At least 52 people died and 22 have been wounded when a massive fire engulfed the coronavirus isolation ward of the Al-Hussein hospital in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. The fire broke has been brought under control by local civil defence forces.

Iraq: 52 dead, 22 injured in a massive fire at Al-Hussein hospital in Nasiriyah

More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Officials Houston Methodist told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7 or be suspended for two weeks.

Hospital spokeswoman Gale Smith told AFP that 153 employees "either resigned in the two-week suspension period or were terminated today.

"The employees who became compliant during the suspension period returned to work the day after they became compliant," she said.

Nearly 200 staff had been suspended, the New York Times reported, and protests were staged against the mandatory vaccine rule.

Last month, 117 staff members&nbsp;filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment."

The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue, and that&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;law only protects employees from refusing to commit a crime.

"Receiving a Covid-19 vaccination is not an illegal act, and it carries no criminal penalties," Judge Lynn Hughes wrote.

The judge also reprimanded one of the main plaintiffs behind the lawsuit, nurse Jennifer Bridges, for the analogy that the threat of being fired for not getting vaccinated was like "forced medical experimentation during the Holocaust."

"Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible," Hughes wrote.

But Bridges, who was one of the staff to have lost their job in the protest, told AFP Tuesday their legal push was receiving more support.

"117 people joined us initially. Now we're about to add another 70. We want Methodist to be held accountable for their actions. We want the public to see that we should not have lost our jobs and that Methodist is not properly giving people informed consent or talking about adverse reactions," the 39-year-old said.&nbsp;

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"I&nbsp;chose not to get this shot because the risks for me are too great. I've personally seen adverse reactions within employees and patients. Everything from severe headaches to blood clots, to paralysis, to even death," she said.

"At my age, my benefits from getting this vaccine aren't much at all because I only have a one per cent chance of dying from the virus anyways."

Houston houses the world's largest medical complex, the&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;Medical Center, a sprawling district that includes hospitals and research universities.&nbsp;

The Medical Center employs more than 106,000 health care workers in all and sees some 10 million patients a year.

As of Tuesday, 65.4 per cent of adults in the United States had received one or more doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson shots.

And yet, surveys show that health care workers have been among the greatest vaccine sceptics.

More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in Texas were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.

More than 150 employees at the Houston Methodist hospital in Texas were fired or resigned after failing to comply with orders to get a Covid-19 vaccination to continue working there, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday. Officials Houston Methodist told its staff they needed to have received a Covid vaccination by June 7 or be suspended for two weeks. Hospital spokeswoman Gale Smith told AFP that 153 employees "either resigned in the two-week suspension period or were terminated today. "The employees who became compliant during the suspension period returned to work the day after they became compliant," she said. Nearly 200 staff had been suspended, the New York Times reported, and protests were staged against the mandatory vaccine rule. Last month, 117 staff members filed a lawsuit against the hospital, accusing it of "forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment." The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge who said the vaccines' safety was not at issue, and that Texas law only protects employees from refusing to commit a crime. "Receiving a Covid-19 vaccination is not an illegal act, and it carries no criminal penalties," Judge Lynn Hughes wrote. The judge also reprimanded one of the main plaintiffs behind the lawsuit, nurse Jennifer Bridges, for the analogy that the threat of being fired for not getting vaccinated was like "forced medical experimentation during the Holocaust." "Equating the injection requirement to medical experimentation in concentration camps is reprehensible," Hughes wrote. But Bridges, who was one of the staff to have lost their job in the protest, told AFP Tuesday their legal push was receiving more support. "117 people joined us initially. Now we're about to add another 70. We want Methodist to be held accountable for their actions. We want the public to see that we should not have lost our jobs and that Methodist is not properly giving people informed consent or talking about adverse reactions," the 39-year-old said. Also Read | Under pressure, Hong Kong's pro-democracy publication Apple Daily announces closure "I chose not to get this shot because the risks for me are too great. I've personally seen adverse reactions within employees and patients. Everything from severe headaches to blood clots, to paralysis, to even death," she said. "At my age, my benefits from getting this vaccine aren't much at all because I only have a one per cent chance of dying from the virus anyways." Houston houses the world's largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center, a sprawling district that includes hospitals and research universities. The Medical Center employs more than 106,000 health care workers in all and sees some 10 million patients a year. As of Tuesday, 65.4 per cent of adults in the United States had received one or more doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots. And yet, surveys show that health care workers have been among the greatest vaccine sceptics.

More than 150 Texas hospital staff fired or quit over vaccine ruling

At least 13 people were killed and several wounded in two separate artillery attacks on the northern Syrian town of Afrin on Saturday, local medical sources and Turkey's government said. 
 
The first attack struck a residential area, while the second hit a hospital shortly afterwards, civil defence sources said. Video footage on social media showed casualties amid the ruins of the Al Shifa hospital. 
 
Ankara condemned the missile attack it said was launched by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, though the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed militia force spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG, said it was not responsible. 
 
The Turkish defence ministry, which has a large military presence in the Syrian area, also put the death toll at 13 and said 27 were injured. 
 
The governor's office in Turkey's Hatay province, bordering Afrin, said it was investigating the incident in which it said missiles were fired from the Tel Rifat area controlled by the Syrian government. 
 
Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group tied to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) inside its own borders, and has staged incursions into Syria in support of Syrian rebels to push it from the Turkish frontier. 
 
Ankara now has thousands of troops in the last rebel enclave in Syria. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

At least 13 people were killed and several wounded in two separate artillery attacks on the northern Syrian town of Afrin on Saturday, local medical sources and Turkey's government said.

At least 13 people were killed and several wounded in two separate artillery attacks on the northern Syrian town of Afrin on Saturday, local medical sources and Turkey's government said. The first attack struck a residential area, while the second hit a hospital shortly afterwards, civil defence sources said. Video footage on social media showed casualties amid the ruins of the Al Shifa hospital. Ankara condemned the missile attack it said was launched by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, though the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed militia force spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG, said it was not responsible. The Turkish defence ministry, which has a large military presence in the Syrian area, also put the death toll at 13 and said 27 were injured. The governor's office in Turkey's Hatay province, bordering Afrin, said it was investigating the incident in which it said missiles were fired from the Tel Rifat area controlled by the Syrian government. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group tied to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) inside its own borders, and has staged incursions into Syria in support of Syrian rebels to push it from the Turkish frontier. Ankara now has thousands of troops in the last rebel enclave in Syria. (With inputs from agencies)

Syrian hospital hit in artillery attacks on Afrin, at least 13 killed

Dissident Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara vowed on Monday to 'continue the struggle' after spending almost a month in hospital following a hunger strike.

Otero Alcantara, 33, was released earlier in the day from the General Calixto Garcia university hospital, which announced 'his complete recovery'.

Associates had claimed he was forcibly taken to hospital after starting a hunger strike that lasted eight days.

"After a month in the hands of the beast, we'll see how things go in the streets to continue the struggle," Otero Alcantara said in a video published by opposition media Cubanet.

He said state security forces had taken his mobile telephone and left him "literally a month without communication and with little access to my family," adding that he would soon "recount everything that happened to me."

Otero Alcantara is the leader of the San Isidro protest movement (MSI) of artists and intellectuals pressing for free speech and other rights in the communist nation.

The Cuban government accuses Otero Alcantara of being financed by the United States, which has had sanctions in place against Cuba for decades.

He went on hunger strike last month to protest against authorities seizing several of his works when he was arrested during a demonstration.

He was admitted to hospital on May 2.

His release was announced by the Havana public health authority.

Otero Alcantara "reiterated his gratitude to the personnel that looked after him at every opportunity," said the hospital.

