Banned Thai opposition party says junta helped 1MDB cover-up
A banned Thai opposition party on Sunday accused the former military junta of helping cover up Malaysia’s multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, urging Thais to demand the truth ahead of a censure debate against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Malaysia’s Anwar says some colleagues trying to bring down government
Malaysia’s prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim said on Sunday some colleagues from the ruling coalition were trying to bring down the current government and form a new one to deny him the premiership.
Turkey shuts Iran border, halts flights due to coronavirus
Turkey has closed its border with Iran and halted incoming flights as a precaution to stop the potential spread of coronavirus after the neighboring country reported 43 cases of the disease, the health minister said on Sunday.
France should make more of the goods it needs as epidemic shows risk: finance minister
France should aim to produce more of the goods it deems strategic, such as drugs and electric batteries, as the coronavirus outbreak lays bare the danger of relying on imports from China, the country’s finance minister said on Sunday.
Iran announces low poll turnout, blames coronavirus ‘propaganda’
Iran on Sunday announced a 42% turnout in its parliamentary election, the lowest rate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, while its top leader said Tehran’s enemies played up the new coronavirus threat to dissuade people from voting.
China braces for inevitable big hit to economy from virus, says Xi
China will step up policy adjustments to help cushion the blow to the economy from a coronavirus outbreak that authorities are still trying to control, President Xi Jinping was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Concern over coronavirus spread grows with cases jumping in South Korea, Italy and Iran
International concern about the spread of coronavirus outside China grew on Sunday with sharp rises in infections in three countries – South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Italy races to contain coronavirus outbreak as cases rise over 100
Italy scrambled on Sunday to contain the biggest outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, shutting off the worst affected towns and cancelling a string of public events as the number of those infected jumped above 100.
Trial to begin of former French PM Fillon over fake jobs scandal
Former French prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope go on trial on Monday over a fake jobs scandal that wrecked his 2017 run for president and opened the Elysee Palace door for Emmanuel Macron.
Venice Carnival to be halted due to coronavirus outbreak
The last two days of the Venice Carnival, which draws tourists from around the world, have been canceled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, the head of the Veneto region Luca Zaia said on Sunday.
