Mahinda Rajapaksa Sworn In As Sri Lanka’s New PM

COLOMBO, Aug 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – Leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, Mahinda Rajapaksa, took his oath as the nation’s new prime minister yesterday, after his party secured a landslide victory in the recently concluded parliamentary election. Rajapaksa took oaths during a grand ceremony at Kelaniya Temple, a Buddhist temple…

Trump’s Orders To Extend Certain COVID-19 Relief Draw Criticism From Democrats

WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) – U.S. President, Donald Trump’s orders to extend certain COVID-19 economic relief, sparked sharp criticism from Democrats, who might challenge the legality of the president’s executive action. As White House officials and Democratic lawmakers remain deadlocked over the new relief bill, Trump signed four actions on…

Palestine To Take Issue Of Israeli Field Executions Against Palestinians To ICC

RAMALLAH, Aug 9 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine said on Saturday that, it had taken the issue of Israeli field executions against Palestinians, to the International Criminal Court (ICC), after a 23-year-old Palestinian woman was shot and killed, inside her home, in the West Bank on Friday. The international community should consider…

India’s COVID-19 Cases Surpass 2.1 Million, Deaths Rise To 43,379

NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (NNN-PTI) – India’s total COVID-19 tally rose to 2,153,010, and the number of deaths surged to 43,379, according to the latest data issued by the federal health ministry today. An increase of 64,399 new cases and 861 new deaths were recorded during the past 24 hours,…

Japan Reports 1,565 New COVID-19 Cases As Summer Holiday Starts

TOKYO, Aug 9 (NNN-NHK) – Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan increased by 1,565, to reach 47,464, as of last night, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities, with prefectural governors discouraging people to visit their hometowns during the Bon Festival. The figure excludes the 712…

Brunei, Chinese Mainland Resume Direct Flights After COVID-19 Situation Under Control

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug 9 (NNN-ANN) – Brunei resumed direct flights with Hangzhou, China on Tuesday, marking its first direct flights with the Chinese mainland, after COVID-19 pandemic cut air connection between the two countries. According to travel agencies and the Chinese embassy in Brunei, the round-trip direct flights between…

Singapore Reports 132 New COVID-19 Cases

SINGAPORE, Aug 9 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), reported 132 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 54,929. Of the new cases, six are imported cases, one is a community case and the rest are linked with the dormitories of foreign…

Survivors Of Air India Plane Crash To Be Tested For Covid-19

NEW DELHI, Aug 9 (NNN-UNI) – All survivors of the Air India Express plane, that crashed in the southern Indian state of Kerala, killing at least 18 people, will be tested for COVID-19 infection, officials said Saturday. The decision to carry out tests of survivors was taken by Kerala Chief…

Chikungunya Virus Hits 15 Provinces In Cambodia, Affecting Over 2,000 People

PHNOM PENH, Aug 9 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia said, the Chikungunya virus outbreak (CHIKV) spread to 15 provinces, affecting 2,047 people, Health Ministry’s secretary of state and spokeswoman, Or Vandine, said. “About 72.4 percent of the patients were tested positive for CHIKV,” she said in a statement. CHIKV re-emerged in the…

ASEAN Foreign Ministers Release Statement On 53rd Anniversary

HANOI, Aug 9 (NNN-VNA) – Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), released a statement on Saturday, marking the bloc’s 53rd anniversary. The statement recalled the aspirations of the 1967 ASEAN Declaration, to promote regional cooperation in the spirit of equality and partnership, and contribute towards peace,…