Taiwan, WHO spar again over coronavirus information sharing
Tension flared again on Saturday as Taiwan accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of playing word games in a dispute over details it sought in an email querying if the new coronavirus could be transmitted between people.
U.S. commander in Afghanistan and Taliban discuss violence reduction in Doha meeting
The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan met Taliban leadership in Doha to discuss the need to reduce violence in the war-torn country, spokesmen for both sides said on Saturday, as continued clashes threaten to derail a fragile peace process.
Rouhani urges Iranians to respect health protocols as coronavirus curbs ease
President Hassan Rouhani urged Iranians to respect health protocols to guard against the new coronavirus as “low-risk” economic activities resumed in most of the country on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported.
Thai provinces ban alcohol sales ahead of New Year to curb coronavirus spread
Most of Thailand’s provinces have banned sales of alcoholic beverages, heeding a central government call to discourage festive celebrations for the Thai New Year as the country seeks to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Russia reports 1,667 new coronavirus cases in last day
Russia reported 1,667 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the national tally of confirmed cases to 13,584.
Congo governor condemns rising insecurity at mines in gold province
Illegal mining and trading are fuelling worsening violence on mine sites, the governor of Democratic Republic of Congo’s gold-rich Ituri province said, after armed robbers killed four people, including three Chinese nationals, at a gold mine.
UK has not reached COVID-19 peak so lockdown will stay: health minister
Britain has not yet reached the COVID-19 peak which would allow for an easing of tight restrictions of movement, health minister Matt Hancock said on Saturday.
PM Abe calls for nightlife self-restraint across Japan: NHK
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday called for citizens across Japan to avoid evening spots like bars and restaurants, NHK reported, in a ratcheting of social distancing guidance to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Two dead, four missing after India power plant dyke gives way
Two people died and four others are missing, feared dead, after a fly ash dyke gave way at a coal-fired power plant in the Singrauli district in central India on Friday, a local official told Reuters, the third such incident in the district in a year.
Bangladesh extends coronavirus lockdown, India’s Modi mulls longer restrictions
In South Asia’s latest moves to curb the coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh has extended its nationwide lockdown by 11 days while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks on Saturday with states to decide whether to extend its own stringent re…
