U.S. State Department Now Advising Citizens To Not Travel To China Due To The Coronavirus Outbreak

Passengers leave LAX after arriving from Shanghai, China, after a positive case of the coronavirus was announced in the Orange County suburb of Los Angeles, California, January 26. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu

Reuters: U.S. tells citizens not to travel to China as virus toll tops 200

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. government warned Americans not to travel to China as the death toll from a new coronavirus reached 213 on Friday and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency.

A new State Department travel advisory raised the warning for China to the same level as Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a notice posted on its website, the department said: “Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China.”

The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the epidemic, had risen to 204 and there were 9,692 cases of infection nationally as of Thursday, Chinese health authorities said. A total of 129 cases have been reported in 22 other countries and regions, with no deaths outside China.

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Update #1: US advises against travel to China over virus outbreak (AP)
Update #2: Coronavirus: US says ‘do not travel to China’ as death toll hits 213 with 43 fatalities in country’s worst day yet (SCMP)

WNU Editor: I will not be surprised if in the next day or two almost every country in the world will be issuing the same warning.

Report: Trump Administration To Allow US Troops To Use Landmines By Overturning Obama Ban

Soldiers of the 789th Ordnance Company prepare a cache of landmines, mortars and 107mm rockets to be disposed of by a high explosives charge, near Besmaya region southeast of Baghdad. Army researchers are designing smarter, safer and more mobile landmines for future operations. (Army)

Daily Mail: Trump to allow US troops to use landmines by overturning Obama ban - but they will have 30 day self-destruct function

* Donald Trump will reportedly allow US troops to use landmines again by overturning an Obama administration ban
* The explosives that have killed about 130,000 civilians over the past 20 years
* Pentagon sources told CNN the change was to make sure countries such as Russia or China will not be able to get access to critical terrain
* It's based off a Secretary of Defense-led review launched in 2017 which found lack of landmines outside of Korea 'increased risk to mission success'
* Since 1993 it has cost about $3.6billion to clear excess weapons and explosives from over 100 countries, many of them African
* The woman who received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize together with International Campaign to Ban Landmines, blasted the decision Thursday

Donald Trump will allow US troops to use landmines again by overturning an Obama administration ban on the explosives that have killed about 130,000 civilians over the past two decades, a report says.

In the coming days the president is expected to loosen the restrictions set in 2014 in line with the Ottawa Treaty's aim to prevent the production, stockpiling and transfer of the weapons of war.

But troops will only be able to use mines that self-destruct or self-deactivate in 30 days as the US prepares to be well equipped in case of major conflict with a 'great power'.

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More News On Reports That The Trump Administration Will Allow US Troops To Use Landmines By Overturning Obama Ban

Exclusive: State Department cable reveals new Trump policy expanding landmine use -- VOX News
Trump to reportedly allow use of landmines, reversing Obama-era policy -- The Guardian
Trump administration expected to loosen restrictions on use of landmines -- CNN
Trump administration to roll back restrictions on land mine use: report -- The Hill
Trump Administration Expected to Loosen Military’s Limits on Land Mines -- The New York Times
White House Prepares to Expand Ability to Use Land Mines -- Bloomberg

You Can Track The Spread Of The Wuhan Coronavirus From This Website

ABC News Online: Coronavirus map tracks the spread of the virus across the world

The coronavirus is spreading far beyond the confines of the Chinese fish market where symptoms were first reported — now you can track its spread.

Johns Hopkins University's Centre for Systems Science and Engineering in the US has launched a map visualising confirmed cases of the virus, which originated in Wuhan.

Confirmed cases are marked with red dots, which vary in size according to the amount of confirmed cases in the area shown.

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WNU Editor: The link to Johns Hopkins University's Centre for Systems Science and Engineering coronavirus map is here.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 30, 2020

Frederick Kempe, CNBC: The coronavirus joins tough list of 2020 tests for China’s global leadership

* Kishore Mahbubeni, the Singaporean author and intellectual, is promoting his new book, “Has China Won?”
* The cover blurb announces that he will explain “how, while America became arrogant and distracted, a three-thousand-year-old civilization is well on the way to becoming the number one power in the world.”
* The year ahead is likely to provide the most profound trial yet for that thesis and for the durability of China’s rise.

