Lebanon confirms first case of coronavirus, two more suspected
Lebanon confirmed its first coronavirus case on Friday and said it was monitoring two other potential cases after a 45-year-old woman who returned from Iran tested positive.
China’s Hubei province revises February 19 new cases tally to 775, from 349 previously
China’s Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on Friday revised the number of new cases it reported on Feb. 19 to 775, from 349 previously.
At least six Indonesian students killed when swept away by river tides
At least six students in the Indonesian province of Yogyakarta were killed and five more were missing on Friday after a tidal surge swept them away during a school trip, said disaster mitigation officials.
Myanmar put on money-laundering watchlist
An international financial watchdog placed Myanmar on its money-laundering watchlist on Friday, urging the country at the heart of Asia’s illicit drug-producing “Golden Triangle” to boost its efforts to seize crime proceeds.
Iranians vote in parliamentary election, hardliners set to cement grip
Hardliners loyal to Iran’s supreme leader are likely to sweep a parliamentary election on Friday that will cement their grip on power as the country faces mounting U.S. pressure over its nuclear program and growing discontent at home.
Moscow says Russian official detained in Spain after U.S. request
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that a Russian official was detained by Spanish police during a working trip on Feb. 14 after her arrest was requested by the United States.
Tell Prince Andrew to call FBI says message on U.S-style bus near palace
A yellow, U.S.-style school bus displaying Prince Andrew’s face and asking him to call the FBI drove past Buckingham Palace on Friday, in a move designed to press him to help authorities investigating U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Iran says FATF decision ‘political’, will not impact its foreign trade
The global dirty money watchdog’s decision on Friday to place Iran on its blacklist will have no impact on the country’s foreign trade, state news agency IRNA quoted head of the Central Bank of Iran Abdolnasser Hemmati as saying.
‘Traumatised’ Africans stranded by coronavirus plead to be brought home
When Margaret Ntale Namusisi’s three daughters called her in Uganda to say they were being quarantined at their university in Wuhan, China, because of the coronavirus outbreak, she sent money and told them: “Run very fast and do shopping.”
Algerian protesters mark year of protests and demand more reforms
Several thousand Algerians demonstrated on Friday to mark the first anniversary of protests that ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, demanding the removal of allies of the former leader who are still in power and more steps towards democracy.
