COVID-19 Pandemic Pushes 4.7 Million More People In Southeast Asia Into Extreme Poverty: ADB Report

MANILA, Mar 16 (NNN-PNA) – The COVID-19 pandemic pushed 4.7 million people in Southeast Asia into extreme poverty in 2021, as 9.3 million jobs disappeared, compared with a baseline no-COVID scenario, said an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, released today. According to the Manila-based bank, the region is beginning to…

New Zealand Reports 19,542 New COVID-19 Community Cases

WELLINGTON, Mar 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand reported 19,542 new community cases of COVID-19 today, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. The ministry also reported 24 deaths, bringing the total number of publicly reported deaths to 141, and 35 new cases detected at the country’s border. There were…

Foxes, Feral Cats Take “Shocking” Toll On Aussie Wildlife

SYDNEY, Mar 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A leading Australian conservation group, believes that a new report, which charts the immense impact of foxes and feral cats on the nation’s wildlife, highlights the need for stronger environmental laws. The report, published in the Diversity and Distributions journal yesterday, estimated that foxes in…

Singapore Reports 15,851 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Mar 16 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore reported 15,851 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total tally to 964,329. Of the new cases, 1,935 were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, and 13,916 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health. Among…

UN Chief Voices Concern Over Missile Attack In Erbil, Iraq

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is deeply concerned about Sunday’s missile attack in Erbil, Iraq, said Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman, yesterday. The attack came at a critical moment for Iraq’s path to peace and stability. The secretary-general renewed his call on all concerned sides,…

Iran Says Ball In U.S. Court For Conclusion Of Vienna Talks

TEHRAN, Mar 16 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, said yesterday that, the ball is now in the U.S. court, to ensure a successful conclusion of the Vienna talks, on restoring the Iran nuclear deal. “If Washington responds to the few remaining important issues and does not waste…

Israel’s Inflation Rate In Feb Hits 3.5 Percent, Highest In Decade

JERUSALEM, Mar 16 (NNN-PNA) – Israel’s year-on-year inflation hit 3.5 percent in Feb, reaching a decade high, the regime’s Bureau of Statistics said yesterday. The bureau said, this is the highest year-on-year inflation recorded in the regime, since June, 2011, when the inflation rate reached 4.2 percent. The country’s consumer…

65,000 Foreign Employees Benefit From Saudi Arabia’s Labour Reforms: Ministry

RIYADH, Mar 16 (NNN-SPA) – A total of 65,000 foreign employees benefited from the labour reforms, initiated by Saudi Arabia one year ago, said the kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The “contractual relationship improvement” initiative, launched by the ministry in Mar, 2021, covered foreign workers in the…

Vietnam, Sierra Leone Agree To Boost Cooperation

HANOI, Mar 16 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnamese President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and visiting Sierra Leonean counterpart, Julius Maada Bio, yesterday agreed on orientations, to foster cooperative relations between the two countries in time to come, it was reported. During their talks in Hanoi yesterday, the two leaders agreed to continue to…

Myanmar Eases COVID-19 Restrictions To Allow Public Gatherings Of Up To 400 People

YANGON, Mar 16 (NNN-MNA) – Myanmar’s Ministry of Health, yesterday, issued an order to increase the maximum size of public gatherings from 200 to 400 people. The ministry said, the maximum ceiling of 400 people is to be allowed at public gatherings, starting from Mar 16 (today), excluding unpermitted ones,…