Global brands urge Cambodia to reform labor amid EU sanction threat
Global clothing and shoe brands, including Adidas, PUMA and Levi Strauss have written again to Cambodia’s longtime leader saying the country’s record on labor and human rights threatens to bring down sanctions on its crucial garment industry.
Norway PM shakes up Cabinet after right-wing party exit
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Friday announced the biggest shake-up of her Cabinet since she took office in 2013, replacing or repositioning two-thirds of ministers in the hope of reviving the Conservative-led coalition’s prospects.
Bulgaria set to expel two Russian diplomats over espionage
Bulgaria is likely to expel two Russian diplomats who prosecutors suspect were involved in spying in the Balkan country, its Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said on Friday.
CO2 concentration set for biggest annual rise, fueled by Australian bushfires
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere this year is likely to show one of the largest annual rises since measurements began in 1958, partly fueled by Australian bushfires, according to research by Britain’s Met Office.
Thailand confirms fifth case of new coronavirus
Thailand on Friday confirmed its fifth case of the new coronavirus, a senior public health official said, in the second instance in which a patient was not detected at the airport before entering the country.
Britain scolds United States over refusal to extradite diplomat’s wife
Britain on Friday scolded the United States for refusing to extradite a U.S. diplomat’s wife who was involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager.
Iraq’s top cleric calls for formation of new government
Iraq’s leading Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged Iraq’s political parties on Friday to form a new government as soon as possible, and urged authorities to respect protesters’ right to express themselves.
U.S.-Israeli woman jailed in Russia has not yet sought pardon: Kremlin
The Kremlin said on Friday that the possible release of Naama Issachar, a U.S.-Israeli woman jailed in Russia on drug charges, was being held up because she had not yet formally asked to be granted a pardon.
Some parts of China’s Great Wall closed to visitors
Some sections of China’s Great Wall near Beijing will be closed to visitors from Saturday to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, state media and the Beijing government office which manages the Badaling part of the wall said on Friday.
‘No, No America’: Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. military presence
Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday after a prominent cleric called for a “million strong” protest against the American military presence, following the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia chie…
