New virus has infected 80,000 globally, caused 2,700 deaths

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The latest figures reported by each government's health authority as of Wednesday in...

South Korean virus cases jump again, 1st US soldier infected

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean virus cases jumped again Wednesday and the U.S. military confirmed its first case among American soldiers based in the Asian country, with his case and many others connected to a southeastern city with a growing illness cluster. South Korea’s Centers for...

Malaysia's Mohamad says will return as PM if he has support

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday that he will return as Malaysia's prime minister if he has majority support from Parliament, as the king completed two days of consultations withlawmakers to resolve a political vacuum caused by the abrupt collapse of Mahathir's ruling...

Caution, cancelations mark Ash Wednesday in time of virus

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican was going ahead with plans for Pope Francis to celebrate the Ash Wednesday ritual kicking off the Catholic Church's Lenten season, but elsewhere in Italy Masses were canceled over fears of the coronavirus and other Catholic countries took precautions. In the Philippines...

Cambodian refugee deported 2 years ago set to return to US

BOSTON (AP) — A Cambodian refugee who says he was wrongly deported nearly two years ago is reuniting with his family in Massachusetts. Supporters say 50-year-old Thy Chea, of Lowell, is expected to arrive at Boston’s Logan Airport on Wednesday after getting his green card reinstated last year. His...

Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad says he will return as prime minister if he has majority support from lawmakers

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad says he will return as prime minister if he has majority support from lawmakers.

Vietnam dissident Buddhist monk Thich Quang Do dies at 91

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist monk who became the public face of religious dissent in Vietnam while the Communist government kept him in prison or under house arrest for more than 20 years, has died at age 91. Do, who died Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City, was the highest leader of the...

AP Explains: Malaysia political upheaval as leader resigns

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia's ruling alliance collapsed this week after 94-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned and dozens of lawmakers defected in an audacious attempt to form a new government. The political earthquake occurred less than two years after the alliance won a historic...

'Time is everything': World braces for spread of new virus

China's massive travel restrictions, house-to-house checks, huge isolation wards and lockdowns of entire cities bought the world valuable time to prepare for the global spread of the new virus. But with troubling outbreaks now emerging in Italy, South Korea and Iran, and U.S. health officials warning Tuesday it's...

New virus has infected over 80,000 people, killed 2,700

A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 80,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. The latest figures reported by each government's health authority as of Tuesday in Beijing:...