Philippines’ Inflation Picks Up To 3.5 Percent In Dec, 2020

MANILA, Jan 5 (NNN-PNA) – Year-on-year inflation in the Philippines accelerated to 3.5 percent in Dec, 2020, up from 3.3 percent in Nov, 2020, driven by increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said today. “This is the highest inflation recorded since Mar, 2019,” PSA head,…

Sydney Battles COVID-19 Outbreak With Four New Locally Acquired Cases

SYDNEY, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Sydney reported four new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, with concerns over potential spread to rural centres. Health officials confirmed the four cases were linked to an existing cluster, involving a liquor store in western Sydney suburb of Berala, which reached 15 cases. However,…

Colombo, Hambantota Ports To Attract Investments To Sri Lanka: Central Bank Governor

COLOMBO, Jan 5 (NNN-SLNEWS) – The Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port, will attract foreign investments to Sri Lanka and boost growth in 2021, the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said. Delivering a virtual address titled: Road Map 2021, CBSL Governor, W.D. Lakshman said, Sri…

U.S. Special Envoy Visits Pakistan Ahead Of Afghan Negotiations

ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (NNN-APP) – U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa yesterday and discussed the Afghan peace process, the military said. The meeting came, ahead of the resumption of intra-Afghan negotiations in Qatar, that will focus on reduction of…

Iran Says 20-Percent Enriched Uranium Is Now Available At Fordow Facility

TEHRAN, Jan 5 (NNN-IRNA) – The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), announced late yesterday that, the 20-percent enriched uranium has started to be available at its Fordow facility. The 20-percent enrichment started at the Fordow facility and has reached the stability level, said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of AEOI, on…

Saudi Arabia, Qatar To Reopen Land, Air, Sea Borders: Kuwaiti FM

KUWAIT, Jan 5 (NNN-KUNA) – Saudi Arabia and Qatar reopened land, air and sea borders from yesterday evening, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, said. “The Kuwaiti emir made a phone call with Qatari emir and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, who both confirmed their intention, to start a…

Singapore Reports 24 Imported COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Jan 5 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), reported 24 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 58,721. All of the new cases are imported cases. Yesterday, 10 more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 58,497…

Talks Between Protesting Farmers, Indian Gov’t Remain Inconclusive

NEW DELHI, Jan 5 (NNN-PTI) – The seventh round of talks between protesting farmers and the government ended inconclusively yesterday, as the farmer leaders insisted on the repeal of the three contentious farm laws, a demand rejected by the ministers. However, both sides agreed to meet again on Friday, for…

68,000 Overseas Sri Lankans Await Repatriation Amidst COVID-19: Ministry

COLOMBO, Jan 4 (NNN-SLNEWS) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said, an estimated 68,000 Sri Lankans are awaiting repatriation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foreign Ministry said, it has been carrying out the task of repatriation for almost a year and to date 60,470 Sri Lankans, including pilgrims, students, officials…

Japanese PM Determined To Host Tokyo Olympics Amid COVID-19 Worries

TOKYO, Jan 4 (NNN-NHK) – Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, said here today that, he is determined to host the Tokyo Olympic Games, although the COVID-19 pandemic situation is worsening in his country. Suga told a press conference that, he will prepare for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games with…