Israel issues tender for construction
JERUSALEM, Feb 17 (AP/AFP): Israel issued a tender for the construction of nearly 1,000 additional settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an anti-settlement watchdog said Monday.Peace Now says the development of 974 new housing units would allow the population of the Efrat settlement to expand by 40% and further...
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Trump believes Putin genuinely wants to stop Ukraine war
NEW YORK, Feb 17 (AFP/Reuters): US President Donald Trump said Sunday he could meet "very soon" with Vladimir Putin, adding he believes his Russian counterpart genuinely wants to stop fighting in Ukraine."No time set, but it could be very soon," Trump told reporters, hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio...
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US floods, rain leave 10 dead
KENTUCKY, Feb 17 (BBC): At least 10 people have died as torrential downpours over the weekend drenched parts of the south-eastern US, submerging roads and houses.Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said nine people have died in his state, after making an emergency disaster declaration. About 1,000 people stranded in flood waters...
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US has gravely backpedaled on Taiwan, says China
BEIJING, Feb 17 (AP): China's Foreign Ministry took issue Monday with a revised U.S. government fact sheet that removed a line on American opposition to independence for Taiwan.The United States has "gravely backpedaled" on its position on Taiwan and sent the wrong message to "separatist forces" on the island, ministry...
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Afghan team visits Japan to boost ties
KABUL, Feb 17 (AFP): A Taliban government delegation was visiting Japan for the first time on Monday, in a rare diplomatic visit outside of the region.The Afghan delegation left Kabul on Saturday, in a visit that local media said would last one week and included officials from the higher education,...
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