Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Current Operations

• Afghan Government Unveils Negotiating Team For Taliban Talks RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- Afghanistan's government has finalized a 21-member team that is expected to negotiate with the Taliban at upcoming talks aimed at putting an end to the country's 18-year conflict.
• Army seeks retired medical Soldiers to support COVID-19 efforts Army News 27 Mar 2020 -- More than 14,000 retired Soldiers have already shown interest in returning to active duty after the Army recently reached out to over 800,000 of them to assist in the COVID-19 pandemic response, G-1 officials said Friday.
• Army engineers now eyeing 100-plus sites for COVID-19 response Army News 27 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified over 110 sites across the country it could retrofit to help local hospitals deal with patient overflow amid the COVID-19 outbreak, its commander said Friday.
• USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles to Aid COVID-19 Response DoD News 27 Mar 2020 -- "The spirit of collaboration and cooperation is alive in this state," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said as the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy docked in Los Angeles to aid in treating trauma patients to allow local hospitals to more easily handle cases from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Army Corps of Engineers Creates Alternative Care Facilities DoD News 27 Mar 2020 -- Though the Army Corps of Engineers has done important work in the past seven days related to the coronavirus pandemic, transforming buildings into hospitals in the next two to three weeks is more important, the commander of the Corps said.
• USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles NNS 27 Mar 2020 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Los Angeles, March 27 to support the nation's COVID-19 response efforts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Bill Announcement The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Statement by the President The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R.748, The CARES Act The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 27 Mar 2020
• NY National Guard doubles down on COVID 19 response Army News 27 Mar 2020 -- The New York National Guard has doubled the number of members helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the state to more than 2,200 troops on duty.
• Growing Louisiana Guard presence supports COVID-19 response Army News 27 Mar 2020 -- More than 660 members of the Louisiana National Guard are assisting with the COVID-19 response, providing medical, engineering and drive-thru testing support.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 27 Mar 2020 -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• Rising infections force US warship into maintenance: analysts Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- Following the first three confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) cases on board the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt on Tuesday, the figure reportedly rocketed to 25 on Thursday, as the warship is heading toward Guam. Chinese military experts said on Friday that this latest move indicates the Theodore Roosevelt has now been into a maintenance condition and decided that scheduled military missions be cancelled.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's Phone Call With Italy Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini DoD 27 Mar 2020
• European Command Works With Allies, Partners in Fight Against COVID-19 DoD News 27 Mar 2020 -- Military and civilian personnel of U.S. European Command are working with allies and partners in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Joint Team Ensures Hypersonic Test Success DoD News 27 Mar 2020 -- A flight test of the joint Army-Navy hypersonic glide vehicle across the Pacific Ocean was a success, thanks to a dedicated team who managed complexity and change, officials said.
• AFLCMC delivers C-37B early US Air Force 27 Mar 2020 -- The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center delivered the latest C-37B special air mission aircraft to the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 25.
• Balikatan 2020 Exercise Cancelled Over Coronavirus Concerns VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has canceled Exercise Balikatan 2020 over concerns of the coronavirus spread.
• Launch of Space Force Largely Unaffected by Coronavirus, Top Space Officer Says DoD News 27 Mar 2020 -- The Space Force launched in late December and, as it approaches its 100th day, its forward momentum is unabated by the coronavirus pandemic, the chief of space operations said.
• North Macedonia joins NATO as 30th Ally NATO 27 Mar 2020 -- Today (27 March 2020), North Macedonia became NATO's newest member, upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the US State Department in Washington DC. NATO Allies signed North Macedonia's Accession Protocol in February 2019, after which all 29 national parliaments voted to ratify the country's membership.
