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Coronavirus news: death toll rises in Italy and Iran as outbreak could cause 2008-level economic damage - live updates Britain’s chief medical officer says mass gatherings could be cancelled. Meanwhile, experts say virus could trigger 2008-level economic damageCoronavirus ‘could trigger economic damage on scale of 2008 crisis’US news: five questions Donald Trump must answerCoronavirus map: how Covid-19 is spreading across the worldShare your experiences 5.51pm GMTThe director of the Wellcome Trust has called for the world bank to spend $10bn on the crisis.Jeremy Farrar said an urgent commitment of $10 billion (£7.7bn), “with more to follow as needed,” was “essential” from the World Bank to “underpin the public health measures in low-...

Covid-19: what we know and do not know about the coronavirus Reports woman tested positive for a second time show there are still many unknownsCoronavirus – latest updatesReports that a woman in Japan has tested positive for the Covid-19 disease for a second time, after seemingly recovering, will alarm scientists and public health experts trying to control the spreading epidemic, and underlines how much we still do not know.There are a number of possible explanations for the second positive test of the woman, in her late 40s, a resident of Osaka who worked as a tourbus guide. She first tested positive for coronavirus in late January and was discharged from hospital on 1 February after recovering, before testing negative on 6 February. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Please visit Chinatown': coronavirus fears empty San Francisco district The historic neighborhood has seen business plummet as tourists stay away despite Nancy Pelosi insisting it is ‘very safe’Most days you can’t walk through San Francisco’s historic Chinatown without bumping into a tourist’s extended arm, readying for a camera-phone photo.Lunchtime in particular is usually a bustling affair. But on a recent weekday at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that has dominated Asian countries across the Pacific Ocean, there was a noticeable absence of foot traffic. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Judge me fairly': man who starved to death's plea to welfare officials Handwritten letter found in Errol Graham’s flat, where he died after his benefits were cutHave you been affected by changes to disability welfare payments? Errol Graham, a desperately ill man who died of starvation when his benefits were cut off, wrote a moving letter pleading with welfare officials to “judge me fairly” because he was overwhelmed by depression.The handwritten letter, seen by the Guardian, was released by Graham’s family as they launched a legal attempt to prove that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acted unlawfully and put him at risk by failing to put in place effective safeguards to protect vulnerable benefit claimants. Continue reading... Go to Source

Syrian rebels retake key town in Idlib from Assad forces Turkish-backed fighters regain Saraqib as conflict continues despite calls for ceasefireTurkish-backed Syrian rebels have retaken a key town from Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the country’s last opposition-held territory of Idlib, as fighting continued despite growing international calls for a ceasefire.Videos sent by rebel fighters in the town of Saraqib on Thursday showed men cheering and waving the flag of the Syrian opposition on otherwise empty streets strewn with rubble and other debris. Continue reading... Go to Source

Heathrow third runway ruled illegal over climate change Appeal court says decision to give go-ahead not consistent with Paris agreementPlans for a third runway at Heathrow airport have been ruled illegal by the court of appeal because ministers did not adequately take into account the government’s climate change commitments.The ruling is a major blow to the project at a time when public concern about the climate emergency is rising fast and the government has set a target in law of net zero emissions by 2050. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, could use the ruling to abandon the project, or the government could draw up a new policy document to approve the runway. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK says it will consider walking away from Brexit talks in June Negotiating mandate reveals Johnson seeks Canada-style deal and ‘regulatory freedom’Latest politics news – liveBoris Johnson is asking the EU for a Canada-style trade deal but will consider whether to walk away from talks in June and prepare for an “orderly” exit from the transition period.Setting out its negotiating mandate for EU talks, Downing Street said it wanted “regulatory freedom” from the EU and would not accept any role for the European court of justice (ECJ) in dispute resolution mechanisms. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus latest updates: Australia initiates emergency plan as Trump says risk to US is 'very low' Losses on Asian stock markets mount as Saudi Arabia bans entry of religious pilgrims over virus fears. Follow our live news Trump puts VP Pence in charge of US responseStaff at Australian hospital racially abused over coronavirus panicMore new cases outside China than inside, says WHOCoronavirus map: how Covid-19 is spreading across the worldInquiry opens into hospitals at centre of Italy outbreak 5.42am GMTIn Australia, the Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos says hospitals have reported racism toward both medical staff and patients as fears of coronavirus grow.Mikakos told reporters at the Royal Children’s hospital in Melbourne on Thursday: 5.37am GMTOK we have sought confir...

New coronavirus case in northern California may be first with no link to travel CDC says person is not known to have traveled to outbreak zone, suggesting virus may be spreading within communityUS health officials have confirmed a new case of coronavirus infection in California that could be a sign that the virus is spreading in an American community.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the case on Wednesday night and said it concerned a person in northern California who had no known travel to a country where a virus outbreak has been taking place, or connection to a known patient. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ministers preparing for potential big jump in coronavirus cases Government planning public information campaign amid concerns of an Italy-sized outbreakCoronavirus latest – live updatesMinisters are racing to prepare the UK for a potential sudden increase in the spread of the coronavirus, with officials fearing it could take just 72 hours for an outbreak the size of Italy’s to take hold.Amid growing concerns around the world about the pace of the virus’s spread, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the government would launch a mass public information campaign giving advice on how to react to suspected cases and guard against infection. Continue reading... Go to Source

Five questions Donald Trump must answer on coronavirus The president will address the US on Wednesday about the government’s response – which has so far been muddledDonald Trump will address the public on Wednesday night to discuss the government’s response to coronavirus, which US health officials say has entered a new phase.The president has expressed optimism, but that does not mesh with warnings from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the respiratory illness is likely to cause “severe disruption” to the lives of ordinary Americans. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: is it safe to travel and should children be kept home? What to do if you have a holiday planned and what does self-isolation involve?Coronavirus – latest updatesIf a doctor suspects a person has the virus, they will swab the person’s nose and throat and, if they are able to produce sputum, get a sputum sample and send these to a Public Health England laboratory. Scientists then amplify genetic material called RNA in the samples and look for sections that match the virus’s RNA. The test takes 24 to 48 hours. Once the result is available it is sent back to the clinician who informs the person whether they tested positive or not. Continue reading... Go to Source

Banned City trader an organiser of Tories' Black and White ball Jay Rutland part of event committee that fundraised for annual Conservative partyThe phone tycoon who arranged Boris Johnson’s £15,000 Caribbean holiday and a businessman who has been banned from City trading are among 11 Conservative supporters who helped organise the party’s fundraising ball, the Guardian can disclose.A leaked document shows that the party’s annual Black and White fundraising event on Tuesday was organised by a committee that includes the Carphone Warehouse founder, David Ross, who called in a favour to provide the prime minister and his girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, with a free holiday in Mustique over the new year. Continue reading... Go to Source

Samaritans drop new chief executive after bullying claims Charity abandons appointment of Alzheimer’s Society boss after Guardian revealed claims of toxic cultureSamaritans have abandoned the appointment of their new CEO after a Guardian investigation revealed claims that the Alzheimer’s Society paid out as much as £750,000 to staff who signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) during his tenure there.Jeremy Hughes will no longer be taking the helm at the suicide prevention charity following whistleblower allegations that he displayed bullying behaviour to staff and presided over a toxic culture at the dementia charity. Continue reading... Go to Source