Japan’s Abe prepares steps to soften blow of school closures as virus spreads
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing steps to cushion the blow of nationwide school closures as infections of the coronavirus spread wider across the Asian country.
Ukraine’s prime minister submits resignation again: NV
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk submitted his resignation for a second time after reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy might be gearing up to sack him, Ukrainian news outlet NV reported on Friday night.
Russia asks citizens to avoid foreign travel over virus fears
A senior Russian official on Saturday called on citizens of the country to refrain from non-essential travel abroad over fears about the growing number of coronavirus cases internationally.
Taiwan reports five new coronavirus cases, total at 39
Taiwan reported a five-person jump in new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, including four people who had contact with another infected patient in a hospital and one person returning from the Middle East, bringing Taiwan’s total to 39.
Australia to bar foreigners traveling from Iran due to coronavirus risk: minister
Australia will deny entry to all foreign nationals traveling from Iran due to the escalating outbreak of coronavirus in the Islamic republic, the government said on Saturday.
Canadian province Ontario confirms eighth case of coronavirus disease
Canada’s province of Ontario confirmed its eighth case of the COVID-19 disease caused by the newly-identified coronavirus in its capital city of Toronto, health officials said late on Friday.
Malaysian rivals Mahathir and Anwar ally again in bid to end crisis
Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad won the backing of old rival Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday for his return as prime minister, restoring a difficult alliance that collapsed this week when Mahathir’s abrupt resignation plunged the country into political turmoil.
U.S. shuts border bridge to stop migrants rushing across from Mexico
U.S. authorities said they closed the busy Ciudad Juarez-El Paso border bridge on Friday after more than a hundred mostly Cuban migrants tried to cross in response to a court ruling suspending an asylum policy.
Factbox: Agreement due to be signed by U.S. and Taliban in Doha
The planned signing on Saturday of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban has spurred hopes that it could lead to an end to almost two decades of conflict in Afghanistan that has killed thousands and become America’s longest war.
Taliban negotiators in Qatar to sign deal with U.S. to end Afghan war
A 31-member Taliban delegation has arrived in Qatar to sign a U.S. troop withdrawal deal that could end the war in Afghanistan, officials of the hardline Islamist group said on Saturday.
