News Headlines - 19 February 2020

▽China Expels Three Wall Street Journal Reporters - WSJ

China revoked the press credentials of three Wall Street Journal reporters based in Beijing, the first time the Chinese government has expelled multiple journalists simultaneously from one international news organization since the country began re-engaging with the world in the post-Mao era.
China’s Foreign Ministry said the move Wednesday was punishment for a recent opinion piece published by the Journal.
Deputy Bureau Chief Josh Chin and reporter Chao Deng, both U.S. nationals, as well as reporter Philip Wen, an Australian national, were ordered to leave the country within five days, said Jonathan Cheng, the Journal’s China bureau chief.

▽Moritomo Gakuen couple in Abe cronyism scandal found guilty of fraud | The Japan Times

The former head of a nationalist school operator and his wife, who were at the center of a cronyism scandal linked to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, were found guilty Wednesday of receiving ￥56.4 million ($512,000) in central government subsidies illegally for the construction of an elementary school.
At the Osaka District Court, Yasunori Kagoike, the 67-year-old former chief of Moritomo Gakuen, was also convicted of unlawfully receiving local government subsidies and sentenced to five years in prison. His 63-year-old wife Junko was given a three-year jail term suspended for five years.

▽Iran won't hand over 'damaged' black box of Ukraine plane-ministers - Reuters

The black box of a Ukrainian passenger plane accidentally shot down over Iran last month is damaged but Iran will not hand it over to another country despite pressure for access, top Iranian ministers said on Wednesday, according to state media.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week he had “impressed upon” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that a complete and independent investigation into the shooting down of the airliner had to be carried out.
Many of the 176 who perished in the disaster were Iranians with dual citizenship, which is not recognised by Iran. Canada had 57 citizens on board.

▽Afghanistan presidential election: Ashraf Ghani re-elected - BBC News

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has been declared the winner of last September's election following delays due to allegations of vote-rigging.
Mr Ghani was re-elected with 50.64% of the vote, officials said.
But his main rival Abdullah Abdullah, who came second with 39.52%, contested the result, declared victory, and vowed to form his own parallel government.

▽Queen bans Harry and Meghan using 'Sussex Royal' brand | Daily Mail Online

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex must drop their 'Sussex Royal' label after deciding to step down as working royals.
Following lengthy and complex talks, the Queen and senior officials are believed to have agreed it is no longer tenable for the couple to keep the word 'royal' in their 'branding'... It has now been made clear that they will need to 're-brand'.