APEC Meeting Calls For Efforts To Ensure Open Trade, Equitable Vaccine Access

BANGKOK, May 24 (NNN-TNA) – Trade officials and representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, called for efforts to ensure open trade, equitable COVID-19 vaccine access and work to progress the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). “We reaffirm the importance of rules-based multilateral trading system, with the…

Baghdad Int’l Book Fair Suspended Due To Sandstorm

BAGHDAD, May 24 (NNN-NINA) – The ongoing 23rd edition of the International Book Fair, held in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, was suspended yesterday due to a strong dust storm. The book fair, which kicked off on May 19, has attracted more than 100 local and foreign exhibitors, with publishing houses…

Afghan Police Arrest Three Alleged Drug Smugglers In Eastern Province

KABUL, May 23 (NNN-ANA) – Police have arrested three alleged drug smugglers, from Afghanistan’s eastern Wardak province, and confiscated 21 kg of morphine from their possessions, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported, today. Quoting police officer, Sheikh Mohammad Sharif Halimi, the news agency added that, the smugglers were attempting to…

New Zealand PM To Visit U.S. For Trade, Tourism

WELLINGTON, May 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is leading a trade mission to the U.S. this week, as part of the government’s reconnection strategy to support export growth and the return of tourists in the post-COVID-19 era. The business delegation will promote trade and tourism opportunities…

Houthi Delegation Heads For Jordan To Discuss Lifting Siege On Yemen’s Taiz City: Report

SANAA, May 23 (NNN-YPA) – Yemen’s Houthi militia said, they had sent representatives to Jordan yesterday, to attend a UN-sponsored negotiation, over lifting the siege on Taiz city, as part of the ongoing truce. The delegation left the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa via a UN plane, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.…

Jordan Condemns Israeli Decision Allowing “Extremists” To Pray At Al-Aqsa Mosque

AMMAN, May 23 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan yesterday condemned an Israeli court decision, allowing “extremists” to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Haitham Abu Al-Foul, said that, the decision is null and void, which “lacks legal status under international law that does not recognise…

Palestinians Condemn U.S. Removal Of Israeli Extremist Group “Kach” From Terror List

RAMALLAH, May 23 (NNN-WAFA) – The U.S. State Department’s decision to remove the Israeli extremist “Kach” movement from the list of foreign terrorist organisations, has sparked condemnation and outrage among Palestinians. The Palestinian presidency said in a press statement yesterday that, it strongly condemned the decision as the movement was…

Cambodia Urges People To Be Vigilant, Alert Over Monkeypox

PHNOM PENH, May 23 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia today called on people, to be vigilant and alert over the recent outbreak of the monkeypox virus, in some parts of the world, although no cases have been detected in the kingdom. “Monkeypox is another emerging public health concern in the world. Please…

India Records 2,022 New COVID-19 Cases, 46 More Deaths

NEW DELHI, May 23 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 43,138,393 today, as 2,022 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data. Besides, 46 deaths were reported from the pandemic across the country since yesterday morning, taking the…

Malaysia Reports 1,817 New COVID-19 Infections, Two New Deaths

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia recorded 1,817 new COVID-19 cases, as of midnight, bringing the total tally to 4,491,320, according to the health ministry. The new infections included three imported cases and 1,814 local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. Two more deaths have been reported…