Irish PM ready for opposition, leaves coalition option open
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday it was likely he would be the next leader of the opposition after government formation talks but that his Fine Gael party would be willing to help form a government if Sinn Fein fails to.
Philippine military backs defense divorce from U.S.
The Philippine military on Wednesday stood by the president’s decision to scrap a security agreement with the United States, saying the country could now develop its own defense capabilities and alliances, and would do fine without it.
Pakistani Islamist accused of Mumbai attacks jailed for terrorism financing
Hafiz Saeed, accused by India and the United States of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, was jailed for 11 years in Pakistan on Wednesday on terrorism financing charges, a government prosecutor and his defense lawyer said.
Haftar forces block U.N. flights in and out of Libya: U.N. mission
Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar have blocked flights carrying United Nations staff to and from Libya, hampering humanitarian and mediation efforts, the U.N. mission said on Wednesday.
Kremlin accuses Turkey of flouting agreements made on Syria
The Kremlin on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Russia to neutralize militants in the Syrian province of Idlib and said militant attacks on Syrian and Russian forces in the region were continuing.
Singapore’s DBS sends 300 staff home after one contracts coronavirus
Singapore’s biggest bank DBS Group Holdings asked 300 staff to leave its head office in the financial district on Wednesday and work from home as a precautionary measure after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
Pope dismisses proposal to ordain married men as priests in Amazon
Pope Francis, in one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, on Wednesday dismissed a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in the Amazon region to ease an acute scarcity of priests.
Uzbekistan sends protective equipment to virus-hit China
Uzbekistan is sending 40 tonnes of protective suits, masks and gloves to virus-hit China, the Central Asian nation’s government said on Wednesday, as a fully loaded military cargo plane departed Tashkent.
Italy’s govt presses ahead with new motorway rules: officials
Rome will push ahead with new rules making it easier to revoke motorway concessions, two deputy ministers said, in a move aimed at forcing Atlantia to accept contractual changes following a deadly bridge collapse.
Vietnam needs stimulus package to alleviate coronavirus impact, ministry says
Vietnam must work out a stimulus package this month to help businesses cope with a coronavirus epidemic that is expected to keep the economy from achieving a target of 6.8% growth this year, the planning ministry said on Wednesday.
