Thai Expert Says COVID-19 Returnees From Myanmar Highly Infectious

BANGKOK, Dec 13 (NNN-TNA) – A Thai health expert warned that COVID-19-infected returnees from Myanmar’s Tachilek township, are highly infectious by carrying the COVID-19 G strain. The infected returnees carried the G strain of the virus, which is easily transmitted and causes more severe symptoms than other strains, said Opas…

Myanmar Aims To Export Two Million Tonnes Of Rice In 2020-21

YANGON, Dec 13 (NNN-MNA) – The Myanmar government aims to achieve the export target of two million tonnes of rice and broken rice in fiscal year (FY) 2020-2021, beginning Oct, an official from the Ministry of Commerce said yesterday. “Rice export depends on domestic market price and export demand. Myanmar…

Japan’s Daily COVID-19 Cases Top 3,000-Mark

TOKYO, Dec 13 (NNN-XINHUA) – Japan logged a record of 3,037 daily COVID-19 cases yesterday, surpassing 3,000 for the first time, as Tokyo and several other prefectures marked records in a single day. The total number of infections in Japan amounted to 46,745. In Tokyo, 621 cases of new infections…

Nigerian Governor Closes All Boarding Schools After Gunmen Attack

LAGOS, Dec 13 (NNN-IRIN) – A governor of Nigeria’s restive north-western state of Katsina, ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in the state. Aminu Masari, the governor of Katsina State gave the directive, following the alleged abduction of some students of the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), which…

Iran Closely Confronting U.S. Naval Forces In Gulf Waters: Commander

TEHRAN, Dec 12 (NNN-TASNIM) – Commander of the naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said, Iran is closely confronting the United States in the Gulf. “Today (yesterday), we are chest to chest with the American forces in regional waters, and if the enemy tries to disrupt the…

Turkey Rejects EU’s Decision To Expand Sanctions

ANKARA, Dec 12 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey yesterday rejected a declaration of the European Union (EU) summit, where the European leaders agreed to extend sanctions against Ankara, over the dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean. “We reject the biased and illegal approach that had to be adopted with the EU Council Conclusions…

Iraq Reports 1,347 New COVID-19 Cases, Lowest Since Mid-June

BAGHDAD, Dec 12 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Health Ministry reported 1,347 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 572,600. It is the lowest daily increase in the country since mid-June, as the ministry recorded single-day cases between 2,000 and 5,000 during the period. The ministry also reported 23…

Roundup: Indonesia’s Dry Dams To Reduce Floods In Capital Jakarta

by Bambang Purwanto JAKARTA, Dec 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, was expected to overcome its lingering problem of flooding, as two dry dams are now under construction, in its outskirt areas of Ciawi and Sukamahi in Bogor town, West Java province. Almost every rainy season, Jakarta is flooded,…

Hoteliers Urge Thailand’s Tourism Authority To Boost Domestic Tourism

BANGKOK, Dec 12 (NNN-TNA) – Local hoteliers called on the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), to take measures to boost domestic tourism, as imported COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Southeast Asian country, raising widespread concerns about the virus’ spread. The hotel runners in the northern tourism provinces of…

Five, Including Three Children Killed In Household Fire In S. Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Five members of a family were killed in a fire, that broke out in their home in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, local police said yesterday. The fire broke out on Thursday night, engulfing the house, located in Police District 5 of Kandahar city, the provincial…