News In Brief

Putin wishes Obama on New Year
Afp, Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday sent a New Year's greeting to US counterpart Barack Obama, saying the two countries share mutual responsibility to ensure world peace. In a statement showing Putin's New Year's messages to heads of state across the world, the Russian leader addressed Obama despite the crisis in US-Russian relations over Ukraine, saying the "Russian-American partnership could have been developing successfully."

Philippines floods toll hits 53
Afp,  Manila

The death toll from flooding and landslides in the Philippines wrought by tropical storm Jangmi rose to 53 yesterday, officials said, with some regions saying they were caught off guard by the deluge. Jangmi affected 121,737 people, of which 80,186 are in evacuation centres, according to the national disaster monitoring agency.

Ailing Saudi king admitted to hospital
Afp, Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's ailing King Abdullah was admitted to hospital yesterday for "medical checks," the royal court said, with the country's stock market falling sharply following the news. The king is believed to be around 90 although his exact age is unknown.

US transfers 5 Gitmo inmates to Kazakhstan
Afp, Washington

Two Tunisian and three Yemeni detainees have been transferred from the US-run prison at Guantanamo Bay to Kazakhstan, the Pentagon said. Their transfer is part of President Barack Obama's push to close the controversial military prison. The transfer of the five detainees leaves 127 inmates at the prison, located at a US naval base in southeast Cuba.

Essebsi sworn in as Tunisia president
Afp, Tunis

Anti-Islamist Beji Caid Essebsi, 88, was sworn in as Tunisia's first freely elected president at a ceremony in parliament yesterday. Essebsi's victory over outgoing moderate Islamists president Moncef Marzouki capped Tunisia's sometimes troubled transition to democracy and has won praise from Western leaders.