Palestinian, Russian presidents meet on Israeli-Palestinian situation

Palestinian Pres Mahmoud Abbas and Russian Pres Vladimir Putin BETHLEHEM, Jan 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday evening in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, briefing him on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian situation. The two leaders discussed the “Deal of…

India once again rejects US Pres Trump’s offer to mediate in Kashmir issue

NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — India once again rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate in the Kashmir issue, saying it had to be “bilaterally” resolved with Pakistan. In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said that there was no role for any third party…

US VP Pence says White House to release Mideast peace plan next week

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (C) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Jan 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced Thursday during a visit to Jerusalem that the White House plans to release its plan for peace in the Middle…

President set to gain as Peru heads to Sunday congressional polls

LIMA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru will hold separate parliamentaryelections for the first time on Sunday as President Martin Vizcarra looks tobreak the influence of the main opposition party of Keiko Fujimori. Vizcarra dissolved parliament in September following constant clashesbetween the legislature and the executive that left Peru in a…

Update: China virus toll jumps to 25 dead with 830 confirmed cases – govt

BEIJING, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll in China’s viral outbreakhas risen to 25, with the number of confirmed cases also leaping to 830, thegovernment said on Friday. The National Health Commission said authorities were also examining 1,072 suspected cases of the virus that first emerged in central city…

Update: Coronavirus: China expands travel ban to 2 more cities

BEIJING, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese officials expanded travel restrictions on Thursday to include two more cities, one of which was also ordered to lock down to mitigate the spread of a deadly coronavirus. China has closed off access to the major port city of Wuhan, where the outbreak originated,…

US threatens to hike tariffs on UK car exports

DAVOS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the United States would consider imposing tariffs on cars made in the United Kingdom if the country moves ahead with a tax on digital services. Mnuchin said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that the United…

Saudi Arabia denies case of coronavirus infection

RIYADH, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Saudi health ministry affiliate said there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.Earlier, India’s minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been…

World leaders at Jerusalem conference condemn rising anti-Semitism

World leaders voiced alarm at resurgent anti-Semitism JERUSALEM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World leaders voiced alarm at resurgent anti-Semitism on Thursday as they gathered at Israel’s national Holocaust Memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Vice…

New Lebanon government looking for $5 billion in loans

Ghazi Wazni, Lebanon’s new Finance Minister BEIRUT, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lebanon’s new Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said he is looking for up to $5 billion in soft loans to purchase wheat, medicine and fuel.The former defense minister said the loans are among his top priorities since taking over the…