Chinese city gives residents up to $1,400 for reporting novel coronavirus symptoms

The city of Qianjiang, in China's Hubei province, is awarding residents who proactively report symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus. Any resident who reports symptoms and is confirmed to have the novel coronavirus will be awarded 10,000 yuan — or about $1,426 — according to a Qianjiang government press release.
Meanwhile, patients who come forward and are classified as "suspected cases" will be rewarded 2,000 yuan (or $285). Those that are not immediately confirmed to have the illness upon first diagnosis will be rewarded 1,000 yuan ($142).

Iran coronavirus deaths reach 22, as crisis worsens

Twenty-two people have now died from the novel coronavirus in Iran, the worst-hit country outside of China. The mortality rate from Covid-19 in Iran has soared to over 13% -- significantly higher than any other country experiencing an outbreak of the pathogen. Some suspect that may be down to an under-reporting of the total number of cases, which stand at more than 140. The death rate in China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the virus, is around 2%.

iPhone maker Foxconn is now making a million masks a day

Foxconn, a major electronics maker and supplier to Apple, has started making surgical face masks for all of its factory workers. The Taiwanese tech giant said in a statement today that it had ramped up production significantly to meet its internal requirements of making approximately a million masks per day for employees at its facilities.
“Having previously dealt with SARS, Foxconn has a good understanding of how to care for our employees’ health and how we will need to allocate resources in the manufacturing and production departments,” the company told CNN Business earlier this month.

Top Japanese government adviser says Diamond Princess quarantine was flawed

A top Japanese government adviser has admitted that the quarantine measures enacted on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama may have allowed additional infections to spread among the ship's crew and passengers. At least 705 people contracted the virus during the quarantine, four of whom have died. For a time, the ship had the largest concentration of cases outside of mainland China, where the outbreak began.

Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs sentenced to 5 months imprisonment in college admissions scam

Former food company executive Michelle Janavs was sentenced to five months in prison Tuesday for paying bribes in the college admissions scam, the US Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said.
Janavs, whose family invented Hot Pockets, paid the scheme's mastermind, Rick Singer, $100,000 to cheat on two of her daughters' ACTs, and agreed to pay $200,000 to have one of the daughters admitted to University of Southern California as a "fake beach volleyball recruit," according to a sentencing memorandum.

11-year-old girl brings loaded AR-15 to gun legislation hearing in Idaho

An 11-year-old girl appeared yesterday at a legislative hearing in Idaho, toting a loaded AR-15 assault weapon. Bailey Nielsen was with her grandfather, who is supporting a proposal that would allow visitors to Idaho who can legally possess firearms to carry a concealed handgun within city limits. Charles Nielsen addressed the committee that voted to send the legislation to the full House as his granddaughter stood at his side with the weapon slung over her right shoulder. She did not speak.

Mission Impossible 7 filming halted over coronavirus fears as Tom Cruise 'flees' in Italy

Tom Cruise 's latest Mission: Impossible movie has been halted over fears that the cast and crew could be hit with coronavirus. Filming of the seventh movie in the action franchise has been paused in Italy, producers have said. It was scheduled for a three-week shoot in Venice, but production has now been stopped after more than 200 people tested positive for the virus in Italy.
It is the largest number of confirmed cases of the disease outside Asia.
In a statement, Paramount Pictures said it was following the advice of the Venetian government and using an "abundance of caution" in halting production.

Thomas Markle slams daughter Meghan Markle, says she insulted The Queen and has "dumped every family"

Thomas Markle has slammed his daughter Meghan Markle again and accused her of treating Queen Elizabeth and the royal family shabbily.  Thomas Markle Sr. was seen at an Office Depot in Rosarito, Mexico, and was asked if his daughter has the right to use the term "royal" as part of her brand. He replied by going off on his daughter.  He said she has been disrespectful to The Queen and that she keeps dumping everyone in her life. He added that he's not surprised because it's her mode of operation.

Malaysia's Mahathir asked to stay as interim prime minister after his resignation

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced his resignation but was asked to stay on as interim leader by the country's monarch. Mahathir said in a two-line statement that he had informed the country's king of his resignation at on Monday.
Mahathir also reportedly resigned from his own party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, according to Reuters news agency, citing three sources. Mahathir's party also announced that it was quitting the ruling government coalition, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), casting doubt on the future of the partnership.

Three schools close in UK over coronavirus fears

Three schools in Cheshire, United Kingdom have been closed over fears of a coronavirus outbreak.
The schools are: Cransley School, in Northwich, Brine Leas Academy, in Nantwich, and Sandbach High School, in Sandbach. They were closed today after a number of pupils returned from trips to Italy over half-term.
Italy is now the greatest coronavirus-hit country in Europe, with over 200 infections and seven deaths. The country has locked down 11 towns, while upcoming football matches in its Serie A and the Europa League will be played behind closed doors.

Italy scrambles to contain coronavirus outbreak after admitting hospital mess-up

Italian authorities were on the defensive Tuesday as they faced tough questions over the country's handling of the novel coronavirus, which is rapidly spreading across the country's northern regions.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has tried to allay fears that the central government has no control over the affected regions after he was forced to admit that a hospital in the northern town of Codogno had mishandled the region's first coronavirus case and had contributed to the deadly virus' spread.

