485 Killed In Protests In Iraq Since Early Oct

BAGHDAD, Dec 21 (NNN-NINA) – The casualty toll in protests since early Oct in Iraq, raised to 485 dead and some 27,000 wounded, an official, Ali al-Baiyati, a member of the Iraqi Independent High Commission for Human Rights, said. Al-Baiyati said, the total number of detainees from the demonstrators reached…

Syrian Constitutional Committee Lacks Consensus On Agenda, Broader Political Process Needed: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (NNN-SANA) – The second session of the Syrian constitutional committee, failed to get off the ground, due to lack of consensus over the agenda, the UN envoy for Syria said. Geir Pedersen, the secretary-general’s special representative for Syria, assured the council, however, that, there are lessons…

Palestinian President Hails ICC’s Decision To Probe “Situation In Palestine”

RAMALLAH, Palestine, Dec 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, hailed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to open the way for the Palestinians to sue Israel. He made the remarks at an ongoing session attended by members of the revolutionary council of his Fatah party, in the…

Russian Navy To Receive Five Nuclear Submarines Next Year

MOSCOW, Dec 21 (NNN-TASS) – A Russian shipyard will deliver five nuclear-powered submarines to the Russian Navy in 2020, Mikhail Budnichenko, chief executive officer of the shipyard, said, in an interview published on Friday (yesterday). The Sevmash Shipyard is preparing to deliver the latest fourth-generation ballistic missile carriers, Prince Vladimir…

Indian Navy Chief On Four-Day Visit To Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI, Dec 19 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, will be visiting Sri Lanka on Dec 19-22, sources in the Defence Ministry confirmed today (Thursday). The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral maritime relations between the two neighbouring countries. During his visit, Singh will hold…

Malaria outbreak kills 19 in Myanmar last year

YANGON, Dec 19 (NNN-MNA) – A total of 19 people died of malaria in Myanmar last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports today (Thursday). In 2018, 76,518 malaria infection cases were registered in Myanmar, showing a sharp drop of mortality rate, compared to past years. The national…

Australian PM Faces Criticism For Overseas Family Holiday

CANBERRA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has come under fire for going on holiday with his family, while bush-fires continue to burn across the country. Responding to news of the holiday, members of the Opposition Labour Party accused the prime minister of abandoning rural communities, currently…

Flights Delayed As Dense Fog Engulfs Delhi

NEW DELHI, Dec 19 (NNN-PTI) — Dense fog engulfed the Indian capital and its surrounding areas on Thursday morning (this morning), as departures and arrivals of many flights and trains were delayed, due to poor visibility. Regular commuters faced difficulty driving on major highways, since visibility was less than 50…

Iran Threatens To Further Reduce Nuke Commitments

TEHRAN, Dec 19 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran threatened to further reduce its commitments to the 2015 landmark nuclear deal, if the European Union (EU) “keeps failing” to protect the Islamic republic’s interest. Iran’s move to reduce commitments under the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), results…

Chinese Envoy Concerned Over Continued Jewish Settlement Activities In Occupied Palestine

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – Chinese UN envoy expressed concern, over continued settlement activities by Israel, in occupied Palestinian territory. At a Security Council meeting on the Middle East, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Wu Haitao, noted that, settlement activities continued to advance and expand, and more…