Baghdad Int’l Book Fair Held In Iraq Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

BAGHDAD, Dec 14 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, hosts the 47th session of the Baghdad International Book Fair with strict measures, to protect visitors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The 11-day exhibition kicked off on Dec 9, with participation of more than 300 publishers from 21 countries, bringing around one…

Five Million Yemenis “One Step Away From Famine” In 2021: UN

ADEN, Dec 14 (NNN-SABA) – The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), yesterday warned that five million Yemenis “will likely be living just one step away from famine in the upcoming year.” The UN organisation said, in a brief statement, posted on its official Twitter account that, more than half…

Azerbaijan, Armenia Accuse Each Other Of Breaching Ceasefire

BAKU, Dec 14 (NNN-ASNA) – Azerbaijan and Armenia yesterday reported casualties in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, while accusing each other of violating an established ceasefire. The blame came a month after the two sides called a truce in their latest round of armed-conflict since Sept. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry and State…

Palestine Welcomes UN Report On Israeli Demolition Of Palestinian Homes

RAMALLAH, Dec 13 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine welcomed a fresh report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes. On the OCHA report, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said, Israel’s escalation of seizing and demolishing Palestinian homes constitutes “a crime against humanity that…

10 Killed, Two Injured In Nigeria Road Accident

LAGOS, Dec 13 (NNN-IRIN) – At least 10 people were killed early yesterday morning, after a car rammed into a stationary truck in Jigawa, a state in Nigeria’s north-west region, local police said. Two other people survived, but suffered injuries, said Abdu Jinjiri, the state police spokesperson, in a statement.…

Iran Plans To Launch Pilot Air Taxi Lines

TEHRAN, Dec 13 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian Roads and Urban Development Ministry, plans to launch four pilot air taxi lines, a member of the General Aviation Committee of the Iran Airports Company (IAC) announced, yesterday. The air taxis will operate between Tehran Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, by Jan 20, 2021,…

Britain’s Tourism Agency Predicts First Signs Of Recovery As Pandemic Impact Eases

LONDON, Dec 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Britain’s official tourism agency predicted the first signs of a slow recovery in 2021 for overseas visits to the UK. VisitBritain forecasted 16.9 million inbound visits for 2021, up 73 percent from 2020. But it would be less than half of the 40.9 million visits…

Brazil’s COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 181,000

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 13 (NNN-CMA) – Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll rose to 181,123 yesterday, after 686 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, the Brazilian Ministry of Health said. According to the ministry, tests also detected 43,900 new cases in the past day, raising the national count…

India’s COVID-19 Tally Reaches 9,857,029 With 30,254 New Cases

NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally reached 9,857,029 today, as 30,254 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, the latest data from the federal health ministry, showed. According to the data, the death toll mounted to 143,019 as 391 COVID-19 patients died since Saturday. Delhi…

Road Mishap Claims Seven Lives In Western India

NEW DELHI, Dec 13 (NNN-PTI) – At least seven people died and three others seriously injured, in a collision between a passengers’ vehicle and a truck, in India’s western state of Rajasthan last night, confirmed a local police officer today. The incident took place in the Nikumbh police station area,…