In the early days of his hospital stay, authorities released videos of him appearing in good health but those close to Otero Alcantara said they had been unable to communicate with him.

Amnesty International described him as a 'prisoner of conscience' while the US demanded his immediate release.

After his arrest last month, he was freed but rearrested several times for trying to leave his home, which had been surrounded by police.

During his hunger strike, his internet service was cut off and police prevented people, including two priests, from visiting Otero Alcantara.

The MSI claimed he'd been taken to hospital by force and that official medical reports on his condition were 'confusing and contradictory'.

In a sign of solidarity, last week around 20 Cuban artists asked that their works in Havana's Fine Arts Museum be hidden from public view.

The museum rejected the request, saying it wasn't in 'the public interest's

Painter Tomas Sanchez, 73, wrote on Facebook: "Cuban art is going through dark times ... the criminalization of difference is not -- and never will be -- a path towards coexistence."

(With inputs from agencies)

Dissident Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara vowed on Monday to 'continue the struggle' after spending almost a month in hospital following a hunger strike.

Dissident Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara vowed on Monday to 'continue the struggle' after spending almost a month in hospital following a hunger strike. Otero Alcantara, 33, was released earlier in the day from the General Calixto Garcia university hospital, which announced 'his complete recovery'. Associates had claimed he was forcibly taken to hospital after starting a hunger strike that lasted eight days. "After a month in the hands of the beast, we'll see how things go in the streets to continue the struggle," Otero Alcantara said in a video published by opposition media Cubanet. He said state security forces had taken his mobile telephone and left him "literally a month without communication and with little access to my family," adding that he would soon "recount everything that happened to me." Otero Alcantara is the leader of the San Isidro protest movement (MSI) of artists and intellectuals pressing for free speech and other rights in the communist nation. The Cuban government accuses Otero Alcantara of being financed by the United States, which has had sanctions in place against Cuba for decades. He went on hunger strike last month to protest against authorities seizing several of his works when he was arrested during a demonstration. He was admitted to hospital on May 2. His release was announced by the Havana public health authority. Otero Alcantara "reiterated his gratitude to the personnel that looked after him at every opportunity," said the hospital. In the early days of his hospital stay, authorities released videos of him appearing in good health but those close to Otero Alcantara said they had been unable to communicate with him. Amnesty International described him as a 'prisoner of conscience' while the US demanded his immediate release. After his arrest last month, he was freed but rearrested several times for trying to leave his home, which had been surrounded by police. During his hunger strike, his internet service was cut off and police prevented people, including two priests, from visiting Otero Alcantara. The MSI claimed he'd been taken to hospital by force and that official medical reports on his condition were 'confusing and contradictory'. In a sign of solidarity, last week around 20 Cuban artists asked that their works in Havana's Fine Arts Museum be hidden from public view. The museum rejected the request, saying it wasn't in 'the public interest's Painter Tomas Sanchez, 73, wrote on Facebook: "Cuban art is going through dark times ... the criminalization of difference is not -- and never will be -- a path towards coexistence." (With inputs from agencies)

Dissident Cuban artist to 'continue the struggle' after hospital release

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report.&nbsp;

The newspaper said the report, which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits, may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory.&nbsp;

The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.&nbsp;

A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China."&nbsp;

She said the US government was working with the WHO and other member states to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemic's origins "that is free from interference or politicisation."&nbsp;

"We're not going to make pronouncements that prejudge an ongoing WHO study into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but we've been clear that sound and technically credible theories should be thoroughly evaluated by international experts," she said.&nbsp;

The Journal said current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed 'further investigation and additional corroboration’.&nbsp;

The United States, Norway, Canada, Britain and other countries in March expressed concerns about the WHO-led COVID-19 origins study, and called for further investigation and full access to all pertinent human, animal and other data about the early stages of the outbreak.&nbsp;

Washington is keen to ensure greater cooperation and transparency by China, according to a source familiar with the effort.&nbsp;

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.&nbsp;

On Sunday, China's foreign ministry noted that a WHO-led team had concluded a lab leak was extremely unlikely after a visit in February to the virology institute. "The US continues to hype the lab leak theory," the ministry said in response to a request for comment by the Journal. "Is it actually concerned about tracing the source or trying to divert attention?"&nbsp;

The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing denies.&nbsp;

A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration had said "the US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers.&nbsp;

China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team’s investigators, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report.

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report. The newspaper said the report, which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits, may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China." She said the US government was working with the WHO and other member states to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemic's origins "that is free from interference or politicisation." "We're not going to make pronouncements that prejudge an ongoing WHO study into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but we've been clear that sound and technically credible theories should be thoroughly evaluated by international experts," she said. The Journal said current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed 'further investigation and additional corroboration’. The United States, Norway, Canada, Britain and other countries in March expressed concerns about the WHO-led COVID-19 origins study, and called for further investigation and full access to all pertinent human, animal and other data about the early stages of the outbreak. Washington is keen to ensure greater cooperation and transparency by China, according to a source familiar with the effort. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. On Sunday, China's foreign ministry noted that a WHO-led team had concluded a lab leak was extremely unlikely after a visit in February to the virology institute. "The US continues to hype the lab leak theory," the ministry said in response to a request for comment by the Journal. "Is it actually concerned about tracing the source or trying to divert attention?" The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing denies. A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration had said "the US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers. China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team’s investigators, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began. (With inputs from agencies)

Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed: WSJ

At least 82 people have died and 110 injured in a fire that tore through a Baghdad hospital in Iraq, dedicated for caring the COVID-19 patients late on Saturday. Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi suspended Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi after the incident.

82 patients dead in Baghdad's COVID-19 hospital fire, health minister suspended

At least 27 patients have died in a fire that tore through a Baghdad hospital in Iraq, dedicated for caring the COVID-19 patients late on Saturday.

Fire breaks out in COVID-19 hospital in Iraq's Baghdad, 27 dead

Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah on Saturday have been admitted to a hospital here for treatment of coronavirus, days after they were tested positive for the viral infection on their return from India after participating in the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar.&nbsp;

The 73-year-old former King and 70-year-old former Queen were diagnosed with the disease on April 20.&nbsp;

The former royal couple and their daughter Prerana Singh have been admitted to the Norvic International Hospital for treatment of COVID-19, the hospital officials said.&nbsp;

Shah's aide and former press secretary of the Narayanhiti palace, Faniraj Pathak, also confirmed that the former monarch has been admitted to the hospital.&nbsp;

"They (the couple and their daughter) don't have any health complications and their condition is stable for now," said Somnath Bastola, the chief of the hospital's Communications and Public Relations Department.&nbsp;

The couple had recently returned from India where they had taken a holy dip at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri during the Maha Kumbh, a religious congregation of Hindu seers and devotees, Nepal's Health Ministry had said.&nbsp;

According to a report in the Himalayan Times, hundreds of people had gathered at the airport in Kathmandu to welcome the former king and queen during their arrival back home.&nbsp;

As of Saturday, the Himalayan nation has reported a total of 297,087 coronavirus cases and 3,136 deaths. Of the total infections, 16,828 cases are currently active, the health ministry said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah on Saturday have been admitted to a hospital here for treatment of coronavirus, days after they were tested positive for the viral infection on their return from India after participating in the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar.

Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah on Saturday have been admitted to a hospital here for treatment of coronavirus, days after they were tested positive for the viral infection on their return from India after participating in the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar. The 73-year-old former King and 70-year-old former Queen were diagnosed with the disease on April 20. The former royal couple and their daughter Prerana Singh have been admitted to the Norvic International Hospital for treatment of COVID-19, the hospital officials said. Shah's aide and former press secretary of the Narayanhiti palace, Faniraj Pathak, also confirmed that the former monarch has been admitted to the hospital. "They (the couple and their daughter) don't have any health complications and their condition is stable for now," said Somnath Bastola, the chief of the hospital's Communications and Public Relations Department. The couple had recently returned from India where they had taken a holy dip at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri during the Maha Kumbh, a religious congregation of Hindu seers and devotees, Nepal's Health Ministry had said. According to a report in the Himalayan Times, hundreds of people had gathered at the airport in Kathmandu to welcome the former king and queen during their arrival back home. As of Saturday, the Himalayan nation has reported a total of 297,087 coronavirus cases and 3,136 deaths. Of the total infections, 16,828 cases are currently active, the health ministry said. (With inputs from agencies)

Nepal's former royal couple admitted to hospital for COVID-19 treatment  

Russia's penitentiary service said on Monday it was transferring ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to a prison hospital, as the EU warned it would hold Moscow responsible for the state of his health.

The United States on Sunday threatened Russia with "consequences" if President Vladimir Putin's most prominent domestic opponent dies in jail.&nbsp;

Navalny launched a hunger strike three weeks ago and his private doctors warned over the weekend he could pass away at "any minute".&nbsp;

Russia's prison service, which has barred Navalny's own medical team from visiting him, said its doctors had decided to move him to a medical facility at another penal colony outside Moscow.

But it insisted the anti-corruption campaigner's condition was "satisfactory", and said he was taking vitamin supplements as part of medical treatment.

Fears over Navalny's fate have further worsened relations between Moscow and the West, already strained over a Russian troop build-up along the border with Ukraine and a diplomatic row with EU member state the Czech Republic.

As the European Union's 27 foreign ministers held virtual talks Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc held the Russian authorities responsible for Navalny's health.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added that the EU would be watching closely to see that Navalny was getting the medical care he needed.

And Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab tweeted that Russia "must grant him immediate access to independent medical care &amp; release him from his politically motivated imprisonment".

Russia dismisses protests

The Kremlin has dismissed the outcry from foreign leaders over the condition of the 44-year-old, who last year came close to death after being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.

"The health of convicts in the Russia Federation cannot and should not be a topic concerning them," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Navalny was arrested in Russia in January after returning from treatment in Germany for the nerve agent poisoning in August, which he says was carried out by Moscow -- an accusation denied by Putin's administration.

Sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement -- charges he says are politically motivated -- Navalny began a hunger strike on March 31 demanding medical treatment for back pain and numbness to his hands and legs.

The EU in October imposed sanctions on six Russian officials over the nerve agent attack, and in February added another four individuals over Navalny's arrest and sentencing.

Navalny's supporters have called for major protests across Russia on Wednesday to demand his release, the rallies scheduled just hours after Putin delivers his state-of-the-nation address.

Russian police -- who detained thousands during earlier protests over Navalny's initial jailing -- warned people not to demonstrate, saying officers would take "all necessary measures to maintain law and order".

Also on Monday, Russia's anti-monopoly regulator said it was investigating YouTube for making "biased" decisions about comment moderation on the video social media platform which Navalny has often used for calls to protest.&nbsp;

Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted on Monday that she had received an email from YouTube notifying her that Russia's media regulator had ordered the company to delete a video calling for Wednesday's protest.

'Red lines'

The fraught ties with Russia dominated the agenda as EU foreign ministers held their regular monthly meeting.&nbsp; 
They held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba over the Russian troop build-up along the country's eastern border and the surge in fighting with Russian-backed separatists.

Borrell said more than 150,000 Russian troops were now massed along Ukraine's borders and in the annexed Crimea peninsula.&nbsp;

However Borrell refused to give a source for that number and Monday evening the online text of his speech was updated changing the number to 100,000, with an asterix noting it was a correction.

Kiev has been battling Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and fighting intensified early this year, effectively shredding a ceasefire agreed last July.

On Twitter, Kuleba proposed more sanctions "to discourage Moscow from further escalation".

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis argued the EU should show it was willing to impose sanctions if Moscow crosses any more "red lines".

But Borrell said there were currently no proposals for new sanctions.

EU foreign ministers are also set to be briefed on the new tensions between Russia and the Czech Republic.

Moscow on Sunday ordered 20 Czech diplomats to leave the country, a day after Prague announced it was expelling 18 Russian diplomats identified as agents of the SVR and GRU security services.

Czech authorities accused them of involvement in a 2014 explosion on its soil at a military ammunition warehouse that killed two people.

Czech police said they were seeking two Russians in connection with the explosion -- and that the photos in the passports they carried matched those used by suspects in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain in 2018.

The EU said in a statement it "stands in full support and solidarity with the Czech Republic and deplores Russia's response to expel 20 Czech diplomats".

"The European Union is deeply concerned about the repeating negative pattern of dangerous malign behaviour by Russia in Europe," it added.

Russia's penitentiary service said on Monday it was transferring ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to a prison hospital, as the EU warned it would hold Moscow responsible for the state of his health.

Russia's penitentiary service said on Monday it was transferring ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to a prison hospital, as the EU warned it would hold Moscow responsible for the state of his health. The United States on Sunday threatened Russia with "consequences" if President Vladimir Putin's most prominent domestic opponent dies in jail. Navalny launched a hunger strike three weeks ago and his private doctors warned over the weekend he could pass away at "any minute". Russia's prison service, which has barred Navalny's own medical team from visiting him, said its doctors had decided to move him to a medical facility at another penal colony outside Moscow. But it insisted the anti-corruption campaigner's condition was "satisfactory", and said he was taking vitamin supplements as part of medical treatment. Fears over Navalny's fate have further worsened relations between Moscow and the West, already strained over a Russian troop build-up along the border with Ukraine and a diplomatic row with EU member state the Czech Republic. As the European Union's 27 foreign ministers held virtual talks Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc held the Russian authorities responsible for Navalny's health. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added that the EU would be watching closely to see that Navalny was getting the medical care he needed. And Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab tweeted that Russia "must grant him immediate access to independent medical care & release him from his politically motivated imprisonment". Russia dismisses protests The Kremlin has dismissed the outcry from foreign leaders over the condition of the 44-year-old, who last year came close to death after being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. "The health of convicts in the Russia Federation cannot and should not be a topic concerning them," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Navalny was arrested in Russia in January after returning from treatment in Germany for the nerve agent poisoning in August, which he says was carried out by Moscow -- an accusation denied by Putin's administration. Sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement -- charges he says are politically motivated -- Navalny began a hunger strike on March 31 demanding medical treatment for back pain and numbness to his hands and legs. The EU in October imposed sanctions on six Russian officials over the nerve agent attack, and in February added another four individuals over Navalny's arrest and sentencing. Navalny's supporters have called for major protests across Russia on Wednesday to demand his release, the rallies scheduled just hours after Putin delivers his state-of-the-nation address. Russian police -- who detained thousands during earlier protests over Navalny's initial jailing -- warned people not to demonstrate, saying officers would take "all necessary measures to maintain law and order". Also on Monday, Russia's anti-monopoly regulator said it was investigating YouTube for making "biased" decisions about comment moderation on the video social media platform which Navalny has often used for calls to protest. Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted on Monday that she had received an email from YouTube notifying her that Russia's media regulator had ordered the company to delete a video calling for Wednesday's protest. 'Red lines' The fraught ties with Russia dominated the agenda as EU foreign ministers held their regular monthly meeting. They held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba over the Russian troop build-up along the country's eastern border and the surge in fighting with Russian-backed separatists. Borrell said more than 150,000 Russian troops were now massed along Ukraine's borders and in the annexed Crimea peninsula. However Borrell refused to give a source for that number and Monday evening the online text of his speech was updated changing the number to 100,000, with an asterix noting it was a correction. Kiev has been battling Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014 and fighting intensified early this year, effectively shredding a ceasefire agreed last July. On Twitter, Kuleba proposed more sanctions "to discourage Moscow from further escalation". Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis argued the EU should show it was willing to impose sanctions if Moscow crosses any more "red lines". But Borrell said there were currently no proposals for new sanctions. EU foreign ministers are also set to be briefed on the new tensions between Russia and the Czech Republic. Moscow on Sunday ordered 20 Czech diplomats to leave the country, a day after Prague announced it was expelling 18 Russian diplomats identified as agents of the SVR and GRU security services. Czech authorities accused them of involvement in a 2014 explosion on its soil at a military ammunition warehouse that killed two people. Czech police said they were seeking two Russians in connection with the explosion -- and that the photos in the passports they carried matched those used by suspects in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain in 2018. The EU said in a statement it "stands in full support and solidarity with the Czech Republic and deplores Russia's response to expel 20 Czech diplomats". "The European Union is deeply concerned about the repeating negative pattern of dangerous malign behaviour by Russia in Europe," it added.

