S.Korea Reports 950 More COVID-19 Cases, 41,736 In Total

SEOUL, Dec 12 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea reported 950 more cases of COVID-19 as of 0:00 a.m. today local time, compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 41,736. The daily caseload marked an all-time daily high, surpassing the previous high of 909 tallied on Feb…

Large Haul Of Narcotics Seized In Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (NNN-APP) – Pakistani authorities seized a large haul of narcotics in the Arabian Sea, off the country’s shores yesterday, officials said. The operation was jointly conducted by the Pakistan Navy and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), a statement issued by the directorate of public relations of Pakistan Navy…

New Zealand, Cook Islands announce quarantine-free travel bubble

WELLINGTON, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown, announced today, “Arrangement to Facilitate Quarantine-Free Travel between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.” Both prime ministers and their cabinets, instructed officials to continue working together, to put in…

Oman Eases COVID-19 Restrictions For Inbound Tourists

MUSCAT, Dec 12 (NNN-ONA) – Tourists travelling to Oman are now exempted from self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing, before arriving in the Sultanate, it was reported yesterday. “Based on the Health Ministry instructions, it has become possible to exempt tourists from quarantine and PCR tests, before coming to the country, provided…

Turkey-Backed Rebels Clash With Kurdish Fighters In N Syria

DAMASCUS, Dec 12 (NNN-SANA) – Turkey-backed rebels clashed with Kurdish fighters, in the northern province of Raqqa yesterday, in the latest escalation between both sides in that part of the country. The clashes erupted when Turkey-backed rebels attempted to infiltrate positions of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in the…

Singapore Reports One Locally Transmitted COVID-19 Case, Seven Imported Cases

SINGAPORE, Dec 12 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore reported one locally transmitted case of COVID-19 and seven imported cases, bringing the total cases to 58,305. According to the press release from the Ministry of Health, the new local case lives in a dormitory and was detected through proactive surveillance. All his close…

Palestinian Protesters Clash With Israeli Soldiers On Expansion Of Jewish Settlements

RAMALLAH, Dec 12 (NNN-WAFA) – Israeli forces on Thursday, repressed a protest by Palestinians against the expansion of settlements for Jewish settlers in Salfit city, in the centre of the West Bank. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at the demonstrators, to scatter the mobilisation, and as a…

Egypt Receives 1st Batch Of Chinese Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine

CAIRO, Dec 12 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt received the first batch of Chinese anti-COVID-19 vaccine late on Thursday, to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a historic day to receive the first air shipments of the Chinese anti-COVID-19 vaccine,” said Egyptian Minister of Health, Hala Zayed, in a press conference…

Maritime Rescue Drill Held In South China Sea

HAIKOU, Dec 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – A comprehensive maritime search and rescue drill was held yesterday, in the sea, off Haikou, capital of south China’s Hainan province. The drill, which saw the participation of eight rescue vessels and a rescue helicopter, is the largest of its kind in China’s territorial waters…

Japan’s Cabinet Approves 3.7 Billion USD In Emergency Spending On COVID-19

TOKYO, Dec 12 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s cabinet approved 3.7 billion U.S. dollars, in emergency spending in reserve funds, to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Using an allocation of 311.93 billion yen (2.99 billion U.S. dollars), the Japanese government will, controversially, extend the “Go To Travel” campaign, which was set to…