Biodiversity Studies Overlook Non-English Research, Says Australian Scientist

SYDNEY, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – After reviewing biodiversity studies written in 16 languages other than English, researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and Monash University, concluded that, important scientific knowledge lies outside the English-speaking world. The study looked at over 400,000 peer-reviewed papers in 326 journals, and the results…

Global Ratings Agencies, World Bank Cut India’s Growth Projections

NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (NNN-PTI) – India’s gross domestic product (GDP) would grow at the rate of 8.7 percent, in the rest of the current fiscal year, down from the projection of 10 percent in June, said the American rating agency, Fitch Ratings, in a report yesterday. The cut in…

Digital Payments Continue To Rise In Philippines

MANILA, Oct 8 (NNN-PNA) – Digital payments continue to rise in the Philippines, exceeding the central bank’s target to reach 20 percent of all monthly payments volume by 2020, the Philippine central bank said, yesterday. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), said that, 20.1 percent of monthly…

Israel’s COVID-19 Cases Surpass 1.3 Million

JERUSALEM, Oct 8 (NNN-PNN) – Israel’s Ministry of Health, yesterday reported 2,369 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the regime’s total infections to 1,300,126. The death toll from the virus rose by 12 to 7,867, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 487 to 475. Total recoveries rose to…

Iran Reports 11,625 New COVID-19 Cases, 5,674,083 In Total

TEHRAN, Oct 8 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranian Health Ministry reported yesterday, 11,625 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country’s total infections to 5,674,083. According to an official briefing, published by Iran’s state TV, the pandemic has claimed 122,012 lives, so far, after 233 new deaths were registered in the past 24…

China Pavilion Stages Dazzling Light Shows At Expo 2020 Dubai

DUBAI, Oct 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – Spectacular light shows have been held every day since Oct 1, at the China Pavilion of Expo 2020 Dubai, with 150 drones participating. The shows are expected to be staged every night until Feb 10 next year, at the China Pavilion, one of the largest…

India, Nepal Sign Pacts For New Railway Lines

NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (NNN-PTI) – India and Nepal yesterday signed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for the start of passenger train services on the Jaynagar-Kurtha section, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Final Location Survey (FLS) of the proposed broad gauge railway line, between Raxaul and Kathmandu. The…

6.1-Magnitude Quake Strikes Tokyo Region, No Tsunami Warning Issued

TOKYO, Oct 8 (NNN-NHK) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1, last night struck Japan’s Tokyo region, but no tsunami warning has been issued, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The temblor occurred at around 10:41 p.m. local time, with its epicentre at a latitude of 35.6 degrees…

South Asia’s Recovery Continues Amid Uncertainties Due To COVID-19: World Bank

DHAKA, Oct 8 (NNN-BSS) – South Asia’s recovery continues, as global demand rebounded and targeted containment measures helped minimise the economic impacts of the recent waves of COVID-19. But the recovery remains fragile and uneven, and most countries are far from pre-pandemic trend levels, says the World Bank, in its…

Indonesia Approves Emergency Use Of China’s Zifivax COVID-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA, Oct 8 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia’s drug and food authority BPOM, said yesterday, it has issued an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Zifivax COVID-19 vaccine, produced by Chinese biopharmaceutical company, Anhui Zhifei Longcom. “Today, BPOM again announces that we have approved a COVID-19 vaccine product under the trade name…