Bloomberg Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was among those overwhelmed on March 14 with passengers, including many returning from Europe, who faced new screening measures hastily announced last week. The crowds of anxious travelers were a stark contrast to the increasingly loud calls for people to practice “social distancing” as a way to get ahead of the spread of the coronavirus ...

Bloomberg British food retailers have written a joint letter to their customers asking them to “buy responsibly” in the wake of shoppers stockpiling over fears about the new coronavirus. In an extraordinary development, 12 of Britain’s biggest grocers will publish advertisements in national newspapers on Sunday and Monday. Entitled “Working to Feed the Nation,” the letter reassures shoppers about steps ...

Bloomberg Walmart Inc, the biggest US retailer, was expected to cut its store operating hours starting from Sunday to give its workers time to restock shelves as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies. The pandemic is prompting Americans to buy more groceries and other daily necessities including cleaning products, often emptying shelves in anticipation of an extended period of so-called social distancing ...

Bloomberg UK mall landlord Intu Properties Plc may struggle to continue operating due to high debts and plunging asset values, its auditors warned. Intu shares declined as much as 16% last week, bringing their loss for the year to 83%. Its unsecured bonds due in 2022 fell 7 pence on the pound to 30 pence, the lowest level on record, ...

Bloomberg Venezuela will temporarily suspend flights from Panama and the Dominican Republic, essentially cutting off the nation from most of the world, Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said. Flights from Europe and neighboring Colombia were already suspended earlier this week, narrowing the country’s remaining air connections to about a handful, including Turkey and Cuba. Rodriguez pleaded with Venezuelans to remain home ...

Sharjah / WAM The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), revealed that the emirate recorded a three percent growth in the number of hotel guests in 2019 as compared to 2018. The emirate welcomed approximately 1.8 million guests last year with a hotel occupancy rate of 66 percent. Guests from the Russian Federation topped the list, followed by GCC ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The General Administration of Customs in Abu Dhabi emphasised the importance of the “digital month” initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi government to enhance the governmental digital system and highlight the role played by digital solutions and services in fulfilling the digital community’s aims in the emirate. The General Administration of Customs added that the initiative ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE has announced the suspension of all inbound and outbound flights with Italy, with the exception of flights to and from Rome until further notice. The flight suspension is part of the precautionary measures to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In a statement, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said that all passengers ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE places great importance on the rights of Emirati children, who receive the best care and attention, in accordance with the internationally recognised best practices, said HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation ...

ABU DHABI / WAM In line with precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of visitors, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi, has decided to temporarily close cultural sites in the emirate, starting from Sunday March 15 until March 31. The Department said in a statement” “Abu Dhabi’s main tourist attractions, theme parks ...