Birth of a pandemic: inside the first weeks of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan
Interviews with patients, medical workers and residents reveal delays that had consequences for the city, the world and China’s leadership
The Huanan seafood wholesale market in central Wuhan was the kind of place where people often caught colds. Vendors started setting up as early as 3am, plunging their hands into buckets of cold water as they cleaned and prepared produce for the customers that arrived every morning.
The sprawling market of more than 20 streets spanned two sides of a main road in an upscale neighbourhood of the commercial district of Hankou. Racks of meat were hung on hooks or spilled out on plastic mats. Workers walked around in welly boots. Drains lined the kerb alongside stores selling everything from live poultry to seafood and cooking ingredients. It was crowded but clean.
Coronavirus: US officials knew of Wuhan health crisis in November, a second report claims
Repeated warnings made to White House throughout December, says US media
A second report has claimed that the US collected intelligence pointing to a public health crisis in Wuhan as far back as November, after officials dismissed allegations earlier this week.
On Wednesday, ABC News said that the National Center for Medical Intelligence had known of a spreading contagion in the Chinese city in November and later presented the White House and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) with its findings on “multiple” occasions.
Repeated warnings were made throughout December, ABC News claims, before a detailed explanation of the issue appeared in Donald Trump’s daily intelligence briefing in January.
Religious celebrations in the time of coronavirus
Easter, Passover, Ramadan — how can the faithful fulfill their religious obligations when large gatherings are forbidden due to the coronavirus. Sabine Kinkartz says it's possible, but it requires a bit of creativity.
Public religious ceremonies have been banned, but the doors to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Berlin's Charlottenburg district are wide open. The church wants to remain open during these trying times to give the faithful a quiet place to pray — individually of course. Still, it is important to maintain the idea of congregation, so the parish has found other ways to bring people together.
On a table at the rear of the church are schedules for online masses. These include weekly readings and hymns, and explain how parish members can participate in the services from home. The parish website even has extra audio files featuring organ music for accompaniment. Easter candles, individually packed in cardboard boxes, line the steps in front of the altar; beside them, a few left over fronds from Palm Sunday.
A New Front for Nationalism: The Global Battle Against a Virus
Every country needs the same lifesaving tools. But a zero-sum mind-set among world leaders is jeopardizing access for all.
As they battle a pandemic that has no regard for borders, the leaders of many of the world’s largest economies are in the thrall of unabashedly nationalist principles, undermining collective efforts to tame the novel coronavirus.
The United States, an unrivaled scientific power, is led by a president who openly scoffs at international cooperation while pursuing a global trade war. India, which produces staggering amounts of drugs, is ruled by a Hindu nationalist who has ratcheted up confrontation with neighbors. China, a dominant source of protective gear and medicines, is bent on a mission to restore its former imperial glory.
'Cosplay democracy': North Korea's assembly holds rare meeting
The Supreme People's Assembly meets as the North steps up missile tests and nuclear talks with US remain stalled.
While much of the world is suspending its local elections and political gatherings to cope with COVID-19, North Korea will push ahead with a massive gathering of delegates later this week.
North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, or SPA for short, is expected to convene on April 10 for the first time since August. The SPA is made of 687 deputies from different North Korean regions who are elected on five-year terms, and usually deliberates new laws and reviews changes to the constitution.
Coronavirus: Teachers in Singapore stop using Zoom after 'lewd' incidents
Singapore has suspended the use of video-conferencing tool Zoom by its teachers, after a "very serious incident" during a home-based lesson.
Singapore closed its schools on Wednesday in response to a rising number of coronavirus cases.
But one mother told local media that, during her daughter's geography lesson, obscene images appeared on screen, before two men asked girls to "flash".
Zoom told the BBC the company was "deeply upset" about the incidents.
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