Global Breaking News Daily Updates

Iran woman leader infected with coronavirus sat with President a day before

Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, who has been infected with coronavirus, sat with President Hassan Rouhani a day before being diagnosed. Iran has said the death toll from coronavirus in the country has risen to 26, by far the highest number outside China. The total number of infected people in Iran stands at 245.
read more at Daily Mail

India suspends visa-on-arrival for Japanese, S Korean nationals over coronavirus

The Home Ministry has said that visa-on-arrival facility has been temporarily suspended for Japanese and South Korean nationals amid rising coronavirus cases in both the countries. In South Korea, 2,022 people have been infected by the virus, while the number of cases in Japan has risen to more than 200. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has asked all schools to close.
read more at Twitter

8,400 people being monitored for possible coronavirus in California

California is monitoring over 8,400 people who arrived on commercial flights for coronavirus symptoms, Governor Gavin Newsom has said. However, Newsom added that the state lacks test kits and has been held back by federal testing rules. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has assured the state that access to kits will expand in the coming days, he further said.
read more at Reuters

Pet dog of coronavirus patient found to have 'low level' of virus in Hong Kong

The pet dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong has been found to have a "low level" of the virus, the Hong Kong government has said. Officials will carry out further tests to confirm if the dog has really been infected with the disease, or if it was a result of environmental contamination of its mouth and nose.
read more at Hindustan Times

Mahatma Gandhi's spirit needed more than ever: UN Chief on Delhi violence

On Delhi violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that Mahatma Gandhi's spirit is needed more than ever as it is essential to create conditions for true community reconciliation. "The Secretary-General has been following the situation in India and...is saddened by the reports of deaths that we've seen over the past few days in New Delhi," Guterres' spokesman said.
read more at ANI

Trump told PM Modi that Pak PM asked him to mediate but he doesn't want to: Reports

US President Donald Trump told PM Narendra Modi that he doesn't intend to mediate between India and Pakistan although Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been seeking mediation by the US, reports said. Trump also reportedly reiterated India's right to defend itself when faced with terrorist attacks. India asked US to keep a close eye on Pakistan, reports added.

US First Lady shares Delhi school teacher's tweet, calls her 'passionate mentor'

Sharing a tweet by a Delhi school teacher, US First Lady Melania Trump wrote, "It is wonderful to see the happiness and confidence your students possess. Thank you for being an excellent example and passionate mentor to them!" "That's the confidence our #DelhiGovtSchool students possess now. @FLOTUS...Please come soon. Our students are missing you," the teacher had tweeted.
read more at Twitter

Cameroonian man wrapped in plastic during deportation from Turkey

A businessman from Cameroon was wrapped from head to toe in plastic as he was deported on a flight from Turkey. Emmanuel Chedjou, 47, was deported for allegedly having a fake visa. "They put plastic ties on my wrists and ankles and then put on metal cuffs. Then, they stuffed my mouth with tissues and taped it shut," Chedjou said.
read more at Daily Mail

Climbers cancel Everest expeditions in Nepal over coronavirus fears

Many climbers from countries like China, South Korea, Italy and Japan have started cancelling expeditions to Mount Everest amid the coronavirus outbreak which has killed over 2,800 people across the globe, according to tour operators. Government's lack of preparedness has impacted the tourism sector, operators said. Tourist arrivals dropped 2% in the first month of the visiting season in 2020.
read more at ANI

Iran cancels many Friday prayers as coronavirus death toll rises to 34

For the first time in decades, Iran has cancelled Friday prayers in Tehran and 22 other provincial capitals to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Authorities also placed some restrictions on access to shrines in Qom and Mashhad. This comes after the country reported over 380 cases of the coronavirus and 34 related deaths, the highest number outside China.
read more at Reuters

Iran's ex-ambassador to Vatican dies of coronavirus

Iran's former ambassador to the Vatican, Hadi Khosrowshahi, has died of coronavirus after being treated in a Tehran hospital, state media reported. The 81-year-old cleric died after contracting the virus in Qom, bringing the country's death toll to at least 26. There are 245 cases of coronavirus including there Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar.
read more at RT International

41-yr-old Belgian woman dies after taking single sip of drug-laced wine

Belgian prosecutors issued an alert after a 41-year-old woman died after taking a sip of wine from a bottle suspected of being used to transport the drug MDMA. The woman who took a sip from a glass collapsed shorty and died five days later in hospital. The prosecutors said there was evidence of tampering with the bottle's cork.
read more at The Guardian

360-yr-old doorway with 169-yr-old graffiti about beer found under UK parliament

A secret passageway built in 1660 for the coronation of King Charles II was discovered under the UK parliament. A 169-year-old graffiti was found there stating, "This room was enclosed by Tom Porter who was very fond of Ould Ale (beer)". "Hope this space is celebrated for what it is: part of our parliamentary history," House of Commons Speaker said.
read more at The Guardian

Canada to stop providing security for Prince Harry, Meghan Markle

Canada will not provide security to UK Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, once they step down as senior royals on March 31, the Canadian federal government said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been providing protection on an intermittent basis since they moved to Canada's Vancouver Island in November.
read more at The Guardian

Trump blocked from using $89 mn Navy funds to build Mexico border wall

A federal judge in the Washington state has blocked US President Donald Trump from diverting $89 million from a submarine base to build the Mexico border wall. The funds had been earmarked to build a pier at Bangor naval base. The project is one of 127 congressionally-approved military projects that Trump administration planned to defund for 11 border wall projects.
read more at The New Indian Express

Australia's deportation policy is 'corrosive': NZ PM Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has said Australia's policy of deporting New Zealand citizens convicted for committing crimes, no matter how long they have stayed in Australia, was "corrosive". "Do not deport your people and your problems," Ardern added. If you're a non-citizen and have committed a crime, you have no right to stay, Australian PM Scott Morrison said.
read more at The Guardian