Iran says Zarif not attending Davos as its organizers ‘changed its agenda’
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will not attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this week because its organizers had “abruptly changed its agenda”, its foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Indonesia unions hold protests over planned labor reform
Several thousand Indonesian workers held a rally on Monday outside parliament to protest against planned changes to labor laws as part of government reforms aimed at creating jobs and boosting investment in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
Iran considers dual nationals on downed Ukrainian plane to be Iranians: TV
Iran considers the passengers with dual nationality, who were on a Ukrainian plane that was shot down accidentally earlier this month, killing all on board, to be Iranian citizens, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Iran has not ruled out talks to end nuclear dispute, says official
Iran said on Monday that it had not closed the “door to negotiations” in efforts to resolve a dispute over its nuclear agreement with world powers that has escalated steadily since the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018.
Philippine volcano recharging, scientist says, as shops, hotels told to keep shut
A restive volcano in the Philippines has a high risk of eruption as it is “recharging” with fresh magma and rising emissions of toxic gas, a top scientist said on Monday, while authorities ordered commercial establishments to stay shut.
China confirms spread of new virus as cases surge
An outbreak of a new coronavirus in China has spread to more cities, Chinese authorities said on Monday, as the number of patients tripled and a third person died, stoking concerns about containment of the illness.
Australian budget surplus in doubt as bushfire funding boosted
Australia on Monday boosted emergency funding for small businesses hit by bushfires that have ravaged the country for months, as the mounting costs of the disaster cast doubt on the government’s ability to deliver a promised budget surplus.
Large migrant caravan prepares to enter Mexico from Guatemala
A large caravan of Central Americans was preparing to cross the Guatemalan border into Mexico on Monday, posing a potential challenge to the Mexican government’s pledge to help the United States contain mass movements of migrants.
Five killed in Russian hotel after boiling water floods basement
Five people died in the Russian city of Perm on Monday after a hot water pipe exploded in the night and flooded a basement hotel room with boiling water, the regional investigative committee said.
Collapse of footbridge over Indonesia river kills at least nine
A footbridge across a river swollen by heavy rains collapsed on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, drowning at least nine people who were swept away by a strong current, with one person missing, disaster mitigation officials said.
