Trade Between ASEAN, Shanghai Remains Strong Amid COVID-19

SHANGHAI, Dec 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – Trade between Shanghai and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained strong this year, despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Shanghai Customs showed. Shanghai imported goods worth more than 339.3 billion yuan (about 51.9 billion U.S. dollars) from ASEAN, in the…

Japan’s Ex-PM Abe Apologises In Parliament Over Funding Misstatements

TOKYO, Dec 26 (NNN-NHK) – Former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, offered his apologies in the lower house of parliament for false statements previously made regarding an allegation that a group managing his political funds partially covered the costs of dinner receptions for supporters. Sources close to the matter said…

Iraqi Shiite Leader Warns Iran, U.S. Not To Involve Iraq In Their Conflict

BAGHDAD, Dec 26 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi prominent Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, warned Iran and the United States not to involve Iraq in their conflict. “Iraq has become a victim to the U.S.-Iranian conflict, and has been greatly affected, as if it is an arena for their conflicts,” al-Sadr said. “Therefore,…

Singapore Reports 14 Imported COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Dec 26 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 14 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 58,509. All of the new cases are imported cases. Yesterday, 20 more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 58,352…

Nepali PM Oli Reshuffles Cabinet

KATHMANDU, Dec 26 (NNN-NEPALNEWS) – Five days after dissolving the House of Representatives, Nepali Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, named seven new ministers that were vacant and reshuffled his cabinet. Among the newly inducted ministers, six are from the Dahal-Nepal faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, who left the…

Russia’s COVID-19 Cases Up 29,018 To 2,992,706

MOSCOW, Dec 26 (NNN-TASS) – Russia registered 29,018 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 2,992,706, the country’s COVID-19 response centre said in a statement. It said that 563 new deaths were reported, taking the nationwide count to 53,659. According to the statement, 2,398,254 people…

Iran Denies Spread Of New COVID-19 Strain

TEHRAN, Dec 26 (NNN-IRNA) – No evidence has been found that the new COVID-19 variant has spread into Iranian territory, Minoo Mohraz, a leading medical expert in Iran’s National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus, said yesterday. “So far, no scientific or clinical evidence has been obtained for the…

Turkish President Announces Measures To Curb Pandemic During New Year Celebrations

ISTANBUL, Dec 26 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said, Turkey is taking all necessary measures for the New Year celebrations, to prevent large gatherings, to curb the pandemic. Speaking to reporters after the Friday prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan said, security forces would not tolerate New Year’s Eve parties…

Indian PM Blames Opposition For Misusing Farmers’ Protest, Says Willing To Talk To All On Farm Laws

NEW DELHI, Dec 26 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched a scathing attack on the opposition over farmers’ protest. Modi blamed the opposition of “lying, misleading, shedding crocodile tears, destroying economies, doing event management and not allowing dialogue to take place between the government and farmers, for the…

India’s COVID-19 Tally Rises To 10,123,778

NEW DELHI, Dec 24 (NNN-PTI) – India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 10,123,778 today, as 24,712 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the data, the death toll mounted to 146,756, with 312 more new deaths. There are…