China races to build more hospitals as coronavirus outbreak grows
Construction is taking place away from media glare to avoid alarming nearby residents who fear spread of infection.by Michael Standaert
Authorities in China have glorified the rush to build two infectious disease hospitals in a matter of days at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak that has now claimed at least 490 lives on the mainland, with live streams showing the construction and the arrival of the first patients at Huoshenshan field hospital in Wuhan on Tuesday.
The 1,000-bed Huoshenshan, or Fire-God Mountain, hospital and the 1,600-bed Leishenshan, or Thunder God Mountain, hospital - which will start taking patients on Thursday - have been the main focus of attention for the country's state-run media, with round-the-clock coverage.
500,000 flee Syrian regime's deadly offensive in Idlib
Turkey intervenes, raising tensions, after weeks of aerial bombardment of rebel territory
More than half a million people have been displaced in Syria’s last rebel stronghold by a deadly regime offensive that has led Turkey to intervene in the fighting and has raised tensions between Damascus, Ankara and Moscow.
Weeks of intensive aerial bombardment by the forces of Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies and a bruising ground offensive have emptied entire towns in north-west Idlib province and sent huge numbers of civilians fleeing north towards the Turkish border.
On Monday, a rare exchange of fire between newly deployed Turkish troops and Assad’s forces killed eight Turkish military personnel and at least 13 Syrian troops, the most significant clash between the two sides in the nine-year-old conflict.
More than 100 people killed after being deported from US to El Salvador, says human rights group
Authorities ‘knew or should have known they were going to return these people to harm’
At least 138 people have been killed in the past seven years after being deported to El Salvador by US authorities, a rights group said in a report that highlighted the risk of returning migrants to the Central American nation.
A majority of the Salvadorans, 109, were sent home during the Obama administration, according to Alison Leal Parker, managing director of the US program of Human Rights Watch.
But under Donald Trump, the New York-based organisation notes, it has become more difficult to receive asylum. Human Rights Watch predicts the situation “will only worsen”.
South African court issues arrest warrant for ex-president Jacob Zuma
A judge in South Africa has issued an arrest warrant for former president Jacob Zuma for failing to appear in court on a corruption case that he has sought to avoid for months - now by asserting that he is ill.
The National Prosecuting Authority requested the warrant, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The former leader is on trial on 18 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to a $US2 billion arms deal with French arms manufacturer Thales in 1999, when he was deputy president. He rejects the allegations as a politically motivated witch-hunt.
French prosecutors open probe on skate coach accused of raping teenage trainee
French prosecutors opened an investigation into claims of rape and sexual abuse of minors in figure skating on Tuesday as details emerged of allegations made 20 years ago against the coach at the heart of the case.
The probe, hailed as a "strong signal" by French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu and in which "the words of the victims must be heard", will focus on claims made by former world championship bronze medallist Sarah Abitbol.
In her autobiography published last week, Abitbol accused coach Gilles Beyer of raping her several times from 1990 to 1992 when she was between the ages of 15 and 17.
Racism in football is 'bubbling up again,' says UK anti-racism head
Updated 1108 GMT (1908 HKT) February 5, 2020
The head of Kick It Out, a leading UK organization that works to tackle discrimination in professional and grassroots football, believes racism in the sport is "worse now than it was five years ago."
Sanjay Bhandari, who took over the position in September, says complacency from fans and governing bodies could allow football to regress even further.
According to the organization, reports of discrimination rose by 32% in 2018/19 compared to the previous season.
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