jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Hamas, Islamic Jihad delegations to visit Moscow, Cairo

The Hamas delegation to Moscow is headed by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and will discuss US President Donald Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ '' Middle East peace plan and Russia 's role in supporting Palestinian rights , among @ @ @

The Hamas delegation to Moscow is headed by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and will discuss US President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century" Middle East peace plan and Russia's role in supporting Palestinian rights, among other issues. A delegation headed by the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group is also planning on visiting Moscow, but an exact date has not been announced.Last week, almost 100 rockets were fired by the PIJ from the Gaza Strip towards communities in southern Israel. The IDF carried out widespread air strikes in response to the rocket fire and placed restrictions on entry permits and traffic through the border crossings into the Strip during the clashes, but removed the restrictions soon after a ceasefire reportedly came into effect on Monday night.The hostilities began on Sunday when Israel killed a PIJ terrorist who had planted an explosive device and prevented Palestinians from retrieving his body in a graphic video that went viral. Israel then came under a barrage of 26 rockets, leading the IAF to carry out retaliatory airstrikes against PIJ targets in Syria and throughout the Gaza Strip following earlier rocket fire, killing at least six terrorists.Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Iraqi base hosting US soldiers targeted by rockets - report

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The Iraqi Joint Operations Command denied reports that two rockets were fired at the Al-Siddiq Iraqi military base in the Salah ad Din Governate in northern Iraq that hosts American soldiers on Sunday evening, according to Al Sumaria. The earlier reports did not specify who fired the rockets or if any injuries or damage were caused by the attack.The Joint Operations Command denied that any coalition forces were in the area, warning against "the media that is trying to tamper with the public opinion by spreading rumors and inaccurate news," according to Al Sumaria.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Dominican Republic confirms country's first coronavirus case

The patient , a 62-year-old man , was transferred on Sunday to an isolation room in a military hospital near @ @ @ @ @ stable condition , Health Minister Rafael Sanchez said at a press conference .
Another tourist @ @ @ @ @ France , is under observation in the hospital and awaiting test results for the virus @ @ @ @ @ around the globe , Dominican authorities on Friday ordered the cancellation of all flights from @ @ @ @ @ The measure will affect some 4,000 passengers who had reservations to fly with a low-cost @ @ @ @ @ Romana , a coastal tourist area , according to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism @ @ @ @ @ said on Friday that it will subject all travelers coming from Italy , regardless of @ @ @ @ @ at airports in the Caribbean nation .

Health authorities in the Dominican Republic said on Sunday that they had confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country, a tourist visiting from Italy.
The patient, a 62-year-old man, was transferred on Sunday to an isolation room in a military hospital near the capital and is in stable condition, Health Minister Rafael Sanchez said at a press conference. Another tourist, a 56-year-old man from France, is under observation in the hospital and awaiting test results for the virus.
As coronavirus spreads rapidly around the globe, Dominican authorities on Friday ordered the cancellation of all flights from Milan for 30 days. The measure will affect some 4,000 passengers who had reservations to fly with a low-cost airline from Milan to La Romana, a coastal tourist area, according to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism.
The Dominican government also said on Friday that it will subject all travelers coming from Italy, regardless of nationality, to epidemiological reviews at airports in the Caribbean nation.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Italy's coronavirus death toll hits 34; nearly 1,700 confirmed cases

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by five to 34 over the past 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said on Sunday, with the accumulative number of cases totaling some 1,694.The head of the agency said that of those infected, 83 people had recovered. The contagion came to light 10 days ago and is focused on a handful of hotspots in the north of Italy with isolated cases reported in many other regions.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Iran records 978 total coronavirus cases, 54 deaths

Iran has had the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China , where the outbreak originated , and several countries in the region have reported infections among people who traveled to the Islamic Republic .
`` There were 385 new cases of infected people in the last 24 hours , increasing the total number to 978 .
The death toll is 54 , '' Jahanpur said , calling on Iranians to avoid any unnecessary trips and stay at home .
On Saturday the death toll was put at 43 , with 593 infected .
Some neighboring countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several countries have stopped flights .
Iran will put together approximately 300,000 teams , starting on Tuesday , to perform door-to-door coronavirus screening , Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on state TV on Sunday .
Iran 's elite Revolutionary Guards have allocated facilities across the country to help to eradicate the virus , a Guards commander told a televised news conference on Sunday .
`` We have set up centers across the country to help people to tackle the virus ... we need national cooperation to tackle this crisis .
People should follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the commander , who was not named by Iran 's Press TV .
The spread of the virus in Iran , the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East , has prompted growing anxiety among Iranians and concern in some quarters over the clerical establishment 's response .

Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 54, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, adding that the number of people infected had reached 978.
Iran has had the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China, where the outbreak originated, and several countries in the region have reported infections among people who traveled to the Islamic Republic.
"There were 385 new cases of infected people in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number to 978. The death toll is 54," Jahanpur said, calling on Iranians to avoid any unnecessary trips and stay at home.
On Saturday the death toll was put at 43, with 593 infected.
Some neighboring countries have closed their borders with Iran and several countries have stopped flights.
Iran will put together approximately 300,000 teams, starting on Tuesday, to perform door-to-door coronavirus screening, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on state TV on Sunday.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have allocated facilities across the country to help to eradicate the virus, a Guards commander told a televised news conference on Sunday.
"We have set up centers across the country to help people to tackle the virus ... we need national cooperation to tackle this crisis. People should follow our health officials' advice," said the commander, who was not named by Iran's Press TV.
The spread of the virus in Iran, the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East, has prompted growing anxiety among Iranians and concern in some quarters over the clerical establishment's response.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Netanyahu: Right almost has majority

Netanyahu: Right almost has majority

The four parties that make up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc have 59.7 mandates in internal Likud polls, Netanyahu said at what was billed as an emergency meeting of his Likud faction at the Airport City banquet hall.On Thursday, pollster Shlomo Filber forecasted 59 seats for Likud, Yamina, Shas and United Torah Judaism. Netanyahu said the bloc has continued growing in support."The data we have from three hours ago shows us at 59.7 mandates and we are very close to victory," Netanyahu said. "We have been rising consistently over the last few days. We can establish a secure right-wing government for Israel."Netanyahu indicated earlier Thursday that he would not need 61 MKs, because MKs would follow former Blue and White MK Gadi Yevarkan to Likud.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Czech Republic confirms country's first coronavirus case

Health officials said the patients - two Czechs and an American student who studied in Milan - showed mild symptoms @ @ @ @ @ and the third in the city of Usti nad Labem , 90 km ( 56 @ @ @ @ @ capital .
Vojtech warned against unnecessary travel to regions in northern Italy that have seen @ @ @ @ @ in Europe .
`` We ask everyone to very seriously consider not traveling to those @ @ @ @ @ holiday or ski trips unless necessary , because the danger exists , '' Vojtech told @ @ @ @ @ The Czech Republic is the first of its central European neighbors to report coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ of others in Europe battling the spread of the virus that has infected more than @ @ @ @ @ China .

The Czech Republic has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus, with all the patients having traveled from northern Italy, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Sunday.
Health officials said the patients - two Czechs and an American student who studied in Milan - showed mild symptoms. Two were in Prague and the third in the city of Usti nad Labem, 90 km (56 miles) north of the capital.
Vojtech warned against unnecessary travel to regions in northern Italy that have seen the highest number of cases in Europe.
"We ask everyone to very seriously consider not traveling to those (affected) regions for holiday or ski trips unless necessary, because the danger exists," Vojtech told a televised news briefing.
The Czech Republic is the first of its central European neighbors to report coronavirus cases although it joins a list of others in Europe battling the spread of the virus that has infected more than 80,000 since first appearing in China.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Bahrain, Iraq both report 6 new coronavirus cases

Bahrain's ministry of health on Sunday confirmed six new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 47 cases, the state news agency said, citing a ministry statement.The six cases are five Bahraini citizens and a Saudi national who arrived in Bahrain on indirect flights from Iran.Also Sunday, Iraq reported six new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases there to 19, the health ministry said.Two of the six are in Baghdad, and the other four in Sulaimaniya, and all had recently returned from Iran, it added.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Otzma Yehudit negotiating with UTJ, press conference at 7:30 p.m.

Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben Gvir is currently conducting negotiations with the United Torah Judaism party ahead of a planned press conference at 7:30 p.m., according to Maariv.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Trump promises to screen travelers for coronavirus after first US death

Officials from Washington state on Saturday said a man in his 50s with underlying conditions had died , and two of three confirmed coronavirus cases in the state had links to a long-term care facility in the city of Kirkland .
The Trump administration is scrambling to respond to the fast-spreading virus that originated in China through travel restrictions and widespread messaging on safety procedures , while working to avert public panic .
A total of 68 cases have been reported in the United States .
Trump underscored efforts to prevent a further spread , amid growing criticism from Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
`` Coronavirus : In addition to screening travelers “ prior to boarding ” from certain designated high risk countries , or areas within those countries , they will also be screened when they arrive in America .
Thank you !
@ VP @ SecAzar @ CDCgov @ CDCDirector , '' Trump said on Twitter early on Sunday .
Vice President Mike Pence , whom Trump appointed last week to run the White House 's coronavirus response , told NBC 's `` Meet the Press '' Americans should brace for more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of those who contracted the disease would recover .
`` Other than in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus , people need to understand that for the average American , the risk does remain low .
We 're ready , '' Pence said told NBC .
`` We 're leaning into this effort .
It 's all hands on deck , because our effort here is to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the United States , '' he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on travelers who have visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit areas of Italy and South Korea .
Trump on Saturday said the United States was also considering shutting the country 's southern border with Mexico to control the spread of the virus , although he said that border was less of a problem at the moment .
Asked why Washington was not banning visitors from South Korea and Italy , Pence told NBC that outbreaks in those countries were `` isolated to a certain section of each country . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began discussions with official in both countries about their screening of people there who were seeking to travel to the United States .
`` We 're going to coordinate with them , provide expert counsel for that , '' he said .

President Donald Trump on Sunday said travelers from countries at high risk of coronavirus would be screened before boarding and upon arrival as the government scrambled to reassure Americans after the first death in the United States.
Officials from Washington state on Saturday said a man in his 50s with underlying conditions had died, and two of three confirmed coronavirus cases in the state had links to a long-term care facility in the city of Kirkland.
The Trump administration is scrambling to respond to the fast-spreading virus that originated in China through travel restrictions and widespread messaging on safety procedures, while working to avert public panic. A total of 68 cases have been reported in the United States.
Trump underscored efforts to prevent a further spread, amid growing criticism from Democrats about the administration's handling of the crisis.
"Coronavirus: In addition to screening travelers “prior to boarding” from certain designated high risk countries, or areas within those countries, they will also be screened when they arrive in America. Thank you! @VP @SecAzar @CDCgov @CDCDirector," Trump said on Twitter early on Sunday.
Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump appointed last week to run the White House's coronavirus response, told NBC's "Meet the Press" Americans should brace for more cases, but that the "vast majority" of those who contracted the disease would recover.
"Other than in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus, people need to understand that for the average American, the risk does remain low. We're ready," Pence said told NBC.
"We're leaning into this effort. It's all hands on deck, because our effort here is to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the United States," he added.
The United States has imposed new limits on travelers who have visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit areas of Italy and South Korea.
Trump on Saturday said the United States was also considering shutting the country's southern border with Mexico to control the spread of the virus, although he said that border was less of a problem at the moment.
Asked why Washington was not banning visitors from South Korea and Italy, Pence told NBC that outbreaks in those countries were "isolated to a certain section of each country."
He said the U.S. State Department on Saturday began discussions with official in both countries about their screening of people there who were seeking to travel to the United States. "We're going to coordinate with them, provide expert counsel for that," he said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Over 60 El Al pilots-in-training fired due to coronavirus losses

About 50 pilots being trained by El Al in order to join the company , as well as 14 additional @ @ @ @ @ accepted to jobs in the company were fired as well .
Flight attendants who were @ @ @ @ @ go and two future courses for flight attendants were canceled .

About 50 pilots being trained by El Al in order to join the company, as well as 14 additional pilots who had already been accepted to jobs in the company were fired as well. Flight attendants who were being trained were also let go and two future courses for flight attendants were canceled.
Over 60 pilots being trained by Israel's El Al airlines were fired on Sunday as part of budget cuts being implemented due to losses caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according to ynet.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Lebanon confirms 3 new coronavirus cases, bringing country's total to 10

The three patients , who had been in isolation at home , were quarantined at a Beirut hospital after showing @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .

Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday three more people had tested positive for coronavirus after arriving from Iran, bringing the total in the country to 10.
The three patients, who had been in isolation at home, were quarantined at a Beirut hospital after showing symptoms, the ministry said in a statement.
Lebanon closed schools this week and halted flights for non-residents from countries with outbreaks, namely China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Russian, Turkey agree to create 'favorable atmosphere' for dialog

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Chavushoglu agreed on the need to create a "favorable atmosphere" to improve working relations between their countries, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday."The ministers have declared in favor of the adoption of measures to create a favorable atmosphere that will facilitate the effectiveness of the dialog on the implementation of agreements in support of the Syrian settlement and other issues on the agenda of Russian-Turkish relations," the ministry said.Lavrov and Chavushoglu, in a phone call, also discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--West Bank, Gaza Strip to be closed on Election Day

The border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip will be closed during the general closure which will take effect @ @ @ @ @ until midnight on Monday night .
Humanitarian , medical and other necessary crossings will be @ @ @ @ @

The border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip will be closed during the general closure which will take effect from midnight on Sunday night until midnight on Monday night. Humanitarian, medical and other necessary crossings will be allowed during the closure.
A general closure will be implemented over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Monday during Israel's 23rd elections for the Knesset. The decision was made after an evaluation of the security situation.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--12 new UK coronavirus cases, bringing total to 35; 2 new cases in Qatar

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said in a statement on Twitter that three of those testing positive were close contacts @ @ @ @ @ The two Qatari individuals were evacuated from Iran on Feb. 27 and have been under @ @ @ @ @ .

British health authorities said on Sunday there had been 12 new cases of coronavirus in Britain, bringing the total to 35.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said in a statement on Twitter that three of those testing positive were close contacts of a known case.
Six others had recently traveled from Italy, and two from Iran. One patient had no relevant travel, and authorities were investigating how they had caught the virus.Also Sunday, Qatar's health ministry announced two more cases of coronavirus in the country, according to the ministry's Twitter account.
The two Qatari individuals were evacuated from Iran on Feb. 27 and have been under full quarantine, it said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Flight from Berlin lands safely after smoke seen in cockpit

An easyJet flight from Berlin to Tel Aviv safely carried out an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday afternoon after smoke was seen in the cockpit. There were 167 passengers on board.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Gantz: Netanyahu intends to distribute fake news on Coronavirus

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz expressed concern on Sunday that his political opponents would try to take advantage of fears about the coronavirus."I will not be surprised if there will be an effort that is not ethical to interfere with the election," he said. "I call on people to vote en masse anyway. I hope the health system and Cenral Elections Committee are ready with democratic solutions to enable those in quarantine to vote. I expect people to behave responsibly and not with hysteria."In response, Likud said that Gantz "is rattled."


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Saudi Arabia prepares 25 hospitals in case of coronavirus

Saudi Arabia has prepared 25 hospitals to handle any coronavirus cases that might be detected, a health ministry spokesman said on Sunday.The kingdom has not reported any cases of the virus so far.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Netanyahu: Liberman will not be in my government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with Kol Barama, said that he will sit in a coalition government with Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman.Similarly, Netanyahu also said that far-right Otzma Yehudit should show responsibility by dropping out of the election Monday, suggesting that the right-religious bloc will not forgive it if he does not gain enough seats to form a government.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Pope says a cold will force him to skip spiritual retreat

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis announced on Sunday that a cold he is suffering from will force him to skip @ @ @ @ @ with senior Vatican officials south of Rome that had been due to start later in @ @ @ @ @ made the surprise announcement to thousands of people in St. Peter 's Square during his @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , when he was seen coughing and sneezing .
The Vatican has said he @ @ @ @ @ slight indisposition .
`` Unfortunately a cold will force me not take part this year @ @ @ @ @ .
I will follow the meditations from here , '' he said .

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis announced on Sunday that a cold he is suffering from will force him to skip a week-long Lenten spiritual retreat with senior Vatican officials south of Rome that had been due to start later in the day.
The pope made the surprise announcement to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square during his first public appearance since last Wednesday, when he was seen coughing and sneezing. The Vatican has said he is suffering from a "slight indisposition.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Italy to allocate 3.6 billion euros to tackle coronavirus crisis

ROME - Italy will introduce this week measures worth 3.6 billion euros ( $ 3.5 billion ) , or 0.2 @ @ @ @ @ ( GDP ) , to help the economy withstand the coronavirus crisis , Economy Minister @ @ @ @ @ .
In an interview with La Repubblica newspaper , Gualtieri said he was confident the @ @ @ @ @ necessary hike in Italy 's official deficit target , adding that eurogroup ministers would talk @ @ @ @ @ situation .
Italy is suffering the worst outbreak of coronavirus in Europe , registering more @ @ @ @ @ the contagion came to light on Feb. 20 .
At least 29 people have died @

ROME - Italy will introduce this week measures worth 3.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion), or 0.2% of gross domestic product (GDP), to help the economy withstand the coronavirus crisis, Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Sunday.
In an interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Gualtieri said he was confident the European Union would approve the necessary hike in Italy's official deficit target, adding that eurogroup ministers would talk mid-week by phone about the situation.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Iran says U.S. has no legal basis to sign agreement about Afghanistan

The United States has no legal standing to sign an agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, referring to a deal signed between Washington and the insurgent group on Saturday.Iran welcomes any initiative that helps to secure stability and peace in Afghanistan, but that will only be possible through domestic talks and by taking into consideration the interest of Afghanistan's neighbors, the ministry said in a statement.The deal, signed in Qatar, could pave the way towards a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan and represent a step toward ending the 18-year-war in the nation.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Givatayim mall evacuates upper floors fearing coronavirus

The 5th and 6th floors of the Azrieli Givatayim mall were evacuated on Sunday morning after a man suspected of @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus visited a health clinic on the 5th floor.After several minutes of uncertainty and chaos @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry released a statement saying the floor had been re-approved for shoppers , and @ @ @ @ @ positive for the coronavirus .

