China virus death toll nears 1,400

BEIJING, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from China’s virusepidemic neared 1,400 on Friday, as the United States complained of a “lackof transparency” from Beijing over its handling of a crisis that has fuelledglobal panic. Nearly 64,000 people are now recorded as having been made ill by the virusin…

US: Pres Trump says peace deal with Taliban “very close” as partial truce announced

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Pres Donald Trump said the United States and the Taliban were nearing a peace agreement — although it was not clear if he was talking about the limited pause in hostilities agreed with the guerrillas or something broader. “I think we’re very close. I think…

US: Republican-controlled Senate votes to limit Pres Trump’s war powers on Iran, presidential veto expected

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine speaks to journalists after the GOP WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Republican-dominated US Senate voted Thursday to rein in President Donald Trump’s ability to launch military action on Iran, with eight GOP members joining Democrats to pass the resolution.The measure requires Trump to seek explicit…

Cruise passengers land in Cambodia after two weeks at sea over virus fears

Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen welcomed around 100 tourists SIHANOUKVILLE (Cambodia), Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Passengers on a cruise ship that was turned away from ports around Asia over fears they could be carrying the new coronavirus Covid-19 finally began disembarking in Cambodia on Friday.Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen welcomed…

US warship in Arabian Sea seizes weapons suspected bound for Yemen’s Houthis

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A United States Navy warship seized weapons believed to be of Iranian “design and manufacture”, including 150 anti-tank guided missiles and three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, the US military said.In a statement, the military said the guided-missile cruiser Normandy boarded a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel,…

Gaza balloon attacks re-emerge as threat to Israel

They attached explosives to the weapon before setting it adrift towards Israel. GAZA, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As the bunch of brightly-coloured balloons floated into Gaza’s evening sky, there was a piercing crackle of gunfire.Moments earlier, the balloons had been launched by a group of masked young Palestinian men huddled…

Rocket attack hits northern Iraq base hosting US troops

The US carried out retaliatory attacks that killed 25 Kataib Hezbollah fighters. BAGHDAD, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A rocket attack has slammed into an Iraqi base in the remote province of Kirkuk where US troops are stationed, security sources said.There were no immediate reports of casualties..Three separate Iraqi security sources…

Australia fires: New South Wales blazes all ‘contained’ as storm approaching

SYDNEY, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All of the bushfires in New South Wales (NSW) are now considered contained, say fire officials in the Australian state. The NSW Rural Fire Service said it was “great news” after “a very traumatic, exhausting and anxious” time. The development is thanks in part to…

Update: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor after refusing to sack aides as ordered by PM Johnson

Chancellor Sajid Javid LONDON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sajid Javid has resigned as chancellor as Boris Johnson carries out a post-Brexit cabinet reshuffle. Javid rejected an order to fire his team of aides, saying “no self-respecting minister” could accept such a condition. He has been replaced as chancellor by Chief…

Japan records first coronavirus death, two taxi drivers test positive

Members of the media gather near the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as the vessel’s passengers continue to be tested for Covid-19 TOKYO, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A woman has died from the Covid-19 in Japan, the first such death in the country since the epidemic spread from China, the health…