Lebanon Registers 4,176 New COVID-19 Cases, 276,587 In Total

BEIRUT, Jan 24 (NNN-NNA) – The Lebanese Health Ministry registered yesterday, 4,176 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 276,587. Meanwhile, the death toll increased by 52 to 2,270. Firas Abiad, director general of Rafic Hariri University Hospital, said, the spread of the COVID-19 variants in…

Five Hashd Shaabi Members Killed In Daesh Attack In Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 24 (NNN-NINA) – Five paramilitary Hashd Shaabi members were killed and four others injured yesterday, in an attack by militants of extremist Daesh group, in Salahuddin Province, north of Iraq’s capital Baghdad, a provincial police source said. The five Hashd Shaabi members killed, included the Brigade’s commander, Abu…

Iranian FM To Start Five-Nation Tour Over Bilateral, Regional Issues

TEHRAN, Jan 24 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, will embark on a five-nation tour, for talks on bilateral, as well as, regional issues, Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, announced yesterday. Zarif’s tour will start tomorrow (Monday), and will cover Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey, said Khatibzadeh,…

Sri Lanka To Receive First Batch Of Oxford-Astrazeneca Vaccines On Jan 27

COLOMBO, Jan 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said that, the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in India, was expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on Jan 27. Sri Lanka will be receiving 600,000 vials of doses with the first vaccine consignment. The president, speaking at…

Japan And IOC Deny Tokyo Olympic Cancellation Report

GENEVA, Jan 23 (NNN-NHK) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japan, reiterated their commitment to hosting the Tokyo Olympics this year, and denied a report of a possible cancellation. “Some news reports circulating today are claiming that Japan privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled,…

Iraq Reports 685 New COVID-19 Cases, 612,092 In Total

BAGHDAD, Jan 23 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 685 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 612,092. It also reported seven new deaths, raising the death toll to 12,984, and 1,567 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 578,292. A total of 5,305,002 tests…

Israel Registers 6,735 New COVID-19 Cases, 589,028 In Total

JERUSALEM, Jan 23 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s Ministry of Health reported 6,735 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the tally in the country to 589,028. The death toll reached 4,266, after 34 new fatalities were added, while the number of patients in serious condition increased from 1,156 to 1,182, out of 1,822…

Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea

FINSHAFEN, Papua New Guinea, Jan 23 (NNN-PNG NEWS) – A 5.7 magnitude earthquake was registered today, in the eastern part of Papua New Guinea, the US Geological Survey said. The tremor was recorded at 03:19 GMT, 36 kilometres (over 22 miles) north-west of the town of Finschhafen. The epicentre of…

Iran Urges U.S. To “Unconditionally” Remove Sanctions As 1st Step To Revive Nuke Deal

TEHRAN, Jan 23 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, urged U.S. new administration, to “unconditionally” remove sanctions as the first step to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), stressing the necessity to limit the deal to nuclear issues. “U.S. Biden administration should begin by unconditionally removing,…

China’s Sanctions Against Relevant U.S. Individuals Justified, Necessary: Spokesperson

BEIJING, Jan 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – China’s decision to impose sanctions on relevant U.S. individuals was entirely justified and necessary, and fully demonstrated Chinese government’s firm resolution to safeguard the national interests, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, said yesterday. Hua made the remarks at a daily news briefing, in response to…