Twin Pandas Born In Tokyo Zoo Named Xiao Xiao, Lei Lei

TOKYO, Oct 9 (NNN-NHK) – Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, said yesterday that, the twin giant pandas born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens in June, have been named Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. When put together, their names have the meaning of “leading to the future from a bright dawn,” Koike…

Death Toll From Afghanistan’s Mosque Suicide Blast Rises To 46

KUNDUZ, Oct 9 (NNN-ANA) – The death toll from a suicide bomb explosion at a mosque in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz city has risen to 46, while 143 others were wounded, a provincial source confirmed yesterday. The blast occurred inside a Shiite Muslim mosque building, in the capital of Afghanistan’s northern…

Ukraine Seeks More Cooperation With NATO In Black Sea Region: FM

KIEV, Oct 9 (NNN-XINHUA) – Ukraine is willing to deepen cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member states, and partner countries in the Black Sea region, authorities said. “NATO countries, together with Ukraine, Georgia and even Moldova, can unite their efforts, on the issue of the Black Sea…

Japan’s New PM Kishida Delivers First Policy Speech Since Taking Office

TOKYO, Oct 9 (NNN-NHK) – Fumio Kishida, the newly elected Japanese prime minister, yesterday delivered his first policy speech, vowing to reach economic growth for the country, with his “new form of capitalism” and redistribute the fruits of that success to build up a stronger middle class. “Only when we…

Tanzanian President Hails Abdulrazak Gurnah For Winning Nobel Prize In Literature

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 9 (NNN-IRIN) – Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, congratulated Tanzanian-born writer, Abdulrazak Gurnah, for winning the Nobel Prize in literature. “I congratulate Mr. Abdulrazak Gurnah for winning the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature. The prize is an honour to you, our Tanzanian nation and Africa in…

Germany’s FDP, Green Party Start Coalition Talks With SPD

BERLIN, Oct 9 (NNN-XINHUA) – More than a week after the election, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green Party start negotiations with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), to build a coalition, the parties announced. “We have accepted the proposal of a discussion with the SPD to examine common…

Syria Warns U.S.-Backed Militias To Stop Being Agents For U.S. Forces

DAMASCUS, Oct 8 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, yesterday warned the U.S.-backed Kurdish militias, to stop being agents for the U.S. forces, in north-eastern Syria. Speaking during an interview with Syrian national TV, Mekdad said, the U.S. forces must leave these areas, adding that, the Syrian army will…

S.Korea’s Rice Production Estimated To Rise 9.1 Percent In 2021

SEOUL, Oct 8 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s rice production was estimated to rise 9.1 percent this year, thanks to favourable weather conditions, statistical office data showed, today. A combined 3,827,000 tonnes of rice, a key staple food for the South Koreans, was expected to be produced in the country in…

Update: Japan’s Powerful Quake Injures 32, Disrupts Train Services In Tokyo Area

TOKYO, Oct 8 (NNN-NHK) – A powerful earthquake that struck the Tokyo area last night, left 32 people injured and continued to disrupt train services this morning, affecting around 368,000 passengers in total. According to East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), the strongest earthquake for the Japanese capital in a…

Japan’s Current Account Surplus Shrinks 20.1 Percent In Aug, Year-On-Year

TOKYO, Oct 8 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s current account surplus shrank 20.1 percent to 1.67 trillion yen (15 billion U.S. dollars) in Aug, year-on-year, as higher energy import costs led to a deficit in trade, the Finance Ministry said today. The surplus logged the first year-on-year decrease in six months. In…