Singapore Reports 9,082 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Feb 15 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore reported 9,082 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total tally to 478,577. Of the new cases, 2,177 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, and 6,905 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of…

Bangladesh Zoo Welcomes Bengal Tiger Cubs In Year Of The Tiger

DHAKA, Feb 15 (NNN-BSS) – Bangladesh National Zoo, announced the birth of two Bengal tiger cubs, good news for Bangladeshi big cat fans, at the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. Md Abdul Latif, director of the Bangladesh National Zoo in Dhaka, wished a happy Year of the Tiger,…

Madagascar Braces For Another Cyclone: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Madagascar braces for another tropical storm, only 10 days after Cyclone Batsirai killed at least 121 people, a UN spokesman said, yesterday. Tropical Cyclone Dumako, is on track to hit the country’s north-east today, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General, Antonio…

Ukrainian President, German Chancellor Discuss Regional Security Challenges

KIEV, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, yesterday, held a meeting with visiting German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, to discuss regional security challenges. After the talks in Kiev, Zelensky told reporters that, the two parties talked over the peace process in and around Ukraine and the legal guarantees that…

Indonesia Shortens Quarantine Period To Three Days For Specific Inbound Travellers

JAKARTA, Feb 15 (NNN-ANTARA) – International travellers, who have received COVID-19 booster vaccines, are allowed to enter Indonesia with a three-day quarantine period, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said yesterday. Starting from next week, the quarantine period for inbound travellers, both foreigners and Indonesian citizens,…

Japan’s COVID-19 Patients Recuperating At Home Surpass 500,000 For First Time

TOKYO, Feb 15 (NNN-NHK) – The number of COVID-19 patients recovering at home in Japan, has topped 500,000 for the first time, amid the recent surging infections, due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant and continuous strain on the health care system across the country, the health ministry said yesterday.…

Iran Says Prisoner Swap With U.S. Being Discussed At Vienna Nuke Talks

TEHRAN, Feb 15 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said yesterday that, the exchange of prisoners with the United States is being discussed at the nuclear talks in Vienna. “But it seems that the United States is waiting for the outcome of the talks in Vienna, to make its…

G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors To Meet In Jakarta Despite Omicron Wave

JAKARTA, Feb 15 (NNN-ANTARA) – Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 members, will gather from Feb 17 to 18, for their first meeting this year, under the Indonesian presidency in Jakarta, despite a steady increase in daily COVID-19 cases. Perry Warjiyo, governor of Bank Indonesia, said yesterday that,…

World Insights: U.S. decision over splitting assets sparks outcry among ordinary Afghans

KABUL, Feb 15 (NNN-XINHUA) – Washington’s decision on splitting frozen Afghan assets in the United States, has sparked an outcry among ordinary Afghans, who believe the verdict would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis. U.S. President, Joe Biden, signed an executive order on Friday, to free seven billion U.S. dollars…

Iran Says U.S. “Plunder” Of Afghan Funds “Shameful,” “Anti-Humanitarian”

TEHRAN, Feb 15 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran slammed the U.S. decision, to divert billions of dollars in frozen Afghan assets to the families of 9/11 victims, as “shameful” and “anti-humanitarian.” “This is not the first time the United States is plundering other countries’ assets, … and also not the first time…