Malaysia Reports 26,701 New COVID-19 Infections, 39 New Deaths

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia reported 26,701 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, bringing the national total to 3,138,215, according to the health ministry. There are 132 new imported cases, with 26,569 being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. A further 39 deaths have been…

New Zealand Reports 1,929 New Community Cases Of COVID-19

WELLINGTON, Feb 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand recorded 1,929 new community cases of COVID-19 today, the Ministry of Health said, in a statement. Among the new community infections, 1,384 are in the largest city of Auckland, 155 in nearby Waikato, 28 in the Capital and Coast region, 35 in Canterbury,…

PCR Test No Longer Required For Arriving Passengers To Jordan From Mar

AMMAN, Feb 18 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan yesterday announced measures to ease the COVID-19 restrictions from Mar 1, cancelling the PCR test requirement for all arriving passengers. The decision was announced by Jordan’s Minister of State for Media Affairs, Faisal Shboul, during a joint press conference with Health Minister, Firas Hawari.…

180 Households Evacuated As Forest Fire Burns In S. Korea

SEOUL, Feb 18 (NNN-YONHAP) – A forest fire, which broke out in a south-eastern coastal city of South Korea, remained largely uncontained yesterday, and about 180 households have been evacuated. The wildfire first occurred on a mountain in Yeongdeok, some 350 km south-east of the capital, Seoul, early Tuesday and was…

Over 190,000 Syrians Granted Turkish Citizenship By End Of 2021

ANKARA, Feb 18 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey said yesterday that, it had granted citizenship to 194,000 Syrians, including 84,000 children, by the end of 2021. There are around 3.7 million Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, and have been registered by the authorities, the state-run broadcaster, TRT, quoted Turkish Interior Minister,…

Turkey Expects Decline In COVID-19 Cases In Upcoming Weeks

ANKARA, Feb 18 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey said yesterday that, a significant decrease in COVID-19 infections is expected in the next two weeks, as the daily cases have been falling since the beginning of last week. Turkish Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, said that, the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the…

Cambodia To Vaccinate Children From 3-5 Years Old Amid Rising Omicron Cases

PHNOM PENH, Feb 18 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia will begin inoculating children from three to five years old, amid a rise in daily cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said yesterday. In an audio message, released publicly, Hun Sen said, since the Omicron hit…

Afghan Industrialists Denounce Biden’s Decision As Unjust, Call For Assets Return From U.S.

KABUL, Feb 18 (NNN-ANA) – The Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, described the recent decision by U.S. President, Joe Biden, on Afghanistan’s frozen assets as unjust, and called for the return of the assets. “On behalf of 5,000 factories and hundreds of mine extracting companies, I, today, describe the…

India Launches First Water Taxi Service Connecting Mumbai With Satellite City

MUMBAI, Feb 18 (NNN-PTI) – India launched its first water-taxi service, in its financial capital Mumbai, connecting with its satellite city of Navi Mumbai yesterday. The water-taxi service will connect the domestic cruise terminal at Mumbai port to Belapur, in Navi Mumbai, which is 24 km but takes around 90…

Japan To Relax Border Controls, Cut Quarantine Period From Mar: PM

TOKYO, Feb 18 (NNN-NHK) – Japan will ease COVID-19 border controls starting from Mar, by raising the daily entry cap and reducing the quarantine period from seven days to three, for both Japanese and foreign nationals, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida said, yesterday. Japan will adjust its ban on new…