Two Die In Factory Gas Leak In Northern India

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (NNN-PTI) – At least two people died and 15 others injured, after Ammonia gas leaked from a fertiliser manufacturing plant, in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, a local police official said today. The incident occurred late last night, at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO),…

Sydney Divided By Christmas COVID-19 Restrictions In Australia

SYDNEY, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A cluster of COVID-19 cases in the northern region of Sydney, saw the city split in two for Christmas, with those in the original outbreak area forced to remain in lockdown. The state of New South Wales (NSW), of which Sydney is the capital, recorded…

Philippines Bans Flights From Britain Over Fears Of New Virus Variant

MANILA, Dec 23 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines imposed a ban on flights from Britain, over fears of the transmission of a newly-detected virus variant that is more infectious, presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque, said today. The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country to suspend air travel from Britain, amid concerns…

Israel Heads For Snap Elections For Fourth Time In Two Years

JERUSALEM, Dec 23 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s Knesset (parliament) was dissolved last night, amid a political crisis between Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, triggering the fourth elections in two years. The Knesset was automatically dissolved, after the government failed to approve the 2020 budget, by midnight.…

Feature: Syrian Youths Unite, To Help COVID-19 Patients

DAMASCUS, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – In a small room in one of Damascus’ neighbourhoods, a handful of young men and women were energetically receiving phone calls and writing down information about COVID-19 patients in need of help. Under the names of Aqemha, or sterilise it, and Sammat Hakeem, Arabic for…

Senior UN Official Calls For Efforts To Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) – UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, called for efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. “The Iranian nuclear issue is an important non-proliferation subject, with consequences for regional and global peace. In achieving the JCPOA, concerned countries showed that their dialogue…

China’s Lunar Rover Travels About 600 Metres On Moon’s Far Side

BEIJING, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – China’s lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, has survived 719 Earth days, and travelled 600.55 metres, on the far side of the moon as of yesterday. Both the lander and the rover of the Chang’e-4 probe have ended their work for the 25th lunar day,…

Japan’s Ex-Farm Minister Yoshikawa Resigns As Lawmaker After Graft Scandal

TOKYO, Dec 23 (NNN-NHK) – Former farm minister, Takamori Yoshikawa, resigned as lawmaker in the lower house of parliament yesterday, following allegations that he received five million yen (48,000 U.S. dollars) from a lobbyist. The 70-year-old, citing health reasons, submitted his resignation to the House of Representatives Speaker, Tadamori Oshima,…

Indonesia Reports 6,347 New COVID-19 Cases, 172 New Deaths

JAKARTA, Dec 23 (NNN-ANTARA) – The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 6,347 in the past 24 hours to 678,125, with the death toll adding by 172 to 20,257, the Health Ministry said yesterday. According to the ministry, 5,838 more patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of…

India’s COVID-19 Tally Rises To 10,075,116, Death Toll Reaches 146,111

NEW DELHI, Dec 22 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 10,075,116 today, as 19,556 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the data, the death toll mounted to 146,111 with 301 new deaths. There are…