The 5th and 6th floors of the Azrieli Givatayim mall were evacuated on Sunday morning after a man suspected of being infected with the Wuhan coronavirus visited a health clinic on the 5th floor.After several minutes of uncertainty and chaos surrounding the mall, the Health Ministry released a statement saying the floor had been re-approved for shoppers, and the man did not test positive for the coronavirus.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--S. Korea reports 210 new coronavirus cases, raising total to 3,736 -KCDC

South Korea reported 210 new coronavirus cases on Sunday afternoon local time , raising the country 's total infections to @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) said .
The updated numbers added to @ @ @ @ @ the day .
KCDC also reported an 18th death linked to the virus .

South Korea reported 210 new coronavirus cases on Sunday afternoon local time, raising the country's total infections to 3,736, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
The updated numbers added to the 376 recorded earlier in the day. KCDC also reported an 18th death linked to the virus.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Tibi: 'The only virus Netanyahu knows is racism'

Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi said in a radio interview on 103 FM that "we are close to reaching 16 seats. There will be a strong Joint List, nobody can ignore it. We think it's good that Netanyahu will not be prime minister."When Tibi, a formerly practicing Gynecologist, was asked about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, he replied that "the only virus Netanyahu knows is racism."


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Water Authority: Lake Kinneret rises by four centimeters

Lake Kinneret was measured at 209.68 meters on Sunday morning, a rise of four centimeters.At the moment, Lake Kinneret is only missing 88 centimeters from being at full capacity.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Algeria confirms two more coronavirus cases

Algeria has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus infections, in a women and her daugther aged 53 and 24 years respectively, the health ministry said early on Monday.The cases brought to three the number of people infected with the virus in the North African country.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Two rockets fall inside Baghdad's Green Zone

One missile landed near the U.S. Embassy , the sources said .

Two Katyusha rockets fell early on Monday morning inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, but caused no casualties, security sources told Reuters.
One missile landed near the U.S. Embassy, the sources said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Turkish airstrike kills 19 Syrian soldiers in Idlib

Nineteen Syrian soldiers were killed on Sunday in a Turkish airstrike in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, Walla reported Sunday night.Three Turkish UAVs were intercepted earlier in the province, according to Syrian state media. Two Syrian jets were also downed in the area.Last week, Turkey announced it had launched a wide-scale military operation against Assad's regime in response to the killing of 34 Turkish soldiers.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Mexico confirms fifth case of coronavirus

A young woman tested positive for coronavirus in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, state health authorities said on Sunday, marking the country's fifth case.Like another woman who tested positive for the virus in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, the woman in Chiapas was studying in Milan, Italy. The woman tested positive for the virus on Saturday but is asymptomatic, state health authorities said in a press conference.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Scotland confirms first case of coronavirus

Scottish government said on Sunday a person has been diagnosed with coronavirus in the country.The patient, who is a resident of the Tayside area, has recently traveled from northern Italy, the government said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-01--Iraqi Joint Ops. Command denies rocket attack on base hosting US soldiers

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command denied reports that two rockets were fired at the Al-Siddiq Iraqi military base in the Salah ad Din Governate in northern Iraq that hosts American soldiers on Sunday evening, according to Al Sumaria. The earlier reports did not specify who fired the rockets or if any injuries or damage were caused by the attack.The Joint Operations Command denied that any coalition forces were in the area, warning against "the media that is trying to tamper with the public opinion by spreading rumors and inaccurate news," according to Al Sumaria.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--1501 infected, 66 dead from coronavirus in Iran

Seyed Mohammad Mir-Mohammadi, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, a body that advises Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died on Monday from coronavirus , Sputnik News reported.Some 66 people have died from coronavirus and over 1,500 have been infected in Iran as of Monday morning, Reuters reported.Several high-ranking officials, including a vice minister, deputy health minister and five lawmakers, have tested positive for the coronavirus."The definite latest numbers we have are 523 new infections and 12 new deaths so the total number of those infected until now is 1501 and the number of deaths is 66," said Iran's Deputy Health Minister, Alireza Raisi.One lawmaker, elected in Iran's February 21 polls, has died of the coronavirus, Iranian media reported last week.Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki warned on Friday of "a very difficult week" ahead in the country, which only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on February 19 and where the death rate among confirmed cases has been around 10%, compared to around 3% elsewhere.Saudi Arabia is now the only Arab Gulf state not to have reported any cases of the coronavirus, which has infected about 80,000 people and killed more than 2,800, mostly in China.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--A 20-year old man is Andorra's first coronavirus case

MADRID - A 20 year-old man with mild symptoms who was recently in Italy is the first coronavirus case registered in Andorra, the government announced on Monday.The man was recently in Milan and was hospitalised on Saturday.The tests conducted have shown a positive infection, and he will remain in hospital for further tests and his immediate social circle will be monitored, the government said in a statement.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Iceland confirms first three cases of coronavirus

The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday the EU's disease prevention agency had raised its assessment of coronavirus risks in the bloc to high, as the outbreak spread to most EU states."The ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) has announced today that the risk level has risen from moderate to high for people in the European Union. In other words, the virus continues to spread," she told a news conference in Brussels.Health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said 2,100 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in 18 of the 27 EU states, and 38 EU citizens had died because of the disease.On Monday, Portugal registered its first two cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, SIC television channel reported.It said one case was discovered in a man who had recently travelled to Italy and another one in a man who had returned from Spain. Both were taken to hospital in Porto.In another European Union country, Germany, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 150 on Monday from 129 on Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute for disease control said.More than half of the cases, 86, are in the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, where several schools and daycare centers will be closed on Monday to try to prevent the spread of the virus after staff members tested positive.Elsewhere in Europe, in Iceland, the first three cases of people infected with coronavirus have been confirmed, the country's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement late on Sunday.The first patient was diagnosed on Friday while two other patients were confirmed during the weekend. All three patients had spent time on holiday in northern Italy, authorities said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Iraq announces two new coronavirus cases - Health Ministry

BAGHDAD - Iraq has detected two new coronavirus patients, both of whom had recently visited Iran, the Health Ministry said on Monday, bringing the total cases recorded so far to 21.The two new cases were detected in Baghdad and had recently returned from Iran, the ministry said in a statement. The first case was detected on Tuesday and was of an Iranian student who has since been sent back home. The other 20 are all Iraqis who had recently been in Iran.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--India reports two cases of coronavirus

India reports two cases of coronavirus

BENGALURU - India said on Monday two people in the country had tested positive for coronavirus.One case was detected in the capital New Delhi, while the other was in the southern state of Telangana, the government said in a statement.The patients had a travel history from Italy and the United Arab Emirates, respectively, the statement said. Both patients were stable and being closely monitored.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rise to 150


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Rocket attack hits Turkish customs vehicle near Iran border -minister

ANKARA - A rocket hit an armored vehicle carrying Turkish customs personnel in an attack near the border with Iran on Friday, killing one person and injuring others, Turkish officials said, adding that clashes were under way in the area.The rocket struck the vehicle's front wheel around 0550 GMT on Monday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter. He said "the terrorists were followed and cornered," but did not specify who the attackers were believed to be.Shortly after, Turkish Trade Minister Rushar Pekcan said one of the customs agents had been killed in the attack.The office of the governor of Agri province said the vehicle was hit in transit from the Dogubayazit border area to the Gurbulak border gate, causing it to skid off the road and flip over. In did not say who had carried out the attack.The vehicle was near a parking lot for freight trucks, hospital and security sources said. Several ambulances, security teams and search and rescue personnel were sent to the area.Some Turkish media reports said the attack was carried out by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, who have fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. The PKK are active in southeast Turkey but less so in Agri.Earlier this month, Turkey closed its land and air borders with Iran over an outbreak of the new coronavirus. On Friday, Iran announced nationwide school closures as the death toll from the outbreak rose to 34.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Japan confirms five more cases of coronavirus in Hokkaido

TOKYO - Japanese authorities have confirmed five more cases of coronavirus in Hokkaido, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday, days after the northern island declared a state of emergency.The new confirmed infections bring the total in Hokkaido to 77, NHK said. The island, which has a population of about 5 million people, has seen the largest number of cases in Japan.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--China repeats call for dialog after North Korea missile launch

BEIJING - China on Monday reiterated a call for dialog in response to North Korea's latest missile launch and said all sides involved in efforts to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons should reconcile conflicts through discussion.Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Kuwait has 10 new cases of coronavirus

