Iran Urges Foreign Forces’ Exit From Region

TEHRAN, Dec 29 (NNN-IRNA) – Top Iranian security official, yesterday urged foreign forces, to leave the region, semi-official FARS news agency reported. “Security in the region can only be achieved through the removal of external factors” which are against the stability of the region, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme…

Vietnam’s Industrial Production Up 3.36 Percent In 2020

HANOI, Dec 29 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam’s national index of industrial production rose 3.36 percent year on year in 2020, according to the country’s General Statistics Office today. The processing and manufacturing sector, the main driver of the surge, went up 5.82 percent, contributing 1.25 percentage points to the overall growth.…

Philippine Capital To Remain Under Partial Lockdown Until Jan 31

MANILA, Dec 29 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, retained the partial lockdown measures in the country’s capital until Jan 31, next year, as the country braces for a new virus variant, believed to spread more quickly. Duterte said that, Metro Manila will remain under the general community quarantine from…

Railway Project Under CPEC To Boost Pakistan’s Exports: PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (NNN-APP) – Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, said that, the railway project of Main Line-1 (ML-1) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), will boost the country’s exports. “With the implementation of the project, Pakistani seaports will be better connected with land routes and the country’s export goods…

Second Chinese Company Starts Expansion Work In Nepal’s Longest Highway

KATHMANDU, Dec 29 (NNN-NEPALNEWS) – China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group Co. Ltd, which bagged two contracts of the expansion work of Nepal’s longest East-West Highway, has started work on the project, officials of Nepal’s Department of Road said. China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group was recently awarded a contract…

New Zealand Detects Seven Cases Of COVID-19 In Recent Returnees

WELLINGTON, Dec 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand detected seven cases of COVID-19 in recent returnees, in managed isolation, in two days, since the Ministry of Health’s last media update on Dec 27. There are no new cases in the community. The new border cases came from the United States, India…

S. Korea Reports 1,046 More COVID-19 Cases, 58,725 In Total

SEOUL, Dec 29 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea reported 1,046 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number to 58,725. The daily caseload rose above 1,000 in three days, hovering above 100 for 52 days since Nov 8, due to small cluster infections…

Public Barred From Viewing Sydney’s New Year Eve Fireworks Amid COVID-19 Concern

SYDNEY, Dec 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The public are barred from viewing Sydney’s New Year eve fireworks from the harbour foreshore, and told to spend the holiday at home, amid concerns over COVID-19. Sydney recorded three new locally acquired cases today, taking a cluster in the city to 129 infections. A…

Indonesia’s Bed Occupancy Rate For COVID-19 Patients Reaches 64.10 Percent

JAKARTA, Dec 29 (NNN-ANTARA) – The average bed occupancy rate (BOR) for COVID-19 patients in Indonesia, reached 64.10 percent, above the WHO standard of 60 percent, amid fears of a spike in COVID-19 cases, after the Christmas and year-end holiday seasons, the Ministry of Health said. The ministry’s Director General…

Japan Suspends Entry Of Non-Resident Foreigners Amid Concerns Over New Virus Strain

TOKYO, Dec 29 (NNN-NHK) – Japan yesterday suspended entries of non-resident foreign nationals, arriving from majority of the world, in a bid to prevent the spread of the new, highly transmissible virus strain. The entry restrictions will last till the end of Jan, while Japanese citizens and foreign residents, entering…