Sri Lanka Looks To Deepen Ties With China In Energy: Minister

COLOMBO, May 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to expanding its energy partnership with China, describing China as a “close friend” and outlining ambitious plans for collaboration, across petroleum and renewable energy projects. In an interview with Xinhua on Friday, Jayakody emphasised…

Death Toll In Punjab’s Hooch Tragedy Rises To 27

NEW DELHI, May 17 (Xinhua) — The death toll in spurious liquor consumption in the northern Indian state of Punjab has risen to 27, officials said Saturday. The deaths took place in the Majitha area of Amritsar, the Sikh holy city in Punjab. The incident came to light on early…

India’s Forex Reserves Rise To 690.617 Billion USD

NEW DELHI, May 18 (NNN-PTI) – India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by 4.553 billion U.S. dollars, to 690.617 billion dollars, during the week ended May 9, showed the latest weekly data, released by country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). During the said week, while the foreign currency…

Philippines “Actively Monitoring” Rise Of COVID Cases In Southeast Asia

MANILA, May 18 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH), yesterday said, it is “actively monitoring” COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asia, amid a reported rise in cases in parts of the region. “We are actively coordinating through established mechanisms, like the ASEAN. This gives us verified information, boosting readiness,…

Two Dead, 17 Injured In Car Crashes In Philippines

MANILA, May 18 (NNN-PNA) – Two people have been killed and 17 others injured, in separate car crashes in the Philippines, authorities said yesterday. In Quezon province, south-east of the capital, Manila, a three-truck collision left one dead and five hurt, after a southbound 10-wheeler truck slammed into two northbound…

UN Chief Urges Permanent Ceasefire, Free Flow Of Aid In Gaza

BAGHDAD, May 18 (NNN-NINA) – UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, yesterday, urged a permanent ceasefire, unconditional release of all hostages, and the free flow of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. Guterres made the appeal, when attending the 34th Arab League Summit, which kicked off in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, earlier…

Iraqi PM Called For Arab Economic Integration To Promote Development

BAGHDAD, May 18 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, yesterday, called for Arab economic integration as a means to promote the development of Arab countries. Al-Sudani made the remarks, during the opening session of the fifth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, held in Baghdad. The prime minister…

Syrian Defence Authorities Announce Merger Of Armed Factions Under Single Command

DAMASCUS, May 18 (NNN-SANA) – Syria’s defence authorities, announced late yesterday, the integration of armed units into the national defence framework. In a statement, Murhaf Abu Qasra, chief of the Syrian defence authorities, said, the move follows months of coordinated efforts, aimed at unifying Syria’s various military factions under a…

House Collapse Killed Two In Delhi

NEW DELHI, May 18 (NNN-PTI) – At least two people died and a few others were trapped, under the debris of an under-construction house, which collapsed in Delhi’s Paharganj area, yesterday, according to Delhi Police. While two dead bodies had been recovered, efforts were ongoing, to bring out those still…

Afghanistan, Russia Signed MoUs To Enhance Trade, Transit Cooperation

KABUL, May 18 (NNN-BNA) – The Afghan interim government and Russia, signed five memorandums of understanding (MoUs), focusing on trade, transport, transit, and gas exploration cooperation, a government statement said, on Friday. According to the statement, the MoUs were signed on Friday in the presence of Russian Deputy Prime Minister…