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The News Roundup — International

An Italian Finance guard conducts control and gives indications to drivers at a check-point at the entrance of the small town of Zorlesco, southeast of Milan, situated in the red zone of the COVID-19 outbreak in northern Italy.
An Italian Finance guard conducts control and gives indications to drivers at a check-point at the entrance of the small town of Zorlesco, southeast of Milan, situated in the red zone of the COVID-19 outbreak in northern Italy.

COVID-19 continues to challenge countries around the world. In Italy, a rising death toll  forced all schools to close. Along with China and Italy, Iran has also been hit hard by the disease and is now under scrutiny for its handling of outbreaks. Secret footage has leaked showing body bags lining a medical facility suggesting the situation is more dire in Iran. Still, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says coronavirus can be contained.

Meanwhile, the state of the global economy remains fluid as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warns that coronavirus could cut global economic growth in half. Some experts say the disease could cost the global box office $5 billion as the release of the new James Bond film is postponed. Fears over further outbreaks have already led to canceled concerts and sporting events around the world.

And a peace deal between the U.S and the Taliban remains in limbo only days after it was signed. Since then, the Taliban has continued assaults on Afghanistan security forces which has prompted a defensive drone strike by the U.S. It remains to be seen how Taliban fighters will hold up their end of the deal. You can also listen to a more in-depth conversation about that deal here.

We cover those stories and more as we wrap up the global news that made headlines this week.

Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5. To see more, visit WAMU 88.5.

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