Top US commander warns Philippines rift could hurt terrorism fight

SYDNEY, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A top US commander warned ending a security pact with Philippines would hurt counter-terrorism efforts in the country’s restive south, putting him at odds with commander-in-chief Donald Trump. Washington’s top military officer in Asia-Pacific Admiral Philip Davidson said he hoped Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to scrap…

Brussels seeks to bring home children of Belgian militants in Syria

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin UNITED NATIONS, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgium is working to bring home all children of Belgian militants held in refugee camps in Syria, providing their mothers’ consent, Foreign Minister Philippe Goffin said. So far, 42 children in two camps in northeastern Syria have…

More letter bombs found at Dutch offices

Emergency services attend to the site of a letter bomb detonation in the city of Kerkrade AMSTERDAM, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A letter bomb caught fire at a bank in Amsterdam on Thursday and another was disarmed at an office near Utrecht, the latest in a series of such attacks…

Covid-19 could mean US$5 billion in airline losses: UN agency

MONTREAL, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new coronavirus outbreak could mean a reduction of US$4-5 billion in worldwide airline revenue, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said. The UN agency reported that 70 airlines have cancelled all international flights in and out of China and 50 others have reduced their operations.…

Singapore: S$77 million package to help taxi, private-hire drivers affected by COVID-19 outbreak

SINGAPORE, Feb 14 (NNN-CNA) — A S$77 million Point-to-Point Support Package to help taxi and private-hire car drivers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak was announced by the Singapore government. The Government will contribute S$45 million towards the package, with the remaining provided by taxi and private-hire car operators.  “The Government recognises that there is an urgent…

Philippine volcano alert lowered further to level 2

White steam is emitted from Taal Volcano as seen from a Philippine Air Force helicopter MANILA, Feb 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Philippines volcanologists on Friday further lowered the alert level to 2 at Taal Volcano, nearly five weeks since it began spewing ash and steam. In its latest bulletin, the Philippine…

Dozens of Syrian refugees return from Lebanon as part of weekly routine

Syrian refugees are seen in a homebound trip from Lebanon to Syria at the Jdaidet Yabous border crossing, west of Damascus DAMASCUS, Feb 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Dozens of Syrian refugees returned home from Lebanon on Thursday, the state news agency SANA reported. The refugees returned through the Jdaidet Yabous border…

Chinese hospitals discharge 6,723 recovered patients of Covid-19 infection

BEIJING, Feb 14 (NNN-XINHUA) — A total of 6,723 patients infectedwith the novel coronavirus Covid-19 had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Thursday, Chinese health authorities announced Friday. Thursday saw 1,081 people walk out of hospital after recovery, the NationalHealth Commission said in its daily report.…

Death toll in Peru tanker explosion rises to 30

LIMA, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from the explosion of a gastanker in Lima last month has risen to 30, Peru’s ministry of health said. Two women and a man were the most recent to succumb to burns from afireball that occurred when the tanker truck carrying 10,000…

Syrian air defence intercepts missile attack: state media

DAMASCUS, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Syrian air defences intercepted missiles over the capital Damascus on Thursday, state media reported, without specifying the source of the attack. “Our air defences intercepted hostile targets over the skies of Damascus,”state agency SANA said. It said the “missiles were launched from over the occupied…