France toughens travel advice to China amid coronavirus scare
France’s foreign office on Saturday issued new travel advice for its citizens due to the coronavirus outbreak, saying it did not recommend traveling to China unless there was an “imperative” reason to go.
Ukraine’s president asks pope to help win release of prisoners of war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Pope Francis on Saturday for help to win the release of prisoners of war held by Russia and Russian-backed separatists.
France to close two schools near ski resort after coronavirus cases
Two schools near a French ski resort where five Britons have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus will be shut next week as authorities try to determine with whom those infected had been in contact, a regional health official said.
Iran says ready to mediate between Turkey and Syria
Iran is ready to help Ankara and Damascus resolve their disputes, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Thai soldier kills at least 10 in shooting rampage: police
A Thai soldier killed at least 10 people in a shooting rampage on Saturday in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east of Thailand and remains at large, police said.
American dies of coronavirus in China; infections spread to French ski resort
A 60-year-old American has died of the new coronavirus, the first confirmed non-Chinese death of the illness, U.S. officials said, as millions of Chinese began returning home after a Lunar New Year break that was extended to try to contain the outbreak…
Polish judiciary changes are a ‘destruction’: EU commissioner
Poland’s overhaul of its judiciary constitutes “destruction” not reform, EU Values and Transparency Commissioner Vera Jourova said in an interview published on Saturday, amid growing concern that Poland’s nationalists are seeking to muzzle judges.
Fear can be more harmful than coronavirus, Singapore PM says after run on shops
Fear can do more harm than the spreading coronavirus, Singapore’s prime minister said on Saturday, a day after the city-state raised its alert level, prompting residents to clear out supermarket shelves of rice, noodles and toilet paper.
A mother’s fight for toddler stranded in China’s coronavirus epicenter
Amelia Pan is at home in Canada while her 2-year-old daughter Cerena is stranded far away in China’s Hubei province, epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, being cared for by a distant relative after the girl’s father and grand-parents fell ill.
Irish vote may end Varadkar’s spell as PM as Sinn Fein surges
Irish voters look likely to dump Prime Minister Leo Varadkar from power on Saturday in an election that could alter the political landscape with a surge by Sinn Fein, which has struck a chord among younger voters.
