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…
EU moves to suspend Poland’s law to muzzle judges: court
The European Commission asked the Court of Justice of the European Union, the EU’s highest court, for interim measures against Poland’s new law to discipline judges for criticizing the government, the court said in a tweet on Friday.
Beijing, Shanghai urge people from virus outbreak areas to stay at home for 14 days
Beijing city government has urged residents returning from coronavirus outbreak areas to stay at home for 14 days to prevent its spread, the Beijing Daily said on Friday.
Shanghai Disney shuts to prevent spread of virus
Walt Disney Co’s Shanghai Disney Resort will be closed until further notice to help China stop the spread of a flu-like virus, costing the theme park operator revenue during the country’s biggest holiday season.
Factbox: As virus spreads, hotels, airlines offer refunds, stores close
Hotels and airlines are offering refunds to people traveling to China after a new coronavirus breakout there killed 25 people and infected more than 800.
Malaysian rights group sues Singapore minister over ‘fake news’ directive
A Malaysian rights group filed a suit in a domestic court against a Singapore minister on Friday, seeking to challenge his order to attach a correction to an article on its blog that accused the city-state of illegal execution practices.
Absent Iran faces detente calls from worried West and Middle East
Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif skipped this year’s Davos, but Tehran was still a hot topic for many Western and Middle Eastern powers hoping for detente less than three weeks after the United States killed Iran’s top general.
Flights to Moscow from China’s Wuhan suspended over coronavirus fears: Ifax
Flights to Moscow from the Chinese city of Wuhan have been suspended over fears about the spread of a previously unknown coronavirus strain, Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source as saying on Friday.
