Uzbek police fight stabbings by blunting blades
Uzbek police say they are fighting a wave of stabbings by blunting the tips of knives used by traders in the main markets of the eastern city of Andijan.
Japan, U.S. evacuate citizens from China as virus spreads
The United States and Japan flew citizens out of the Chinese city at the epicenter of a new virus outbreak on Wednesday, as the death toll rose sharply to 132 and the first case appeared in the Middle East.
Kazakhstan suspends transport links with China over virus
Kazakhstan is suspending all forms of passenger travel to and from neighboring China, the Central Asian nation’s government said on Wednesday as an outbreak of a new coronavirus continued to widen.
Turkey’s Erdogan says Russia not abiding by Syria agreements: NTV
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara is losing patience with the military assault in Syria’s Idlib region, adding that Russia is violating agreements aimed at stemming conflict there, broadcaster NTV reported on Wednesday.
Dutch court not competent to hear war crimes case against Israel’s Gantz
A Dutch district court on Wednesday ruled that it does not have jurisdiction to hear a case against former Israeli Armed Forces chief Benny Gantz brought by a Dutch-Palestinian who lost six relatives during an Israeli air strike on Gaza in 2014.
Lebanon PM asks government, banks for plan to restore confidence
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab asked the government and banking sector on Wednesday to prepare a plan to restore “the minimum degree of confidence” as the country faces its worst economic and financial crisis in decades.
Four people from Chinese family infected with coronavirus in UAE: WAM
The United Arab Emirates’ health ministry said four members of a Chinese family were infected with coronavirus in the first cases announced in the Gulf state, state news agency WAM said on Wednesday.
Factbox: Apple, Starbucks warn of hit from virus; firms restrict travel, airlines cancel flights
Apple said it had baked into its outlook uncertainty related to a virus outbreak in China that has killed 132 and infected nearly 6,000. Starbucks warned results would be hit after it shut over half its cafes in the country.
China police drop case of SARS ‘rumour-mongering’ at start of new crisis
Chinese police at the center of a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 132 people have dropped a case against eight people accused of spreading rumors about deadly SARS, they said on Wednesday, as anger grows about the handling of the new crisis.
Israeli defense minister pushes to extend sovereignty in West Bank
Israel’s hawkish defense minister said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace plan created a window for applying Israeli sovereignty on nearly a third of the occupied West Bank.
