Update: Death Toll Of Afghan Wedding Ceremony Explosion Rises To 80

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – The death toll of a suicide bomb explosion, which struck a wedding hall in the Afghan capital Kabul, has risen to 80, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The latest figures, released by the health authorities, found several wounded on Saturday night’s attack have succumbed to…

Indonesia Deploys Troops To West Papua As Protests Spread

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug 21 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia deployed more troops to the restive West Papua region, as demonstrations spread to several communities in the region, with reports of a prison break, injuries and more attacks that belie earlier assurances by the government that the unrest had been contained. President Joko…

Australian PM Expresses Sympathy For Victims, After Cardinal’s Sex Abuse Appeal Dismissed

CANBERRA, Australia, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, expressed sympathy for victims of child sexual abuse, after Cardinal George Pell lost his appeal, against sex abuse convictions. Victoria’s Court of Appeal, on Wednesday (today), upheld Pell’s conviction on five charges. Speaking shortly after the verdict was delivered,…

Afghan Delegation Arrives In Pakistan For Dialogue

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug 21 (NNN-PPI) – An Afghan delegation of political leaders, parliamentarians, retired army officers, members of civilian society and journalists, arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, for four-day Track-II dialogue, to explore ways for bringing people of the two countries closer, organisers said. The dialogue, known as Beyond Boundaries,…

Hamas Downplays Netanyahu’s War Threats As “Useless”

GAZA, Palestine, Aug 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Hamas, on Tuesday, downplayed the threat of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to launch a large-scale offensive on the Gaza Strip as “useless.” Netanyahu’s threat to wage a war against Gaza “is empty of its content and comes in the frame of his election…

Iranian Court Starts Hearing Case Of Seized British Oil Tanker

TEHRAN, Iran, Aug 21 (NNN-TASNIM) – An Iranian court started hearing the case of the British oil tanker, Stena Impero, which was captured by Iranian forces last month, for “violating international maritime regulations,” at the Strait of Hormuz. According to Mohammad Rastad, deputy minister of roads and urban development, the…

China Funds Water Desalination Project In Southern Gaza

GAZA, Palestine, Aug 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – A Palestinian charity, signed a deal with the al-Naser village in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, to build two China-funded water desalination plants, to alleviate the shortage of potable water there. The agreement was signed by Give Palestine Association, a non-profit charity, and the municipality…

Germany Vows To Continue Anti-Terror Cooperation With Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug 21 (NNN-NINA) – Germany’s Defence Minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, reaffirmed her country’s readiness to continue its cooperation with Iraq, over fighting terrorism. The German minister made her remarks, at a joint press conference with her Iraqi counterpart, Najah al-Shammari, in Baghdad, after their meeting, to discuss military and…

UAE’s Medical Tourism Sales Top 3.3 Billion USD In 2018

DUBAI, United Arab Emirate, Aug 21 (NNN-WAM) – Medical tourism sales in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), increased 5.5 percent year-on-year, to reach 12.1 billion dirhams (3.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, with growth supported by several government-led initiatives, according to an analysis released by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce…

UAE To Expand List Of Taxable Products In 2020

DUBAI, United Arab Emirate, Aug 21 (NNN-WAM) – The UAE, on Tuesday, decided to expand the list of excise taxable products, to include sweetened beverages, sugary drinks and electronic smoking devices, as of Jan 1, 2020. The step aims at reducing consumption of unhealthy goods, and modifying consumers’ behaviours and…