RCEP Countries Plan To Hold Meeting In Oct, Aimed At Deal-Signing Within This Year

HANOI, Aug 31 (NNN-XINHUA) – Member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), are expected to hold a meeting in Oct, on preparation work for the deal’s signing within this year, a Vietnamese official said Sunday. Speaking at a press conference of the just concluded 52nd Association of Southeast…

Eight Killed As Heavy Rains Trigger Flood-Like Situation In India’s Madhya Pradesh

NEW DELHI, Aug 31 (NNN-PTI) – At least eight people were killed after heavy rains triggered flood-like situation in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh, officials said Sunday. Authorities have deployed disaster response force personnel, army and Indian Air Force (IAF) teams to carry out rescue efforts. So far, Authorities…

Airstrikes Smash Taliban Explosive Cache, Court House In N. Afghanistan

SARI PUL, Afghanistan, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A Taliban cache and a courthouse were destroyed by airstrikes, in Afghanistan’s northern Sari Pul province, the military said on Sunday. “Following a heavy bombing by the Afghan airforce, a depot of Taliban militants, packed with explosives, ammunition and arms were destroyed, in…

Pakistan To Establish Three “Marble Cities” To Attract Investors

ISLAMABAD, Aug 31 (NNN-APP) – Minister for Industries of Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province, Muhammad Khan Toor Utmankhail, said, the provincial government named three major districts as “marble cities” to attract foreign and local investments in the mining sector. Dedicated markets would be established at the marble cities, including Loralai, Khuzdar…

Syria Forms New Gov’t, Leaving Top Ministers Unchanged

DAMASCUS, Aug 31 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, ordered the formation of a new government on Sunday, keeping top ministers unchanged. The top unchanged ministers include Minister of Defence, Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem, and Interior Minister, Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun. The Syrian cabinet is made up of…

Kuwait Reports 646 New COVID-19 Cases, 84,224 In Total

KUWAIT, Aug 30 (NNN-KUNA) – Kuwait on Saturday, reported 646 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 84,224, and the death toll to 528, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Currently, 7,703 patients are receiving treatment, including 92 in ICU, according to the…

48 Syrian Soldiers Killed In One-Week Battle With Daesh: Watchdog

DAMASCUS, Aug 30 (NNN-SANA) – A total of 48 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed over the past week, during battle with the Daesh group in eastern Syria, a war monitor said. The Daesh militants carried out attacks, bombings and shelling against government forces in the desert region…

Latest Syrian Constitutional Talks End After “Challenging Week”

GENEVA, Aug 30 (NNN-SANA) – The latest session of the United Nations-mediated Syrian constitutional talks concluded in Geneva on Saturday afternoon, without announcing the date for the next meeting, as expected. “We just concluded the session, after what I would call a challenging week,” UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir…

Rocket Lands In Green Zone In Iraq’s Capital

BAGHDAD, Aug 30 (NNN-NINA) – A Katyusha rocket on Saturday evening, landed inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, in Iraq’s capital Baghdad, causing no human casualties, the Iraqi military said. The rocket was fired from an area near the Qanat al-Jaish waterway, or Army Canal, in eastern Baghdad, and landed…

Over 200 Dead From COVID-19 In Nepal As Fatality Doubles In Two Weeks

KATHMANDU, Aug 30 (NNN-NEPALNEWS) – Nepal recorded over 200 deaths from COVID-19, as the fatality from the pandemic doubled in just two weeks, Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population said. Even though the fatality rate was low compared to infections in the earlier months, there has been a surge in…