Germany busts ‘terrorist organization’ that planned attacks on Muslims, refugees
German police detained 12 men on Friday suspected of setting up a far-right organization with the goal of carrying out attacks against politicians, asylum seekers and Muslims, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (GBA) said.
Coronavirus hits Chinese health workers as economy limps back to life
BEIJING (Reuters – The new coronavirus has infected 1,700 Chinese health workers and killed six, authorities said on Friday, as businesses struggled to balance containment measures with a return from an extended post-holiday break.
Vietnam turns away two cruise ships over coronavirus fears
Vietnam has denied two cruise ships permission to dock due to fears of coronavirus infections on board, Vietnamese state media and a cruise operator reported on Friday.
Turkish-backed rebels down Syrian helicopter in Idlib
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels shot down a government helicopter west of Aleppo in Syria’s northwestern Idlib region, where violence and displacement has spiked in recent weeks, Turkish and Syrian state media said on Friday.
Ethiopia to hold parliamentary elections on August 29
Ethiopia’s election board on Friday set a date of Aug. 29 for parliamentary elections that will be a first test of voter support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has eased political restrictions since he took office in 2018.
Preparations for UK budget continue at pace: PM Johnson’s spokesman
Preparations for Britain’s next budget continue at pace and the government will have a clear fiscal framework, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday when asked whether the budget would still be unveiled on March 11.
Transgender tweets were freedom of speech, British judge rules
A British judge on Friday backed a man who was visited by police responding to his “transphobic” comments posted on Twitter, saying their action had interfered with his freedom of speech.
U.S., China, Russia making world more dangerous: German president
Germany’s president took an indirect swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday in accusing Washington, China and Russia of stoking global mistrust and insecurity with a “great powers” competition” that could threaten a new nuclear arms race.
Leaders of Ukraine, Russia discuss release of prisoners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone about the release of Ukrainian citizens detained in Russia, eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Zelenskiy’s office said in a statement on Friday.
Turkish court acquits novelist accused of Kurdish militant ties
An Istanbul court acquitted novelist Asli Erdogan on Friday of charges of belonging to a terrorist group, in one of a series of cases that have fueled concern among European Union states and rights groups about a deterioration of media freedom in Turke…
