Europe

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/: Russian law enforcement officers eliminated three militants who were plotting a terror attack, the National Antiterrorism Committee told TASS.

"Three bandits, who were plotting a terror attack, have been eliminated in Kabardino-Balkaria," the Committee said, adding that weapons and an improvised explosive device were discovered at the skirmish location.

On Monday, the law enforcement agencies received information that a group of people prepares a terror attack. During the ensuing operation, the bandits’ location was determined.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/: The number of people who contracted the coronavirus in Russia has grown to 438 over the past day, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Monday.

"In Russia, the situation is not as acute as in other countries, especially in Europe. Over the past day, 71 cases have been recorded and 17 people have recovered. A total of 438 people have been infected," Mishustin told a meeting with deputy prime ministers.

BERLIN, Mar 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Germany bans public outside stay of more than two people, according to the country’s latest measures announced on Sunday, to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Germany’s federal government and states, agreed on Sunday, to further restrict public life and social contacts to contain the virus. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, made the announcement, after her teleconferencing with heads of federal states.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s senior adviser on Monday denied a weekend newspaper report that he had prioritized herd immunity and the economy in the coronavirus crisis at the expense of pensioners dying.

The Sunday Times reported that Dominic Cummings at the end of February had outlined the government’s strategy as “herd immunity, protect the economy and if that means some pensioners die, too bad.”

When asked by Reuters if he had said the quote attributed to him and whether the report was accurate, Cummings said: “No. Of course not. No.”

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and Turkey were forced to cut short their second joint patrol in Syria’s Idlib region on Monday due to security concerns, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The patrol is meant to cover the M4 highway which links the cities of Aleppo and Latakia.

Their first joint patrol was also cut short earlier this month due to what Moscow called rebel provocations.

Russia and Turkey are trying to uphold a ceasefire agreement in the region.

ROME, Mar 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Italy’s interior and health ministries, issued a joint ordinance, banning all domestic travel, as the virus epidemic continues to advance in the country.

“Beginning today, throughout the national territory, it is forbidden for individuals to travel, whether by public or private transportation, to a municipality that is different from the one in which they find themselves in,” said the ordinance.

ROME, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Italy's interior and health ministries issued Sunday a joint ordinance banning all domestic travel as the coronavirus epidemic continued to advance in the country.

"Beginning today, throughout the national territory it is forbidden for individuals to travel, whether by public or private transportation, to a municipality that is different from the one in which they find themselves in," said the ordinance.

BERLIN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has put herself in quarantine after a doctor she met Friday tested positive for coronavirus, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Sunday.

Merkel was informed after a press conference that the doctor who gave her a pneumococcal vaccination was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Merkel decided to immediately quarantine herself at home and take tests over the next few days, according to Seibert.

BELGRADE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Sunday that Chinese medical experts are "the most valuable resource in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus infection."

Brnabic made the remark while meeting with the six Chinese medical experts along with Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo.

Noting that the novel coronavirus is still under-explored, Brnabic said Serbia put its biggest hopes in the Chinese expertise.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A strong earthquake in Croatia on Sunday caused panic, the evacuation of hospitals and widespread damage including to the capital’s iconic cathedral — all amid a partial coronavirus lockdown.

A 15-year-old was reported to be in critical condition and 16 other people were injured, authorities said.

The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the 5.3 earthquake struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (0523 GMT). The epicenter was 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Zagreb at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).