Pompeo: 'significant reduction' in Afghanistan violence

02/28/20 3:04 PM

The United States has seen a significant reduction in violence in Afghanistan during the past six days, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday, one day before Washington hopes to sign a U.S.-Taliban deal on an American troop withdrawal.

Pompeo to witness signing of U.S.-Taliban deal: Trump

02/28/20 3:03 PM

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would witness the signing of a U.S.-Taliban agreement on a withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

'Risk is very high,' warns WHO, as coronavirus wipes $6 trillion off markets

02/28/20 3:03 PM

The coronavirus spread further on Friday, with cases reported for the first time in six countries across three continents, battering markets and leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its impact risk alert to "very high."

Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends entry of GCC citizens to Mecca and Medina: foreign ministry

02/28/20 3:03 PM

Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended entry of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens to Mecca and Medina, the foreign ministry announced in a statement published by the state news agency on Friday.

U.S. appeals court blocks Trump policy forcing migrants to wait in Mexico

02/28/20 3:03 PM

A U.S. federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday blocked a Trump administration policy that has forced tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico for months for hearings in U.S. immigration courts.

California regulator proposes record $2.14 billion fine on PG&E over wildfires

02/28/20 3:00 PM

California's utilities regulator has proposed an increased $2.14 billion fine on PG&E Corp for its role in causing the devastating 2017 and 2018 wildfires in Northern California.

Dozens of guests leave Canary Islands hotel locked down over coronavirus

02/28/20 2:59 PM

At least 50 guests left a Tenerife hotel in small groups on Friday, four days into a 14-day quarantine imposed because of the coronavirus. Nearly 700 holidaymakers remained stranded in the compound.

France warns against handshakes as corona infections soar

02/28/20 2:59 PM

French authorities on Friday recommended that people refrain from shaking hands to prevent infection from the coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases jumped by 19 to 57.

U.S. lawmakers warned of wider coronavirus outbreak; White House urges calm

02/28/20 2:58 PM

A top U.S. health official told lawmakers on Friday to expect many more coronavirus cases in the United States, a source said, as the Trump administration faced mounting criticism for its response to the crisis.

Fed's Powell says economy is fine but Fed ready to act as needed

02/28/20 2:57 PM

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday said the central bank will "act as appropriate" to support the economy in the face of risks posed by the coronavirus outbreak, though he said the economy remains in solid condition.