Sri Lanka Expresses Interest In Accessing COVID-19 Vaccines From India

COLOMBO, Jan 7 (NNN-SLNEWS) – India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, who is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, said that, Sri Lanka expressed interest in accessing COVID-19 vaccines from India. In discussion with Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Jaishankar said, his country agreed to give priority to…

Roundup: Japan’s New COVID-19 Cases Top 6,000-Mark For First Time Amid Prolonged Resurgence

TOKYO, Jan 7 (NNN-NHK) – Japan yesterday reported 6,001 new daily COVID-19 cases, marking the first time the number has topped the 6,000-mark and booking the highest number of daily infections on record, since the outbreak of the pandemic here. The latest surge in nationwide cases far eclipses the previous…

Nigerian President Meets Chinese FM On Bilateral Ties

ABUJA, Jan 6 (NNN-IRIN) – Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, met with visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi yesterday, with both sides pledging to promote bilateral cooperation on all fronts. Buhari asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings to Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Buhari said, over the past…

Zambia’s Central Bank Starts Gold Purchase For International Reserves

LUSAKA, Jan 6 (NNN-ZANIS) – Zambia’s central bank, yesterday said, it commenced the accumulation of gold, as part of the official international reserve assets. This follows the purchase of 47 kilograms of gold, from Zambia Gold Company Limited, a state-firm, engaged in the mining of gold in the country. The…

Iraqi PM Says Only Hundreds Of U.S. Troops To Remain In Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 6 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi said, only hundreds of U.S. troops would remain in Iraq, after the withdrawal of half of them from the country. Al-Kadhimi said, during a speech on the eve of the centenary of the Iraqi Army Day, the U.S. troops’ withdrawal…

Indonesia Deploys 83,566 Police, Army Personnel To Escort COVID-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA, Jan 6 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia deployed 83,566 police and army personnel, to escort the COVID-19 vaccine, since its arrival at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, for delivery to the state vaccine manufacturing company, Biofarma, in West Java and distribution to various regions, a police officer said. Police spokesman, Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono…

UN Expert Welcomes British Court’s Refusal To Extradite Assange

GENEVA, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, welcomed a British court’s refusal to extradite Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange to the United States, on the ground that he would be exposed to “oppressive” conditions. “In the U.S., Assange would be exposed to conditions of detention,…

Brazil Sees Over 1,000 COVID-19 Deaths In 24 Hours

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 6 (NNN-CMA) – Brazil saw 1,171 more deaths from COVID-19, in 24 hours, raising the total death toll to 197,732, the Ministry of Health, said. According to the ministry, tests detected 56,648 new cases in the same period, bringing the accumulated caseload to 7,810,400, since the…

DPRK’s Eighth Party Congress Opens With Top Leader’s Address

PYONGYANG, Jan 6 (NNN-KCNA) – The eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), opened here with top DPRK leader, Kim Jong Un, delivering an opening address, reported official media today. The congress was convened, in order to review the work of…

Saudi FM Hails “New Chapter” In Gulf As Crisis With Qatar Ends

RIYADH, Jan 6 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, yesterday, hailed end of the Gulf crisis with Qatar, as a “new chapter” for Gulf’s security and stability. The Al-Ula Declaration, signed at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, held in the Saudi city, Al-Ula, ended the…