South African ex-president Zuma’s bid to stop corruption trial is rejected
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has rejected former president Jacob Zuma’s application to appeal a lower court’s decision that he should stand trial for corruption, a registrar of the court said on Friday.
Swiss court overturns acquittal of Muslim group officials in video case
Switzerland’s highest court overturned the acquittals of two officials from the country’s biggest Islamic religious group and rejected a third’s appeal of his conviction, in a case over videos that prosecutors say illegally glorified violence.
Expainer: Keep calm and carry on – what is the logic behind Britain’s coronavirus bet?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cautioned that more families will lose their loved ones to the coronavirus but has taken a distinctly different approach to tackling the outbreak.
World’s biggest water fights called off as Southeast Asia scales back New Year
Southeast Asian countries are cancelling or scaling back traditionally boisterous Buddhist New Year celebrations next month, citing the coronavirus pandemic as they call off water-soaked street parties and festivals.
Kenya bans public events after confirming first coronavirus case
Kenya has banned all major public events after confirming East Africa’s first case of the new coronavirus, a woman who had returned to the capital Nairobi from the United States, the health minister said on Friday.
Croatia closes down schools for two weeks for coronavirus: PM
Croatia has decided to close schools and universities for two weeks, starting from Monday, to fight the spreading of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Friday.
WHO officials rethink epidemic messaging amid pandemic debate
The World Health Organization is considering changing the way it classifies and describes international epidemics, amid a protracted public debate over whether to call the outbreak of the new coronavirus a pandemic.
EU grapples with border curbs as coronavirus spreads
Any border restrictions imposed inside the European Union’s zone of free travel to contain the spread of the coronavirus must be coordinated to ensure they are not counterproductive, EU ministers said on Friday.
Coronavirus hits politicians, sports and showbiz stars as it spreads across globe
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Australia’s minister for home affairs and a Chelsea soccer player are among new cases of the coronavirus that has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4,900 worldwide.
Ukraine to block entry to residents registered in separatist-held areas to stop coronavirus spread
Ukraine’s government at a televised meeting on Friday decided to ban citizens registered in separatist-held territory in the eastern Donbass region from entering government-controlled areas.
