Lebanese PM Urges UN Peacekeeping Force To Curb Israeli Violations Of Airspace

BEIRUT, Mar 23 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, yesterday urged the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to intervene in Israel’s violations of the country’s airspace. The prime minister’s remarks came, during his meeting at the Grand Serail with Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, head of UNIFIL, a day after…

Tokyo, Eight Other Prefectures Brace For Blackouts Amid Supply Crunch In Wake Of Powerful Quake

TOKYO, Mar 23 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s industry ministry said yesterday that, a power outage could occur, with as many as three million households affected in Tokyo and other areas in Japan’s east and north-east. The latest warning follows Industry Minister, Koichi Hagiuda, earlier yesterday urging people living in Tokyo and…

Iran Vows Never To Abandon “Peaceful” Nuke Activities

TEHRAN, Mar 22 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, said yesterday that, Iran will never abandon its “peaceful” nuclear activities in the country. Iran also pledged to “work diligently, to advance value-creating (nuclear) programmes” for Iranians, the chief of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), was quoted as…

Unemployment In Jordan Stands At 23.3 Percent In Fourth Quarter Of 2021

AMMAN, Mar 22 (NNN-PETRA) – The unemployment rate in Jordan rose by 0.1 percent to 23.3 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with the third quarter of the same year. The male unemployment rate is 21.4 percent, and the rate for women is 30.7 percent, the state-run news…

UAE, Germany Ink Green Energy Agreements

DUBAI, Mar 22 (NNN-WAM) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany, signed agreements on hydrogen research and development, during the visit of the German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, the UAE state news agency announced yesterday. The agreements were signed between Abu Dhabi National Oil…

Palestine Condemns Israel For Arresting Candidates For Municipal Elections

RAMALLAH, Mar 22 (NNN-WAFA) – The Palestinian Central Elections Committee, yesterday condemned Israel, for arresting candidates racing for the Palestinian local council elections, in the West Bank. The committee said in a statement that, the arrest is blatant interference in Palestinian internal affairs, calling for the immediate release of the…

Sri Lanka Increases Prices Of Face Masks, Int’l Call Rates As Rupee Depreciates

COLOMBO, Mar 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka’s All Ceylon Mask Manufacturers Association, yesterday said, they would increase the price of face masks by 30 percent with immediate effect. Wearing face masks in public places is mandatory under Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 guidelines, and the Ministry of Environment stated that, Sri Lankans…

Vietnam Reports 131,713 New COVID-19 Cases, Over Eight Million In Total

HANOI, Mar 22 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam reported 131,713 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, down 9,438 cases from Sunday, according to its Ministry of Health. The new infections, logged in 63 localities nationwide, included 131,709 domestically transmitted and four imported. The Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, remained the pandemic hotspot with 17,916 cases yesterday,…

Malaysia Reports 17,828 New COVID-19 Infections, Total Passes Four Million Mark

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 22 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia recorded 17,828 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the total tally to 4,010,952, according to the health ministry. They included 407 new imported cases and 17,421 local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. A further 63 deaths have been reported…

Philippines Allows Foreigners To Have Full Ownership Of Telcos, Airlines

MANILA, Mar 22 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, signed a law that allows foreigners to possess full ownership of telecommunications, airlines, mass communications, expressways, tollways, among others. Last night, Duterte signed into law, Republic Act 11659, amending the decades-old Public Service Act (PSA) that reclassifies these economic sectors as…