To preserve Shi’ite power in Iraq, Iran-backed groups turn to renegade cleric
When the grip of Iraq’s Tehran-backed Shi’ite Muslim parties and militias threatened to slip following the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, they turned to an unpredictable rival.
Eastern Libyan lawmakers to not to join Geneva talks
Lawmakers based in areas of eastern Libya controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar said on Monday they would not participate for now in peace talks with politicians allied to the internationally recognized government.
Coronavirus cases spread outside China, but WHO reports turning point in Wuhan
Italy, South Korea and Iran reported sharp rises in coronavirus cases on Monday, but China eased curbs as the rate of infection there slowed and a visiting World Health Organization team said a turning point had been reached in the epicenter, Wuhan.
Tajikistan suspends air links with Iran over coronavirus
Tajikistan has suspended flights to and from Iran due to the spread of the new coronavirus there, the Central Asian nation’s government said on Monday.
Seventh person dies in coronavirus outbreak in Italy: ANSA news agency
A seventh person has died in the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, news agency ANSA said on Monday, while the number of confirmed cases rose to more than 220.
Factbox: News and quotes from Julian Assange’s extradition hearing
Julian Assange appeared before a British court on Monday to fight an extradition request from the United States which wants to put the 48-year-old on trial for hacking government computers and violating an espionage law.
Car drives into German carnival parade, several injured: police
A car drove into a crowd at a carnival parade in the German town of Volkmarsen on Monday and several people are believed to be injured, police said, adding that they had detained the driver.
Assange would be suicide risk if extradited to U.S., his lawyer says
Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States as he would not get a fair trial and would be a suicide risk, his lawyer told a British court hearing on Monday.
Malaysia’s Mahathir quits but asked to stay as interim PM, turmoil deepens
Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad unexpectedly resigned as prime minister on Monday, leaving the Southeast Asian nation in political turmoil, but he agreed to a request from the country’s king to stay on as interim premier until a successor is named.
Chile braces for March protests as Pinera appeals for peace
President Sebastian Pinera called on Chileans on Monday to help the country “live in peace” ahead of an anticipated fresh outbreak of protests in March.