Kuwait has 10 new cases of coronavirus

DUBAI - Kuwait's Health Ministry announced 10 new cases of coronavirus in the country on Monday bringing the total number to 56, a ministry official said.The official, who was speaking during a news conference broadcast on state television, urged citizens to avoid gatherings to avoid spreading the virus in the Gulf state.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--South Korea postpones opening of all schools by two weeks

SEOUL - South Korea will postpone the start of all schools' new semester by two weeks to March 23, education minister Yoo Eun-hae told a briefing on Monday."Two weeks are essentional for the coronavirus outbreak to ease," said Yoo.She said the ministry will provide digital textbooks and online classes so that the students can avoid any study gap.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Liberman: Tonight will be an important result, go vote

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman voted on Monday and called on the rest of the public to go and vote."I call on the 'silent majority' to go and vote. Tonight will be an important result between a halachic state and a strong Yisrael Beytenu. It is all up to you," Liberman said from outside the polling station in Nokdim.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Australia confirms first community transmissions of coronavirus

SYDNEY - Australian health officials said on Monday that a woman and a male doctor have contracted coronavirus - becoming the first cases of community transmissions in the country.New South Wales state Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said a 31-year old doctor has tested positive for coronavirus, though it is not clear whom he contracted the virus from.The state government said a 41-year woman was tested after her brother returned to Australia from Iran.While Australia has moved to stop the spread of the virus by restricting entry to the country for some nationalities, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week a global pandemic was likely.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--IDF confirms: Female soldier infected with coronavirus

Three more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Israel , the Health Ministry reported Sunday night .
The total number of people infected in Israel currently stands at ten .
According to the ministry , two of the three patients who tested positive for the virus returned from Italy on Thursday , February 27 .
The two , who showed light symptoms of COVID-19 , were reportedly infected in Europe .
The third person infected is a young Israeli from Or Yehuda who contracted the disease after coming into contact with a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details about the whereabouts of the 10th Israeli to be infected , who turned out to be an IDF soldier .
She said that she contracted the virus working in the same store as another coronavirus patient who got it in Italy .
On Monday , the Health Ministry released further details about the whereabouts of the 10th Israeli to be infected , who turned out to be an IDF soldier .
She said that she contracted the virus working in the same store as another coronavirus patient who got it in Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toy store on February 24 , 25 and 26 , and She worked at the Red Pirate toy store on February 24 , 25 and 26 , and visited a seamstress in the Or Yehuda mall , Ministry said .
She also took the Route 59 bus line several times before being diagnosed .
As of Sunday night , 334 IDF soldiers have been quarantined for fears of having possibly contracted the virus , Israeli media reported .
The majority of the soldiers were quarantined after returning from regions with major outbreaks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Korean delegation , while others when brushing elbows with confirmed carriers returning from Italy , according to the report .
According to the Israeli media site Walla !
, the Health Ministry discovered 300 soldiers who are either currently in Italy or have returned from there after February 14 .
An IDF air defense recruitment event was canceled also for fears of coronavirus , according to the report .
visited a seamstress in the Or Yehuda mall , Ministry said .

There are now 12 Israelis who have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Israel, the Health Ministry reported. Two were diagnosed on Monday and three on Sunday.The latest cases were reported by a resident of Ramat Gan, who returned from Italy on February 25, and a resident of Ashdod, who returned from Italy the next day.Two of Sunday’s patients also caught the virus abroad. They returned from Italy on El Al flight LY290 on February 27. Both people are reportedly showing light symptoms of COVID-19.All the patients and those who were on the flights with them have entered quarantine A third person that was diagnosed on Sunday night was a young soldier from Or Yehuda who contracted the disease after coming into contact with a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus. She contracted the virus working in the same store as another coronavirus patient who got it in Italy.On Monday, the Health Ministry provided details of her whereabouts.She worked at the Red Pirate toy store on February 24, 25 and 26, and visited a seamstress in the Or Yehuda mall.She also took the No. 59 bus line several times before being diagnosed.As of Sunday night, 334 soldiers have been quarantined for fears of having possibly contracted the virus, media reported. The majority of the soldiers were quarantined after returning from regions with major outbreaks.Some were quarantined after coming in contact with the Korean delegation, while others when brushing elbows with confirmed carriers returning from Italy, according to the report.According to Walla, the Health Ministry discovered 300 soldiers who are either currently in Italy or have returned from there after February 14.An IDF air-defense recruitment event was canceled also for fears of coronavirus, the report said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Thailand reports one new coronavirus case, total at 43 - health official

The new case is a 22-year-old Thai woman who works with another Thai patient , a Thai driver for foreign @ @ @ @ @ the permanent secretary of the health ministry , said in a news conference .
So @ @ @ @ @ recovered and returned home and 11 are still being treated in hospitals .

Thailand has reported one new coronavirus case, bringing the total number of such cases in the country to 43 since January, a senior health official said on Monday.
The new case is a 22-year-old Thai woman who works with another Thai patient, a Thai driver for foreign tourists, Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, the permanent secretary of the health ministry, said in a news conference.
So far 31 coronavirus patients have recovered and returned home and 11 are still being treated in hospitals.
Thailand recorded its first coronavirus fatality on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--East Jerusalem woman hospitalized with severe burns, husband arrested

A Palestinian woman from east Jerusalem was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns , police reported Monday morning .
@ @ @ @ @ woman 's husband was arrested and an the incident is currently under investigation .

A Palestinian woman from east Jerusalem was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns, police reported Monday morning.
According to police, the woman's husband was arrested and an the incident is currently under investigation.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Kazakhstan to bar Iranian nationals from entry over virus

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Kazakhstan will bar Iranian nationals from entering the Central Asian nation starting from March 5, the government said on Monday, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.The government will also decrease the number of flights to and from Azerbaijan and suspend the issuance of work permits to citizens of countries hit by the virus, officials said at a government meeting on Monday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Health officials in Washington report second US death from coronavirus

Public Health – Seattle & King County said a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions who had been @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .

Health officials in Washington state reported late on Sunday a second U.S. death as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Public Health – Seattle & King County said a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 died on Saturday.
The department said three other new reported cases are older people in critical condition. In total, 10 cases have been reported in King County. All of the four new cases - including the man who died on Saturday - were residents of a Kirkland nursing facility that reported two prior cases.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--South Korea reports 476 new coronavirus cases, total at 4,212

South Korea reported on Monday 476 new coronavirus cases, taking its national tally to 4,212, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.The death toll rose to 22, up from 20 the day before, KCDC said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--China reports 125 new coronavirus cases, down from 202 on Sunday

Mainland China had 125 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on Monday, the country's National Health Commission said on Tuesday, down from 202 cases a day earlier.That brings the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 80,151.The death toll from the outbreak in mainland China had reached 2,943 as of the end of Monday, up by 31 from the previous day.The central province of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 31 new deaths, while in the provincial capital of Wuhan, 24 people died.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Yaakov Litzman: Liberman failed in this election

The head of United Torah Judaism Yaakov Litzman pronounced the religious-right bloc's victory Monday night, saying that Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman failed in his alleged campaign against ultra-Orthodox Israelis.Litzman also said that tomorrow he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the formation of a new coalition government.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Amir Peretz: Blue and White had an irresponsible campaign

Labor-Gesher-Meretz leader Amir Peretz criticized Blue and White leader Benny Gantz for the results of the 2020 Israeli election, saying that their allied party ran an irresponsible campaign.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Texas mayor declares emergency to keep cruise passengers in quarantine

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on Monday declared a health emergency for his city in a bid to force those in a federal coronavirus quarantine at a nearby air force base to remain locked down until more testing is done.Nirenberg said his decision came after a woman was released from quarantine by federal officials on Saturday - only to test positive for coronavirus after she was free. Dozens of evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan are due to be released from their quarantine at Lackland Air Force base in the coming hours.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Netanyahu gets majority in Knesset on night of his wedding anniversary

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sarah, will be celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary at midnight on Monday night, just hours after exit polls predicted that Netanyahu's bloc had received 60 seats in the 23rd Knesset.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Florida confirms two coronavirus cases, one had traveled to Italy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday confirmed that two presumptive coronavirus cases in Florida were positive, Governor Ron DeSantis said during a news conference.Both patients are adults. One patient had recently traveled to Italy, while the other had no relevant travel history but had "significant underlying conditions" and had been in the hospital, DeSantis said."We do anticipate to see more positive cases in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.Path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Facebook takes down two Middle East-focused fake account networks

Facebook Inc removed two networks of fake accounts associated with digital marketing firms in Egypt and India which were pushing dueling narratives about countries in the Gulf on the company's Facebook and Instagram platforms, the company said on Monday.The company said accounts associated with Indian digital marketing firm aRep Global had been posting praise for Qatar and critiques of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Two firms in Egypt, New Waves and Flexell, were using fake accounts to post criticism of Qatar, it said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Prison ballots close, 80% of prisoners voted

The turnout was higher than the last two elections .

