Indian PM Modi Announces Biggest Cabinet Reshuffle

NEW DELHI, Jul 8 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, carried out a major reshuffle of his cabinet yesterday, inducting some new faces and removing as many as 12, bringing about an “all inclusive” face of the government. Those who resigned included Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Information and…

Philippine Population Up To Over 109 Million In 2020

MANILA, Jul 8 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine population climbed to over 109 million in 2020, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), yesterday. Based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, the PSA said, the total population of the Philippines is at 109,035,343, as of May 1,…

Maldives To Ease Restrictions Amid Lower Daily COVID-19 Cases

MALE, Jul 8 (NNN-PSM) – Maldives will lift an ongoing curfew and ease restrictions, aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, as daily cases have dropped, President’s Spokesperson, Mabrook Azeez announced here, yesterday. Starting today, individuals who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, can now travel between islands…

Asia-Pacific Countries Remain On High Alert As Record High COVID-19 Cases Reported

HONG KONG, Jul 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – Asia-Pacific kept on high alert yesterday, as Indonesia and South Korea confirmed record high daily COVID-19 infections, while India witnessed resurgence in cases and deaths. Indonesia recorded 34,379 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily spike and bringing the…

Iran To Produce Advanced Nuclear Fuel Using 20-Percent Enriched Uranium

TEHRAN, Jul 8 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in late Jun, of its plans to produce a plate of silicide fuel, and will soon complete the process, a high-ranking Iranian diplomat declared. “The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran’s plan, to produce a silicide fuel plate,…

Israel’s Active COVID-19 Cases Surpass 3,000

JERUSALEM, Jul 7 (NNN-PNN) – The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Israel rose by 336 to 3,102, the highest since Apr 13, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. Meanwhile, the ministry reported 502 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections in the country to 843,892. The death toll…

Heavy Rain Forecasted On Sea Of Japan Coast, JMA Issues Flood Warning

TOKYO, Jul 7 (NNN-NHK) – The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), issued a warning of flood and landslide, for the Sea of Japan coast today, as heavy rains are forecasted from eastern to western Japan, during the day and tomorrow, local media reported. The JMA issued storm warnings for parts of…

5.7-Magnitude Quake Hits South Of Fiji Islands — USGS

HONG KONG, Jul 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – An earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.7, jolted south of the Fiji Islands, at 06:39:08 GMT this morning, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), said. The epicentre of the quake, with a depth of 536.17 km, was initially determined to be at 23.1971 degrees south,…

Taliban Attack On Afghanistan’s Northern Taluqan City Repulsed, 15 Militants Killed

TALUQAN, Jul 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – Taliban militants’ attack on Taluqan city, the capital of Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province, has been repulsed, and the militants fled after leaving 15 bodies behind, the provincial government said in a statement today. The Taliban insurgents launched massive offensive on Taluqan city early today, but…

Philippine Volcano Near Manila Billows “Greyish Plume”

MANILA, Jul 7 (NNN-PNA) – A “short-lived” phreatomagmatic eruption occurred, at the main crater of the restive Taal volcano, south of Manila today, producing a 300-metre high “greyish plume,” said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The eruption happened at 5:18 a.m. local time today, said the institute, adding…