Australian Airline Cuts International Flights By 90 Percent

SYDNEY, Mar 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, announced on Tuesday (today) that, it will cut international flights by 90 percent and domestic services by 60 percent, to cope with COVID-19. The changes will also affect the company’s budget carrier, Jetstar, and will remain in place until at least…

Death Toll Rises To 853 Over COVID-19 In Iran

TEHRAN, Mar 17 (NNN-IRNA) – The COVID-19 outbreak has claimed lives of 853 people in Iran, said Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, on Monday (yesterday). The ministry said that, 14,991 cases infected with the virus have been confirmed in the country, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and…

Pipeline Explosion Hits Nigeria’s Economic Hub, Students Rescued

LAGOS, Mar 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Some school children near an explosion site, which rocked Abule Ado of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, have been rescued from the collapsed school building, a government official said Valentine Buraimoh, chairman of Amuwo Odofin local government area, who confirmed this to reporters, said the boarding…

Four Dead In Road Crash In S. Afghan Province

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Mar 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Four people have been killed and six others wounded, in a traffic accident in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, a provincial government spokesman said today (Monday). The deadly incident happened late on Sunday evening, when a wagon-type car, driven from Kandahar to the national capital…

Eight Killed, Eight Injured After Truck Plunges Into Southern Philippine Ravine

MANILA, Mar 16 (NNN-PNA) – Eight people were killed and eight others injured, when a small truck carrying people and timber, fell into a ravine in the southern Philippines, police reported today (Monday). Police said, the accident happened around 2:15 p.m. local time, on Sunday, along a highway in Pitogo…

444 Filipinos Aboard Coronavirus-Hit Grand Princess Repatriated Back To Philippines

MANILA, Mar 16 (NNN-PNA) – A total of 444 Filipinos, aboard the coronavirus-stricken Grand Princes cruise ship, docked in Oakland Port in California, entered a 14-day quarantine at a facility north of Manila, after they were flown back to the Philippines before dawn on Monday (today). The Department of Foreign…

Almost Five Million Children Born Into War In Syria: UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Some 4.8 million children have been born in Syria since the conflict began nine years ago. An additional one million have been born as refugees in neighbouring countries. They continue to face the devastating consequences of a brutal war, the United Nations Children’s Fund…

Qatar Reports 64 New Cases Of COVID-19

DOHA, Mar 16 (NNN-QNA) – A total of 64 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in Qatar on Sunday, the Qatari health ministry said. “The new confirmed cases thus raise the total number of infections to 401 all over the country,” the ministry was quoted as saying. The infected cases…

Jordan Cuts Bank Reserves To Inject Liquidity

AMMAN, Mar 16 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan’s central bank, on Sunday, decided to lower the compulsory reserves that banks hold, in order to make more liquidity available on the markets. The remarks were made by the central bank governor, Ziad Fariz, who said that the reserve cuts will be from seven…

Israeli President To Task Gantz With Forming Gov’t

JERUSALEM, Mar 16 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, will task Benny Gantz with forming the next government, after most lawmakers endorsed the centrist leader, according to a statement. “Tomorrow (today) at noon, the President of Israel will task Chairman of the Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, with forming…