German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s designated successor unexpectedly threw in the towel Monday, plunging her conservative party into deeper crisis as it struggles to agree on its future political direction after losing votes to the far right. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told leading members of the Christian Democratic Union that she won’t be seeking the chancellorship in next…

The latest:  Death toll in mainland China rises to 908, confirmed cases number 40,171, the National Health Commission reports. 65 additional cases — including 1 Canadian — identified on cruise ship quarantined in Japan WHO expert team being deployed to China, will be led by Canadian with expertise in health emergencies and epidemiology. Risk in Canada low, public health officials say.…

Laura Dern and Brad Pitt have both won their first acting Oscars.  Dern, whose Hollywood career has spanned more than four decades, won her best supporting actress on Sunday for her portrayal of a ruthless divorce lawyer in domestic drama Marriage Story. Pitt, who has been nominated four times, won the best supporting actor Academy…

An advance team of international experts led by the World Health Organization (WHO) left for Beijing to help investigate the coronavirus epidemic in China, which authorities said has now claimed 908 lives on the mainland. The outbreak has caused huge disruptions in China with usually teeming cities becoming virtual ghost towns during the past two weeks as…

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg narrowly beat rival Bernie Sanders in Iowa in the race for delegates, according to projected national delegate allocations released by the Iowa Democratic Party on Sunday. Updated results from last week’s caucuses in the state showed Buttigieg with 14 delegates and Sanders with 12. Elizabeth Warren won eight delegates, Joe…

Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg traded jabs over money and message on Sunday, two days before New Hampshire voters pick their choice to take on U.S. Republican President Donald Trump in November. The rivals, who emerged from last week’s Iowa caucuses essentially tied, offer stark alternatives for the top of the Democratic…