New Ebola cases reported in Liberia
MONROVIA, Liberia – Dozens of new Ebola cases have erupted in Liberia, near the border with Sierra Leone, Liberian health officials warned Monday, marking a setback amid recent improvements.
The flare-up stems from a number of factors including people going in and out of Liberia and traditional practices such as the washing of bodies, said Liberia’s Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah.
Forty-nine cases were reported in in western Grand Cape Mount County between Dec. 1 and 25, Nyenswah told state radio.
Arabs back ending Israeli occupation
UNITED NATIONS – Arab ambassadors on Monday endorsed Palestinian amendments to a U.N. resolution that would call for an end to Israel’s occupation within three years, a proposal strongly opposed by Israel and the United States and virtually certain to be defeated.
Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador Dina Kawar, the Arab representative on the Security Council, told reporters after the closed-door meeting of the 22 Arab envoys that the revised text would be submitted to the council later Monday.
She said the Palestinian and Jordanian leaders “will be contacting each other today to find the best time to cast the vote in the Security Council on the amended version.”
South Korea offers unification talks
SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea on Monday proposed talks with North Korea to discuss what it calls a range of issues needed to prepare for the unification of the divided countries.
It’s unclear if Pyongyang would accept Seoul’s offer as the country has viewed any of South Korea’s unification plans an attempt to take it over. North Korea wants a unified Korea with Pyongyang in charge.
Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a televised news conference that South Korea wants talks in January to discuss exchange programs, joint projects and laws needed for a unified Korea. Ryoo said South Korea hopes the proposed talks would also discuss resuming reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
Associated Press
