Lebanon seeking $4 billion-$5 billion in loans for wheat, fuel, medicine: minister
Lebanon is looking to secure $4 billion to $5 billion in soft loans from international donors to finance purchases of wheat, fuel and medicines, Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star cited Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni as saying on Thursday.
Coronavirus spotlights Japan contagion risks as Olympics loom
An outbreak of a new virus in China has raised fears of a global pandemic, forcing Japan to confront the possibility of deadly contagion and disruption as it prepares to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Canadian air tanker crashes while fighting Australia bushfires, 3 dead
A Canadian-owned C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed while fighting bushfires in Australia’s alpine region on Thursday, killing all three of its crew, authorities said.
Iran welcomes dialogue with Gulf neighbors: foreign minister tweets
Iran welcomes dialogue with its Gulf neighbors, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday, amid heightened tension in the Middle East.
Japan should ban confiscation of foreign employees’ passports, lawyer says
The Japanese government should forbid employers from retaining the passports of their foreign workers, a lawyer said on Thursday after a Filipino woman sued her former employer for refusing to return her personal documents.
Ukraine PM in Davos: government and prime minister do not plan to resign
Ukraine’s government and Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk do not plan to resign and have good relations with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Honcharuk said on Thursday.
IHG to waive fees for China hotel stay cancellations amid viral outbreak
InternContinental Hotels Group will allow customers to change or cancel stays scheduled up to Feb. 3 across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan at no additional cost, the company said on its official WeChat account on Thursday.
Germany bans neo-Nazi group Combat 18, launches raids
Germany has banned the neo-Nazi group Combat 18 and raided the homes of its leading members across the country, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
China’s latest virus outbreak exposes perils of exotic wildlife trade
A new coronavirus spreading from the city of Wuhan has put a spotlight on China’s poorly regulated wild animal trade – driven by relentless demand for exotic delicacies and ingredients for traditional medicine.
Taiwan says Chinese air force passes to island’s south in drills
Chinese air force planes passed through the narrow Bashi Channel to the south of Taiwan on a long-range exercise on Thursday, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said, the first such drills near the island publicized since Taiwan held elections this month.
