Former Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe Arrested Over Alleged Misuse Of State Funds

COLOMBO, Aug 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Former Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was arrested yesterday, by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. Wickremesinghe was arrested for charges of misusing state funds, to visit London to attend a graduation ceremony of his wife, during…

Floods Kill Three In Yemen As Heavy Rains Persist

ADEN, Yemen, Aug 23 (NNN-SABA) – Three people, including two children, were killed, as floods, triggered by heavy rains, swept through parts of Yemen, authorities said yesterday, warning of more downpours accompanied by thunderstorms. The Interior Ministry’s official media said, two children, aged six and eight, drowned in floodwaters, in…

UAE Condemns Israeli Settlement Plan

ABU DHABI, Aug 23 (NNN-WAM) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), yesterday, condemned Israel’s newly-announced settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, and its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that, the measures were “serious violations of international law and relevant UN…

Türkiye Breaks Ground On Railway Linking NE Province To Azerbaijani Exclave

ANKARA, Aug 23 (NNN-TRT) – Türkiye, yesterday, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a railway, linking its north-eastern Kars province, with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave. The 224-kilometre railway line, is designed as a critical link within the South Caucasus transit corridor, known as Zangezur Corridor. During a ceremony in the eastern province…

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Plan To Launch Cross-Border Trade Hub Next Year

ASTANA, Aug 23 (NNN-KTA) – Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan plan to launch an industrial trade and logistics centre on their border, next year, Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said yesterday, during his visit to Kyrgyzstan, according to the Kazakh presidential press service. At a press conference, following his talks with Kyrgyz President,…

Laos, Vietnam To Strengthen Comprehensive Cooperation

VIENTIANE, Aug 23 (NNN-KPL) – Vietnamese Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, paid an official visit to Laos, to further strengthen and expand friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, states, and peoples of Vietnam and Laos. According to the local news website, Lao Phattana News yesterday,…

New Zealand, U.S. Pursue Further Negotiations For Tariffs

WELLINGTON, Aug 23 (NNN-RNZ) – New Zealand and the United States trade officials, met in Washington, to address concerns over new U.S. tariffs on New Zealand goods, a New Zealand government statement, said yesterday. New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, said, the latest five percent tariff…

Iranian, European FMs To Hold Phone Call On Nuclear Issue

TEHRAN, Aug 23 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, was to discuss the country’s nuclear issue in a phone call with his French, British and German counterparts yesterday. The European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, was also to take part in the discussion, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman,…

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…