CHINA At least 10 people were killed in the collapse of Chinese hotel that was being used to isolate people who had arrived from other parts of China hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said yesterday. More on p6
SYRIA At least 26 Iraqis were among those killed in a Syrian highway accident last week, in which a fuel truck collided with passenger buses and other cars, Iraqi’s foreign ministry spokesman said yesterday. Ahmad al-Sahhaf said at least 16 Iraqis were also injured in what he described as a “regretful” traffic accident, and not a militant attack.
SAUDI ARABIA’s King Salman was shown in state media yesterday in apparent good health and working, just days after the arrest of two senior princes triggered speculation about a possible coup attempt or a sudden deterioration in the king’s health. Two people close to the royal family said Saturday that the two princes were under arrest for not supporting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consolidated control of all major levers of power inside the kingdom with the support of his father, King Salman.
AUSTRIA Six people were killed in two separate avalanches in the Austrian Alps yesterday, Austrian authorities said. Five snowshoers who were hiking in central Austria were hit by one avalanche at about 9:30 a.m., Austria’s APA news agency reported. Several people witnessed the avalanche and immediately informed emergency services, but the hikers, believed to be from the Czech Republic, were already dead by the time rescuers got to them.
GREECE A fire broke out at a refugee center on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece’s firefighting service said yesterday, causing considerable damage to a warehouse but no injuries. It was the second fire at an installation built for migrants, after a reception center was burned down by unknown perpetrators last Monday. The warehouse, which contained furniture and electrical appliances, was completely destroyed.
KYRGYSTAN Police in the capital of Kyrgyzstan have detained about 60 people after an unauthorized rally to mark International Women’s Day was broken up by a group of men. The disorder took place yesterday at a main square in Bishkek. Demonstrators gathered for a rally to express support for women’s and children’s rights, but unidentified males barged into the gathering.
UK Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will fulfill their final royal commitment when they appear today at the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. It’s the last time they will be seen at work with the entire royal Windsor clan before they fly off into self-imposed exile in North America.
ITALY announced a sweeping quarantine yesterday for its northern regions, igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of a quarter of its people in a bid to halt the new coronavirus’ relentless march across Europe. Shortly after midnight, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a decree affecting 16 million people in the country’s prosperous north, including the Lombardy region and at least 14 provinces in neighboring regions. The extraordinary measures will be in place until April 3.
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