Iraqi cleric condemns anti-protester violence, calls for representative government
Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric on Friday condemned deadly violence that killed protesters at sit-ins this week in the southern holy city of Najaf and said a new government must have the trust and support of the people.
Singapore raises coronavirus alert to SARS level as new cases show spread
Singapore on Friday reported three more coronavirus cases that have not been linked to previous infections or travel to China, prompting it to raise its alert to orange, the same level it reached during the SARS outbreak in 2003.
Carmakers close Chinese factories because of coronavirus
Automakers and parts suppliers have shut factories in China, in line with government guidelines, or have flagged a hit to profits following the coronavirus outbreak.
Turkey has no plans to withdraw troops from posts in Syria’s Idlib: source
Turkey has no plans to withdraw troops from observation posts in Syria’s northwest Idlib region even though three of the posts are in areas now controlled by the Syrian government, a Turkish security source said on Friday.
China doctor who warned of coronavirus mourned; Xi speaks with Trump
A Chinese doctor who issued an early warning about the coronavirus outbreak before it was officially recognized died of the virus on Friday, triggering a wave of public mourning and rare expressions of anger toward the government online.
Taiwan expects short-term coronavirus impact on exports
Taiwan’s first-quarter exports will suffer short-term impact from China’s coronavirus outbreak, a Finance Ministry official said on Friday, adding that she is cautious but not pessimistic about the full-year outlook.
Russians headed to Turkey for talks on Syrian offensive in Idlib: minister
A Russian delegation will arrive in Turkey on Saturday for talks aiming to stop the Syrian government’s offensive and halt a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria’s northwest Idlib region, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
China scientists identify pangolin as possible coronavirus host
The deadly coronavirus outbreak in China could have spread from bats to humans through the illegal traffic of pangolins, the world’s only scaly mammals, which are prized in Asia for food and medicine, Chinese researchers said.
Singapore raises virus alert level as new cases show infection spread
Singapore on Friday reported three more coronavirus cases that authorities have not yet linked to previous infections or travel to China, prompting the city state to raise its countrywide alert level.
Italy says air traffic from and to China remains closed
Italy’s air traffic from and to China will remain closed due to coronavirus, the health ministry said on Friday, after China’s foreign ministry had said Italy was willing to resume some flights.
