ADB Lowers Indonesia’s Economic Growth Forecast To 3.5 Percent This Year

JAKARTA, Sept 23 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has adjusted its forecast of Indonesia’s 2021 economic growth to 3.5 percent year-on-year, from the previous 4.5 percent in early Apr. “The economic recovery will continue although at a more moderate speed,” ADB’s Senior Country Economist, Henry Ma said, during…

274 Kids Undergoing Isolation In Brunei

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept 22 (NNN-ANN) – There are currently 274 children housed at five isolation centres in the Sultanate. Minister of Health, Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar shared at the press conference that, as of noon yesterday, the youngest to be isolated is an 18-day-old infant, under…

Nepal Reopens All Border Points, Enabling Foreigners To Visit Through Land Routes

KATHMANDU, Sept 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Nepali government decided to reopen all border crossings, for the movement of Nepali and foreign nationals, as the country has been reporting fewer COVID-19 cases in recent days, a Nepali minister said today. The move ended months-long ban on foreigners visiting Nepal through land…

Philippine President Slams Rich Countries For Hoarding COVID-19 Vaccines

MANILA, Sept 22 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, today condemned the rich countries’ “selfish” plan, to hoard COVID-19 vaccines, while poor and developing nations are experiencing vaccine drought. “There is a man-made drought of vaccines ravaging poor countries,” Duterte said, in a pre-recorded virtual address at the 76th session…

New Zealand Invests 31.5 Million USD To Keep Police Safe

WELLINGTON, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The New Zealand government will invest 45 million NZ dollars (31.5 million U.S. dollars), one of the largest investments in frontline safety, to keep frontline police officers safe. Police Minister, Poto Williams, said at the Royal New Zealand Police College today that, the investment includes…

Road Accident Kills Five In Northern Vietnam

HANOI, Sept 22 (NNN-VNA) – A chain-reaction crash among four motorcycles in northern Vietnam’s Phu Tho province, killed five people and severely injured two others, local media reported today. The motorbikes, carrying eight young people, were reportedly running through Phu Tho’s Cam Khe district, when they crashed into each other…

India’s COVID-19 Tally Rises To 33,531,498

NEW DELHI, Sept 22 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 33,531,498 today, as 26,964 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data. Besides, as many as 383 deaths since yesterday, took the total death toll to 445,768. Most…

Indian Gov’t Warns Of Reciprocal Measures On Britain’s COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Row

NEW DELHI, Sept 22 (NNN-PTI) – The Indian government described Britain’s decision, not to recognise Covishield as a legitimate anti-COVID-19 vaccine, as “discriminatory” and warned of reciprocal measures, if the matter was not resolved. India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, during a media briefing that, the country supplied five…

Bangladesh Reports Lowest COVID-19 Infection Rate Amid Vaccination Drive

DHAKA, Sept 22 (NNN-BSS) – The positivity rate for new COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh, reported by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), fell to 4.69 percent yesterday, the lowest level in more than six months, amid the country’s vaccination drive bolstered by Chinese jab support and other sources. The…

Australia Seeks COVID Vaccine Approval For Children As Young As Five

CANBERRA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian government urged Pfizer to seek approval, to administer its COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as five. Greg Hunt, the Minister for Health, yesterday, encouraged Pfizer to have its COVID-19 vaccine approved for children aged 5-11 in Australia, after trials found the vaccine…