Russia moves Navalny to prison hospital after Western pressure

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided that the state government will set up a temporary 1,000-bed Covid hospital, possibly at the site where the Defence Expo was held last year. 
 
Addressing a virtual meeting of Team 11 on Friday, the Chief Minister asked officials to work out the modalities in this regard without further delay. 
 
Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is MP from Lucknow, has spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and requested him to provide space to defence authorities for setting up makeshift hospitals. 
 
Lucknow is witnessing a surge in Covid cases and the city`s medical infrastructure is inadequate to face the medical crisis. 
 
Diwakar Tripathi, the representative of Rajnath Singh, confirmed that the defence minister has requested the chief minister to provide banquet halls and open space in the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan or the BBD Academy to teams of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for raising the medical infrastructure on its own cost and provide beds and oxygen to patients. 
 
"Since the DRDO already has a chain of command and military hospitals in and around the city as well as the expert medical manpower, it can immediately intervene provided the district administration gives it space for setting up makeshift hospitals," he said. 
 
The chief minister has also announced that there will be a total closure in the state on Sunday so as to enable sanitization and fogging on a large scale. 
 
All shops and establishments will remain closed and public movement will be allowed only in emergency conditions. 
 
The chief minister directed all government and private labs to work at the optimum level. 
 
The OPD services in all hospitals and medical facilities have been stopped and patients can interact with doctors through telemedicine facilities. 
 
The Arogya Melas have also been suspended till May 15. 
 
The state government has also decided to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on those who move out without wearing masks.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided that the state government will set up a temporary 1,000-bed Covid hospital, possibly at the site where the Defence Expo was held last year.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided that the state government will set up a temporary 1,000-bed Covid hospital, possibly at the site where the Defence Expo was held last year. Addressing a virtual meeting of Team 11 on Friday, the Chief Minister asked officials to work out the modalities in this regard without further delay. Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is MP from Lucknow, has spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and requested him to provide space to defence authorities for setting up makeshift hospitals. Lucknow is witnessing a surge in Covid cases and the city`s medical infrastructure is inadequate to face the medical crisis. Diwakar Tripathi, the representative of Rajnath Singh, confirmed that the defence minister has requested the chief minister to provide banquet halls and open space in the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan or the BBD Academy to teams of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for raising the medical infrastructure on its own cost and provide beds and oxygen to patients. "Since the DRDO already has a chain of command and military hospitals in and around the city as well as the expert medical manpower, it can immediately intervene provided the district administration gives it space for setting up makeshift hospitals," he said. The chief minister has also announced that there will be a total closure in the state on Sunday so as to enable sanitization and fogging on a large scale. All shops and establishments will remain closed and public movement will be allowed only in emergency conditions. The chief minister directed all government and private labs to work at the optimum level. The OPD services in all hospitals and medical facilities have been stopped and patients can interact with doctors through telemedicine facilities. The Arogya Melas have also been suspended till May 15. The state government has also decided to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on those who move out without wearing masks.

Uttar Pradesh to set up 1,000-bed facility to cope with Covid rush

In a bid to assure more financial support for mothers, the government of Utah has now made it compulsory for the fathers to pay half the cost of a mother’s medical care, related to the pregnancy and delivery of the baby.

As per Utah's Shared Medical Costs, biological fathers will now have to pay half of the mother’s insurance premiums during the time of her pregnancy. This will also include all other medical fees, and the cost incurred during the delivery of the baby.

A study in the Health Affairs journal&nbsp;observed medical costs of expecting mothers from 2008 to 2015 and revealed that women with health insurance bear cost of nearly $4,500 out of their own pocket during the period of pregnancy.

The figure doubles up for the women who cannot afford to have health insurance and the cost is closer to $10,000.

As of now, fathers are able to delay paying any amount till paternity is proven in the eye of the law. In addition to this, fathers are allowed to not divide the cost if the mother is not seeking assistance.

One exception is also that fathers will not have to divide the cost of an abortion if the decision is taken without mutual consent — cases of rape and the mother’s life in danger remain to be an exception.

In a bid to assure more financial support for mothers, the government of Utah has now made it compulsory for the fathers to pay half the cost of a mother’s medical care, related to the pregnancy and delivery of the baby.

In a bid to assure more financial support for mothers, the government of Utah has now made it compulsory for the fathers to pay half the cost of a mother’s medical care, related to the pregnancy and delivery of the baby. As per Utah's Shared Medical Costs, biological fathers will now have to pay half of the mother’s insurance premiums during the time of her pregnancy. This will also include all other medical fees, and the cost incurred during the delivery of the baby. A study in the Health Affairs journal observed medical costs of expecting mothers from 2008 to 2015 and revealed that women with health insurance bear cost of nearly $4,500 out of their own pocket during the period of pregnancy. The figure doubles up for the women who cannot afford to have health insurance and the cost is closer to $10,000. As of now, fathers are able to delay paying any amount till paternity is proven in the eye of the law. In addition to this, fathers are allowed to not divide the cost if the mother is not seeking assistance. One exception is also that fathers will not have to divide the cost of an abortion if the decision is taken without mutual consent — cases of rape and the mother’s life in danger remain to be an exception.

Utah: Fathers to split pregnancy cost with expecting mothers

Syrian regime's artillery fire hit hospital killing six civilians including a child. The attack in northwestern town of Atareb took place despite Russian-Turkish ceasefire since March 2020 supposed to protect the wider jihadist-held stronghold.

The attack "hit the courtyard and main entrance of the hospital inside a cave," killing six civilians including a child and a hospital employee, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Eleven others were wounded, including healthcare staff

Also on Sunday, artillery fire killed two civilians in the regime-held city of Aleppo, outside the rebel bastion, state news agency SANA said.

Atareb falls in Idlib province which is the last major rebel bastion. The region is home to 2.9 million people. As per United Nations, two-thirds of this population has been displaced due to the war.

The region on the border with Turkey is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is led by members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, but several rebel groups are also present.

The ceasefire brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime ally Russia last March stemmed a months-long regime military offensive on the bastion that killed hundreds of civilians and displaced more than a million people.

It has since largely held despite repeated violations including Russian airstrikes on the region, according to the Observatory.

(With AFP inputs)

Syrian regime's artillery fire hit hospital killing six civilians including a child. The attack in northwestern town of Atareb took place despite Russian-Turkish ceasefire since March 2020 supposed to protect the wider jihadist-held stronghold.

