Iraq To Summon U.S. Ambassador Over Attack On Hashd Shaabi Bases

BAGHDAD, Dec 31 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced that it will summon the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, over U.S. attacks that killed 25 people and injured 51 others. The ministry said that “the attack is seen as a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Iraq, and a condemned act,…

Yemen’s Houthis Shot Down Two Drones

SANAA, Dec 31 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthi militias said, they shot down two drones on Monday, “belonging to the Saudi-led coalition.” According to a statement by the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, the first drone was shot down over Razih district, in the Yemeni northern province of Saada, while the…

Over 50 Syrian Refugees Arrive In Ireland

DUBLIN, Dec 31 (NNN-SANA) – Over 50 Syrian refugees, including 28 children, aged under eight, arrived in Ireland on Monday and will be resettled in the country, under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, national radio and television broadcaster, RTE reported. These refugees, who belong to 11 families, came in a…

Pakistan Sees 31 Percent Reduction In Terror-Related Fatalities In 2019

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (NNN-APP) – Pakistan witnessed nearly 31 percent reduction in terror and counter-terror related fatalities in 2019, a research centre said. The data, released by the Islamabad-based think tank Centre for Research and Security Studies said, only two militant outfits – Tehrik-e-Taliban, Pakistan splinter groups, and the Daesh,…

Putin Advocates Normalising Ties In Message To Trump

MOSCOW, Russia, Dec 31 (NNN-TASS) – Moscow favours normalising relations with Washington, Russian President, Vladimir Putin said, in his Christmas and New Year greetings to U.S. President, Donald Trump. Moscow supports establishing equal dialogue between the two countries, based on mutual respect of interests, Putin told Trump in the message,…

Egypt, France Agree To Intensify Cooperation For Political Solution To Libyan Crisis

CAIRO, Dec 31 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, agreed to intensify cooperation for a political solution to the crisis in Libya, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. During a phone call between the two leaders, al-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s support for the…

Thai Authorities Target Stores Selling Alcohol To Underage During New Year Holiday

BANGKOK, Dec 31 (NNN-TNA) – The Thai police warned all alcohol stores against selling alcoholic beverages to the underage, or face heavy penalties. The police are on a watch on retail stores that sell alcohol to those under the age of 20, especially during the New Year holiday, as death…

Six Killed In North India’s Road Mishap Due To Dense Fog

NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (NNN-PTI) – At least six people, including two minors, died, and five others injured, when the vehicle they were in, fell into a canal, in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, late on Sunday night, said media reports. The road mishap reportedly occurred due to the…

Sri Lanka’s Tea Industry Draws Up “Road Map 2030” For Rapid Modernisation

COLOMBO, Dec 30 (NNN-SLNEWS) – Sri Lanka’s tea industry, will launch an ambitious 10-year master plan titled “Road Map 2030,” to rapidly modernise the island country’s tea sector, through technological intervention, local media, quoting Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman, Jayampathy Molligoda, said here. Molligoda was quoted as saying that…

Dense Fog Hits Indian Capital, Disrupting Rail, Air Transport

NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (NNN-PTI) – Dense blanket of fog covered Indian capital city New Delhi and outskirts Monday morning, leading to disruptions in air and rail transport, officials said. The fog, according to officials, caused zero visibility, impacting traffic. On the roads in the capital, the vehicular traffic was…