5.4-Magnitude Quake Hits 166 Km SSE Of Tondano, Indonesia -USGS

HONG KONG, Dec 31 (NNN-XINHUA) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4, jolted 166 km SSE of Tondano, Indonesia, at 13:13:19 GMT yesterday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicentre, with a depth of 59.61 km, was initially determined to be at 0.1663 degrees south latitude and 125.2453 degrees…

Ex-S.Korean President Park Geun-Hye Set Free

SEOUL, Dec 31 (NNN-YONHAP) – Former South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, was set free today, under a special pardon, granted by the incumbent President, Moon Jae-in, according to report. Park, who had been imprisoned for 57 months, over corruption charges, reportedly received the certificate of pardon at a hospital in…

Four Killed, 15 Injured In Blast In Pakistan’s Quetta

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (NNN-APP) – A bomb went off in Pakistan’s south-western Quetta city, capital of Balochistan province, yesterday, leaving at least four people killed while injuring 15 others, hospital officials said. Waseem Baig, spokesperson for the Civil Hospital Quetta, where all the injured have been shifted to, said that,…

Abbas, Putin Discuss Israeli-Palestinian Disputes Over Phone

RAMALLAH, Dec 31 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas yesterday told Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that, Israel’s economic and security steps cannot be an alternative to a political track. During a phone conversation, Abbas and Putin exchanged congratulations on the occasion of Christmas and New Year holidays, wishing peace and…

Palestinian Population Amounts To 14 Million By End Of 2021: Report

RAMALLAH, Dec 31 (NNN-WAFA) – The number of Palestinians living in the Palestinian territories, Israel and abroad, amounted to about 14 million by the end of this year, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said yesterday. Among the 14 million Palestinians, 5.3 million live in the Palestinian territories, 1.7…

Roof Collapse Kills One Afghan, Injures 13 In Kandahar City

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 31 (NNN-ANA) – One student was killed and 13 others injured, as roof in a religious school collapsed, in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar city yesterday, head of Mir Wais hospital in Kandahar city, Mohammad Qasim, said. According to the official, the roof of a dormitory of Al-Nuria Madrasah…

Vietnamese Parliament To Discuss Urgent Economic Issues At Extraordinary Session

HANOI, Dec 31 (NNN-VNA) – The 15th National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, the country’s top legislature, will gather online from Jan 4 to 11, next year, for its first extraordinary session, to discuss “really urgent issues” concerning national development, NA secretary-general, Bui Van Cuong, said yesterday. In particular, the legislators…

Iraqi PM Confirms End Of U.S.-Led Combat Mission In Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec 30 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, confirmed yesterday, the end of the U.S.-led coalition forces’ combat mission in Iraq, after the withdrawal of the forces from the country. “The combat mission of the international coalition has ended, and all the combat equipment withdrew outside Iraq,” al-Kadhimi…

Iran Condemns Israel’s Raid On Syrian Port

TEHRAN, Dec 30 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry, yesterday, condemned Israel’s recent attack on Syria’s port of Latakia. “The leaders of the Zionist regime (of Israel), could not stand the stability, security and tranquility of the region,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, according to the ministry’s website. This action…

Philippines Mutes New Year Revelry, Bans Firecrackers

MANILA, Dec 30 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines banned firecrackers, to avoid injuries and deaths, during the New Year revelry to welcome 2022, a government official said yesterday. Interior Secretary, Eduardo Ano, ordered local governments and the national police, to crack the whip on manufacturers, sellers, and users of illegal firecrackers…