Davos, Switzerland – “Has China Won?”

Kishore Mahbubeni, the Singaporean author and intellectual, greets me warmly in a conference lounge here and hands me a card promoting the March release of his new book, bearing that provocative question as its title.

The cover blurb announces that he will explain “how, while America became arrogant and distracted, a three-thousand-year-old civilization is well on the way to becoming the number one power in the world.”

The year ahead is likely to provide the most profound trial yet for that thesis and for the durability of China’s rise.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 30, 2020

China’s virus response has been ‘breathtaking’ -- Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

Factbox: Latest on the coronavirus spreading in China and beyond -- Reuters

Will the Wuhan virus become a pandemic? -- The Economist

The Guardian view on Libya and foreign interference: talking peace, shipping arms -- Guardian editorial

Bribes, lies and a dead man’s vote rock Indonesia -- John McBeth, Asia Times

‘Two different political cultures’: A divided Scotland braces for Brexit -- Tom Wheeldon, France 24

Iran’s Regional Armed Network -- Kali Robinson, Council on Foreign Relations

Trump's Nuclear Waivers Irk Washington's Iran Hawks -- Matthew Petti, National Interest

The Goal Isn't Peace, It's Power -- Robert Malley & Aaron David Miller, Politico

What Sort of Revolution Does Bernie Sanders Want? -- Amitai Etzioni, National Interest

Is this the end of the liberal international order? And what might take its place? -- Antony Funnell, ABC News Online

How Third-Worldism Can Be Reimagined Today -- Howard W. French, WPR

Why the Doomsday Clock is Wrong -- Patty-Jane Gelle, National Interest

World News Briefs -- January 30, 2020

Reuters: China virus death toll tops 200 as WHO declares global emergency

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The death toll in China from the new coronavirus reached 213 on Friday, with overall cases worldwide rising rapidly in an outbreak that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency.

The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the epidemic, had risen to 204 and there were 9,692 cases of infection nationally as of Thursday, Chinese health authorities said. About 100 cases have been reported in at least 18 other countries, with no deaths outside China.

Even as the WHO said cases had spread to 18 countries, Italy announced its first confirmed cases, in two Chinese tourists.

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MIDDLE EAST

U.S. seeks Iraqi nod to bring in air defenses after Iran attack.

Syria war: Rebel-held Idlib 'hit by 200 air strikes in three days'.

At least 10 killed in air raid in Syria's Idlib. Deadly strikes hit Syria rebel bastion as army advances.


Arabs prioritize key ties with U.S. against Iran in reacting to Trump peace plan.

US sanctions head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization – Treasury.

Palestinians push for UN action over Trump Middle East plan.

Israel shores up West Bank and Gaza troops, protests turn violent after Trump's peace plan.

Israel's Netanyahu in Moscow to talk Trump peace deal with Putin. Putin meets Netanyahu, reserves judgement on Middle East plan.

Fire erupts on Panama-flagged oil tanker off UAE coast.

ASIA

China has confidence and capability to win the war against coronavirus: foreign ministry.

China’s U.N. envoy says Beijing assessing WHO coronavirus declaration.

China to release winter and spring vegetable reserves to ease supply shortages: Xinhua.

Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region.

Hong Kong braces for spread of coronavirus.

S Korea officials face anger over coronavirus quarantine centres.

North, South Korea close Kaesong liaison office.

Seoul: 2.5-magnitude quake detected near North Korea site.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls Chinese Communist Party the ‘central threat of our times’.

Japan prosecutors issue warrants over Ghosn escape.

AFRICA

Egypt refutes reports over coronavirus detection; urges accuracy.

More than 30 civilians killed in attacks in eastern DR Congo.

Burundi jails four journalists for 'undermining state security'.

Guinea protests: Anti-government demonstrations continue.

Libya civil war: Macron accuses Erdogan of meddling in conflict.

River Nile dam talks extended.

US general asks Europeans to do more for French in Africa.

Mali: Former junta leader to walk free while trial date pends.

EUROPE

Two first coronavirus cases confirmed in Italy: prime minister.