Mother arrested after she filmed herself performing violent smackdown on baby boy during a video chat with his father

A mother filmed herself smacking her baby boy down to the floor during a video chat with the child's father, police and the child’s family said.  Hanna Winch, 21, was arrested in Peru, Indiana, after police discovered a disturbing video that was posted on social media by the child’s grandparents.
 The footage shows a woman, alleged to be Winch,  smacking the ten-month-old boy down on the floor, sending him sprawling face-first across the floor. The camera then briefly pans up to show the face of a woman believed to be Winch.

US military says it killed terrorist leader who planned attack that killed Americans in Kenya

A US airstrike in Somalia killed an al-Shabaab leader who had a role in "planning and directing terrorist operations," including a January attack on Manda Bay, Kenya, that killed three Americans, the US military said Tuesday.
"Post-strike assessments confirm the two terrorists killed in the Feb. 22 precision airstrikes were an individual associated with the attack on Manda Bay and his wife, who was also a known al-Shabaab member," US Africa Command said in a statement Tuesday.

Hong Kong confirms four additional coronavirus cases, raising citywide total to 89

Health officials in Hong Kong have confirmed four additional cases of the coronavirus, bringing the citywide total to 89. The new cases include two passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, a man linked with a previously confirmed case, and a domestic helper who was linked to a previous case.
One of the suspected cases is a 49-year-old woman, said Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Center for Health Protection today. The woman volunteered at a Buddhist hall; since then, 202 people with links to the hall have been contacted by authorities, and 32 have been quarantined. The rest are still being monitored.
A total of 24 people have been discharged from hospital, said health officials today. One patient remains in critical condition, and another 64 are still being treated in hospital.

"I am innocent... The truth is the best defence" Jussie Smollett says he is willing to 'fight or die' to be cleared after pleading not guilty to renewed charges

Jussie Smollett has been re-charged for allegedly lying to cops about the hate crime he claims was perpetrated against him in Chicago a year ago, and he insists he's innocent and will keep saying his truth.  TMZ caught up with the actor as he was leaving the Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, February 25.
 Smollett, who has pled not guilty again, insisted that he's innocent when asked about being charged again.  He was with his lawyer and introduced her to the photographer so that the questions could be directed to her. His lawyer said Jussie is a tough cookie and will pull through.

Saudi Arabia to bid £400m to host Tyson Fury’s next fight against Wilder or Joshua

Saudi Arabia's royal family are set to bid an outrageous £400m to host Tyson Fury's next fight after members of the Royal Family were ringside in Las Vegas to watch the Gypsy King's ruthless win over Deontay Wilder at the weekend.  Fury defeated Wilder on Sunday morning to claim the WBC Heavyweight belt and Wilder confirmed on Tuesday that he will re-activate his rematch clause in their contract within the next 28 days but fans are clamoring for a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to determine the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.

Owner of football club Steaua Bucharest accuses his players of having too much s.e.x. and not being able to perform on the pitch

Gigi Becali, the owner of Romanian team, Bucharest football club FCSB has blamed his team's recent poor run of form on too much sex. The 1986 European Cup winners, who are Romania's most successful club with 26 league titles have failed to win their last three games. Commenting on the club's current poor form, Becali told local media the players are having too much sex their girlfriends.
'My players are making love with their girlfriends too often, that's why they aren't playing football so well lately,' he said after FCSB's 1-1 home draw against Chindia Targoviste over the weekend. 
The 61-year-old Politician and businessman also went ahead to call out Romanian national team and FCSB striker Florinel Coman.

Coronavirus: Mauritius rejects 40 Italians

Forty Italians were blocked on Monday from disembarking their plane upon arrival in Mauritius due to surging coronavirus cases in Italy. An Alitalia flight from Rome to Mauritius arrived at its destination with 212 passengers, including 40 from Lombardy and Veneto, the Italian regions dealing with a coronavirus outbreak.
Mauritius authorities said the 40 could get off the plane only if they accepted to be quarantined. The airline, Alitalia, however, says it was not warned about this in advance.
The 40, who have not reported any symptoms of the disease, said they would rather go home and “Alitalia is arranging for their immediate return,” the company says.

Hollywood actor George Clooney 'planning' a £36m bid to buy Spanish football club Malaga

Hollywood actor and movie director, George Clooney is reportedly part of a group of US investors' planning a sensational bid to buy Spanish football club, Malaga, with hope to turn around the fortunes of the Andalusian side. With the club's president, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani already suspended over accusations of improper management, the team who are now 14th in Segunda Division could be forcibly relegated if they cannot fulfill certain financial commitments this season.

Philippines bans travelers from South Korean outbreak province

The Philippines has issued a ban on people traveling from South Korea's North Gyeongsang province, effective today, according to a statement by the Presidential Palace. North Gyeongsang province includes the southeastern city of Daegu, where the majority of South Korea's coronavirus cases are located.
Philippine citizens are still permitted to travel to the province for work or study. Philippine officials are conducting a risk assessment for travelers from other parts of South Korea.