5.2-Magnitude Quake Hit Sagaing, Myanmar

YANGON, Aug 22 (NNN-MNA) – A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Sagaing region, Myanmar, at about 11:26 a.m. local time today, the country’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) reported. According to the DMH, the epicentre was located about 19.3 km south-west of Kalay town, in Sagaing region. The epicentre, with a…

Road Accident Injured 24 In N. Afghanistan

KABUL, Aug 22 (NNN-BNA) – At least 24 commuters were injured, as a passenger bus collided with a truck, in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province, last night, provincial police spokesman, Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Burhani, said today. The mishap took place on a road linking the capital city of Kabul to the…

Police Foiled Attempts To Smuggle Ancient Coins In Afghanistan

KABUL, Aug 22 (NNN-BNA) – Police foiled attempts to smuggle ancient coins abroad, via the airport, in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, reported the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA), today. The 139 pieces of coins, dating back to centuries-old historical dynasties, that ruled Afghanistan, were recovered from a man…

Nearly 30 Injured In Factory Fire In Karachi

ISLAMABAD, Aug 22 (NNN-APP) – Nearly 30 people were injured, after a blaze erupted in a fireworks factory, in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, yesterday, rescue and police officials said. According to police officials, a powerful explosion at a fireworks factory triggered a massive fire, leaving nearly 30 people…

Indonesia Eyes Role In ASEAN Cross-Border Power Trade

JAKARTA, Aug 22 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia, through its state-owned energy company, PT Pertamina, is eyeing business opportunities in the development of the ASEAN Power Grid, a flagship regional energy cooperation initiative of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The initiative enables countries in the region to trade electricity, supporting…

Three Taken To Hospital After Fire In Toa Payoh Flat Singapore

SINGAPORE, Aug 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Three people were taken to hospital, after a fire broke out in a residential building, in central Singapore, early this morning. About 50 people in the affected block, in Toa Payoh area, were evacuated as a precaution, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), said, on…

Kazakhstan Sets Up New Nature Park With UN Support

ALMATY, Aug 22 (NNN-KNA) – Kazakhstan officially established the Merke Nature Park, in the Zhambyl region, to enhance biodiversity conservation and support climate resilience, with assistance from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the agency said, yesterday. Spanning more than 86,000 hectares in the Western Tianshan Mountains, the park is home…

ADB Sells Three Billion USD 5-Year Global Benchmark Bond

MANILA, Aug 22 (NNN-PNA) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB), on Wednesday, priced a five-year global benchmark bond of three billion U.S. dollars, the proceeds of which will be part of ADB’s ordinary capital resources, the multilateral development bank announced, yesterday. The five-year bond, with a coupon rate of 3.750…

Israeli Firms Barred From Dutch Arms Fair

THE HAGUE, Aug 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Israeli companies will be excluded from a major arms fair, organised by the Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security (NIDV), in Nov, in Rotterdam, organisers confirmed, yesterday. NIDV Director, Hans Huigen told Dutch public broadcaster NOS that, four Israeli companies had applied to participate…

Egypt Recovers Sunken Archaeological Finds From Mediterranean Sea

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Aug 22 (NNN-MENA) – The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, yesterday, successfully retrieved three massive artefacts from the Mediterranean Sea, off Abu Qir Bay, in Alexandria governorate. The ministry’s divers managed to take out three pieces: a colossal quartzite statue of a sphinx bearing the cartouche of…