• North Macedonia Officially Joins NATO RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- North Macedonia has officially become NATO's 30th member, the military alliance says.
• North Macedonia Joins the NATO Alliance US Dept. of State 27 Mar 2020 -- On March 27, 2020, the United States, as a treaty depositary, received The Republic of North Macedonia's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, making North Macedonia the 30th NATO Ally. On March 30, North Macedonia's flag will fly over NATO headquarters for the first time.
• NATO boosts capacity of North Macedonia to deal with coronavirus crisis NATO 27 Mar 2020 -- North Macedonia is using NATO's Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS) to coordinate its national response to the COVID-19 crisis and to provide its public with real-time information and advice.
• NATO forces intercept Russian aircraft, track Russian ships NATO 27 Mar 2020 -- Belgian Air Force jets which are part of NATO air policing in the Baltic Sea region intercepted a Russian military aircraft flying close to Allied airspace on Thursday (26 March 2020) after it failed to respect international safety norms. The scramble, the third in consecutive days, happened over the Baltic Sea and comes as armed forces across the Alliance are helping nations to address the coronavirus crisis.
• Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on Mar. 26 PLA Daily 27 Mar 2020
• Germany's Luftwaffe Looks to Replace Tornado Aircraft With Eurofighters, Super Hornets Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- The German air force has settled on replacements for its aging Panavia Tornado fleet, agreeing to buy Eurofighter Typhoons and Boeing F/A-18E/F Hornets in both Super Hornet and Growler configurations. However, the Hornets will need a new certification to wield the nuclear weapons the Tornados once carried.
• India buys Israeli arms as doctors demand facemasks Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to go ahead with an arms deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars with Israel, while healthcare workers in the country are grappling with a serious lack of masks and protective equipment in their fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
• Iran to Increase Explosive Power of Its Missile Warheads - Defence Minister Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- Earlier this month, following attacks on a base holding US troops in Iraq, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran will continue to respond to America's assassination of Commander Qasem Soleimani on 3 January.
• Iraq's anti-terror PMU holds drill in preparation for possible war with US Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- The anti-terror Iraqi resistance group Kata'ib Hezbollah has held a military drill, dubbed 'Hunting the Crow', to prepare itself for battling occupying US troops after suspicious American activities recently.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For March 27, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 27 March 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 27 Mar 2020
• The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept and Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Launched by the Terrorist Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki
• Syrian govt. forces, locals block US convoy in Hasakah, force it to turn back Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- Local residents of a village in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah have in coordination with government forces prevented a US military convoy from attempting to pass through the community.
• Russia Urges Turkey to Continue Real Separation of Militants From Opposition in Idlib Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- Russia expects Turkey to continue work on separating the militants from the opposition in Syria's Idlib, as a fictitious renaming of terrorist groups is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday.
• Haftar's LNA Air Forces Attack GNA Positions in Western Libya – Military Source Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- The air forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, carried out on Friday three air raids targeting a number of positions of the rival Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in the country's west, a local military source said.
• Myanmar Army, State Telecom Firms Drop Rakhine News Websites Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- Myanmar Army-backed and state-owned mobile network operators have blocked two news websites amid the internet shutdown in Myanmar's war-stricken northern Rakhine state, employees at both news outlets told RFA on Friday.
• Israeli warplanes conduct new attacks on besieged Gaza Strip Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- Israeli warplanes have conducted several airstrikes against the besieged Gaza Strip, targeting a number of areas in the northern parts of the Palestinian coastal enclave.
• Kazakh Authorities Detain 25 Over Deadly Ethnic Clashes In February RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- Kazakh authorities say they have detained 25 people during a police operation connected to February's deadly ethnic clashes in the southern region of Zhambyl.

