China says air force will join Singapore Airshow amid virus concerns
China’s air force will participate in the upcoming Singapore Airshow, the Chinese defense ministry said on Wednesday, as concerns over the spread of a coronavirus overshadow Asia’s biggest aerospace and defense event.
Brazil’s lower house of Congress approves coronavirus quarantine bill
Brazil’s lower house of Congress late on Tuesday approved a bill laying out rules for the quarantine of Brazilian nationals returning from China who may be infected with coronavirus, as well as other measures to combat the disease.
Trial of former Malaysian PM’s wife begins, court told she influenced government decisions
The corruption trial of Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak, began on Wednesday, with a prosecutor describing how she exerted “considerable influence” over government decisions.
Climate protests shut BP’s London headquarters on CEO’s first day
Climate protesters forced BP to temporarily shut down its London headquarters on Wednesday, the first day in office for the oil and gas company’s new CEO Bernard Looney.
Eight dead, others trapped under avalanche in eastern Turkey: hospital
Eight people died after an avalanche hit eastern Turkey on Wednesday, the local hospital said, while the Turkish interior minister was quoted as saying 10-15 people were still trapped under the snow.
Russia says coronavirus vaccine will take 8-10 months to develop: Interfax
Russia said on Wednesday it will take between eight and 10 months to develop a vaccine against coronavirus, the Interfax news agency cited health minister Mikhail Murashko as saying.
EU seeks to expand to six Balkan states with new reforms, Commissioner says
The European Union’s goal remains to expand to the six Balkan countries of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and North Macedonia, new EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Wednesday, after France vetoed membership bids in 2019.
Passengers face two weeks on virus-hit cruise ship off Japan
Around 3,700 people are facing at least two weeks locked away on a cruise liner anchored off Japan after health officials confirmed on Wednesday that 10 people on the ship had tested positive for coronavirus and more cases were possible.
Qatar Foundation rejects U.S. university’s reason for scrapping event after anti-gay backlash
An American university’s partner in Qatar has rejected the university’s explanation for cancelling an event in Doha that would have featured a prominent Middle East band whose singer is openly gay.
China’s Xi says virus controls at crucial stage: state media
China’s efforts to control a coronavirus outbreak are at a crucial stage and authorities must prevent the epidemic from spreading, Xinhua news agency quoted President Xi Jinping as saying on Wednesday.
