Powerful 6.0-Magnitude Quake Hits 135 Km SSW Of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea

KOKOPO, Papua New Guinea, Aug 26 (NNN-SPN) – An earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0, jolted 135 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, at 19:08:53 GMT on Tuesday (last night), the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicentre, with a depth of 24.81 km, was initially determined to be at…

ASEAN Economic Ministers Discuss Recovery From COVID-19 Pandemic

HANOI, Aug 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – Economic ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), yesterday discussed the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts. At the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting held online, they exchanged views on economic impacts of COVID-19,…

U.S. Officials’ Mideast Tours Aim To Use Arab Division To Boost Israeli Role: Palestinian Official

RAMALLAH, Aug 25 (NNN-WAFA) – A senior Palestinian official, said that, the visits of U.S. officials to the Middle East, aim at using the Arab division to boost the role of Israel in the region. The United States and Israel are trying to “implement their plans and deals at this…

Hamas Receives Russia’s Invitation For Palestinian Unity Meeting In Moscow

GAZA, Aug 25 (NNN-WAFA) – The Islamic Hamas movement, ruler of the Gaza Strip, announced that, it received an invitation from Russia, to join a meeting between Palestinian factions, on ending their internal division. The announcement was made by Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ politburo, in a press statement…

Iran Says UAE Will Not Be More Secure Through Deal With Israel

TEHRAN, Aug 25 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s foreign minister, said that, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will not become more secure, through a recent normalisation deal with Israel, Press TV reported. “The UAE turned to Israel to buy security, while Israel is unable to keep even itself secure,” Mohammad Javad Zarif…

Yemen’s Rebel-Run Court Sentences 16 Men To Death For “Spying For Saudi Arabia”

SANAA, Aug 25 (NNN-SABA) – A court, controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, sentenced 16 men to death, for allegedly spying for Saudi Arabia, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The television did not identify the defendants, but said that, they are Yemenis and…

Roundup: COVID-19 Cases In Iran Exceed 360,000 As Iraq Sees Highest 3,980 Daily New Recoveries

CAIRO, Aug 25 (NNN-MENA) – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 360,000 in Iran. Meanwhile, Iraq reported the highest 3,980 daily new recoveries from the virus during the day. Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East region, reported 2,245 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to…

Israel Reports 104,472 COVID-19 Cases, 847 Deaths

JERUSALEM, Aug 25 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s Ministry of Health reported 1,809 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (yesterday), bringing the total to 104,472. The number of death cases reached 847, with 13 new deaths, while the number of patients in serious condition rose from 398 to 416, out of 865 patients…

Myanmar Military Suspends Operation Against Armed Groups For One More Month

YANGON, Aug 25 (NNN-MNA) – The Myanmar military, on Monday announced to extend the suspension period of military operation against armed groups for one more month, said the Commander-in-Chief’s Office of the Defence Services. The non-operation period was previously set to expire on Aug 31 this year, but it will…

Sydney Aims To Wipe Out Virus With Testing Blitz

SYDNEY, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s largest city, Sydney, launched a COVID-19 testing blitz this week, in an attempt to “mop up” lingering virus infections, primarily in the city’s western suburbs. New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, today, urged anyone in that area with symptoms to get tested, after a…