Fijian Gov’t To Roll Out Cash-For-Work Programme To Assist 130,000 Unemployed Fijians

SUVA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A Cash-for-Work programme will be piloted in the western side of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, to assist those working in informal sector and being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Reserve Bank of Fiji, 130,000 Fijians are employed in Fiji’s informal sector,…

Singapore Reports 54 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Aug 31 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), reported 54 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 56,771. Of the new cases, seven are imported cases, eight are community cases and the rest are linked with the dormitories of foreign workers.…

Japan Mulls Picking New Prime Minister On Sept 17

TOKYO, Aug 31 (NNN-NHK) – Japan is considering to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session on Sept 17, to pick the country’s new prime minister, to succeed Shinzo Abe, local media reported on Sunday. According to public media, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is expected to decide when and how,…

New Zealand Stock Exchange Website Collapses On Fifth Day

WELLINGTON, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) website, collapsed this morning, as a result of cyber attack. The NZX said in a statement early this morning that, the stock markets were to open on Monday morning under new arrangements. Shortly after 10:00 a.m. today, NZX’s main website…

Dozens Of Villages Inundated Amid Monsoon-Triggered Flash Floods In Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 31 (NNN-PPI) – At least 30 villages were inundated on Sunday, in Jhang district of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, amid fears of monsoon-triggered flash floods, as water level significantly increased in rivers in the country, local media and officials said. According to local Urdu TV channel, Dunya News,…

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…