Philippines To Ban Travel From Six More Countries Over New COVID Variant

MANILA, Jan 7 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines will block foreign travellers from six more countries, starting tomorrow, following the detection of the new and more infectious virus variant in these places, presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque, said yesterday. Foreign travellers from Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil, and who have…

Singapore Reports 31 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Jan 7 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), reported 31 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 58,780. Among the new cases, 29 are imported cases and two are community cases. Yesterday, 24 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from…

Pakistan Welcomes Start Of Second Round Of Intra-Afghan Negotiations

ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (NNN-APP) – Pakistan welcomed commencement of the second round of intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Taliban and an Afghan government’s negotiation team started the second round of negotiations yesterday, after a three-week break. The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said that, the two teams…

Sydney, Melbourne Record No New COVID-19 Local Infections

SYDNEY, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Major Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne, recorded no locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, marking a positive improvement in the effort to control a recent outbreak. One case was diagnosed overnight, and will officially be included in tomorrow’s figures, which officials said, was connected…

Israeli Missile Attack Targets Military Sites South Of Syrian Capital: Report

DAMASCUS, Jan 7 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack, on the south of the capital, Damascus, last night. The sounds of Syrian anti-air weapons were heard in Damascus, the report said. A military source said, the Israeli attack was carried out from over the…

Powerful Quake Strikes Off Central Indonesia, No Tsunami Alert Issued

JAKARTA, Jan 7 (NNN-ANTARA) – A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2, jolted Gorontalo province, in central Indonesia, earlier today, but with no potential tsunami, said the meteorology and geophysics agency. The quake struck at 3:59 am Jakarta time today (2059 GMT), with the epicentre at 71 km Bonebelago…

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…