Coronavirus test negative for passenger aboard Italian cruise ship.

'Dawn of a new era': Johnson 'respectfully' marks Brexit day.

US says EU understands 5G risks but pushes on Huawei.

New U.S. envoy tells Russia to 'end nightmare' for jailed ex-Marine.

Brexit: European Parliament approves UK's withdrawal agreement.

UK interest rates held as economy shows signs of picking up.

French govt, unions kick off talks on tackling pension deficit.

Macron’s party faces uphill battle in upcoming mayoral races.

US top diplomat Pompeo promises 'enormous benefits' to Brexit on UK trip.

Naama Issachar: US-Israeli woman released from Russian prison.

Greek plan to stop migrant boats with floating barriers.

AMERICAS

Trump says coronavirus outbreak is 'very well under control'.

Claim of Trump's near-absolute power riles impeachment trial.

Trump urges lawmakers to vote their heart on war authority repeal after White House threatens veto.

U.S. bans 13 El Salvadoran officials over 1989 priest killings.

Mexico cartels: Three suspects escape 'with help from guards'.

Mexico's President AMLO under fire over migration clampdown.

Argentina issues food cards to low-income families.

US life expectancy up for first time in four years.

Colombia rejects Venezuelan proposal to resume diplomatic relations.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

U.S. will not completely withdraw forces from Africa: Pentagon chief.

Isis starting to reassert itself in Middle East heartlands, UN warns.

U.N. warns of Islamic State's 'increasingly bold insurgent attacks'.

U.S. men who joined Somalia's Al-Shabaab now remorseful.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall Street reverses course to end higher after WHO comments.

China's coronavirus epidemic threatens global economy.

Coronavirus: Technology giants join China shutdown.

US economy grows at 2.3 percent in 2019, slowest year of Trump presidency.

China's Coronavirus Epidemic Will Impact The Global Economy

DW: China's coronavirus epidemic threatens global economy

The virus has emerged as a major risk to the global economy, still reeling from the impact of US-China trade war. Some of the biggest companies, including iPhone-maker Apple, are bracing for supply-chain disruptions.

The rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak in China continues to rattle global markets as investors and policymakers assess the risks posed by the SARS-like virus to the global economy

Stocks around the world took a beating as the death toll from the virus reached 170 and more cases were reported. India became the latest country to report a case — a student in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

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WNU Editor: At least this business is booming .... China virus triggers global rush for protective masks (Reuters).

More News On How China's Coronavirus Epidemic Will Impact The Global Economy

The coronavirus could be much worse for China's economy than SARS -- CNN
Fed chair sees China virus as possible risk to world economy -- AP
IMF says too soon to quantify China's coronavirus economic impact -- Reuters
Policymakers fret over risk to global growth from China virus outbreak -- Reuters
Air France suspends all flights to mainland China over cornovirus outbreak until February 9 -- France 24
Air France suspends all flights to mainland China until February 9 -- Reuters
Coronavirus: turbulent times ahead for air travellers as carriers cancel China flights -- SCMP
Factbox: Airlines suspend China flights over coronavirus -- Reuters
Coronavirus: Could it damage the global economy? -- Andrew Walker, BBC World

U.S. Response To The Coronavirus Outbreak

Daily Mail: Wuhan evacuee tries to walk off California military base halfway through mandatory 72-hour coronavirus observation period - forcing officials to issue quarantine order

* Riverside County Health officials issued a quarantine order on Thursday
* A person apparently tried to leave March Air Reserve Base before the conclusion of a mandated 72-hour quarantine period
* They were one of 195 passengers who landed at the base in Riverside, California, on Wednesday morning on an evacuation flight from Wuhan
* Passengers are being held at the base to ensure they don't pose a public risk
* The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on Thursday
* More than 8,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in 18 countries and territories and 170 people have died, all of them in China
* There are six confirmed cases and 168 possible cases in the US

A passenger on the US evacuation flight from the coronavirus outbreak epicenter in Wuhan has reportedly tried to leave a California military base less than halfway through a mandatory 72-hour observation period.

Riverside County Health officials issued a quarantine order requiring the passenger to remain at March Air Reserve Base on Thursday.