News Reports

• US Pushes Back Against Russian, Chinese, Iranian Coronavirus Disinformation VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- Top U.S. adversaries appear to be coming together, using social media and other cyber means to amplify disinformation regarding the coronavirus, with the intent of harming the United States and hindering efforts to curb the global pandemic.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, March 27, 2020 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27 Mar 2020
• Putin's Pretext? COVID-19 Crisis Tapped To Tax Rich Russians' Offshore Wealth RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- With COVID-19 cases rising in Russia, President Vladimir Putin addressed went on TV to announce measures he said were aimed at lending young families, workers, and small business owners financial support as the coronavirus upends daily life on a mass scale.
• The Week In Russia: Reality, Perception, And Luck RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- At one point in the classic Soviet comedy whose title translates clumsily as The Diamond Arm, the actor Andrei Mironov breaks out into a song called Bad Luck Island -- with lyrics that, despite tropical references to crocodiles that can't be caught and coconuts that won't grow, seem certain to be about the Soviet Union, no matter what the experts say.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on March 27, 2020 PRC MofA 27 Mar 2020
• China Pursues 'Mask Diplomacy' With Asian Neighbors during COVID-19 Crisis Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- China, once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is moving to polish up its battered image by scrambling to donate medical equipment and other resources to countries reeling from the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Full text of Xi's remarks at Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered a speech titled "Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak" at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit via video link in Beijing.
• China blasts 'provocative actions' by US PLA Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The People's Liberation Army condemned recent "provocative actions" taken by the United States against the navy, warning such activities have undermined Chinese sovereignty, poisoned bilateral relations and disrupted regional peace and security.
• Hong Kong Arrests Pro-Democracy Politician Under Colonial Sedition Law Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- Concerns are growing in Hong Kong after the arrest of a pro-democracy district council member that the government may not need to enact controversial new laws to accuse people of sedition and subversion.
• Trump signs TAIPEI Act into law CNA 27 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed into law the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019, which is aimed at supporting Taiwan's international presence.
• China blasts meddling as US signs new Taiwan support law Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has signed a congressional bill into law that entails greater American support for Taiwan at a global level, amid Beijing's long-time criticism of Washington not to interfere in Chinese internal affairs and to recognize its sovereignty over the breakaway island.
• US sending destroyer through Taiwan Straits during pandemic a reckless move: experts Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- Despite eight confirmed COVID-19 cases on US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and fast increasing number in the US military across the world, the US on Wednesday reportedly sent a warship through the Taiwan Straits.
• FBI Chief Vows To Keep Working To Discover Ex-Agent's Fate In Iran RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- FBI Director Chris Wray says the top U.S. law enforcement agency will never give up on "finding out what happened" to former agent Robert Levinson, who the U.S. government believes died while in Iranian custody.
• Russian Space Agency Says Will Change 2020 Launch Schedule Due to COVID-19 Outbreak Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- The Russian Space Agency Roscosmos will adapt its planned launch schedule for this coming year in light of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic that has caused the suspension of satellite production in Europe, the agency's press service said on Friday.
• EU Leaders Give Final OK To Begin North Macedonia, Albania Membership Talks RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- European Union leaders have given North Macedonia and Albania formal approval to begin talks to join the bloc, two days after EU ministers gave the green light for the small Balkan nations to begin the process.
• U.S. Denies Pushing Plan For Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- The United States says it has no "secret plan" to push land swaps between Kosovo and Serbia, rejecting speculation by some Kosovar officials that such a move was in the works.
• Ex-Venezuelan General Indicted in Narco-Terrorism Case Surrenders to DEA Agents - Reports Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- A former Venezuelan general has surrendered to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just a day after being indicted by US federal prosecutors and having a $10 million reward posted for his capture.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 67 WHO 27 March 2020
• Protect 'healthcare heroes' from COVID-19, urges UN rights expert UN News 27 Mar 2020 -- States and business leaders must step up efforts to ensure that the selfless doctors, nurses, first-responders and other medical professionals working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic receive adequate protective equipment, a UN rights expert said on Friday.
• Guterres warns of losing COVID-19 war as UN agencies continue relentless efforts People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Group of 20 (G20) leaders on Thursday, "We are at war with a virus -- and not winning," UN entities around the world are unrelenting in providing aid to fight COVID-19.
• WHO urges all countries to unite against COVID-19 pandemic People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged all countries to unite against the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that "millions could die" without aggressive action.
• WHO Chief Warns of Chronic Global Shortage of Protective Equipment Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization has held a briefing with some 50 ministers of health which has revealed common successes, but also common challenges in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, including the "chronic global shortage" of personal protective equipment, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.
• Coronavirus cases top half a million, protective gear lacking - WHO SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- Coronavirus has infected more than half a million people and killed 20,000, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday as he appealed again for protective gear for medical staff working to save lives, Reuters reported.

