Lebanon Endorses 2020 State Budget

BEIRUT, Jan 28 (NNN-NNA) — Lebanon’s Parliament endorsed, on Monday, the 2020 state budget, Al-Jadeed local TV channel reported. The 2020 state budget estimates revenues to stand at 13,325 billion Lebanese pounds (8.8 billion U.S. dollars), which are not enough to pay the public sector salaries, social aid and debt…

Iranian FM Says U.S. Mideast Peace Plan “Delusional”

TEHRAN, Iran, Jan 28 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Monday, said that, the U.S. President, Donald Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century” for the Middle East is “delusional.” “Instead of a delusional ‘Deal of the Century’ – which will be D.O.A.- self-described ‘champions of democracy’ would…

Explosions Target Maritime Pipelines In Syria’s Banyas

DAMASCUS, Jan 28 (NNN-SANA) – Syria’s Ministry of Oil said, terrorist explosions targeted maritime pipeline networks in Banyas, northwestern Syria, on Monday. The explosives were put in place by frogmen affiliated with the rebels, according to the state news agency. The technical staff have started to evaluate the damage, in…

UN Remains Deeply Concerned About Safety Of Four Million Civilians In Syria

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 28 (NNN-SANA) – A UN spokesman said, the organisation remains deeply concerned about safety of over four million civilians, in northwest Syria. “The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, reports that, over 1,500 civilians in the northwest of Syria have been killed since Apr,…

Palestinian President Rejects U.S. Role In Mideast Peace Process

RAMALLAH, Palestine, Jan 28 (NNN-WAFA) – As the U.S. Mideast peace plan, known as the “Deal of the Century,” is to be declared, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, rejects any U.S. role in the peace process. Abbas told British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, during a telephone conversation, that, the U.S. administration…

Plane Crashes In Afghanistan’s Eastern Ghazni Province

KABUL, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A passenger plane crashed, in Afghanistan’s eastern Ghazni province on Monday, with dozens killed or injured, a member of the provincial council, Khaliqdad Akbari, said. The crash took place in the Taliban-held area of Sadokhil, in Deh Yak district in the afternoon, he said. Confirming…

Iraq Says Attack On U.S. Embassy Won’t Affect Relations With Washington

BAGHDAD, Jan 28 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said, the overnight rocket attack on the U.S. embassy in central Baghdad will not affect the level of strategic relations between Baghdad and Washington. A statement by the ministry expressed Iraq’s keenness on bilateral relations and mutual interests with the United…

China, Kazakhstan Jointly Unveil Ancient City On Silk Road

XI’AN, Jan 27 (NNN-XINHUA) – A China-Kazakhstan joint archaeological research, unveiled the ruins of a city on the ancient Silk Road. The Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute in northwest China, said that, its cooperation with the Issyk State Historical-Cultural Museum, in Kazakhstan, on the excavation of the ancient city of…

Afghanistan Launches Polio Vaccination Targeting 9.1 Million Children

KABUL, Jan 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Afghan Public Health Ministry, launched a nationwide campaign today (Monday) to give polio vaccination dose to 9.1 million children under the age of five, the ministry said. The five-day campaign started on Monday (today), in 30 of the country’s 34 provinces. Due to harsh…

Flood Hits Bandung, Indonesia

BANDUNG, Jan 27 (NNN-ANTARA) – Thousands of houses have been inundated, after flooding in Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia. Flooding struck on Jan 23, affecting the sub-districts of Dayeuhkolot, Bojongsoang, Baleendah, Rancaekek and Majalaya. West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), reported that 3,744 houses have been flooded, along with four…