Syrian regime's artillery fire hit hospital killing six civilians including a child. The attack in northwestern town of Atareb took place despite Russian-Turkish ceasefire since March 2020 supposed to protect the wider jihadist-held stronghold. The attack "hit the courtyard and main entrance of the hospital inside a cave," killing six civilians including a child and a hospital employee, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Eleven others were wounded, including healthcare staff Also on Sunday, artillery fire killed two civilians in the regime-held city of Aleppo, outside the rebel bastion, state news agency SANA said. Atareb falls in Idlib province which is the last major rebel bastion. The region is home to 2.9 million people. As per United Nations, two-thirds of this population has been displaced due to the war. The region on the border with Turkey is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is led by members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, but several rebel groups are also present. The ceasefire brokered by rebel backer Turkey and regime ally Russia last March stemmed a months-long regime military offensive on the bastion that killed hundreds of civilians and displaced more than a million people. It has since largely held despite repeated violations including Russian airstrikes on the region, according to the Observatory. (With AFP inputs)

Syrian regime's shelling puts hospital out of service

Syrian army shelling destroys hospital

Jordan's health minister resigned on Saturday after six people died following an oxygen outage in a hospital treating coronavirus patients and police were deployed to hold back angry relatives, state media said.

The oxygen failure earlier on Saturday hit intensive care, maternity, and coronavirus wards in the new Salt government hospital west of the capital Amman.

A government spokesman said Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh asked Health Minister Nathir Obeidat to resign over the accident for which Obeidat had earlier said he carried 'moral responsibility'.

Obeidat said initial investigations showed the six deaths were caused by a one-hour disruption in oxygen to the wards and that prosecutors were handling the case. 
Jordan's King Abdullah also later visited the hospital.

Jordan is facing a spike in Covid-19 infections attributed mainly to the fast transmission of the British variant of the virus. It announced last week stricter measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 and reimposed a full lockdown on Fridays.

The country reported 8,300 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest daily death toll since the pandemic first surfaced in the kingdom a year ago.

Jordan, with a population of around 10 million, has recorded 385,533 cases of Covid-19 and 5,224 deaths.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Jordan's health minister resigned on Saturday after six people died following an oxygen outage in a hospital treating coronavirus patients and police were deployed to hold back angry relatives, state media said.

Jordan's health minister resigned on Saturday after six people died following an oxygen outage in a hospital treating coronavirus patients and police were deployed to hold back angry relatives, state media said. The oxygen failure earlier on Saturday hit intensive care, maternity, and coronavirus wards in the new Salt government hospital west of the capital Amman. A government spokesman said Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh asked Health Minister Nathir Obeidat to resign over the accident for which Obeidat had earlier said he carried 'moral responsibility'. Obeidat said initial investigations showed the six deaths were caused by a one-hour disruption in oxygen to the wards and that prosecutors were handling the case. Jordan's King Abdullah also later visited the hospital. Jordan is facing a spike in Covid-19 infections attributed mainly to the fast transmission of the British variant of the virus. It announced last week stricter measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 and reimposed a full lockdown on Fridays. The country reported 8,300 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest daily death toll since the pandemic first surfaced in the kingdom a year ago. Jordan, with a population of around 10 million, has recorded 385,533 cases of Covid-19 and 5,224 deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

Jordan health minister resigns after oxygen outage kills six patients

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related. 
 
The prince, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, walked into hospital unaided after feeling unwell for a short period, a royal source said. 
 
"The Duke`s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness`s doctor, after feeling unwell," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. 
 
He is at the King Edward VII Hospital in London where he is expected to remain for a few days of observation and rest. 
 
He does not have a COVID-19 related illness, the royal source said. 
 
The queen, 94, remains at Windsor Castle near London, where the pair have been staying during Britain`s coronavirus pandemic. Both received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in January. 
 
Philip is rarely seen in public after he stepped down from official engagements in August 2017. He was previously admitted to hospital at the end of 2019. 
 
The Greek-born former naval officer has had several stays in hospital over the last decade, including treatment for an infection in 2017 and hip replacement surgery.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related. The prince, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, walked into hospital unaided after feeling unwell for a short period, a royal source said. "The Duke`s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness`s doctor, after feeling unwell," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. He is at the King Edward VII Hospital in London where he is expected to remain for a few days of observation and rest. He does not have a COVID-19 related illness, the royal source said. The queen, 94, remains at Windsor Castle near London, where the pair have been staying during Britain`s coronavirus pandemic. Both received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in January. Philip is rarely seen in public after he stepped down from official engagements in August 2017. He was previously admitted to hospital at the end of 2019. The Greek-born former naval officer has had several stays in hospital over the last decade, including treatment for an infection in 2017 and hip replacement surgery.

Britain's 99-year-old Prince Philip admitted to hospital

A major fire broke out in a hospital in Chile's capital city, Santiago, on Saturday, local authorities reported.

The fire broke out in a boiler room of the hospital which had nearly 350 patients, including people recovering for the deadly coronavirus.

San Borja hospital authorities told local media that all patients, including the ones who had been relying on ventilators, were being immediately shifted to other nearby hospitals.

The Santiago health agency said the fire started in a boiler room, and local authorities have said it might have been due to an electrical short circuit.&nbsp;

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[AHORA] 37 unidades y más de un centenar de Bomberos trabajan en 4° alarma de incendio en el Hospital San Borja Arriarán <a href="https://twitter.com/hcsba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hcsba</a> 🏥 Columna de humo es visible desde varias partes de la capital <a href="https://t.co/EtJfXKsenu">pic.twitter.com/EtJfXKsenu</a>
— Bomberos de Chile (@BomberosdeChile) <a href="https://twitter.com/BomberosdeChile/status/1355479878666235905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A cloud of thick black smoke rose from the building as soon as the fire broke out, following which dozens of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were rushed to the spot.

No casualties have been reported yet. "Nobody has died. All of the transfers have occurred with great calm," Health Minister Enrique Paris told local reporters.

"The fire did not affect any sector with patients, but the boiler area, electrical installations and other hospital services were affected. Patients will be transferred to the Barros Luco Hospital, the Metropolitan Hospital, the Mother and Child Clinic and the Juan Pablo II Clinic,"&nbsp;Ministerio de Salud tweeted.

A detailed investigation has been ordered to find out the cause and extent of damage caused by this fire.

This is a developing story.

A major fire broke out in a hospital in Chile's capital city, Santiago, on Saturday, local authorities reported. The fire broke out in a boiler room of the hospital which had nearly 350 patients, including people recovering for the deadly coronavirus.

A major fire broke out in a hospital in Chile's capital city, Santiago, on Saturday, local authorities reported. The fire broke out in a boiler room of the hospital which had nearly 350 patients, including people recovering for the deadly coronavirus. San Borja hospital authorities told local media that all patients, including the ones who had been relying on ventilators, were being immediately shifted to other nearby hospitals. The Santiago health agency said the fire started in a boiler room, and local authorities have said it might have been due to an electrical short circuit. [AHORA] 37 unidades y más de un centenar de Bomberos trabajan en 4° alarma de incendio en el Hospital San Borja Arriarán @hcsba 🏥 Columna de humo es visible desde varias partes de la capital pic.twitter.com/EtJfXKsenu — Bomberos de Chile (@BomberosdeChile) January 30, 2021 × A cloud of thick black smoke rose from the building as soon as the fire broke out, following which dozens of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were rushed to the spot. No casualties have been reported yet. "Nobody has died. All of the transfers have occurred with great calm," Health Minister Enrique Paris told local reporters. "The fire did not affect any sector with patients, but the boiler area, electrical installations and other hospital services were affected. Patients will be transferred to the Barros Luco Hospital, the Metropolitan Hospital, the Mother and Child Clinic and the Juan Pablo II Clinic," Ministerio de Salud tweeted. A detailed investigation has been ordered to find out the cause and extent of damage caused by this fire. This is a developing story.

