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![Talks starting Monday are informal and non-binding, but could eventually produce a formal process of negotiation resulting in a treaty [File: AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/000_1WG40X.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
![A general view of the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim bordering China [File: Agnes Bun/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_LR184.jpg?resize=120%2C80)
DEVELOPING STORY
India, China troops in new clash along contested border: Reports
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![People wearing face masks depart from a train station in Auckland, New Zealand, August 31, 2020 [File: Fiona Goodall/ Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-08-31T050849Z_314505830_RC2TOI926273_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-NEW-ZEALAND.jpg?resize=120%2C80)
MORE TOP STORIES
![Talks starting Monday are informal and non-binding, but could eventually produce a formal process of negotiation resulting in a treaty [File: AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/000_1WG40X.jpg?resize=120%2C80)
DEVELOPING STORY
India, China troops in new clash along contested border: Reports
Russia accuses US of meddling, but says open to dialogue
Spokesman for Vladimir Putin says Russian president open to talking to Joe Biden after US slams crackdown on protesters.
![Law enforcement officers clash with participants during a rally in support of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in Moscow [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-01-24T170447Z_688372493_RC2HEL9ULVJM_RTRMADP_3_RUSSIA-USA-POLITICS.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
US support for Taiwan ‘rock-solid’ as China again sends warplanes
Washington pledges to deepen ties with Taiwan after China sends large number of warplanes into island’s airspace.
![A Taiwanese soldier waves a Taiwan national flag during a military exercise in Hsinchu County, northern Taiwan, on January 19, 2021 [Sam Yeh/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_8Z2834.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Israel ‘closes skies’ to air travel as COVID variants found
Flights will be banned for a week, as government tries to curb spread of variants, protect vaccination campaign.
![Israel is further restricting travel in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 and the new variants that have emerged [Jack Guez/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_8ZF7PP.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Opinion
Biden reinstates US COVID travel restrictions, adds South Africa
New US president takes tougher approach to COVID-19 with more than 25 million Americans now confirmed with virus.
![The US is tightening restrictions on international arrivals as it tries to tackle new variants of the virus [File: Jae C Hong/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_20359070031302.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Portugal President Rebelo de Sousa re-elected, abstentions surge
Centre-right incumbent known for his easy-going manner has won a second and final five-year term.
![Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addresses the media after being returned for a second term in office [Pedro Nunes/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-01-25T005525Z_1098251777_RC2OEL9X7D46_RTRMADP_3_PORTUGAL-ELECTION.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
CAR hands Seleka commander accused of war crimes to ICC
ICC arrests alleged commander of Seleka militia on charges of war crimes committed during violence in Bangui in 2013.
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Oman bars expatriates from certain jobs as pandemic bites
Various jobs in insurance companies including finance and administrative positions will be ‘limited to Omanis only’.
![In April 2020, Oman ordered state-owned companies to accelerate the process of replacing foreign staff with Omani nationals [File: Mohammed Mahjoub/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/000_8R73MW.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
