World News Briefs -- February 7, 2020

The Guardian: Wuhan facing 'wartime conditions' as China tries to contain coronavirus

With businesses around the world suffering, Beijing steps up efforts in fight against the outbreak

Increasingly desperate officials in the quarantined centre of the coronavirus outbreak have tightened controls on an already frightened population, likening the growing crisis to “wartime conditions”.

Authorities in Wuhan city have started going door to door checking temperatures, rounding up suspected coronavirus patients for forcible quarantine in stadiums and exhibition centres that are serving as warehouses for the sick, the New York Times reported.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Syrian army enters key town in Idlib after clashes with opposition fighters.

Turkey sends troops to border to repel Syrian gov't forces.

Inquiry strikes blow to Russian denials of Syria chemical attack.

Syria war: UN warning of 'humanitarian catastrophe'.

'Hopeful again': Iraqi protesters hail Ayatollah Sistani's speech.

Nearly 550 killed in Iraq protest violence: commission.

Israel deploys more troops day after Palestinians killed.

ASIA

Coronavirus latest: More than 30,000 infected in China.

New coronavirus infected 40 staff in single Wuhan hospital: study.

China hits back at international travel bans as concerns grow coronavirus could damage economy.

Coronavirus: panic buying shows no sign of ending in Hong Kong as shoppers urge government to try to restore public’s confidence. Coronavirus: Hong Kong imposes quarantine rules on mainland Chinese.

Coronavirus: Dozens more catch virus on quarantined cruise ship.

Vietnam to quarantine 950 people returning from China at military camps.

Afghanistan drug addiction on the rise as conflict continues.

Former South Korea spy chief jailed for political meddling.

AFRICA

Turkey deploys extremists to Libya, local militias say.

Beheadings, kidnappings amid surge in Mozambique attacks: UN.

Five C.African militia chiefs given life terms over war crimes.

Malawi elections: Concerns over delayed presidential poll. Malawi electoral commission seeks to suspend annulment of vote.

Sudanese army supports Al-Burhan’s normalisation approach to Israel.

Armed ecoguards funded by WWF 'beat up Congo tribespeople'.

Botswana auctions off permits to hunt elephants.

EUROPE

New coronavirus cases in UK, Germany and Italy take Europe’s total to 31.

Germany plans new flight for citizens still in Wuhan.

Coronavirus: Russian media hint at US conspiracy.

Belarus leader in Russia for ‘moment of truth’ with Putin.

Macron unveils nuclear doctrine, warns EU ‘cannot remain spectators’ in arms race. France's Macron calls on Europe to push international nuclear arms control.

German AfD-backed leader to stay on temporarily.

Spain abandoning the poor despite economic recovery, says UN envoy.

AMERICAS

Trump discusses coronavirus with China's Xi.

Trump says Congress should 'expunge' his impeachment.

Iowa caucuses results are in but chaos and confusion reign as no clear winner emerges.

Plan to probe Bidens sparks GOP divisions.

Coronavirus: first Canadian evacuees from Wuhan arrive in Canada.

Russia foreign minister slams U.S. sanctions during visit to Venezuela.

Mexican president to hold raffle over predecessor's plane.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

French soldiers kill more than 30 Islamist militants in Mali - army.

Egyptian Army vows to ‘uproot terrorism’ in Sinai.

Trump announces death of al-Qaeda leader in Yemen after US strike.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Coronavirus: Xi Jinping reassured Donald Trump trade deal goal will be met, says White House adviser Larry Kudlow.

Ericsson pulls out of world’s biggest mobile event amid coronavirus outbreak.

Credit Suisse CEO resigns after spying scandal.

World's most expensive whiskies go up for sale.