Iranian President Holds Phone Call With Macron, Urges Removal Of Sanctions

TEHRAN, Feb 20 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, said yesterday that, any possible agreement between Iran and the world powers in the Austrian capital of Vienna must include removal of anti-Iran sanctions, and valid guarantees for the implementation of commitments, according to the presidential website. Raisi made the remarks…

Five killed in Houthi ballistic missile attack in Yemen’s Shabwa

ADEN, Feb 20 (NNN-YPA) – A total of five people were killed and 15 others injured, as a result of a ballistic missile, launched by the Houthi militia against Yemen’s oil-rich province of Shabwa yesterday, a security official said. “The Houthi-fired ballistic missile landed on a mosque in Jardan district…

Nine Criminals, Policeman Killed In Security Raid In Egypt

CAIRO, Feb 20 (NNN-MENA) – Nine criminals and one policeman were killed, during a security raid at a gang’s hideout, in Egypt’s Nile Delta province of Dakahlia, said the Egyptian Interior Ministry in a statement yesterday. The criminals, involved in drug smuggling and armed robberies, took a piece of agricultural…

Vietnam Reports 41,980 New COVID-19 Infections

HANOI, Feb 20 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam registered 41,980 new COVID-19 infections yesterday, down 459 cases from Friday, according to its Ministry of Health. The new infections, logged in 61 localities nationwide, included 41,968 domestically transmitted and 12 imported. The Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, remained the locality with the highest number of…

India To Host IOC Session Next Year For First Time In 40 Years

NEW DELHI, Feb 20 (NNN-PTI) – India won the right to host the 2023 International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) session in Mumbai, in an unopposed race during the 139th IOC session in Beijing yesterday. This will be the first time in four decades and the second time overall that India hosts…

Iran Favours “Quality” Of Nuke Deal In Vienna Talks: FM

TEHRAN, Feb 20 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s foreign minister said, Iran favours the “quality” of any possible deal in the ongoing talks in Vienna, aimed to restore the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, Rejecting some comments of “setting fake deadlines,” Hossein Amir Abdollahian said, in a meeting with German Foreign Minister, Annalena…

Palestine Condemns Israel’s Refusal To Cooperate With UN Inquiry Commission

RAMALLAH, Feb 19 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine yesterday condemned Israel’s refusal to cooperate with a United Nations (UN) commission of inquiry, into the tension that broke out in the Gaza Strip in May, 2021. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said, in a statement that, it condemns the Israeli government’s decision to deny…

Sri Lankan Court Frees Two Officials Charged Over 2019 Attacks

COLOMBO, Feb 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – A Sri Lankan court, yesterday freed two former officials, who had been charged over the Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in Apr, 2019, which killed over 260 people. The Colombo High Court acquitted former Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary, Hemasiri…

Indonesia Reports 59,635 New COVID-19 Cases, 216 More Deaths

JAKARTA, Feb 19 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia yesterday confirmed 59,635 new COVID-19 cases, raising its tally of infections to 5,089,637, the country’s Health Ministry said. According to the ministry, the death toll from COVID-19 in the country rose by 216 to 146,044, while 32,904 more people recovered from the disease, during…

Afghan Intelligence Personnel Confiscate Large Number Of Bullets: Statement

KABUL, Feb 19 (NNN-ANA) – A suspected man was arrested and a large number of bullets were seized by intelligence officers, in Afghanistan’s western Nimroz province, the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) confirmed yesterday. “Personnel of Nimroz GDI Directorate seized 8,000 rounds of AK-47 gun bullets, following a special operation…