Major fire breaks out in COVID hospital in Santiago; no casualties reported

Taiwan will more than double the number of people who have to quarantine at home to more than 5,000 as it seeks to contain a rare domestic cluster of Covid-19 connected to a hospital, the health minister said on Sunday.

While Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention, with the large majority of its 890 infections imported cases, it has since January 12 been dealing with a small number of domestic transmissions at a hospital.&nbsp;

While the 15 people infected so far at the hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan is small compared to many other parts of the world, it has unnerved the government, which has cancelled many large-scale events related to the upcoming Lunar New Year.

Health Minister Chen Shih-Chung told reporters that they will expand the number of people who have to quarantine at home for 14 days who may have had contact with the infected patients from the hospital cluster.

He put the number at about 5,000 people, compared to around 1,300 who are currently in quarantine.

The government has been testing all of those who have been in quarantine and has been announcing new cases amongst them as they are confirmed.

Taiwan has a well-honed system to track those who have been in contact with confirmed cases and an electronic monitoring network to ensure those in quarantine remain at home.

Despite the new infections, Taiwan only has 95 active cases being treated in hospital. The government holds news conferences to announce details of every new infection.

Taiwan will more than double the number of people who have to quarantine at home to more than 5,000 as it seeks to contain a rare domestic cluster of Covid-19 connected to a hospital, the health minister said on Sunday.

Taiwan will more than double the number of people who have to quarantine at home to more than 5,000 as it seeks to contain a rare domestic cluster of Covid-19 connected to a hospital, the health minister said on Sunday. While Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention, with the large majority of its 890 infections imported cases, it has since January 12 been dealing with a small number of domestic transmissions at a hospital. While the 15 people infected so far at the hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan is small compared to many other parts of the world, it has unnerved the government, which has cancelled many large-scale events related to the upcoming Lunar New Year. Health Minister Chen Shih-Chung told reporters that they will expand the number of people who have to quarantine at home for 14 days who may have had contact with the infected patients from the hospital cluster. He put the number at about 5,000 people, compared to around 1,300 who are currently in quarantine. The government has been testing all of those who have been in quarantine and has been announcing new cases amongst them as they are confirmed. Taiwan has a well-honed system to track those who have been in contact with confirmed cases and an electronic monitoring network to ensure those in quarantine remain at home. Despite the new infections, Taiwan only has 95 active cases being treated in hospital. The government holds news conferences to announce details of every new infection.

Taiwan to put 5,000 into quarantine over hospital Covid-19 cluster

A giant sinkhole opened up in the car park of a hospital in Naples, Italy which is 20-metre-deep and has led to the temporary closure of a COVID-19 residence in the neighbourhood.

On Friday, at dawn, a large portion of the ground in the car park of a famous hospital started breaking out, leading to the formation of a giant sinkhole.

The sinkhole is&nbsp;20-metre-deep (66ft), 2,000 sq metre (21,527 sq ft) and is located in the centre of the car park.

It also led to a temporary closure of a nearby residence which was giving a roof to coronavirus patients. Nobody from the COVID-19 residence was hurt during this incident.&nbsp;

However, the residence faced major power cuts and water services were also interrupted. The hospital, too, lost access to electricity and water, but the backup services let the hospital continue their work.

Local authorities believe this sinkhole may have been&nbsp;caused by an infiltration of water underground from the recent heavy rains, as reported by local media.

As of now, the&nbsp;regional governor has assured people the care home will soon reopen and the services will be restored as soon as possible in the COVID-19 residence and the hospital.&nbsp;

An investigation in the matter has been initiated.

A giant sinkhole opened up in the car park of a hospital in Naples, Italy which is 20-metre-deep and has led to the temporary closure of a COVID-19 residence in the neighbourhood.

A giant sinkhole opened up in the car park of a hospital in Naples, Italy which is 20-metre-deep and has led to the temporary closure of a COVID-19 residence in the neighbourhood. On Friday, at dawn, a large portion of the ground in the car park of a famous hospital started breaking out, leading to the formation of a giant sinkhole. The sinkhole is 20-metre-deep (66ft), 2,000 sq metre (21,527 sq ft) and is located in the centre of the car park. It also led to a temporary closure of a nearby residence which was giving a roof to coronavirus patients. Nobody from the COVID-19 residence was hurt during this incident. However, the residence faced major power cuts and water services were also interrupted. The hospital, too, lost access to electricity and water, but the backup services let the hospital continue their work. Local authorities believe this sinkhole may have been caused by an infiltration of water underground from the recent heavy rains, as reported by local media. As of now, the regional governor has assured people the care home will soon reopen and the services will be restored as soon as possible in the COVID-19 residence and the hospital. An investigation in the matter has been initiated.

Giant sinkhole appears in hospital's car park in Italy

A fire broke out in a coronavirus hospital facility located in the north of the capital city of Egypt, Cairo. The fire took seven lives, as per initial reports.

The intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital caught fire and claimed seven coronavirus patients, and injured five others who were getting treated for the deadly virus in the hospital.

As of now, the cause of the fire has not been identified. However, an investigation has been launched to find out the origin of the deadly blaze.

The fire broke out on Saturday, and several units of firefighters were dispatched to the scene of the incident immediately. The officers were able to stop the blaze from spreading within an hour of the breakout.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-world-in-2020-needs-batman-egyptian-enthusiast-in-cosplay-352374">WATCH|</a>

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The incident has come at a time when the Arabic country is struggling to contain the spread of coronavirus and Egyptian hospitals are running out of space for coronavirus patients.

As of now, Egypt has recorded nearly 130,126 coronavirus cases and almost 7,309 deaths due to the deadly virus.

This is the second such fire after a hospital&nbsp;in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria killed seven coronavirus patients and injured seven others in June.

A fire broke out in a coronavirus hospital facility located in the north of the capital city of Egypt, Cairo. The fire took seven lives, as per initial reports. The intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital caught fire and claimed seven coronavirus patients, and injured five others who were getting treated for the deadly virus in the hospital.

A fire broke out in a coronavirus hospital facility located in the north of the capital city of Egypt, Cairo. The fire took seven lives, as per initial reports. The intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital caught fire and claimed seven coronavirus patients, and injured five others who were getting treated for the deadly virus in the hospital. As of now, the cause of the fire has not been identified. However, an investigation has been launched to find out the origin of the deadly blaze. The fire broke out on Saturday, and several units of firefighters were dispatched to the scene of the incident immediately. The officers were able to stop the blaze from spreading within an hour of the breakout. WATCH| × The incident has come at a time when the Arabic country is struggling to contain the spread of coronavirus and Egyptian hospitals are running out of space for coronavirus patients. As of now, Egypt has recorded nearly 130,126 coronavirus cases and almost 7,309 deaths due to the deadly virus. This is the second such fire after a hospital in Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria killed seven coronavirus patients and injured seven others in June.

Egypt: Hospital fire kills seven coronavirus patients, injures five

At least nine coronavirus patients died in a fire at a hospital in southeastern Turkey. As per the information by Turkey's health ministry, the fire started when an oxygen tank exploded. The hospital is located in Gaziantep. The fire started in the intensive care ward.

"We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said before a planned visit to the hospital.

All the victims were patients who had been hospitalised with the coronavirus. Other patients affected by the fire were transferred to other hospitals.

Turkey has recorded more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 17,600 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago.

Faced with a surge in cases, Turkey strengthened restrictions put in place at the end of November with a total curfew during the weekend and partial one during the week.

