Somalis allege U.S. air strike killed six civilians; Africa Command investigating
A U.S. air strike aimed at Somali Islamist militants killed six civilians instead, a lawmaker and relative of one victim said on Wednesday, raising further questions about the extent of civilian casualties from U.S. military operations.
Chile braces for fresh protests on 30th anniversary of return to democracy
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera celebrated 30 years since Chile’s return to democracy on Wednesday, even as scattered incidents of violence broke out across the capital alongside renewed calls for a mass protest against social injustice and inequali…
WHO calls coronavirus a pandemic as Britain, Italy shore up defenses
The World Health Organization described the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday as Britain and Italy announced multi-billion-dollar war chests to fight the disease.
India cancels almost all visas, closes Myanmar border, as regional coronavirus cases rise
India said on Wednesday it will suspend the vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as cases across the region continued to rise.
U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ asylum policy
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday handed a win to President Donald Trump by leaving in effect a policy that requires thousands of people seeking asylum at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated.
Banknotes carry no particular coronavirus risk: German disease expert
Handling banknotes doesn’t pose a particular risk of contracting coronavirus, the head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said on Wednesday.
Austria closing schools over coronavirus as border checks take effect
Austria said on Wednesday it would close schools from next week until April, widening measures aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus that have already sharply curtailed public gatherings and crossings of its border with Italy.
Swedish Foreign Ministry advises against travel to Tyrol region of Austria
Sweden’s foreign ministry on Wednesday advised its citizens to avoid traveling to the Tyrol region of Austria as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Iraqi semi-autonomous Kurdistan region bans New year festivals due to coronavirus
Iraqi semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has banned the Nowruz New Year festivals due later this month due to coronavirus fears, a statement said on Wednesday.
British nationals from virus-stricken Grand Princess ship fly home
British passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which was stranded off the Californian coast for days due to an outbreak of coronavirus on board, are now on a U.S. flight back to Britain, the British government said on Wednesday.
