Iran Reports Positive GDP Growth In First Half Of Iranian Year

TEHRAN, Dec 14 (NNN-TASNIM) – The growth rate of Iran’s GDP exceeded one point, in the first half of the current Iranian year starting Mar 20, the head of Iran’s central bank announced yesterday. “As I had already announced, according to the course of industrial and agricultural production indices, as…

Iraqi Forces Kill 42 Daesh Militants In Northern Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec 14 (NNN-NINA) – Commando forces of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), carried out an operation in Nineveh Province and killed 42 Daesh militants, the Iraqi military said yesterday. Acting on intelligence reports, the CTS forces, backed by Iraqi and international coalition aircraft, pushed into Ayn al-Jahash, in the…

Explosion Reportedly Rocks Ship Off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

DUBAI, Dec 14 (NNN-SPA) – An explosion rocked a ship, off Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah, on the Red Sea, according to reports here today. Dryad Global, a maritime intelligence firm, reported on its website that, the explosion occurred on an oil tanker, at 2211 GMT yesterday. “Reporting indicates…

S. Korea’s Automotive Export Posts Double-Digit Fall In Nov

SEOUL, Dec 14 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s automotive export posted a double-digit fall last month, as the COVID-19 resurgence weakened demand from Europe and the Middle East, a government report showed today. The number of locally-made cars shipped overseas was 190,657 in Nov, down 10.2 percent from a year earlier,…

New Zealand Sees More Departures Than Arrivals Since March Lockdown

WELLINGTON, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The number of people departing New Zealand exceeded the number of arrivals every month, since the introduction of full border restrictions in mid-March 2020, New Zealand’s statistics department, Stats NZ, said today. Arrivals and departures include all people crossing the border, either for short-term trips…

25 Injured In Blast In Pakistan’s Garrison City, Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (NNN-APP) – A blast hit a market area in downtown Pakistan’s garrison city of Rawalpindi, neighbouring the country’s capital, Islamabad, yesterday, leaving at least 25 people injured, rescue officials and police said. Personnel of a rescue team told media that they shifted 22 injured to a local…

Gov’t Forces Kill Two Militants In Indian-Controlled Kashmir Gunfight

SRINAGAR, Dec 14 (NNN-PTI) – Two militants were killed yesterday, in a fierce gunfight with government forces, in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, a police official said. The gunfight between the two sides broke out at the Poshana area, in frontier Poonch district, about 170 km south of Srinagar city, the summer…

Flood Warnings Issued As Wild Weather Pummels E. Australian Coastline

SYDNEY, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A severe weather system, lashing parts of Australia’s east coast, prompted over 850 calls for help across the weekend, as heavy rain and winds caused flooding and other damage. Warning remained in place today, for north New South Wales (NSW) state and south-east Queensland state.…

Jordan Declares Its First Marine Reserve In Red Sea

AMMAN, Dec 14 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan, yesterday announced its first marine reserve in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba, with the object of preserving coral reefs and marine ecosystems, as well as, promoting sustainable development. The cabinet recently approved the declaration of the reserve, which is also hoped to…

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…