Latest National News

China's count of new virus cases drops, deaths exceed 2,200

BEIJING (AP) — China reported another fall in new virus cases Friday as health officials expressed continued optimism over containment of the outbreak that has caused more than 2,200 deaths but has grown elsewhere.2/20/2020 10:58 pm

Controversial church at center of S Korean outbreak

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A church whose leader claims he is an angel of Jesus has become the biggest cluster of viral infections in South Korea, where a surge in new cases raises fears that the outbreak is getting out of control.2/20/2020 10:26 pm

Iran votes in parliament elections that favor conservatives

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranians were voting for a new parliament Friday, with turnout seen as a key measure of support for Iran's leadership as sanctions weigh on the economy and isolate the country diplomatically.2/20/2020 10:26 pm

South Korea ups emergency response as viral cases surge

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea reported more virus cases Friday and declared a “special management zone” around a southeastern city where the surging outbreak, largely linked to a church in Daegu, threatens to overwhelm the region's health system. 2/20/2020 10:22 pm

Mexico scientist accused as Russian spy due for bail hearing

MIAMI (AP) — A bail hearing is set Friday for a Mexican scientist accused of spying for Russia in Miami. 2/20/2020 10:14 pm

City that prayed, searched for missing girl to say goodbye

CAYCE, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina community that searched, prayed and then cried gets to say goodbye Friday to a 6-year-old girl who disappeared from her front yard and was found dead three days later.2/20/2020 10:12 pm

A Week in Pictures, Asia

FEBRUARY 14-20, 20202/20/2020 10:09 pm

IATA: Virus may slash $29 billion from airlines' revenue

TOKYO (AP) — The outbreak of the new virus threatens to erase $29 billion of this year's revenue for global airlines, mostly for Chinese carriers, as travel crashes worldwide, according to the International Air Transport Association. 2/20/2020 10:03 pm

Cross-border S Korean drama overcomes political risks

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — For the South Korean crew behind the latest hit drama “Crash Landing on You," recreating the life in North Korea was a painstakingly meticulous process with big political risks. 2/20/2020 9:40 pm

Japan to let off last healthy cruise travelers, isolate rest

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's health minister said the last cruise ship passengers who tested negative for a new virus will leave the Diamond Princess on Friday after a much-criticized quarantine of the vessel ended.2/20/2020 9:22 pm

Latest World News

Turkish soldiers killed in Syria amid threats of escalation

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Two Turkish soldiers were killed Thursday in an airstrike in northwestern Syria, Turkey said, after an attack by Ankara-backed opposition forces that targeted Syrian government troops. The deaths came after the Turkish president threatened to expand his nation's involvement in Syria if another one of his troops were hurt. 2/20/2020 6:30 pm

Devices found in missiles, Yemen drones link Iran to attacks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A small instrument inside the drones that targeted the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry and those in the arsenal of Yemen's Houthi rebels match components recovered in downed Iranian drones in Afghanistan and Iraq, two reports say. 2/19/2020 6:12 am

UN-backed government in Libya suspends talks after attack

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.-supported government in Libya said Tuesday it has suspended its participation in talks in Geneva aimed at salvaging a fragile cease-fire in the North African country following an attack on Tripoli's strategic port.2/18/2020 2:54 pm

Ethiopia says US plans 'substantial financial support'

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — America’s top diplomat in his final Africa stop on Tuesday discussed dramatic political reforms with Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister, and the U.S. plans to provide “substantial financial support” to strengthen them, Ethiopia said.2/18/2020 8:08 am

Equatorial Guinea: France illegally seized 'embassy'

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea told United Nations judges Monday that French authorities illegally seized a mansion in Paris that the African nation insists operated as its embassy. The building was seized as part of a money laundering investigation into the son of the central African nation's president.2/17/2020 4:26 am

Amid tension, Greece, Turkey hold military-to-military talks

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A delegation of Turkish military officials is due in Athens to resume confidence-building talks amid tension between the two NATO members over maritime oil-and-gas drilling rights.2/17/2020 4:09 am

German economy stagnates in sign of Europe's difficulties

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Growth ground to a halt at the end of the year in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, as manufacturing remained in a slump and exports fell, official figures showed Friday. 2/14/2020 3:41 am

UN says 140,000 displaced in 3 days amid Syrian offensive

BEIRUT (AP) — Over 140,000 Syrians have been displaced in the last three days alone by violence in the country's northwest, bringing the total of those uprooted in a Syrian government offensive against the last opposition stronghold to over 800,000, the United Nations said Thursday. 2/13/2020 11:50 am

US troops clash with pro-government group in northeast Syria

DAMASCUS (AP) — A Syrian was killed and another was wounded when government supporters attacked American troops and tried to block their way as their convoy drove through an army checkpoint in northeastern Syria, prompting a rare clash, state media and activists reported. 2/12/2020 11:25 am

Palestinians deny US charges of incitement, blame Trump plan

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Palestinians on Friday rejected U.S. allegations of incitement after a day of clashes and attacks left three Palestinians dead, including a member of the security forces, and wounded more than a dozen Israeli soldiers.2/7/2020 10:28 am