Iraq’s Cleric Sets Conditions For Dealing With Washington When Taking Office

BAGHDAD, Oct 17 (NNN-NINA) – Iraq’s prominent Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, set several conditions yesterday, to deal with the United States if his Sadrist Movement takes office. One of the conditions is that, diplomatic relations between the United States and Iraq should be “state-to-state with full sovereignty,” al-Sadr tweeted, after…

Singapore Reports 3,348 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Oct 17 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore reported 3,348 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total tally in the country to 145,120. Of the new cases, 2,688 were in the community, 656 were in migrant worker dormitories and four were imported cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a…

10 Killed As Rains Trigger Flooding, Landslides In India’s Kerala

NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (NNN-PTI) – At least 10 people were killed yesterday, after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala, local media reports. The landslides and flooding occurred in Idukki and Kottayam districts. A local newspaper, Hindustan Times, said that, 18 people were…

Bullet Train Of China-Laos Railway Arrives In Vientiane

VIENTIANE, Oct 17 (NNN-KPL) – The streamlined “China-standard” bullet train, or electric multiple unit (EMU) train, of the China-Laos railway, arrived at the newly built China-Laos Railway Vientiane Station yesterday. The EMU train was officially delivered to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., a joint venture based in the Lao capital…

Iran, Pakistan Agree To Cooperate On Marine Industry

TEHRAN, Oct 17 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iranian and Pakistani military commanders, agreed to cooperate in manufacturing military vessels and submarine maintenance, it was reported, yesterday. In a visit to Pakistan Navy’s shipyards, in the port city of Karachi on Friday, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, visiting Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed…

Cyprus, Egypt Sign Electricity Interconnection Agreement

NICOSIA, Oct 17 (NNN-MENA) – Cyprus and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday, to promote electrical interconnection of the two countries and ensure energy supply for Cyprus, an official statement said. The memorandum of understanding provides for the timely granting of permits for technical studies and laying of the…

Rally Across New Zealand To Push Up COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

WELLINGTON, Oct 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand launched a nationwide rally yesterday, to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19. The vaccination rally, named the Super Saturday, aims to vaccinate at least 100,000 doses yesterday, and push for a 90-percent vaccination milestone. Vaccine clinics, including mobile facilities, community vaccine…

Officer, Trooper Killed In Indian-Controlled Kashmir Gunfight

SRINAGAR, Oct 15 (NNN-PTI) – A junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian army and a trooper were killed, in a fierce gunfight with militants in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said today. The gunfight broke out at Dera Ki Gali, in Surankote area, close to the Line of Control (LoC)…

Indonesia’s Bali Ready To Reopen To Int’l Travellers

by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, Oct 15 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Indonesian resort island of Bali is waiting in excitement for international tourists as it reopened yesterday. As many as 8,000 rooms in 35 three- to five-star hotels are ready to be occupied both for quarantine and accommodation, when international tourists are…

India’s Exports Grow 21 Percent Y-O-Y In Sept

NEW DELHI, Oct 15 (NNN-PTI) – India’s overall exports, including merchandise and services combined, are estimated to hit 54.06 billion U.S. dollars in Sept, 2021, rising 21.44 percent over the same period last year, and 26.03 percent over Sept, 2019, official data showed. Merchandise exports in Sept, 2021, stood at…