United States

• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Bill Announcement The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Statement by the President The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R.748, The CARES Act The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Briefing With Dr. William Walters, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Operations, Bureau of Medical Services, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee, Bureau of Consular Affairs On COVID-19: Updates on Health Impact and Assistance for American Citizens Abroad US Dept. of State 27 Mar 2020
• Briefing With Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle, Global Engagement Center On Disinformation and Propaganda Related to COVID-19 US Dept. of State 27 Mar 2020
• Trump Uses Presidential Powers, Forces GM to Make Ventilators VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill Friday to bolster the economy while he also used government powers to compel General Motors to manufacture ventilators to help COVID-19 patients as the United States became the first country in the world to surpass 100,000 coronavirus cases.
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration The White House 27 Mar 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves South Carolina Disaster Declaration The White House 27 Mar 2020
• Statement from the President Regarding the Defense Production Act The White House 27 Mar 2020
• White House: Trump Signs Defense Production Act Ordering General Motors to Produce Ventilators Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- In accordance with the Defense Production Act, US President Donald Trump has ordered General Motors prioritize the production of ventilators as the country attempts to treat those diagnosed with or experiencing symptoms from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 27 Mar 2020 -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• NY Continues Search for Ventilators; Trump Questions Call for 30,000 VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- New York's governor said Friday that he was continuing to shop "around the globe" to purchase 30,000 ventilators, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that he thought the figure was overblown.
• US Pledges Additional Foreign Aid to Battle COVID-19 VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The United States announced additional foreign assistance funding Thursday to help 64 at-risk countries battle the COVID-19 global pandemic while welcoming "continued, no-strings-attached" contributions from other nations.
• Puerto Rico Extends Coronavirus Curfew VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is extending a two-week curfew to April 12 and warning residents that new restrictions are on the way to help curb coronavirus cases.
• US Now Leads World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Twitter early Friday: "Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China. Discussed in great detail the Coronavirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet. China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus. We are working closely together. Much respect!"
• U.S. becomes country with most COVID-19 cases People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The United States reported 82,404 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 6 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday (2200 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• Coronavirus cases in New York overwhelming hospitals in US epicenter Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- Coronavirus cases in the state and city of New York continue to surge, with hospital staff working extra shifts and searching desperately for more medical supplies as they battle a quickly growing death toll and infections at the US epicenter of the global pandemic.

China

• Estimates Show Wuhan Death Toll Far Higher Than Official Figure Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- As authorities lifted a two-month coronavirus lockdown in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, residents said they were growing increasingly skeptical that the figure of some 2,500 deaths in the city to date was accurate.
• Coronavirus Comeback? China Braces For Possible Second Wave Of COVID-19 RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- Signs are creeping out of a feared but widely predicted "second wave" of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the country where it all started, with other Asian countries also seeing worrying trends in their battles against the global pandemic.
• Chinese mainland reports 54 new imported COVID19 cases, one new local transmitted case Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 54 new imported cases of COVID-19 infection and one local transmitted case on Thursday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 595, according to the National Health Commission on Friday.
• Xi says China to continue timely sharing of COVID-19 information Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- China has been sharing information on COVID-19 in an open, transparent and responsible manner with the World Health Organization and countries including the United States since the onset of the epidemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday.
• China temporarily opens Khunjerab Pass in Xinjiang for medical supplies to Pakistan Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- China temporarily opened the Khunjerab Pass on the China-Pakistan border in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday to help Pakistan receive urgent medical supplies against the spread of COVID-19.
• Wuhan no longer at "high risk" of coronavirus outbreak Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- Wuhan has had its coronavirus risk evaluation downgraded from "high risk" to "medium risk," a local health official told a press conference Friday.
• China temporarily bans entry of foreigners in response to surging imported infections Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- Foreign nationals are temporarily forbidden from entering China even with valid visas, Chinese authorities announced on Thursday, in a move called by some experts as "semi sealing off of the border" that signals the country's determination to fight the pandemic battle.
• Xi urges joint China-US action against COVID-19 in phone call with Trump People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- President Xi Jinping on Friday urged united actions between China and the United States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he hopes the US can take concrete steps to improve bilateral relations.
• China suspends entry by foreign nationals People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- starting on Saturday Mar 28 -- is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries, the announcement said.
• A closer look at China's efforts to guarantee supplies in COVID-19 epicentre People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- After locking down Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei province, which used to be the epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, China mobilized nationwide resources and made all out efforts to guarantee a stable supply of living materials for the city's residents. Many provinces around the country joined efforts to guarantee sufficient sources for these materials.
• 4,000-plus military medics to continue supporting Wuhan anti-virus battle People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The 4,000-plus military medical professionals that have rushed to aid the battle against the novel coronavirus in central China's city of Wuhan are sticking to their positions until "a full victory is achieved."
• China's military continues to step up int'l cooperation against coronavirus People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- China will further enhance international military cooperation with other countries in face of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, a Chinese spokesman told a press conference on Thursday.
• Xi calls for all-out global war against COVID-19 at extraordinary G20 summit People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday called for a resolute all-out global war against the COVID-19 outbreak as leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) convened an extraordinary summit to coordinate multilateral response to the pandemic.
• China expands help to Myanmar with 2.45 tons of medical supplies Global Times 27 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese government on Thursday sent 2.45 tons of medical supplies including 5,000 protective outfits, 5,000 N95 medical masks, and 200,000 protective face masks to Myanmar to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Wuhan no longer at "high risk" of coronavirus outbreak People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- Wuhan has had its coronavirus risk evaluation downgraded from "high risk" to "medium risk," a local health official told a press conference on Friday.
• China prosecutes 1,919 suspects involved in epidemic-related crimes People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- A total of 1,919 people in 1,561 cases have been prosecuted in China over criminal offenses related to the COVID-19 epidemic, said the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).
• Beijing reports 4 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- Beijing reported four new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from other countries on Thursday, bringing the total number of imported cases in the national capital to 153, the municipal health commission said Friday.
• Chinese vice premier stresses treatment of severe COVID-19 patients in Wuhan People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan Thursday required all-out efforts to treat severe patients infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, the once epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in central China's Hubei Province.

