China expands lockdowns to 25M people to halt viral outbreak

China broadened its unprecedented, open-ended lockdowns to encompass around 25 million people Friday to try to contain a deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds, though the measures' potential for success is uncertain. At least eight cities have been shut down —- Wuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Chibi, Qianjiang, Zhijiang, Jingmen and Xiantao — all in central China's Hubei province, where the illness has been concentrated. Wuhan, which has the majority of cases, also announced Friday that it will build a designated hospital with space for 1,000 beds in the style of a facility that Beijing constructed during the SARS epidemic.

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  Wuhan, China, and 5 other cities have been quarantined as China attempts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. That's about 23 million people on lockdown.
  Business Insider
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  China’s battle with the Wuhan coronavirus is shackled by a toxic relationship with information
  Quartz

Trump Impeachment Lawyer Utters 'Biggest Lie Ever' Told On Senate Floor

White House counsel Pat Cipollone faced swift backlash over one particular claim.

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  The Weird Reason Everyone Is Drinking Milk At Trump’s Impeachment Trial
  Refinery 29 UK
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  Senators running for president work to engage voters as impeachment trial continues
  CBS News Videos

Chinese listed companies ramp up virus efforts after president's call

A number of Chinese listed companies - ranging from biotech firms, drugmakers, mask producers and thermometer manufacturers - announced efforts in response to a national call to fight the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus. The new, flu-like virus, first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed 17 and infected nearly 600 people. Cases have been detected in other major population centers, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as overseas, triggering a public scramble for face masks and flu medicines.

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  Health experts issued an ominous warning about a coronavirus pandemic 3 months ago. Their simulation showed it could kill 65 million people.
  Business Insider
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  Wuhan shuts down, as WHO mulls 'global emergency'
  Reuters Videos

Wonky-faced rescue dog who was attacked as a puppy finally finds loving home

Brodie the German Shepherd Border Collie has been left with a permanently slanted face.

Exclusive: Malaysia to buy more Indian sugar to resolve palm oil spat - sources

Malaysia's top sugar refiner said it will increase purchases of the commodity from India, which according to two sources is part of efforts to placate New Delhi amid an ongoing spat over palm oil imports. MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad will buy 130,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India worth 200 million ringgit ($49.20 million) in the first quarter, the company told Reuters. It bought around 88,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India in 2019.