(With AFP inputs)

At least nine coronavirus patients died in a fire at a hospital in southeastern Turkey. As per the information by Turkey's health ministry, the fire started when an oxygen tank exploded.

At least nine coronavirus patients died in a fire at a hospital in southeastern Turkey. As per the information by Turkey's health ministry, the fire started when an oxygen tank exploded. The hospital is located in Gaziantep. The fire started in the intensive care ward. "We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said before a planned visit to the hospital. All the victims were patients who had been hospitalised with the coronavirus. Other patients affected by the fire were transferred to other hospitals. Turkey has recorded more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 17,600 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago. Faced with a surge in cases, Turkey strengthened restrictions put in place at the end of November with a total curfew during the weekend and partial one during the week. (With AFP inputs)

Turkey: Fire in hospital kills 9 coronavirus patient

Five coronavirus patients died in a hospital fire in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Wednesday, a fire service official said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, said Zillur Rahman, a fire service director. Firefighters extinguished the flames in about an hour, Rahman said.

Five bodies were recovered from the makeshift isolation unit of the United Hospital treating COVID-19 patients, Rahman said. The dead included four men and a woman aged between 45 and 75, he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-fire-breaks-out-in-a-hotel-24-doctors-rescued-301456">Also read:&nbsp;Mumbai: Fire breaks out in a hotel; 24 doctors rescued</a>

Hospitals are struggling to deal with a spike in coronavirus infections in recent weeks in Bangladesh, which has reported 38,292 cases and 544 deaths.

Some health experts are concerned that the real number of cases could be higher in a country of more than 160 million people where many have only limited access to healthcare.

Lax regulations and poor enforcement have often been blamed for large fires in the South Asian nation that have killed hundreds of people in recent years.

At least 25 people were killed in March last year when a fire broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in Dhaka’s upscale area of Banani.

In February last year, an inferno in a centuries-old neighbourhood of Dhaka killed 71 people and injured dozens.

Five coronavirus patients died in a hospital fire in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Wednesday, a fire service official said. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, said Zillur Rahman, a fire service director.

Five coronavirus patients died in a hospital fire in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Wednesday, a fire service official said. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, said Zillur Rahman, a fire service director. Firefighters extinguished the flames in about an hour, Rahman said. Five bodies were recovered from the makeshift isolation unit of the United Hospital treating COVID-19 patients, Rahman said. The dead included four men and a woman aged between 45 and 75, he said. Also read: Mumbai: Fire breaks out in a hotel; 24 doctors rescued Hospitals are struggling to deal with a spike in coronavirus infections in recent weeks in Bangladesh, which has reported 38,292 cases and 544 deaths. Some health experts are concerned that the real number of cases could be higher in a country of more than 160 million people where many have only limited access to healthcare. Lax regulations and poor enforcement have often been blamed for large fires in the South Asian nation that have killed hundreds of people in recent years. At least 25 people were killed in March last year when a fire broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in Dhaka’s upscale area of Banani. In February last year, an inferno in a centuries-old neighbourhood of Dhaka killed 71 people and injured dozens.

Bangaldesh: Five coronavirus patients die in hospital fire

As COVID-19 cases near 100,000 in Peru, hospitals established a rigid security protocol banning visitors - including parents. The National Institute of Children's Health responded by trying to implement a video call system for their small patients, often from low-income families.

"I love you, mama": Hospitalized children cut off from families visit parents on video calls

Firefighter Saul Pena and his colleague Miguel Angel Pisadon have designed a simple and practical disinfection station they provide free of charge to nursing homes around Valladolid, northwestern Spain, as they hope to contain the spread of coronavirus among the most vulnerable and their carers.

Spanish firefighters build disinfection shower to ease decontamination of PPE users

An India built a state-of-the-art energy-efficient hospital in Mauritius, which was opened by Indian PM Modi and PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth last year on October 3rd is being used to deal with the COVID crisis, Indian envoy to the country has told WION. Speaking exclusively to our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, India's High Commissioner to Mauritius Tanmaya Lal while talking about the COVID situation in the country lauded the "leadership of the country is taking commendable steps on various fronts to contain the pandemic" and thanked them for "testing and other procedures required" of several Indian workers after one Indian worker was confirmed COVID positive case. He also talked about the ongoing repatriation process for which the mission is currently getting ready and expects around 1000 Indians who may want to return. Remember Mauritius was one of the first countries to which India sent Hydroxychloroquine. 
 
WION: How are India and Mauritius cooperating on Covid? We sent them HCQ.&nbsp; 
 
Tanmaya Lal: Well, as you are aware, India and Mauritius share a very special relationship. As part of our close ties, there is a longstanding partnership between our countries on the issue of public healthcare. On the Covid pandemic also we are engaging very closely. Mauritius was one of the first partner countries where India was able to bring medicines. Government of Mauritius had made an early request for Hydroxychloroquine and some other medicines. The first consignment of around 13 tons of medicines from India arrived in Mauritius on 15 April. This included half a million tablets of Hydroxychloroquine. This was greatly appreciated here. Hon. Vice Prime Minister Mrs Dookun received the consignment at the airport. Warm messages were exchanged between our Prime Ministers on this. The gesture was well-liked by people, healthcare specialists and received wide media attention. We are working to bring the next consignment of essential medicines in the coming days. This will also include Ayurvedic medicines that have been requested by the Government of Mauritius. You may know that last October Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and Prime Minister Modi had jointly e-inaugurated a new state-of-the-art Hospital in Mauritius as part of our development partnership. The Hospital is currently being extensively used in the context of Coronavirus situation. There are many other ongoing and earlier instances of our partnership in the healthcare sector including in Ayush and traditional medicines fields. In February this year, two senior experts from Mauritius participated in an International Ayush Conference in India. On Monday both India and Mauritius participated in the online meeting of the Contact Group of Non-Aligned Movement on Covid 19. I must point out that the Government of Mauritius has been extremely supportive in helping us take care of the Indian nationals here. Their senior leadership has reassured us of their attention to any facilitation required. They assisted with testing and other procedures required in cases of the large number of Indian workers, which became necessary after one Indian worker was confirmed as a Covid positive case. We are grateful for their help.&nbsp;

WION: How has the Indian mission reached out to stranded Indians in the country?&nbsp; 
 
Tanmaya Lal: There are around 10,000 Indian nationals in Mauritius. We estimate that around 1,000 of these may need to return to India. These mainly include hotel interns, students, tourists, workers and other professionals. The High Commission has been proactive in reaching out to the Indian nationals here. We are in regular touch with colleges where these students are studying; hotels where interns were working and their agents; and companies where Indian workers are deployed. My colleagues have reached out personally to hundreds of Indians in Mauritius and are also in touch with many of the parents in India and landlords where interns, students and tourists are staying to facilitate their welfare. We have facilitated the issue of various permits and special passes, transport, and medicines during the curfew. We are operating three helplines that are operational 24x7. We are very active in our messaging on social media including Twitter, Facebook and Website. I also reach out through regular video messages. In the initial days of the lockdown and curfew, when supermarkets had been closed down, the Mission worked hard to procure essential groceries and my colleagues went out to distribute these for a large number of those who were facing serious problems. My colleagues also visited colleges and institutions where a large number of Indian students are studying to ascertain the conditions including the food arrangements.&nbsp;

WION: How has the ground situation in Mauritius changed?&nbsp; 
 