Europe

• Scotland Reports 1,059 Coronavirus Cases, 33 Deaths VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reports that as of Friday, there were 1,059 cases of COVID-19 in Scotland – an increase of 165 from Thursday.
• British Health Minister Tests Positive for COVID-19 VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced Friday he has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating at home with mild symptoms.
• British Prime Minister Has Coronavirus VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Downing Street statement. In a video announcement Friday on his Twitter account, Johnson said he has "a temperature and a persistent cough" that he described as "mild symptoms" of the virus.
• 7 in 10 coronavirus deaths reported in Europe: WHO Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 70 percent of the world's coronavirus deaths have been reported in Europe as the flu-like pathogen continues to take its toll across the globe.
• European Parliament Approves $40 Billion Emergency Package VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The European Parliament on Thursday evening passed a $40 billion emergency package to help countries and their citizens most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Coronavirus claims over 8,000 lives in Italy with 80,539 cumulative cases People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 8,165 lives in locked-down Italy by Thursday, with the cumulative number of cases reaching 80,539, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.
• Italy says peak of coronavirus epidemic yet to come +World updates Press TV 27 Mar 2020 -- The head of Italy's national health institute says the peak of the country's coronavirus epidemic is yet to come despite hefty increases in new infections and deaths in many recent days.
• France extends coronavirus lockdown by two weeks to April 15 SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said in a speech the government had decided to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown by two weeks until April 15.
• Paris hospitals near coronavirus breaking point SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- A spike in coronavirus cases will put France under huge pressure in coming days, its prime minister said on Friday, after reporting its biggest daily death toll and officials fearing hospitals in and around Paris could be saturated in 48 hours.
• Spain's coronavirus death toll is stabilizing - official SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- The latest data from Spain's health ministry show the death toll from the coronavirus is beginning to stabilize, health emergency chief Fernando Simon told a news conference on Friday, Reuters reported.
• Spain Enters Third Week of Coronavirus Lockdown VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- As Spain entered the third week of lockdown Friday, the streets of Barcelona, the second-most populous municipality, were empty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

India

• India Records Highest Number of Deaths as Health Ministry Reports Drop in Rate of COVID19 Cases Sputnik 27 Mar 2020 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of COVID 19, calling it a "critical step in the decisive fight against the corona pandemic."

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 death toll mounts to 2,378 IRNA 27 Mar 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Friday that 11,133 people out of a total of 32,332 infected by the coronavirus have survived it while 2,378 have unfortunately succumbed to the deadly virus.
• Iran to implement social distancing plan amid COVID-19 spread People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- Iran on Thursday announced the implementation of a social distancing plan for one week starting from Friday, official IRNA news agency reported.
• Zarif: Coronavirus spares no nation IRNA 27 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message advised US to prevent a forever pandemic, saying coronavirus spares no nation.

