Uzbekistan confirms first coronavirus case

An Uzbek citizen has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from France. (File/AFP)
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Updated 15 March 2020
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Uzbekistan confirms first coronavirus case

TASHKENT: An Uzbek citizen has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from France, Uzbekistan's Healthcare Ministry said on Sunday, marking the first infection from the virus in the Central Asian country of 34 million.
It said it was taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Uzbekistan's state airline said on Sunday it was suspending or curbing flights to a number of cities in Western Europe, Asia and the Middle East until the end of April.


Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes Japan’s Chugoku region

Cracks are seen on the ground in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, following an earthquake. (AP)
Updated 06 January 2026
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Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes Japan’s Chugoku region

  • Japan’s Nuclear ⁠Regulation Authority said there were ‌no irregularities at the plant

TOKYO: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude ​of 6.2 hit the western Chugoku region of Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, followed by a series of sizeable aftershocks.
The epicenter of the ‌first earthquake was ‌in eastern ‌Shimane prefecture, ⁠the ​agency ‌said, adding that there was no danger of a tsunami. Chugoku Electric Power operates the Shimane Nuclear Power Station, about 32 km (20 miles) away.
Japan’s Nuclear ⁠Regulation Authority said there were ‌no irregularities at the plant.
A ‍spokesperson said ‍the utility was checking ‍on any impact on the plant’s No.2 unit, which has been operating since December 2024 after being ​shut down following the March 2011 disasters in Fukushima.
Earthquakes are ⁠common in Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active areas.
The earthquake had a seismic intensity of upper-5 on Japan’s 1-7 scale, strong enough to make movement difficult without support.
West Japan Railway said it had suspended Shinkansen bullet-train operations ‌between Shin-Osaka and Hakata following the quake.