Tanmaya Lal: Mauritius is a small remote island but its population density is among the highest in the world. Their economy, especially the tourism sector, and supplies are to a very large extent dependent on the external environment. Despite such concerns and limitations, the Government of Mauritius took strong measures at an early stage to stop international traffic and impose lockdown and then Curfew. The leadership of the country is taking commendable steps on various fronts to contain the pandemic, ensure essential supplies, and institute supportive measures for vulnerable sections and businesses. While the curfew remains extended until the end of this month, a carefully phased reopening is being planned. There are daily high-level briefings. Testing is going on. Mauritius is doing comparatively well in this regard according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Quarantine measures are strictly imposed. The graph of infected cases appears to be flattening. Mass Testing has now commenced.&nbsp;

WION: Have we shared any Indian containment model and how are the Indian diplomats doing?&nbsp; 
 
Tanmaya Lal: There is a lot of interest in the Mauritian leadership and public health experts in understanding the developments and best practices in India. I have personally shared many of the steps underway and containment plans in India with their leadership. At the same time, there is interest in the research being carried out in India especially on drugs and vaccine development and other affordable practical innovations on medical equipment. We are sharing these extensively on our social media platforms also. There is also serious interest in the use of Ayurveda for boosting immunity. I have shared Ayush guidelines with them. We are also regularly sharing these on social media. Mauritian experts are attending some of the technical webinars on managing Covid pandemic organized under our ITEC programme by Indian medical institutions, including by the All India Institute for Ayurveda. Our Culture Centre is conducting online Yoga classes, which also has a high resonance here. Let me thank you for asking about my colleagues. The pandemic and the curfew has also been a quick learning curve for all of us. While we are mostly working from home and engaging regularly through video conferencing, many of us also have to move out daily as part of our work. My colleagues have visited the Medical College before the Curfew and were present at the airport when the last commercial flight was departing to assist Indian students and tourists before the travel restrictions kicked in. They have also assisted a large number of Indians by going out to procure and distribute groceries when required despite the curfew and risks of infection. At the individual level, we continue to take precautions and our morale remains high. We are now engaged in preparing for arrangements for the Indians who need to return to India.

An India built a state-of-the-art energy-efficient hospital in Mauritius, which was opened by Indian PM Modi and PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth last year on October 3rd is being used to deal with the COVID crisis, Indian envoy to the country has told WION.

An India built a state-of-the-art energy-efficient hospital in Mauritius, which was opened by Indian PM Modi and PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth last year on October 3rd is being used to deal with the COVID crisis, Indian envoy to the country has told WION. Speaking exclusively to our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, India's High Commissioner to Mauritius Tanmaya Lal while talking about the COVID situation in the country lauded the "leadership of the country is taking commendable steps on various fronts to contain the pandemic" and thanked them for "testing and other procedures required" of several Indian workers after one Indian worker was confirmed COVID positive case. He also talked about the ongoing repatriation process for which the mission is currently getting ready and expects around 1000 Indians who may want to return. Remember Mauritius was one of the first countries to which India sent Hydroxychloroquine. WION: How are India and Mauritius cooperating on Covid? We sent them HCQ. Tanmaya Lal: Well, as you are aware, India and Mauritius share a very special relationship. As part of our close ties, there is a longstanding partnership between our countries on the issue of public healthcare. On the Covid pandemic also we are engaging very closely. Mauritius was one of the first partner countries where India was able to bring medicines. Government of Mauritius had made an early request for Hydroxychloroquine and some other medicines. The first consignment of around 13 tons of medicines from India arrived in Mauritius on 15 April. This included half a million tablets of Hydroxychloroquine. This was greatly appreciated here. Hon. Vice Prime Minister Mrs Dookun received the consignment at the airport. Warm messages were exchanged between our Prime Ministers on this. The gesture was well-liked by people, healthcare specialists and received wide media attention. We are working to bring the next consignment of essential medicines in the coming days. This will also include Ayurvedic medicines that have been requested by the Government of Mauritius. You may know that last October Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and Prime Minister Modi had jointly e-inaugurated a new state-of-the-art Hospital in Mauritius as part of our development partnership. The Hospital is currently being extensively used in the context of Coronavirus situation. There are many other ongoing and earlier instances of our partnership in the healthcare sector including in Ayush and traditional medicines fields. In February this year, two senior experts from Mauritius participated in an International Ayush Conference in India. On Monday both India and Mauritius participated in the online meeting of the Contact Group of Non-Aligned Movement on Covid 19. I must point out that the Government of Mauritius has been extremely supportive in helping us take care of the Indian nationals here. Their senior leadership has reassured us of their attention to any facilitation required. They assisted with testing and other procedures required in cases of the large number of Indian workers, which became necessary after one Indian worker was confirmed as a Covid positive case. We are grateful for their help. WION: How has the Indian mission reached out to stranded Indians in the country? Tanmaya Lal: There are around 10,000 Indian nationals in Mauritius. We estimate that around 1,000 of these may need to return to India. These mainly include hotel interns, students, tourists, workers and other professionals. The High Commission has been proactive in reaching out to the Indian nationals here. We are in regular touch with colleges where these students are studying; hotels where interns were working and their agents; and companies where Indian workers are deployed. My colleagues have reached out personally to hundreds of Indians in Mauritius and are also in touch with many of the parents in India and landlords where interns, students and tourists are staying to facilitate their welfare. We have facilitated the issue of various permits and special passes, transport, and medicines during the curfew. We are operating three helplines that are operational 24x7. We are very active in our messaging on social media including Twitter, Facebook and Website. I also reach out through regular video messages. In the initial days of the lockdown and curfew, when supermarkets had been closed down, the Mission worked hard to procure essential groceries and my colleagues went out to distribute these for a large number of those who were facing serious problems. My colleagues also visited colleges and institutions where a large number of Indian students are studying to ascertain the conditions including the food arrangements. WION: How has the ground situation in Mauritius changed? Tanmaya Lal: Mauritius is a small remote island but its population density is among the highest in the world. Their economy, especially the tourism sector, and supplies are to a very large extent dependent on the external environment. Despite such concerns and limitations, the Government of Mauritius took strong measures at an early stage to stop international traffic and impose lockdown and then Curfew. The leadership of the country is taking commendable steps on various fronts to contain the pandemic, ensure essential supplies, and institute supportive measures for vulnerable sections and businesses. While the curfew remains extended until the end of this month, a carefully phased reopening is being planned. There are daily high-level briefings. Testing is going on. Mauritius is doing comparatively well in this regard according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Quarantine measures are strictly imposed. The graph of infected cases appears to be flattening. Mass Testing has now commenced. WION: Have we shared any Indian containment model and how are the Indian diplomats doing? Tanmaya Lal: There is a lot of interest in the Mauritian leadership and public health experts in understanding the developments and best practices in India. I have personally shared many of the steps underway and containment plans in India with their leadership. At the same time, there is interest in the research being carried out in India especially on drugs and vaccine development and other affordable practical innovations on medical equipment. We are sharing these extensively on our social media platforms also. There is also serious interest in the use of Ayurveda for boosting immunity. I have shared Ayush guidelines with them. We are also regularly sharing these on social media. Mauritian experts are attending some of the technical webinars on managing Covid pandemic organized under our ITEC programme by Indian medical institutions, including by the All India Institute for Ayurveda. Our Culture Centre is conducting online Yoga classes, which also has a high resonance here. Let me thank you for asking about my colleagues. The pandemic and the curfew has also been a quick learning curve for all of us. While we are mostly working from home and engaging regularly through video conferencing, many of us also have to move out daily as part of our work. My colleagues have visited the Medical College before the Curfew and were present at the airport when the last commercial flight was departing to assist Indian students and tourists before the travel restrictions kicked in. They have also assisted a large number of Indians by going out to procure and distribute groceries when required despite the curfew and risks of infection. At the individual level, we continue to take precautions and our morale remains high. We are now engaged in preparing for arrangements for the Indians who need to return to India.

India built hospital in Mauritius opened last year being used for covid operations

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