The turnout was higher than the last two elections.
Prison ballot boxes closed at 8 p.m. on Monday with 80% voter turnout, according to the Israel Prison Service.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Pete Buttigieg to endorse Joe Biden - report

Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out of the presidential race on Sunday evening, will reportedly be endorsing Joe Biden.This is a developing story.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--US says may increase flow of humanitarian aid to Syria

The United States said on Monday it is considering helping to increase humanitarian aid to Syria as Russian-backed Syrian forces press an offensive that has already displaced 1 million people and drawn in forces from neighboring Turkey."The United States is looking at providing increased humanitarian aid for the persons in Syria. That's one thing I had a conversation with (Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) about that," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told a news briefing at the Pentagon.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Latvia reports its first coronavirus case

Latvia said on Monday it had confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus."The health ministry confirms that the first patient has been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Latvia," the health ministry said in a statement. It gave no further details.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Senegal confirms first coronavirus case

Senegal confirms first coronavirus case

Senegal's health ministry confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the West Africa country in a press conference on Monday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--2 new coronavirus cases in Israel

2 new coronavirus cases in Israel

There are now 12 Israelis who have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Israel, the Health Ministry reported. Two were diagnosed on Monday and three on Sunday.The latest cases were reported by a resident of Ramat Gan, who returned from Italy on February 25, and a resident of Ashdod, who returned from Italy the next day.Two of Sunday’s patients also caught the virus abroad. They returned from Italy on El Al flight LY290 on February 27. Both people are reportedly showing light symptoms of COVID-19.All the patients and those who were on the flights with them have entered quarantine A third person that was diagnosed on Sunday night was a young soldier from Or Yehuda who contracted the disease after coming into contact with a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus. She contracted the virus working in the same store as another coronavirus patient who got it in Italy.On Monday, the Health Ministry provided details of her whereabouts.She worked at the Red Pirate toy store on February 24, 25 and 26, and visited a seamstress in the Or Yehuda mall.She also took the No. 59 bus line several times before being diagnosed.As of Sunday night, 334 soldiers have been quarantined for fears of having possibly contracted the virus, media reported. The majority of the soldiers were quarantined after returning from regions with major outbreaks.Some were quarantined after coming in contact with the Korean delegation, while others when brushing elbows with confirmed carriers returning from Italy, according to the report.According to Walla, the Health Ministry discovered 300 soldiers who are either currently in Italy or have returned from there after February 14.An IDF air-defense recruitment event was canceled also for fears of coronavirus, the report said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Blue and White leaders focus support on Tel Aviv for late voter push

All four of Blue and White's top MKs changed course and began heading towards Tel Aviv for the closing hours of Election day on Monday evening due to campaign reports of low voter turnout in areas typically known as Blue and White strongholds.At 4 p.m., voter turnout was at 47%, a 2.7% increase from the September elections and the highest turnout rate at this hour since the 1999 elections.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Qatar health ministry reports four new cases of coronavirus infection

Qatar's health ministry said on Monday that medical tests had revealed four new cases of coronavirus infection in the country, state news agency QNA said in a tweet.Two Qatari citizens, and two domestic workers who were accompanying them in travel, were diagnosed with COVID-19, the ministry was quoted as saying.They were among a group of citizens who were evacuated by the government on a private plane from Iran on Feb. 27, the ministry said.The majority of infections in other Gulf countries have been linked to visits to Iran or involve people who have come into contact with people who had been there. The only deaths reported so far in the region have been in Iran.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Tunisia confirms first coronavirus case - health minister

Tunisia has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, the health minister said on Monday at a news conference.The minister Abdelatif el-Maki said the patient was a Tunisian man.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--UK says four more confirmed cases of coronavirus

British health authorities said on Monday there had been four more confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 40.Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer of England, said the four new patients had recently traveled from Italy.Earlier on Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country needed to be prepared for the new coronavirus to spread further.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--3 new coronavirus cases confirmed in India

The patient had initially tested negative for the virus but a second test came out positive , a hospital official in Rajasthan 's capital city of Jaipur told Reuters , declining to be named since he is not authorised to speak to the media .
`` The patient has been moved to an isolation ward , '' the official said , adding that a third test would be conducted .
Separately on Monday , the Indian government said two other people had tested positive for the coronavirus .
The news hammered already rocky stock markets .
One of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Delhi , while the other was in the southern state of Telangana , the government said in a statement .
The New Delhi patient had been in Italy and the one in Telangana had been Dubai in the United Arab Emirates , the government said ; both were stable and being closely monitored .
`` The government is monitoring the situation at the highest-level , '' Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told a briefing in New Delhi .
Authorities were screening travelers arriving from 12 countries , Vardhan said , adding that more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the border with Nepal .
In Jaipur , the hospital official said that at least 15 doctors , staff and patients who may have come into contact with the Italian patient would be tested .
Indian shares sank sharply on the news , ending lower for the seventh straight session .
The NSE Nifty 50 index erased gains of up to 2 % to close 0.62 % lower .
The rupee was 0.07 % weaker at 72.4300 against the dollar .
The coronavirus , which was identified in China late last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , killing nearly 3,000 people and disrupting global business supply chains .
India is the world 's second most heavily populated country after China .
The government has advised Indians to refrain from non-essential travel to the worst affected countries , including China , South Korea , Iran and Italy .
Meanwhile , the three other patients who had tested positive for coronavirus in India have all been discharged from hospital , and were in quarantine in their homes , the government in Kerala state said last week .
All three had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the epicenter of the outbreak .

An Italian national tested positive for coronavirus in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, a major tourist destination, a hospital official said on Monday, taking the number of people who have tested positive in the country to six.
The patient had initially tested negative for the virus but a second test came out positive, a hospital official in Rajasthan's capital city of Jaipur told Reuters, declining to be named since he is not authorised to speak to the media.
"The patient has been moved to an isolation ward," the official said, adding that a third test would be conducted.
Separately on Monday, the Indian government said two other people had tested positive for the coronavirus. The news hammered already rocky stock markets.
One of the new cases was detected in the capital, New Delhi, while the other was in the southern state of Telangana, the government said in a statement.
The New Delhi patient had been in Italy and the one in Telangana had been Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the government said; both were stable and being closely monitored.
"The government is monitoring the situation at the highest-level," Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told a briefing in New Delhi.
Authorities were screening travelers arriving from 12 countries, Vardhan said, adding that more than 1 million people had been screened on the border with Nepal.
In Jaipur, the hospital official said that at least 15 doctors, staff and patients who may have come into contact with the Italian patient would be tested.
Indian shares sank sharply on the news, ending lower for the seventh straight session.
The NSE Nifty 50 index erased gains of up to 2% to close 0.62% lower. The rupee was 0.07% weaker at 72.4300 against the dollar.
The coronavirus, which was identified in China late last year, has quickly spread to dozens of countries, killing nearly 3,000 people and disrupting global business supply chains.
India is the world's second most heavily populated country after China. The government has advised Indians to refrain from non-essential travel to the worst affected countries, including China, South Korea, Iran and Italy.
Meanwhile, the three other patients who had tested positive for coronavirus in India have all been discharged from hospital, and were in quarantine in their homes, the government in Kerala state said last week.
All three had returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak.
U.S. intelligence agencies are monitoring the global spread of coronavirus and the ability of governments to respond, sources told Reuters last week, warning that there were concerns about how India would cope with a widespread outbreak.


jerusalempost--2020-03-02--Two in northern France die of coronavirus – report

`` As of Monday , according to the latest information I have , there were another two deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ Philippe Marini , the mayor of Compiegne , was reported as saying by Le Parisien @

Two patients died of coronavirus in northern France, bringing the death toll in the country to four, Le Parisien newspaper said on Monday, citing the mayor of the city of Compiegne and other sources.
"As of Monday, according to the latest information I have, there were another two deaths in the hospital of Compiegne," Philippe Marini, the mayor of Compiegne, was reported as saying by Le Parisien.
As of Sunday, France had 130 confirmed cases of the flu-like disease. The French Health Ministry did not return calls for comment.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Head of Iran's emergency medical services infected with coronavirus

Kolivand 's `` health is good and there is no need for concern , '' the office said in a @ @ @ @ @ .

The head of Iran's emergency medical services, Pirhossein Kolivand, has been infected with coronavirus, the ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Kolivand's "health is good and there is no need for concern," the office said in a statement, according to ILNA.
Seventy seven Iranians have died from coronavirus and 2336 have been infected, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--German book fair cancelled due to coronavirus

A book fair in the eastern German city of Leipzig has been cancelled in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, Focus Magazine reported on Tuesday.A spokeswoman for the fair declined to comment on the report. She said the fair would issue a statement in due course.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Coronavirus kills 77, infects 2,336 in Iran - deputy health minister

Seventy-seven people have died and 2,336 have been infected by the coronavirus, Iran's Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said in an announcement on state TV on Tuesday.Iran has had the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China, where the virus originated.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Japan confirms new coronavirus infection in Tokyo

Japan on Tuesday confirmed a new coronavirus infection in the country's capital Tokyo after a woman in her fifties tested positive, Kyodo newswire reported.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Ukraine reports first coronavirus case, in man who traveled from Italy

The man was hospitalized on Saturday in the western city of Chernivtsi .
He had traveled to Ukraine from Italy @ @ @ @ @ .
The man was in a stable condition and his wife has put herself in @ @ @ @ @ Health Minister Viktor Lyashko told reporters at a subsequent briefing .
`` Yesterday , I @ @ @ @ @ four suspected cases , '' Lyashko said .
`` Today , one of those cases @ @ @ @ @ The coronavirus appears to now be spreading faster outside China than within , and airports @ @ @ @ @ up screening of travelers .