Myanmar

• Rampant Fake News is a Key Front in Myanmar's Coronavirus Battle Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- In the era of the coronavirus in Myanmar, online recordings claiming to be the voices of government officials warn listeners that residents in the commercial hub Yangon have been infected by the coronavirus.
• COVID-19: UN, Rights Watchdog Want Internet Restored at Rohingya Camps Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- The United Nations on Friday urged Bangladesh to remove an internet blackout at Rohingya camps during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Human Rights Watch said the government was risking the lives of refugees by not lifting restrictions on their communications.

Other Countries

• Face Mask Shortages Cause Price Hikes Across Southeast Asia as COVID-19 Spreads Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- Face mask shortages in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are leading to price increases, causing many to reuse their disposable masks, make their own masks at home, or use materials like baby wipes to cover their faces.
• Full text of Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit Statement on COVID-19 People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The following is the full text of the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit Statement on COVID-19 issued on Thursday.
• Global confirmed COVID-19 cases top 500,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 27 Mar 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide topped 500,000 as of 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday (1800 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• World Bank head calls for easing debts of poorer countries in light of coronavirus SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- World Bank President David Malpass on Friday said poorer countries will need debt relief or restructuring so they can fund their fights against the coronavirus pandemic, and said the World Bank would present a debt-relief approach in April.
• Companies Get More Help than Workers in Asia Stimulus Plans VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- A dozen Asian countries plan to offer economic stimulus aimed at helping companies cover lost business during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not all of them are expected to help employers retain workers and reopen once the outbreak subsides.
• Taiwan confirms 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing total to 267 CNA 27 Mar 2020 -- Fifteen new cases of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 were confirmed in Taiwan on Friday, bringing the total to 267 since the outbreak began, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.
• COVID-19: Serbs Jailed For Breaking Quarantine; Member Of Putin's Staff Infected RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus has exceeded 26,000 with more than 570,000 infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• IMF Board Approves $121 Million In Coronavirus Aid To Kyrgyzstan RFE/RL 27 Mar 2020 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its board has approved an emergency $121 million disbursement to Kyrgyzstan to help the Central Asian nation deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, in what could be the first in a series of such moves.
• IMF says Pakistan requests emergency coronavirus financing SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- Pakistan has requested an emergency loan disbursement from the International Monetary Fund to help fight the coronavirus under the fund's Rapid Financing Instrument program, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday, Reuters reported.
• Lebanon Reports 23 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported 23 new cases of the novel corona virus(COVID-19).
• Kuwait Reports 17 New Cases of Coronavirus SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health reported 17 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) during the past twenty-four hours, bringing the total number of infections to 225.
• Oman Reports 22 New Cases of Coronavirus SPA 27 Mar 2020 -- Omani Ministry of Health has reported 22 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) today, bringing the total number of infections in Oman to 131.
• Tanzanian President Criticized for Refusing to Close Places of Worship VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- Opposition leaders in Tanzania are criticizing the government's response to the coronavirus, after President John Magufuli said he would never close down places of worship.
• Philippines Declares Coronavirus Emergency Amid State of 'Warfare' VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The Philippines has declared a state of emergency, allowing it to comply with stricter COVID-19 measures taken by neighboring countries, but also causing human rights worries, such as the use of dog cages to detain curfew violators.
• South Africa Begins Nationwide Coronavirus Lockdown VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- South Africans on Friday began the first day of a three-week nationwide lockdown aimed at stemming the tide of coronavirus cases, now topping 900 in South Africa.
• Venezuelan Official Confirms 1st Coronavirus Death VOA 27 Mar 2020 -- The grim reality of the coronavirus has arrived in Venezuela, where Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed the country's first death from the disease.
• North Korea Ignores COVID-19 in Rush to Redeploy Workers to Russia Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- North Korea is preparing to redeploy migrant workers to Russia to reestablish a much-needed source of foreign cash that had been put on hold due to concerns over the coronavirus crisis.