Schools In Japan’s Okinawa Close Amid Surge In COVID-19 Cases Among Youngsters

TOKYO, Jun 8 (NNN-NHK) – Many schools in Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa began temporarily closing yesterday, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 among young people, the prefectural government said. According to the local government in Okinawa, the closures are applicable to the majority of high schools…

Blaze Sweeps Large Slum In Bangladesh Capital

DHAKA, Jun 8 (NNN-BSS) – A devastating fire swept through one of the largest slums in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, destroying at least 100 shanties early yesterday. A total of 18 fire units battled hard for hours, to extinguish the blaze at about 9:15 a.m. local time, Fire Service Headquarters…

Maldives FM Elected New President Of UN General Assembly

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 8 (NNN-PSM) – Foreign minister of the Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, was yesterday elected president of the upcoming 76th session of the UN General Assembly. He was elected by secret ballot, in which he defeated his challenger, former Afghan Foreign Minister, Zalmai Rassoul. Shahid won the support of…

Israel Starts Construction Of 350 Settler Units Near Ramallah, Defying Intl. Outcry

BETHLEHEM, Jun 8 (NNN-PNN) – Israeli officials have laid the foundation stone for a new project, to construct 350 settler units in the Beit El settlement, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, irrespective of international outcry against Israel’s illegal settlement expansion activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Yuli Edelstein,…

Palestinian Factions To Gather In Cairo For New Dialogue To Resolve Internal Division

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Jun 8 (NNN-PNN) – Palestinian factions said yesterday that, they will head to Egypt’s capital, Cairo, soon, for a new round of intra-national dialogue. They confirmed in separate statements that Egypt sent official invitations to the factions’ leaders, to join the dialogue that aims at resolving internal Palestinian division.…

Iran Reports 4,907 New COVID-19 Cases, 2,971,270 In Total

TEHRAN, Jun 8 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranian Health Ministry reported yesterday, 4,907 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country’s total infections to 2,971,270. The pandemic has so far claimed 81,183 lives in Iran, up by 120 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said, in…

Hamas Warns Israel Not To Renew Tension Over Controversial Jerusalem Flag March

GAZA, Jun 8 (NNN-WAFA) – Hamas, the ruling movement of Gaza, yesterday warned Israel, not to renew tension in the Palestinian territories, although a Jerusalem flag march, scheduled for Thursday is reported to have been called off. “Hamas warns the occupier (Israel), the mediators and the entire world, against the…

Uzbekistan Exempts 676 Types Of Technological Equipment From Customs Duties, VAT

TASHKENT, Jun 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – Uzbekistan has exempted from customs duties and value-added tax (VAT), on the import of 676 types of technological equipment, of which analogies are not produced in the country, Uzbek Justice Ministry said yesterday. According to the Uzbek government resolution, to be eligible for import exemptions,…

One Dead, 17 Missing As Passenger Van Plunges Into River In NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Jun 8 (NNN-APP) – One person was killed and 17 others remained missing, after a passenger van plunged into a river, in Pakistan’s Upper Kohistan district of north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province yesterday, a rescue official said. The body of a woman has been recovered, Muhamad Hamza, an official of…

Death Toll Rises To 18 In India’s Maharashtra Fire

NEW DELHI, Jun 8 (NNN-PTI) – The death toll in the fire incident in India’s Maharashtra state rose to 18, confirmed a fire department official yesterday. The fire occurred in the state’s Pune city, at a factory manufacturing hand-sanitizers and water-purifiers. There were nearly 38 people inside the factory when…