Ukraine has its first confirmed coronavirus case, Ihor Kuzin, the acting head of the Health Ministry's public health center, told Reuters on Tuesday.
The man was hospitalized on Saturday in the western city of Chernivtsi. He had traveled to Ukraine from Italy via Romania, Kuzin said.
The man was in a stable condition and his wife has put herself in self-isolation at home, Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko told reporters at a subsequent briefing.
"Yesterday, I told you that we had four suspected cases," Lyashko said. "Today, one of those cases has been confirmed."
The coronavirus appears to now be spreading faster outside China than within, and airports in hard-hit countries were ramping up screening of travelers.
In February, Ukraine evacuated citizens from China's Hubei province, sparking clashes between police and protesters outside a sanatorium where the evacuees were put in mandatory quarantine.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--China to send plane to Iran to pick up citizens from virus-stricken areas

China will send a chartered plane to Iran on the evening of March 3 to pick up its citizens from areas struck by the coronavirus, according to a report by Global Times, which is run by the official People's Daily newspaper.Outside China, Iran is one of the countries that is worst affected by the epidemic.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Syrian warplane targeted by Turkish forces in Idlib

It was not immediately clear if the plane was downed .

A Syrian government warplane was targeted by Turkish forces in Idlib on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported.
It was not immediately clear if the plane was downed.
Turkey launched a military offensive last week in northwest Syria to push back government forces looking to re-take the rebel stronghold.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Germany reports 31 new coronavirus infections

Thirteen of Germany 's 16 federal states have now reported cases of the novel coronavirus , with the western state @ @ @ @ @ affected , according to the RKI .

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose to 188 on Tuesday, up from 157 on Monday afternoon, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said.
Thirteen of Germany's 16 federal states have now reported cases of the novel coronavirus, with the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia being most affected, according to the RKI.
Germany has not reported a fatal case of the virus, which emerged in the Chinese metropolis Wuhan late last year and is quickly spreading around the world.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Jailed British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in good health

Jailed British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is in good health, Iran's judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday, after her husband issued a statement on Saturday saying she is suspected of having contracted coronavirus in prison."Mrs. Nazanin Zaghari, we looked into it and she is in good health," Gholamhossein Esmaili said. "Yesterday, she had contact with her family and told them about her good health."


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Emirates airline asks staff to take one month unpaid leave over coronavirus

Emirates has canceled flights to Iran , Bahrain and to most of China because of the virus , and countries around the world have placed strict restrictions on entry of foreigners .
The airline has more resources than it needs as a result of cutting frequencies or canceling flights to some destinations , said Chief Operating Officer Adel al-Redha in a statement on Tuesday .
`` Considering the availability of additional resources and the fact that many employees want to utilize their leave , we have provided our employees the option to avail leave or apply for voluntary unpaid leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , '' he said .
Emirates Group , the state-owned holding company that counts the airline among its assets , has asked staff to consider taking paid and unpaid leave as it seeks to manage a `` measurable slowdown '' in its business , Reuters reported on Sunday , citing an internal company email .
The group had more than 100,000 employees , including more than 21,000 cabin crew and 4,000 pilots , at the end of March 2019 , the end of its last financial year .
Major concerts and events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air transit center that includes tourism and business hub Dubai , have been canceled or postponed as the coronavirus spreads in the Gulf .

Major international airline Emirates is asking staff to take unpaid leave for up to a month at a time due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has led to flight cancellations around the world.
Emirates has canceled flights to Iran, Bahrain and to most of China because of the virus, and countries around the world have placed strict restrictions on entry of foreigners.
The airline has more resources than it needs as a result of cutting frequencies or canceling flights to some destinations, said Chief Operating Officer Adel al-Redha in a statement on Tuesday.
"Considering the availability of additional resources and the fact that many employees want to utilize their leave, we have provided our employees the option to avail leave or apply for voluntary unpaid leave for up to one month at a time," he said.
Emirates Group, the state-owned holding company that counts the airline among its assets, has asked staff to consider taking paid and unpaid leave as it seeks to manage a "measurable slowdown" in its business, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing an internal company email.
The group had more than 100,000 employees, including more than 21,000 cabin crew and 4,000 pilots, at the end of March 2019, the end of its last financial year.
Major concerts and events in the United Arab Emirates, an air transit center that includes tourism and business hub Dubai, have been canceled or postponed as the coronavirus spreads in the Gulf.
The airline industry's largest global body IATA on Monday urged Middle Eastern governments to provide support to airlines as they try to manage the impact of the outbreak.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Iran's judiciary says 'CIA spy' will be executed soon in online statement

DUBAI - A website linked to Iran's judiciary carried a statement on Tuesday saying a man convicted of spying for the CIA would be executed soon.The video statement from spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili, marked "live" on the screen, was similar to a statement he gave on February 4.It was not clear if Esmaili would address the topic at a press conference on Tuesday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--UK not planning to cancel mass events, health minister says

`` Right now , we do not recommend the canceling of mass events and schools as well should not be @ @ @ @ @ positive case and the schools have the advice to close , '' Hancock told BBC @ @

Britain is not planning to cancel mass gatherings or large sports events over the concerns about coronavirus, but will need legislation in case it needs to take action in the future, British health minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday.
"Right now, we do not recommend the canceling of mass events and schools as well should not be closing unless there is a positive case and the schools have the advice to close," Hancock told BBC TV.
"There maybe things we have to do down the line that we don't want to, but we will need the powers to do that hence proposing emergency legislation."


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Concerts, sports events in UAE canceled, postponed as virus spreads in Gulf

There have been at least 1,641 cases of the virus in the Gulf region , mostly in Iran where 66 @ @ @ @ @ have also been reported in other Middle East nations .
The March 5-6 electronic music @ @ @ @ @ 's 25,000-capacity Du arena and the March 21 K-pop concert Music Bank at Dubai 's @ @ @ @ @ been canceled .
Organizers of Ultra , where electronic group Major Lazer and DJ Afrojack @ @ @ @ @ travel restrictions imposed by some countries and airlines in the wake of the rapidly-spreading virus @ @ @ @ @ broadcaster KBS and crowdfunding platform Makestar , organizers of the K-pop concert , said Music @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the epidemic in South Korea and elsewhere .
The UAE , which @ @ @ @ @ regularly hosts major conferences , concerts and sporting events , a significant draw-card for foreign @ @

Major concerts and events in the United Arab Emirates, an air transit center as well as a tourism and business hub, have been canceled or postponed as the coronavirus spreads in the Gulf.
There have been at least 1,641 cases of the virus in the Gulf region, mostly in Iran where 66 people have died. Cases have also been reported in other Middle East nations.
The March 5-6 electronic music Ultra festival at Abu Dhabi's 25,000-capacity Du arena and the March 21 K-pop concert Music Bank at Dubai's 17,000-capacity Coca Cola Arena have been canceled.
Organizers of Ultra, where electronic group Major Lazer and DJ Afrojack were to perform, cited travel restrictions imposed by some countries and airlines in the wake of the rapidly-spreading virus.
South Korea's national broadcaster KBS and crowdfunding platform Makestar, organizers of the K-pop concert, said Music Bank was canceled because of the spread of the epidemic in South Korea and elsewhere.
The UAE, which has reported 21 cases, regularly hosts major conferences, concerts and sporting events, a significant draw-card for foreign visitors.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--South Korea: 600 new coronavirus cases, three more deaths

South Korea reported 600 new coronavirus cases and three more deaths from the virus, taking total infections to 4,812, the Korea Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.Anger and fear around the virus' spread have gripped South Korea as a religious sect at the center of the outbreak comes under scrutiny.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Netanyahu advisor: There will be defectors from the center-left bloc

An advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview on Channel 12 that he is expecting that the right-religious bloc will be able to get a coalition majority from defectors in the center-left bloc.The comments come following the 2020 Israeli elections, in which the right-religious bloc is expected to win 59 seats together, two short of the 61 needed to form a coalition government.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Arab voter turnout highest since 1999 election

Voter turnout in the Arab sector of Israel is the highest since the 1999 election, standing at 67% according to official results.The higher turnout also resulted in predictions that the Arab Joint List is expected 14-15 seats, at least an additional seat from their current 13 seats from the September 2019 election.


jerusalempost--2020-03-04--Japan reports one new coronavirus infection, total reaches 1,000 cases

TOKYO - Japan has confirmed another case of coronavirus infection, bringing the total in the country to 1,000 cases, including those from a cruise ship that had been quarantined off Yokohama, Kyodo News reported, citing the health ministry.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Three new cases of coronavirus announced in Israel

