Global Breaking News Daily Updates

Coronavirus has now infected people in over 60 countries; more than 3,000 dead

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has now infected people in over 60 countries, with the number of deaths crossing 3,000 globally. China, where the epidemic began in December, reported 202 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the lowest increase since January 21. South Korea has the world's second-highest coronavirus cases at 4,212, mostly in and near the southeastern city of Daegu.
read more at Hindustan Times

Iranians lick grids at holy shrine despite coronavirus outbreak, say 'don't care'

Videos of worshippers licking grid at a holy shrine in Iran despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country have emerged online. Religious leaders in Iran have resisted quarantines and closure of religious sites, saying this would be an insult to their beliefs. Worshippers in the videos state they "don't care" even if they catch or spread the virus.
read more at Daily Mail

Man kills two officials at coronavirus checkpoint in China, sentenced to death

A Chinese court has sentenced a man to death for fatally stabbing two officials at a checkpoint set up to control the spread of coronavirus. The incident happened on February 6 when the 23-year-old was driving a minivan through the checkpoint in Honghe. The court statement said that the man had "voluntarily surrendered and truthfully confessed".
read more at Hindustan Times

Israelis in quarantine from coronavirus vote in general elections

Israel set up dedicated polling stations so that people under quarantine from the new coronavirus can vote in the general elections on Monday. Election officials sat on the opposite side of a see-through plastic barrier to monitor the activities while paramedics in protective suits assisted the voters. Israel has reported 10 coronavirus cases and around 5,500 others are under quarantine.
read more at Reuters

Man in his mid-70s becomes second coronavirus fatality in US

A man in his mid-70s became the second fatality due to the new coronavirus in Washington state, US. New coronavirus cases were announced in Washington, California, Illinois, Rhode Island, New York, Florida and Oregon while total coronavirus cases in the US rose to over 80. The first fatality due to coronavirus in the US was also in Washington state.
read more at The New Indian Express

Child drowns at sea off Greece after boat carrying migrants capsizes

A child died when a boat capsized on its way to Greece from Turkey, the first fatality after Turkish authorities opened its borders for migrants and refugees to enter Europe. Over 10,000 migrants have reached the borders of Greece and Bulgaria since Thursday, reports said. Over 1,000 migrants have reached Greece's eastern islands since Sunday, the Greek Police said.
read more at Reuters

Russia, Turkey may have committed war crimes in Syria: UN

UN investigators claimed that actions by Russia and Turkey in Syria could amount to war crimes. A UN report, which studies the period between July 2019 and February 2020, found that Russia conducted airstrikes at civilian targets without a specific military objective. It also mentions the abuses committed by the rebels backed by Turkey during an assault on Kurdish areas.
read more at Reuters

Foreign journalists must abide by Chinese laws: China

Foreign journalists reporting from the country must abide by Chinese laws, Chinese Spokesman Zhao Lijian said. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) in a report said, "[The] Chinese authorities are using visas as weapons against the foreign press like never before." In response, Lijian said that the FCCC report was inappropriate and that China does not recognise the organisation.
read more at The New Indian Express

Taliban rules out talks with Afghan govt until release of 5,000 prisoners

A Taliban spokesperson said that it won't take part in talks with the Afghan government and civilians until about 5,000 of its prisoners are released. The Taliban claimed that a clause for the release of its prisoners is included in the peace deal with the US. Up to 1,000 Afghan government captives would be released in exchange, the clause states.

North Korea fired two short-range missiles into sea: South Korea

North Korea fired two short-range missiles, the first in over three months, off its coast into the sea, South Korea's military said. The missiles flew 240 kilometres at a maximum altitude of 35 kilometres, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. South Korean ministers expressed their concerns over North Korea's resumption of missile launches, the presidential Blue House said.
read more at The New Indian Express

Russia wants to deter countries from engaging in conflict with it: Putin

Russia doesn't want to go to war with any country but wants to deter them from engaging in conflict with it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Russia's offensive strike systems are meant to maintain strategic balance for global security, he added. Putin further said that modern equipment's share in the Russian military grew from 6% to 70% in 20 years.

US' first openly gay presidential candidate ends campaign

The US' first openly gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg announced that he is ending his campaign for the White House. He pledged he would do "everything in his power" to ensure a Democratic win in the polls. Buttigieg's decision comes ahead of 'Super Tuesday', when 14 states and US territory of American Samoa will vote in the Democratic presidential primary.
read more at The New Indian Express

Pakistan to seek deportation of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif from UK

Pakistan government has said that it will urge the UK government to deport former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif from London. "He is an absconder [who is] not fulfilling the terms and conditions of the bail granted to him on medical grounds," a Pakistani official said. Sharif had left Pakistan for the UK last year for a medical treatment there.

Ex-guard holds dozens hostage at Philippine mall, 1 injured

An ex-security guard shot a man and took dozens of people hostage at a mall in San Juan City, Philippines while the police and negotiators were trying to end the standoff peacefully. The gunman was removed from his previous job at the mall. San Juan Mayor said that the gunman was upset because he was removed from the job.

Pak doctor, who helped US track Osama Bin Laden, on hunger strike in jail

Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi, who helped the US track former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, has launched a hunger strike in jail, his family said. "It's to protest the injustices and inhumane attitudes being committed against him and his family," his brother Jamil said. Afridi was jailed for 33 years in 2012 after being convicted for having ties to militants.
read more at Hindustan Times