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This is People’s Daily app.
Here are today’s picks from our editors.
WHO characterizes COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide.
"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time," WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.
Tedros said describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO's assessment of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus and it doesn't change what the WHO is doing and countries should do. (Xinhua)
China sends anti-epidemic expert team to Italy to help fight COVID-19
China on Wednesday sent an expert medical team to Italy to help fight the epidemic and bring humanitarian relief supplies to support Italy in fighting against COVID-19.
The expert group was led by a vice president of the Red Cross Society of China and an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Five other experts from Sichuan Province were also appointed to participate.
Italy has been hit hardest by COVID-19 outside China with confirmed cases breaking 10,000 on Tuesday. It extended COVID-19 quarantine measures to the entire country on Monday night, which bans public gatherings, suspends all sporting events and restricts travelling abroad unless for emergencies. (CGTN)
46 tourists stuck on virus-hit Nile cruise boat fly home
Egyptian authorities said Wednesday that 46 French and US tourists who had been quarantined on a coronavirus-hit Nile cruise boat have flown home.
They were among dozens of foreign tourists and Egyptian crew who had been either confined to the vessel or hospitalized after an outbreak of the virus.
A health ministry statement said that the repatriated French and American tourists had left the A-Sara cruise boat overnight, noting that 45 people aboard the vessel had previously tested positive for the virus. (AFP)
Joe Biden has another big primary night, wins 4 more US states
Joe Biden decisively won Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders’ insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice president's victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden's path to the nomination.
Biden again showed strength Tuesday with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination. Sanders' narrow hopes for good news rested on North Dakota and Washington state. (AP)
Afghan President Ghani signs decree to release Taliban prisoners
The Afghan government will gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting this week if the insurgents significantly reduce violence, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman said early Wednesday, seeking to resolve a dispute that has delayed peace talks between the militants and Kabul.
The announcement came hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in Doha last month.
The government will "release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a gesture of goodwill" starting Saturday, with another 3,500 to be freed after negotiations begin, spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. (AFP)
FAA waives rules that led airlines to fly empty planes
US Federal regulators waived a rule Wednesday that was causing airlines to fly nearly empty planes just to avoid losing takeoff and landing rights at major airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would suspend the rule through May 31 to help airlines that are canceling flights because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The FAA assigns takeoff and landing rights, or “slots,” at a few big, congested airports. Airlines must use 80 percent of their highly coveted slots or risk forfeiting them. (AP)
White scores 20, commits 9 TOs as Bulls beat Cavaliers
Coby White scored 20 points to help offset a career-high nine turnovers in his first NBA start, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-103 on Tuesday night.
The Bulls won their 22nd game to match their total from last season, though they didn’t think it would take this long. They expected to make a bigger jump sooner in the Eastern Conference. (AP)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
On what continent can you find wild gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos?
(Answer: Africa.)
Today’s quote is from English poet William Blake (1757-1827).
"The soul of sweet delight, can never be defiled."
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)