The subject of the order, who was not identified, was one of 195 passengers who landed at the base in Riverside on Wednesday morning on a flight chartered by the State Department to remove US diplomats and private citizens from the virus-stricken Chinese city of Wuhan.

All of the passengers are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms on the base for 72 hours to ensure they do not pose a risk to the public.

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More News On the U.S. Response To The Coronavirus Outbreak

210 US evacuees fleeing China’s coronavirus outbreak land at California air reserve base -- Military Times
US officials confirmed the first person-to-person spread of the coronavirus: a case in Illinois. Here's what we know about all 6 US patients. -- Business Insider
US reports its first case of person-to-person spread of new virus -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus spread from wife to husband in Chicago: official -- AFP
Trump creates task force to lead U.S. coronavirus response -- CBS
U.S. warned to prepare for worst on coronavirus -- Axios
Coronavirus in the U.S.: Map of where the virus has been confirmed across the country -- NBC

What Is Life Like For Those Who Are Living At Ground Zero Of The Coronavirus Outbreak

Business Insider: Wuhan is running low on food, hospitals are overflowing, and foreigners are being evacuated as panic sets in after a week under coronavirus lockdown

* Wuhan, a city in the Chinese province of Hubei with a population of 11 million, has been under an unprecedented quarantine since January 23 because it is the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
* The coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, had killed at least 170 people and infected more than 7,700 worldwide — the vast majority in China — as of Thursday morning.
* In just a week under quarantine, Wuhan has experienced food shortages, an overwhelming number of patients, and several evacuations of foreigners visiting the city.

The epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan, a city in the Chinese province of Hubei with a population of 11 million, has been under an unprecedented quarantine since January 23.

The coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, had killed at least 170 people and infected more than 7,700 worldwide — the vast majority in China — as of Thursday morning.

The number of Wuhan coronavirus infections in the mainland officially outstripped those of SARS on Wednesday morning. The number of SARS cases on the mainland topped out at 5,327.

SARS, which also originated in China, had spread to more countries and killed nearly 800 people worldwide from 2002 to 2003.

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WNU Editor: Blame is now being dispensed in Wuhan for this outbreak .... China coronavirus: first city health chief sacked as death toll climbs to 170 (SCMP). More here .... Politics may have stalled information in Wuhan coronavirus crisis, scientist says (SCMP)

More News On How People Are Coping In Wuhan With This Coronavirus Outbreak

A teacher's videos inside quarantined Wuhan show the streets eerily deserted and lines out the door at the pharmacy -- Business Insider
Life in the time of coronavirus: how Wuhan made it through a week in lockdown -- SCMP
'Wuhan is a ghost city': Video reveals life in a coronavirus lockdown -- Euronews
China virus fears prompt homemade barricades and online shaming -- AFP
'I'm in an apocalypse:' American student trapped in coronavirus-hit Chinese city -- Reuters
China postpones 2020 football season over virus fears -- AFP
Coronavirus chaos in China's sporting calendar -- AFP
Holed up in Wuhan, foreign students look to escape virus-hit city -- Al Jazeera
"I'm In An Apocalypse" - New Accounts From Wuhan Detail Coronavirus Outbreak -- Zero Hedge
Life Under Lockdown for Americans Evacuated From Wuhan -- Inside Edition
Stranded in Wuhan: foreigners raise call for help in virus epicentre -- AFP
French student Instagrams life in Wuhan under coronavirus quarantine -- France 24
Coronavirus Wuhan diary: Living alone in a city gone quiet -- BBC

Wuhan Coronavirus News Updates -- January 30, 2020

CNBC: WHO declares China coronavirus that’s killed 171 a global health emergency

* The World Health Organization said the fast-spreading coronavirus that’s infected more than 8,200 people across the world is a global health emergency.
* The rare designation will help the international agency mobilize financial and political support to contain the outbreak.

The World Health Organization said the fast-spreading coronavirus that’s infected more than 8,200 people across the world is a global health emergency — a rare designation that helps the international agency mobilize financial and political support to contain the outbreak.

The announcement comes just hours after the U.S. confirmed its first human-to-human transmission of the virus, which has killed at least 171 people in China and has now spread to at least 18 other countries.

