World News

Global stock markets plunged further Friday on spreading fears over the impact of the new coronavirus, with some indexes set to close out their worst week since the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.

TOKYO — Japan's northern island of Hokkaido declared a state of emergency on Friday over the rapid spread of the new virus there. Hokkaido Gov. Naomichi Suzuki said the emergency will continue until mid-March.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian authorities on Friday reported the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa as the outbreak spread to a region with some of the world's weakest health systems.

REYHANLI, Turkey — The presidents of Turkey and Russia spoke over the phone on Friday, a day after Syrian government airstrikes killed 33 Turkish troops, significantly ratcheting up tensions between Ankara and Moscow.

TOKYO — A deepening health crisis became an economic one too Friday, with the virus outbreak sapping financial markets, emptying shops and businesses, and putting major sites and events off limits.

GENEVA — The Geneva auto show is being cancelled after the Swiss government announced an immediate ban Friday on all "public and private" events in the country involving more than 1,000 people as a measure to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.

VACAVILLE, Calif.

HONG KONG — Outspoken Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai and two prominent opposition politicians were charged Friday with illegal assembly over a pro-democracy march last year as the territory's Beijing-backed government appeared to move to settle scores

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — K-pop superstars BTS cancelled an upcoming concert series in South Korea's capital as the country that exports entertainment worldwide tries to contain a soaring virus outbreak.

TOWSON, Md. — Criminal charges will not be filed against a police officer in Maryland who fatally shot a man accused of threatening to hurt himself and others.