Briefly

JAPAN

Worst economic slump seen in 5 years

Japan has suffered its worst quarterly GDP contraction in more than five years, with a tax hike and a deadly typhoon taking a toll on the world's third-largest economy. The nation's GDP in the three months to December shrank 1.6 percent from the previous quarter, according to official data published on Monday. The quarter was marked by a rise in consumption tax from eight percent to 10 percent, as well as Typhoon Hagibis, which killed more than 100 people and caused widespread flooding.

YEMEN

Rivals reach deal on prisoner swap

Rival parties in the Yemen conflict have reached an agreement on the first large-scale prisoner exchange since the start of the five-year conflict, the United Nations said on Sunday. The announcement came after a seven-day meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman. A joint statement from the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross called the deal "a step toward the fulfillment of the parties' commitment to the phased release of all conflict-related detainees according to the Stockholm Agreement". The number of prisoners to be released was not specified and neither was the timing.

UNITED STATES

Bloomberg accused of trying to 'buy' poll

With the Nevada caucuses less than a week away, Democratic presidential candidates campaigning on Sunday were fixated on a rival who wasn't contesting the state. Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg all targeted billionaire Mike Bloomberg, accusing him of buying his way into the election and making clear they were eager to take him on in a debate. Their attacks are a sign of how seriously the field is starting to take Bloomberg as he gains traction in the race and is on the cusp of qualifying for Wednesday's Democratic debate in Las Vegas.

PAKISTAN

Toxic gas leak kills 5, sickens dozens

A toxic gas leak killed five people and sickened dozens of others in a coastal residential area in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, police said on Monday. The source of the leak, which occurred on Sunday night, and the type of gas that had leaked were not immediately known. There was no suspicion of sabotage. Authorities said they became aware of the incident when people in the Karachi neighborhood of Kamari suddenly started rushing to the area's hospitals with severe breathing problems overnight, police chief Adil Malik told reporters.

FRANCE

Health minister to run for Paris mayor

France's Health Minister Agnes Buzyn was named on Sunday as a new candidate for mayor of Paris, a late entry by the country's governing party after a scramble to replace the original contender who abruptly withdrew after a leak of sex videos on social media. The choice of Buzyn came just two days after a frantic search for a candidate began. It underscored the importance that President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party places on winning the mayor's office－and emerging from a scandal.

Agencies - Xinhua