake hit at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of ...

Quake hits off Russia's Kuril Islands, prompts tsunami alert

Russian lawmakers have proposed imposing severe punishments -- including up to seven years in prison -- for people breaking coronavirus quarantine rules.
Legislation due to be discussed on Wednesday foresees fines of between 500,000 rubles (USD 6,400) and two million rubles (USD 25,700) for violating a quarantine.
If a quarantine dodger were found guilty of causing a person's death or intentionally infecting many people, they would face up to five years in prison, and up to seven years if two or more people died.
The amendments to Russia's Criminal Code were proposed by Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house State Duma, and another senior lawmaker of the governing United Russia party, so are expected to pass.
The Duma will consider the proposed legislation next Tuesday.
Russia, which has a population of 144 million people, reported 658 cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who is heading a coronavirus task force, warned President Vladimir .

Quarantine dodgers in Russia could face up to 7 years in prison

Australia on Wednesday hit out at China's apparent decision to indict a prominent author on spying charges, insisting he is at risk from COVID-19 and must be freed.
Chinese-Australian writer Yang Jun -- also known by his pen name Yang Hengjun -- was detained over a year ago, soon after making a rare return to China from the United States.
Australia said it had not been formally notified of the espionage indictment, but slammed China for a lack of solidarity during the global coronavirus pandemic -- which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
"It is not in the spirit of mutual respect and trust that our continued advocacy for Dr Yang has not been acknowledged," said foreign affairs minister Marise Payne.
"Dr Yang's poor health makes him especially vulnerable to COVID-19," she said, adding he was being held in "harsh" conditions.
Yang has not being allowed access to lawyers and is believed to have been interrogated while shackled during his detention.
"This is unacceptable treatment of an 

Australia condemns China's 'indictment' of academic

Turkey has charged 20 suspects including two former aides to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the 2018 murder of Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Prosecutors accuse Saudi Arabia's deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri and the royal court's media czar Saud al-Qahtani of leading the operation and giving orders to a Saudi hit team.
Khashoggi, 59, a commentator who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed after he entered the Saudi consulate on October 2, 2018, to obtain paperwork for his wedding to Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz.
Turkey carried out its own investigation into the murder after being unhappy with Saudi explanations.
The Istanbul prosecutor's office said in a statement that Assiri and Qahtani were charged with "instigating the deliberate and monstrous killing, causing torment".
Eighteen other suspects -- including intelligence operative Maher Mutreb who frequently travelled with the crown prince on foreign tours, forensic expert ...

Turkey charges 20 Saudis over Khashoggi murder

Asian equities soared again on Wednesday after US lawmakers finally agreed a mammoth stimulus package to support the world's biggest economy against the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
While the deadly disease continues to spread, traders have a rare semblance of optimism after weeks of carnage across global markets, with eyes fixed on Washington where lawmakers in the early hours thrashed out an emergency bill worth as much as USD 2 trillion -- around 10 per cent of US gross domestic product.
"At last, we have a deal," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, calling it a "wartime level of investment into our nation".
"We have a bipartisan agreement on the largest rescue package in American history," top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said shortly after McConnell spoke.
"So many people are being put out of work through no fault of their own. They don't know what their future is going to be like, how are they going to pay the bills," Schumer added.
"Well, we come to their ...

Asia equities rally as US agrees blockbuster stimulus package

Iran's president warned that his government was poised to introduce tough new measures against the coronavirus on Wednesday as the death toll from one of the world's deadliest outbreaks neared 2,000.
President Hassan Rouhani said that the new measures, which could be adopted as soon as Wednesday evening, included Iran's first restrictions on movement to try to stem the spread of the virus and were likely to be "difficult" for the public.
So far, Iran has resisted imposing any lockdown, choosing instead to rely on verbal appeals for people to stay home.
But those have been widely ignored. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the roads as usual last weekend to spend the two-week Persian New Year holiday with family despite fears of the disease spreading from the big cities to the countryside.
"There has been a long debate within the National Committee for Fighting the Coronavirus about how to strengthen the measures we have taken," Rouhani said in televised comments to the ...

Iran president warns of tough new measures against coronavirus

German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp on Wednesday announced it was scrapping 3,000 jobs in its troubled steel unit as part of a coronavirus "crisis package".
The elevator-to-submarines group said it had reached a deal with Germany's powerful IG Metall union to cut 2,000 jobs over the next three years and another 1,000 by 2026.
"Forced redundancies will be avoided," it said in a press release.
The job cuts in Germany were necessary to respond to "the enormous challenges in the steel sector" as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the global economy, it added.
The latest figure raises the total number of job losses in Thyssenkrupp's steel division by 1,000, after the group said earlier that 2,000 of a planned 6,000 job cuts group-wide would affect steelworkers.
Thyssenkrupp also said it had agreed an immediate "corona crisis package" with IG Metall that would see many German workers at the group's Steel Europe unit switch to reduced hours in the coming weeks, receiving 80 ...

Thyssenkrupp to scrap 3,000 steel jobs

US President Donald Trump has requested novel coronavirus test kits from South Korea, his counterpart Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for a quick reopening of the world's biggest economy.
The South was once the hardest-hit country outside China, where the virus first emerged, but appears to have brought its outbreak under control thanks to a huge testing and contact-tracing effort.
By midnight on Tuesday more than 367,000 people in the South had been tested -- processes that are free to anyone referred by doctors, those who have links to a confirmed case, and individuals who test positive.
The US has the third-highest number of confirmed cases globally with 55,000, behind China and Italy, and did little testing initially.
Trump's request for test kits came as he called for a quick end to social distancing and declared the beginning of the end of the health crisis in the US.
"President Trump of the United States... made a request to us for the urgent provision of ...

Trump requests virus test kits from South Korea: Seoul

The British parliament is expected to close on Wednesday because of the coronavirus outbreak, with MPs sent home a week early for their Easter break.
The government has put forward a motion for the House of Commons, the lower elected chamber, to shut at the end of Wednesday's proceedings until April 21.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC it was a "sensible" decision given the nationwide shut down of non-essential shops and services and the government order for people to stay at home.
"Obviously parliament has to lead by example," he said, adding that it was also important to protect staff from the spread of infection of COVID-19.  But he said he was "certain that parliament will return after the Easter holidays", saying it was important for lawmakers to scrutinise the government.
Emergency legislation giving the government powers to force people into isolation has been pushed through parliament this week and is expected to become law on Wednesday.
Before MPs head home, ...

UK parliament to shut early over coronavirus

South Africa reported that its number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus jumped to 709 on Wednesday from 554 the previous day, an increase of 28 per cent.
South Africa, which now has the highest numbers of infections on the continent, has ordered a 21-day lockdown which rolls into action at midnight on Thursday.
"Right now we have actually increased from yesterday, we are now at 709 cases," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in an interview on the state broadcaster SABC.
Mkhize, who reported 554 cases on Tuesday, said he expects the numbers to rise further in coming days an weeks.
Starting Wednesday last week the country closed its borders to non-citizens from high-risk countries.
The flag carrier South African Airways has also suspended all international, regional and domestic flights to curb the spread of the virus.
The country's first infections were imported from Europe, but the minister said there were now recording internal transmissions.
"The tendency is changing from ..

AFP

AFP

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