With at least 50,000 people in quarantine, the Health Ministry on Wednesday expanded its list of restrictive orders, which will likely lead to thousands more Israelis going into home isolation. By some reports, as many as 100,000 people are currently in isolation.“We have to understand, we are in the midst of a global epidemic ,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference, “the most dangerous of these epidemics in the last 100 years.”He said that Israel is in one of the best positions of any Western country.“We had to take tough, even very rigid steps to slow the spread of the disease in Israel, and indeed it did,” the prime minister said. “Today we will take similar steps, dozens more steps.”Those steps include that a person returning to the country from France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain or Austria will be required to enter 14 days of quarantine. This restriction is retroactive and applies from the date that a person landed back in Israel.On Wednesday, some 19 flights were expected to land in Israel from these European countries, which would put hundreds more Israelis in quarantine, Channel 12 reported. Many of them would not even be aware of the new guidelines upon landing in Israel. Moreover, no foreigners arriving from these countries may enter Israel unless they can prove that they have a place in which they can be quarantined for the requisite time period. Any foreign traveler who has been in Iran, Iraq, Syria or Lebanon for the 14 days prior to arrival in Israel will not be allowed to enter.As a result of the travel restrictions, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Aviv Kochavi pushed off his upcoming trip to Washington.Healthcare workers are forbidden from international travel, and it is recommended that civil workers refrain from travel, too.Israel will not host international conferences until further notice, and citizens returning from international conferences will be required to enter quarantine as well. Mass events over 5,000 people will also not be allowed, canceling several festive events planned for the upcoming Purim holiday.Finally, the Health Ministry asks that individuals adhere to a strict personal hygiene and avoid shaking hands.Magen David Adom reported that it received three times its normal daily amount of calls Wednesday following the Health Ministry briefing, and asked the public to call only if they have symptoms of the virus. All others should call the Health Ministry coronavirus hotline.As a result of the new restrictions, the Jerusalem Municipality released a statement explaining that it is reviewing the precautions and determining how they might impact the Jerusalem Marathon, which is scheduled to take place on March 20.Furthermore, a basketball game between Hapoel Jerusalem and Peristeri BC at Jerusalem’s Payis Arena was held without fans. Israel’s National Soccer Cup was also impacted by the announcement.The press conference took place hours after it was determined that hundreds more Israelis are likely to enter isolation because a newly diagnosed coronavirus patient attended a soccer game at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.The Health Ministry said that anyone who entered through gate Seight and sat in certain sections and rows of the stadium should go into home quarantine, after patient No. 13, a high school student from the Brenner Regional Council, visited the stadium on February 24.On the same day, the ministry announced that the Israelis who had been in home-based quarantine but voted at the Klausner Street “coronavirus voting station” in Tel Aviv were required to extend their isolation by another 14 days. This request came because “patient No. 15” was diagnosed with the novel virus Tuesday night.Patient 15 returned from Italy on February 29 and had been in self-quarantine – except the hour between 10:15 and 11:15 on Monday morning, when he left his house to vote in the election.One other person, patient No. 14, was also diagnosed late Tuesday: an elementary school deputy principal from Kiryat Ono.Patient No. 13 and patient No. 14 both contracted the coronavirus at the Red Pirate toy store in Or Yehuda.As a result of the student being diagnosed with the potentially lethal virus, some 1,500 high school students, teachers, staff members and even school bus drivers who came into contact with the student were asked to enter home quarantine.Twenty-seven students from the elementary school have also been quarantined.According to the Health Ministry, all of the newly diagnosed patients have mild symptoms.“All of the instructions provided by the Health Ministry have prevented the disease from spreading,” said Education Minister Rafi Peretz. “Schools and school principals are receiving clear instructions – we are not leaving anyone to deal with this on their own.“The decision to put these students in isolation was made by the Health Ministry,” he continued, noting that the Education Ministry would continue to follow the Health Ministry’s recommendation “in hopes that these actions will prevent wider spread.”Health Ministry director-general Prof. Itamar Grotto, who is currently under quarantine himself, posted on Facebook Wednesday to help inform the public about the spread of the coronavirus in Israel and around the world.He said that there are currently more than 93,000 cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide, and more than 3,200 people dead as a result. Outside of China, there have been 13,000 cases reported and about 200 deaths.“At present, the disease is declining in China,” he said, “but in all other countries, we are watching the rise and spread of the disease.”The disease associated with the coronavirus has been named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.Grotto named South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland among the countries known to have high rates of the virus, but said that there are other countries about which we don’t have enough information, such as the United States.“It is estimated that the disease is more widespread than reported, and we need to make decisions based on partial information,” he said, “taking into account the differences between countries and their readiness levels.”Responding to an inquiry about whether people should forgo all travel or expect to face quarantine upon return to Israel, Grotto said that “travel to countries where an outbreak is already known should now be reconsidered,” and that one should reconsider any travel at all based on necessity and personal health status.“Older people, over the age of 60, or people who have preexisting conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory illness, are advised to take extreme care,” Grotto noted. “The risk for children under the age of 18 is actually lower.”Among the many recommendations by the Health Ministry is that people who fall into the high-risk category should not have any interaction with people who traveled abroad or have any symptoms similar to those of the coronavirus.The symptoms of the new coronavirus are fever, coughing and shortness of breath.Grotto added that the possibility of one returning from a visit and being required to go into isolation is real and should be taken into account.“However, it should be noted, as there is widespread expansion [of the virus] in Israel, the risk of acquiring the disease in Israel will be no different than abroad, and the Health Ministry’s recommendations will focus more on guidelines within Israel rather than travel abroad,” he said.“We believe that widespread expansion in Israel is inevitable,” Grotto concluded. “We are currently working on estimating the extent of morbidity expected, using mathematical models based on the knowledge we have on the subject from around the world.“It seems we are looking at dealing with this for at least the next few months, so we need to preserve our energy.”On Thursday, a conference will take place at Haifa University about the coronavirus. Participants from colleges and universities across Israel are expected to attend. They will receive an up-to-date overview on the world’s coronavirus morbidity and response, as well as review the Health Ministry’s guidelines.The country has expanded the number of hospitals that can treat coronavirus patients. On Tuesday, Rambam Medical Center opened an isolation unit . On Wednesday, the Rabin Medical Center-Hasharon Campus in Petah Tikva and Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon also announced they were prepared to take in COVID-19 patients. The 15-year-old teenager – patient No. 13 – is being held in quarantine at Barzilai.Until now, all patients that required hospitalization have been treated at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.On Wednesday night, Shimon Dahan, an Israeli who contracted coronavirus while staying aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, was released from the hospital. Dahan was the third Israeli to contract coronavirus while in Japan, and his doctors say he does not pose a risk to anyone.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Ireland confirms second case of coronavirus

DUBLIN - Irish authorities have confirmed a second case of coronavirus, a woman in the east of the country who recently traveled to Italy, Ireland's Department of Health announced on Tuesday."Today we are confirming that Ireland has diagnosed one new case of COVID-19. The case arises in a female in the east of the country and is associated with travel from Northern Italy," Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health told a news briefing.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Coronavirus death toll in Washington state climbs to 9

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington state rose on Tuesday to 27, including nine deaths, up from 18 cases and six deaths a day earlier, the state Department of Health reported.The deaths - eight in King County and one in neighboring Snohomish County - mark the first fatalities documented in the United States from the respiratory illness. All 27 confirmed cases are clustered in those two counties in the greater Seattle area, making it the largest concentration detected to date by the U.S. public health system.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Israel set to skip Netherlands Eurovision meet & greet due to coronavirus

`` Feker Libi , '' `` Rakata , '' `` Roots '' and `` Savior in the Sound . ''

"Feker Libi," "Rakata," "Roots" and "Savior in the Sound."
The Israeli Eurovision delegation is set to skip a meet and greet in the Netherlands over fears of the coronavirus, ynet reported.According to KAN, which is in charge of all Eurovision-related matters as Israel's public broadcaster, the delegation canceled their flight to Rotterdam due to the Health Ministry guidelines, which have stated that Israelis should only fly abroad if absolutely necessary.The news comes as Israelis are set to decide the song will be sung by Israel's Eurovision representative, 19-year-old Eden Alene.The decision will be shown on a live TV broadcast Tuesday evening, and will include four songs:


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--France calls on Iran to cooperate with international nuclear watchdog

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday called on Iran to cooperate immediately and fully with international nuclear watchdog IAEA.Macron was speaking after meeting IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and the organization issued a report admonishing Iran for failing to answer its questions about past nuclear activities at three sites and for denying it access to two of them."The President wants Iran to strictly fulfill its commitments and obligations in terms of verification and is calling on Tehran to immediately and fully cooperate with the Agency," the Elysee palace statement said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Chief Taliban negotiator holds call with President Trump

The Taliban's chief negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump a few days after the two sides signed a troop withdrawal agreement in Doha, the Taliban's spokesman said on Tuesday."The President of the United States Trump @realDonaldTrump held a phone conversation with the Political Deputy of the Islamic Emirate, the respected Mullah Baradar Akhund. Details later," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter, adding in an emailed statement the call lasted more than 30 minutes.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Vatican says pope only has a cold, not related 'to other pathologies'

