NBC: Coronavirus fears empty streets in some of the world's busiest cities
An eerie quiet has settled upon normally teeming streets and squares as many residents opt to stay home.
The coronavirus epidemic has had a ripple effect on some of the world's busiest cities, with fears of the highly contagious virus emptying cafes, public squares and streets in China, South Korea, Japan and Italy, among other countries.
The streets of Seoul, the South Korean capital, stood nearly empty this week. Those who do venture out wear masks. The normally busy subways have few passengers and riders make sure to sit far away from one another. Many residents are relying on grocery and restaurant delivery apps.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Relief operations in Syria's Idlib overwhelmed: U.N. official.
U.S. willing to give Turkey ammunition for Syria's Idlib.
Turkey, Russia face off in Syria as fighting escalates, plane shot down.
Turkey shoots down 3rd Syrian fighter jet in 3 days. Turkey shoots down third plane as Syrian forces retake town.
Erdogan demands Syrian army withdrawal, says its losses just beginning.
Iran's emergency services chief becomes country's highest ranking official to be infected with coronavirus, which has now affected eight per cent of regime's parliament.
Iran's enriched uranium stocks 5 times over nuke deal limit: IAEA.
U.N.'s nuclear chief to Iran: Cooperate or face new crisis.
US lawmakers seek to force intelligence release on Khashoggi death.
Netanyahu leading in Israeli election exit polls.
Israel election: Netanyahu begins coalition talks.
ASIA
Trump says he spoke to a Taliban leader, had ‘good talk’.
Taliban attack Afghan army bases, throwing peace talks into doubt.
Coronavirus: Singapore extends entry ban to cover Italy, Iran and all South Korea.
Coronavirus: China orders travellers quarantined amid outbreak.
Coronavirus situation in North Korea remains unclear, could be specially deadly, expert says.
N. Korean leader Kim's sister condemns South over drill comments.
Pakistan calls on Kabul to abide by Taliban prisoner swap deal.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to US says her nation is warily hopeful they will finally live in peace.
Pakistan wants former PM Nawaz Sharif returned from Britain.
AFRICA
Algeria confirms three new coronavirus cases.
Guinea-Bissau Supreme Court accuses army of occupying courts.
Lesotho politics: Prime minister under pressure to resign.
Libya shifts flights from Tripoli to Misrata amid heavier bombing.
Libya civil war: Tribal loyalties tested as violence continues.
Libya conflict: 'Stressed' Ghassan Salame resigns as UN envoy.
Nile Dam: Ethiopia calls US view "totally unacceptable".
Ethiopia detains 13 Canadians accused of improperly practising medicine.
South Africa slips into 2nd recession in two years.
Somalia agrees offshore oil exploration roadmap with Shell/Exxon: minister.
Last Ebola patient in Congo leaves treatment centre.
EUROPE
Exclusive: EU fumes at Turk migration 'blackmail', mulls more money for Ankara.
Kremlin critic Navalny says bank accounts frozen.
Ukraine Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk resigns for second time.
EU offers Greece migration support amid mounting refugee crisis.
EU chief says Greece is Europe's shield in migrant crisis.
Russia rejects UN war crime accusations.
Swiss army strife: Country confines ALL of its soldiers to their military bases after one tested positive for coronavirus.
Vatican says pope only has a cold, symptoms not related 'to other pathologies'.
12 European nations urge EU for quicker climate goals.
UK universities strike: More than a million students miss class.
AMERICAS
Chile capital rocked by violent anti-government rallies.
Resurgent Biden starts Super Tuesday with big Virginia win.
Millions of US primary voters head to polls as 'Super Tuesday' gets under way.
Coronavirus: US in emergency rate cut as coronavirus spreads. Fed cuts interest rates by half a percentage point amid coronavirus fears.
Trump criticizes Fed rate cut as insufficient: 'More easing and cutting!'.
Sun Princess cruise ship met by violent protests upon docking at Réunion island amid coronavirus concerns.
At least 22 dead in US state of Tennessee following tornadoes.
Southwest Valley Constructors receives $175.4M for border wall in Texas.
Colombia coca crop: Trump tells Duque to resume spraying.
Haiti's president picks new prime minister to tackle socio-political crisis.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Egypt sentences 37 to death including top ISIL leader.
How ISIS operates in Iraq’s disputed territories.
A coordinated Jihadist campaign menaces the Sahel.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Dow closes down nearly 800 points as stocks fall sharply despite emergency interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve - the first since 2008 - to 'offset coronavirus impact'. Dow sinks 2.9% after rate cut fails to stem market’s dread.
OECD lowers global growth forecast by 0.5% over coronavirus, lowest since 2008 crisis.
Coronavirus: G7 finance ministers 'ready to tackle economic hit'.
OPEC to try to stem oil price plunge amid coronavirus slowdown.
Twitter tells ALL 5,000 employees around the world to work from home to avoid spread of coronavirus and makes it mandatory for those in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.
