Japan PM Abe says to ask all schools to close for most of March
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday that the government would ask all elementary, junior high and high schools to close from March 2 until spring break, typically around the end of March.
Kremlin rebuffs Turkey’s Erdogan on proposed Syria meeting with Putin
The Kremlin said on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had no plans to meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on March 5 to discuss the situation in Syria’s Idlib region despite statements by Erdogan saying such a meeting was likely.
Syrian government forces launch bid to take back Saraqeb town – Turkish official
Syrian government forces backed by Russian air power have launched an operation aimed at taking back the pivotal town of Saraqeb in northwest Syria from Turkey-backed rebels, a Turkish official said on Thursday.
Two more coronavirus cases in UK bring total to 15
Two further cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, bringing the total number of cases to 15, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said on Thursday.
China aims to bar those infected with virus from crossing borders: health official
China will focus on preventing those infected with coronavirus from crossing borders and work to strengthen international cooperation, a spokesman for the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday.
Turkish-backed rebels say they regain pivotal Syrian town Saraqeb
Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish military said on Thursday they had recaptured the strategic town of Saraqeb in what would be the first major reverse for the Syrian army in a Russian-backed offensive that had made swift gains.
Secretive church at center of South Korea’s explosive coronavirus outbreak
An So-young had a gut feeling that the 31st person in South Korea to test positive for the coronavirus might be a member of the controversial religious sect she quit four years ago.
Russia urges tour operators to avoid Italy, South Korea, Iran over coronavirus
Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency on Thursday recommended national tour operators suspend tours to Italy, South Korea and Iran until the outbreaks of coronavirus there are brought under control.
Osaka city to close kindergartens, elementary, junior high schools – Kyodo
Japan’s Osaka city has decided to close all public kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools from Feb. 29 to March 13 in a bid to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Kyodo reported on Thursday.
A mob out for blood: India’s protests pit Hindus against Muslims
Mohammad Zubair was on his way home from a local mosque in northeast New Delhi when he came across a large crowd. He turned towards an underpass to avoid the commotion; it proved to be a mistake.
