Israel’s Annual Budget Deficit Hits Record 50.6 Billion USD

JERUSALEM, Feb 8 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s annual budget deficit reached a record of 166.4 billion new shekels (about 50.6 billion U.S. dollars), said a report published by the Israeli Ministry of Finance yesterday. The deficit figure, between Feb, 2020 and Jan, 2021, accounts for 12.1 percent of Israel’s GDP, much…

U.N. Envoy Griffiths In Iran To Discuss Yemen Crisis

TEHRAN, Feb 8 (NNN-IRNA) – Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs, Ali-Asghar Khaji, and the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, held talks in Tehran yesterday, it was officially reported. During the meeting, they discussed the crisis in Yemen. Khaji referred to Yemen’s…

Vietnam’s Automobile Import Up 22.5 Percent In Jan

HANOI, Feb 8 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam spent 551 million U.S. dollars on importing completely-built automobiles and components for assembly in Jan, posting a year-on-year increase of 22.5 percent. Specifically, the country imported around 6,000 completely-built automobiles worth 191 million U.S. dollars, up 32.8 percent in volume and 58.6 percent in…

Update: 12 Rescued, At Least 30 Still Trapped In Tunnel In Glacier-Hit North India

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (NNN-PTI) – Strenuous efforts are underway to rescue around 35 to 40 workers, reportedly stuck inside a tunnel, in India’s northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, which was hit by a glacier burst yesterday, confirmed an official at the local disaster management office. The tunnel, located near…

Indonesia Reports 10,827 New COVID-19 Cases, 163 New Deaths

JAKARTA, Feb 8 (NNN-ANTARA) – The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 10,827 within one day to 1,157,837, with the death toll adding by 163 to 31,556, the Health Ministry said yesterday. According to the ministry, 10,806 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients…

Bangladesh’s COVID-19 Cases Rise To 538,062, Death Toll Reaches 8,205

DHAKA, Feb 8 (NNN-BSS) – Bangladesh reported 292 new cases of COVID-19, and 15 new deaths yesterday, bringing its total tally to 538,062, with 8,205 deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. The official data showed that, 12,404 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.…

COVID-19 Pandemic Teaches World One Can’t Be Safe If Others Are At Risk: Indian President

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (NNN-PTI) – Indian President, Ram Nath Kovind, said, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world that, one cannot be safe if others are at risk. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world that, one cannot be safe if others are at risk,” President Ram Nath…

5.7-Magnitude Quake Hits 121 Km SE Of Pondaguitan, Philippines

MANILA, Feb 8 (NNN-PNA) – An off-shore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7, jolted Davao Oriental, 121 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines, at 00:00:43 GMT on Monday (today), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PIVS), said. The institute said, the quake, which struck at 8:00 a.m. local time,…

China-Donated Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive In Laos

VIENTIANE, Feb 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Lao capital, Vientiane, early today. The YTO Express cargo plane, carrying the Chinese-made vaccines, arrived at Wattay International Airport, at around 1:00 a.m. local time. Lao Minister of Health, Bounkong Syhavong, and Chinese Ambassador to…

Thousands Of People Hold Peaceful Protest In Downtown Yangon

YANGON, Feb 8 (NNN-MNA) – Thousands of people held a peaceful protest in downtown Yangon, yesterday, demanding the release of State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, among others. Police with riot shields blocked main roads leading to the city centre, according to witnesses. All telecom operators had resumed their internet…