Bollywood 'Oscars' called off over coronavirus

17:28, March 06, 2020

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  Thousands held on cruise ship off California over coronavirus fears

  In this file photo One of the biggest world cruise liners in the world, P&Os "Grand Princess" stays on dock in St Petersburg port, 24 May 2004. (Photo: AFP)Thousands were stranded on a cruise ship off the California coast Wednesday over fears of the new coronavirus after passengers and crew members on board developed symptoms.Officials delayed the return of the Grand Princess to San Francisco on Wednesday night from Hawaii in order to carry out testing on board for those potentially infected.A 71-year-old man who had been aboard the same vessel during its previous voyage to Mexico died after contracting the COVID-19 illness, becoming the first fatal case in California, the operator Princess Cruises and California Governor Gavin Newsom said.The ships return from its current voyage was being delayed to allow "ample timing" for testing of "a number of passengers and crew members that have developed symptoms," Newsom told a press conference."So were holding that ship, which (has) thousands of passengers as well, off the coast, and well be conducting those tests," he added.Eleven passengers and 10 crew members were potentially infected with the virus, Newsom said.Around 62 passengers who remained on board from the earlier Mexico voyage were restricted to their rooms for testing, the Princess Cruises company said in a statement to AFP.It was not specified if they were among those displaying symptoms."In an abundance of caution, these guests and other potential close crew contacts have been asked to remain in their staterooms until screened by our onboard medical team," it said.The ship held about 2,500 passengers, plus crew, said Newsom. According to the companys website, the vessel is manned by 1,150 crew.The Grand Princess belongs to Princess Cruises, the same company which operated the coronavirus-stricken ship held off Japan last month on which more than 700 people on board tested positive....

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  Saudi Arabia closes off holy sites, suspends visas over coronavirus

  Saudi Arabia on Thursday closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims over the coronavirus, disrupting travel for thousands of Muslims already headed to the kingdom and potentially affecting plans later this year for millions more ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan and the annual Hajj pilgrimage.Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in their holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, August 8, 2019. (Photo: CGTN)Mecca, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims pray toward five times a day, and the holy city of Medina will not receive any pilgrims before the ban is lifted. Officials in the kingdom said the ban was temporary, but gave no indication how long it might last.The unprecedented move, which wasnt taken even during the 1918 flu epidemic that killed tens of millions worldwide, showed the growing worry about the virus across the Middle East, which now has more than 360 confirmed cases.On the same day, the Saudi ministry of tourism also suspended issuing electronic tourist visas for those coming from China, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Kazakhstan, nations which are hit by the virus the hardest.The ministry also decided to suspend work on tourist visas previously issued to citizens of these countries.Hajj attracts about 3 million Muslims from around the world every year, making the holy shrines one of the most densely packed areas in the world. Accidents almost always occur during each Hajj. In 2015, for example, some 2,000 pilgrims were killed during a stampede. Every Muslim is required to visit Mecca during the Hajj at least once in his or her lifetime.The regions hardest-hit nation is Iran, which is Saudi Arabias biggest nearby rival, with the death toll reaching at least 26, the largest behind only China, where the epidemic began.The number of infections in Iran has spiked by over 100 to at least 254, but a World Health Organization official said ...

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  Stocks get lift from Joe Biden's big day

  S&P Global Ratings said the coronavirus outbreak, also called COVID-19, will trim US growth in the first half of the year but the economy will strengthen in the second half.53 percent, and closed at 27,090. "Investors fear Bernie (Sanders) because he wants to cut off the head of capitalism by