Pope Francis only has a cold and is "without any symptoms related to other pathologies," the Vatican said on Tuesday.The statement followed a report in an Italian newspaper that said the pope had tested negative for coronavirus. It did not say whether the pope had been given a test for the virus.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Russia says Turkey trying to push 130,000 refugees from Syria into Greece

Russia on Tuesday said that Turkey was trying to push 130,000 refugees from Syria into Greece, the Interfax news agency cited the Defence Ministry as saying.The two thirds of these refugees - that Turkey is pushing from temporary camps in Syria - are Afghans, Iraqis and Africans, not Syrians, it added.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Italian coronavirus deaths jump to 79, cases climb above 2,500

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by 27 over the past 24 hours to 79, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday.The accumulative number of cases in the country, which has been hardest hit by the virus in Europe, totalled 2,502, up from 2,036 on Monday.The head of the agency said that of those originally infected, 160 people had fully recovered.The contagion came to light 12 days ago and is focused mainly on a handful of hotspots in the north of Italy. However, cases have now been confirmed in all but one of the country's 20 regions.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Coronavirus more deadly than flu but containable - WHO's Tedros

About 3.4% of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died, far above seasonal flu's fatality rate of under 1%, but the novel coronavirus can be contained, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a Geneva news conference: "To summarize, COVID-19 spreads less efficiently than flu, transmission does not appear to be driven by people who are not sick, it causes more severe illness than flu, there are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics, and it can be contained."Tedros said that he had spoken with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to open in July. "I think deciding now would be too early, it would be good to monitor the situation," he said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Likud aims at Gesher's Orly Levy-Abecassis to join government - report

If the party fails to convince Levy-Abecassis , the Likud will try and change the law that establishes limits on @ @ @ @ @ single MKs be allowed to leave their parties .

If the party fails to convince Levy-Abecassis, the Likud will try and change the law that establishes limits on dissolving parties and request that single MKs be allowed to leave their parties.
The Likud Party has decided to try and convince Gesher Party leader Orly Levy-Abecassis to join a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to KAN news. The decision was made to drop the other MKs marked as possible defectors from the left-center bloc in the meantime since Levy-Abecassis leads her own faction.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Merkel calls for safety zones in northern Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told fellow conservative lawmakers that she is in favour of setting up safety zones in northern Syria where Turkey is in a deepening standoff with Russia, two participants at the meeting told Reuters on Tuesday.Merkel also critizised Russian President Vladimir Putin for refusing to take part in a four-way meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron to de-escalate the Syrian crisis, the parliamentary sources added.The RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying earlier on Tuesday that Putin discussed the situation in Syria's Idlib region with Merkel in a telephone call.The call came as fighting intensified in Syria's Idlib region where Turkey and allied rebels are battling Russia-backed Syrian government forces. Nearly a million people have been displaced there in recent months.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--France says Syrian govt, Russia likely committing war crimes in Idlib

France's foreign minister on Tuesday accused the Syrian government and Russia of probably carrying out war crimes in their offensive in northwestern Syrian and said Paris would document them."The offensive by the Syrian government is made possible by Russian air support and marked by systematic violations of human rights," Jean-Yves Le Drian told lawmakers."It's for this reason that I say... that we consider today that these violations are possibly liable to being considered war crimes and we will document them."


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--France reports country's fourth coronavirus death

On Monday evening , French health authorities reported 191 confirmed cases of coronavirus and said three people had died so @ @ @ @ @

A fourth person has died in France due to a coronavirus infection, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. It gave no detail on the person's age or nationality.
On Monday evening, French health authorities reported 191 confirmed cases of coronavirus and said three people had died so far from the disease.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--N.Korea says recent military drills not meant to threaten anyone

The sister of North Korea's leader defended recent military drills in the country, saying they were not meant to threaten anyone, according to a statement carried by state news agency KCNA on Tuesday.North Korean troops carried out a "strike drill" of two rocket launch systems on Monday, personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.In Tuesday's statement, Kim's sister and senior government official Kim Yo Jong, described South Korean criticism of the missile launches as disingenuous.A recent decision to postpone a joint U.S.-South Korea military drill was made because of worries about the spreading coronavirus, and not because of a desire for peace, she said.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--U.S. willing to give Turkey ammunition for Syria's Idlib

The United States is willing to provide ammunition alongside humanitarian assistance to Turkey in Syria's war-torn Idlib region, the U.S. special representative for the region James Jeffrey said on Tuesday."Turkey is a NATO ally. Much of the military uses American equipment. We will make sure that equipment is ready and usable," Jeffrey told reporters.Separately the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, David Satterfield, said at the briefing that Washington is examining Ankara's request for air defense systems.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Trump accepted Putin's proposal to hold U.N. Security Council summit

U.S. President Donald Trump accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to hold a meeting of the U.N Security Council's five permanent members, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Tuesday.Russia expects the time and location of the summit to be agreed soon, Lavrov said.A senior U.S. administration official last week said Trump was willing to meet the leaders of Russia, China, Britain and France with the aim of discussing arms control.


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--Amid coronavirus outbreak, Iran's Khamenei says 'wash your hands'

Speaking on state TV , he also described the outbreak as `` not something extraordinary . ''
Iran has had the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China , where it originated , and several officials have been infected -- including the head of Iran 's emergency medical services , ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday .
The death of one top official was reported on Monday .
Khamenei said government bodies and the armed forces should give full support to the health ministry and that Iranian authorities have dealt transparently with the virus 's spread .
`` Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the responsible authorities in terms of prevention , in terms of keeping hands , face and living environment clean and not infecting these and preventing the infection of these , '' he said .
Khamenei also said the outbreak should not be overblown .
`` The issue is an issue that will pass .
It 's not something extraordinary , '' he said .
`` I do n't want to minimize the issue but let 's not make it very big either .
`` It 's an issue that has occurred , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be very long . ''
Separately , Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said 2,336 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Iran .
`` Based on the latest statistics that have been compiled there have been an additional 835 definite new infections .
Unfortunately we have 11 new deaths , '' he told state TV .
`` With these numbers the definite number of new infections is 2,336 and the definite number of deaths has reached 77 . ''
Those infected with coronavirus include head of emergency medical services , Pirhossein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mesri said 23 members of parliament have been infected , according to state TV-affiliated website YJC .
He did not specify when they had been infected .
`` Meetings between people and the representatives have been temporarily stopped , '' Mesri was quoted as saying .

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Iranians should follow the recommendations of authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as the deputy health minister reported more infections and a higher death toll of 77.
Speaking on state TV, he also described the outbreak as "not something extraordinary."
Iran has had the highest number of deaths from coronavirus outside China, where it originated, and several officials have been infected -- including the head of Iran's emergency medical services, ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
The death of one top official was reported on Monday.
Khamenei said government bodies and the armed forces should give full support to the health ministry and that Iranian authorities have dealt transparently with the virus's spread.
"Don't violate the recommendations and instructions of the responsible authorities in terms of prevention, in terms of keeping hands, face and living environment clean and not infecting these and preventing the infection of these," he said.
Khamenei also said the outbreak should not be overblown.
"The issue is an issue that will pass. It's not something extraordinary," he said. "I don't want to minimize the issue but let's not make it very big either.
"It's an issue that has occurred, it's for a period ... that inshallah will not be very long."
Separately, Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said 2,336 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Iran.
"Based on the latest statistics that have been compiled there have been an additional 835 definite new infections. Unfortunately we have 11 new deaths," he told state TV.
"With these numbers the definite number of new infections is 2,336 and the definite number of deaths has reached 77."
Those infected with coronavirus include head of emergency medical services, Pirhossein Kolivand, ILNA reported.
Lawmaker Abdolreza Mesri said 23 members of parliament have been infected, according to state TV-affiliated website YJC. He did not specify when they had been infected.
"Meetings between people and the representatives have been temporarily stopped," Mesri was quoted as saying.
The announcement in a short period of time of dozens of deaths and hundreds of infections from coronavirus has led some Iranians on social media to accuse authorities of a cover


jerusalempost--2020-03-03--UK health minister confirms total of 51 coronavirus cases

Earlier , the government unveiled its `` battle plan '' to tackle the spread of coronavirus , warning that as @ @ @ @ @ employees could be off work at the peak of the outbreak .

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain has risen to 51, health minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday, up from 39 the previous day.
Earlier, the government unveiled its "battle plan" to tackle the spread of coronavirus, warning that as many as a fifth of employees could be off work at the peak of the outbreak.
"As of 9.00 a.m. today there were 51 confirmed cases in the UK and it is becoming more likely we will see widespread transmission here in this country," Hancock told parliament.


jerusalempost--2020-03-04--Iran's first vice president has coronavirus, IranWire reports

IranWire cited an `` informed source . ''
There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian officials .

The IranWire news site reported on Wednesday that Iran's first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri has tested positive for coronavirus and is undergoing treatment.
IranWire cited an "informed source." There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian officials.
Several Iranian officials have been infected with the coronavirus and one senior official died from a coronavirus infection on Monday.