Since emerging less than a month ago in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus has infected more people than the 2003 SARS epidemic, which sickened roughly 8,100 people across the globe over nine months. As of Thursday, there are at least eight cases in four countries, outside of China, of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus.

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Wuhan Coronavirus Live Updates -- January 30, 2020

Coronavirus Live Updates: W.H.O. Declares a Global Health Emergency -- The New York Times
Live updates: World Health Organization declares coronavirus outbreak a ‘public health emergency’ -- The Washington Post
Coronavirus: US reports first human-to-human transmission – live news -- The Guardian
Coronavirus death toll hits 170 — live updates -- DW
China battles coronavirus outbreak: All the latest updates -- Al Jazeera
First Case Of Human-To-Human Coronavirus Infection Confirmed In US: Live Updates -- Zero Hedge

Wuhan Coronavirus News Updates -- January 30, 2020

Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region -- BBC
Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 170 amid evacuations -- UPI
Coronavirus death toll rises to 170 as nations accelerate China evacuations -- France 24
China virus toll hits 170 as countries step up evacuation plans -- Al Jazeera
Russia closes its eastern border as killer coronavirus spreads to EVERY region of China: Death toll jumps to 170 and almost 8,300 people have caught the deadly SARS-like infection worldwide -- Daily Mail
France confirms sixth case of infection with coronavirus -- Reuters
Russia Closes Parts of Border with China to Combat Spread of Virus -- VOA
Three Japanese evacuees from Wuhan test positive for virus, two had no symptoms -- CNBC/Reuters
Philippines confirms first case of novel coronavirus -- CNN
India confirms its first coronavirus case -- CNBC
Hong Kong braces for spread of coronavirus -- Al Jazeera
Hong Kong to boost face mask stocks with prison labour -- AFP
China coronavirus reaches province near North Korea -- UPI

World Health Organization Declares The Coronavirus A Global Health Emergency

Daily Mail: Coronavirus outbreak is declared a global emergency as SIXTH case is confirmed in the US after Chicago man is infected by his wife in first person-to-person spread in North America

* The World Health Organization had declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a global health emergency
* The 'public health emergency of international concern' is the highest warning the UN health agency can give
* Just one week ago, WHO officials said it was too early to declare the outbreak an emergency
* It comes the same day that the sixth US case of coronavirus was confirmed in a Chicago man in his 60s
* This marks the first case of human-to-human transmission of the virus in America
* The man was infected by his wife, 60, who became the second person in the US to be diagnosed after she returned from a trip to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak
* The couple, who have not been identified, are now both being isolated at a suburban Chicago hospital
* Four other cases have been confirmed in Arizona, California and Washington - all of whom traveled to China
* Currently, there are 168 possible cases are under investigation in the US, 21 of which are in Illinois
* Worldwide, more than 8,000 people have been infected and 170 people - all in China - have died

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that it was declaring the deadly coronavirus outbreak spreading from China to be a global health emergency.

The warning, officially known as a 'public health emergency of international concern' and defined as an 'extraordinary event', is the highest alert the UN health agency can issue.

Just one week ago, the organization decided to hold off the declaration as there was no evidence of human-to-human evidence outside of China.

However, in the week since, the number of cases surged ten-fold.

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More News On The World Health Organization Declaring The Coronavirus A Global Heath Emergency

UN agency declares global emergency over virus from China -- AP
WHO declares global emergency as China virus death toll reaches 170 -- Reuters
World Health Organization declares coronavirus an international public health emergency -- France 24
Coronavirus: WHO declares international health emergency -- DW
China coronavirus: Global health emergency declared by World Health Organisation, reversing earlier decision on outbreak -- SCMP
Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO -- BBC
Experts say WHO’s time has come to declare coronavirus outbreak world health emergency -- SCMP
Coronavirus transmission between humans of 'grave concern' to World Health Organisation -- ABC News Online
WHO declares China coronavirus that’s killed 171 a global health emergency -- CNBC
What happens if the WHO declares the coronavirus a global health emergency? -- Michael Walsh, ABC News Online
What constitutes an international public health emergency? -- DW