WHO says no indication of coronavirus cases in North Korea
There are no indications that there are cases of the new coronavirus in North Korea, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said, despite South Korean media reports suggesting the outbreak had spread to the isolated country.
Uzbekistan detains 21 on suspicion of Syrian militant links
Uzbek police have detained 21 people suspected of being linked to an Islamist militant group operating in Syria, police said on Wednesday.
Turkish philanthropist re-arrested after acquittal in landmark trial
A prominent Turkish businessman was re-arrested hours after being acquitted over his alleged role in landmark 2013 protests, a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday, in a move decried by foreign observers, opposition lawmakers and rights activists.
China threatened to harm Czech companies over Taiwan visit: letter
Beijing threatened to retaliate against Czech companies with operations in China if a senior Czech lawmaker went ahead with a planned visit to Taiwan, according to a diplomatic letter seen by Reuters.
Second Hong Kong coronavirus death as it awaits stranded cruise passengers
Hong Kong reported its second death from the new coronavirus on Wednesday as authorities drew up plans to fly home hundreds of city residents stranded on a virus-stricken cruise ship in Japan.
Quarantined passengers disembark ship in Japan; new China coronavirus cases fall
Hundreds of people began disembarking a quarantined cruise ship off Japan on Wednesday as the death toll from the new coronavirus in mainland China passed 2,000 and the number of new cases in the country fell for a second straight day.
Factbox: Countries evacuating nationals from coronavirus-hit areas
A growing number of countries around the world are evacuating or planning to evacuate diplomatic staff and citizens from parts of China and a cruise ship in Japan hit by the new coronavirus.
Mexican lawmakers toughen penalties for femicide, abuse of minors after murders
Mexico’s lower house of congress on Tuesday approved an increase in prison sentences for crimes of femicide and sexual abuse of minors, amid a wave of protests after the murder of a seven-year-old girl in Mexico City.
Thai police arrest gunman for killing ex-wife at shopping mall
A man killed his ex-wife and wounded another person at a shopping center in Bangkok on Tuesday, police said, just 10 days after a mass shooting at another mall in Thailand’s northeast.
Salvadoran president sends more soldiers to fight crime after standoff with lawmakers
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele deployed hundreds of soldiers on Tuesday to fight gangs, days after facing criticism for barging into Congress with the army to pressure lawmakers over his security plan.
