UNIFIL Commander Urged Lebanon, Israel To Refrain From Escalation

BEIRUT, Mar 5 (NNN-NNA) – Newly appointed UNIFIL Sector West Commander, Nicola Mandolesi, called on Lebanon and Israel to refrain from actions that could jeopardise the fragile stability in the region. “The full implementation of Resolution 1701 is of utmost importance, and we call on all parties to refrain from…

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Shooting Down U.S. Drone Over Hodeidah

ADEN, Yemen, Mar 5 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthi forces announced yesterday that, they successfully intercepted a U.S. MQ-9 reconnaissance drone, over the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesperson, said on the social media platform X that, the drone was downed while “violating Yemeni airspace…

Roundup: Arab Leaders Adopt Egypt’s Gaza Reconstruction Plan

CAIRO/GAZA, Mar 5 (NNN-MENA/WAFA) – Arab leaders approved yesterday, an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is estimated to cost 53 billion U.S. dollars, and aims to avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave. The plan was accepted at the closing of the emergency Arab summit held in Cairo, with full…

Kyrgyzstan Sees Rise In Remittance Last Year

BISHKEK, Mar 5 (NNN-KNA) – The gross inflow of remittances to Kyrgyzstan from individuals last year, amounted to three billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 10.5 percent compared to 2023, the National Bank of the country reported, yesterday. At the same time, the gross outflow of remittances from Kyrgyzstan for…

Kazakhstan To Allocate 700 Billion Tenge For Sowing Operations

ALMATY, Mar 5 (NNN-KTA) – The government of Kazakhstan will provide 700 billion tenge (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) in easy-term loans this year, to finance sowing operations, Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, announced at a government meeting, the government’s press service said, yesterday. “The volume of easy-term lending for…

Severe Flooding Strikes Jakarta, Surrounding Cities After Heavy Rain

JAKARTA, Mar 4 (NNN-ANTARA) – Severe flooding hit most areas of Jakarta and its satellite cities today, after heavy rain poured over the regions since last night, leaving thousands of houses submerged and hundreds of residents affected. Videos taken by residents showed severe flooding with water levels reaching rooftops and…

Iran Slams IAEA’s Claims About Nuclear Programme’s Nature

TEHRAN, Mar 4 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, yesterday, slammed what he described as “untrue” claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, regarding the nature of Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear programme. Baghaei made the remarks during a weekly press conference in…

Tajikistan’s Ruling Party Wins Parliamentary Elections

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, Mar 4 (NNN-XINHUA) – Preliminary results show that Tajikistan’s ruling People’s Democratic Party, has won Sunday’s parliamentary elections with 51.9 percent of the vote, Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda, chairman of the Central Election Commission, announced, yesterday. The ruling party, led by President Emomali Rahmon, secured 12 out of the 22…

Cambodia Records Spikes In Diabetes, Cancer, Mental Health Cases Last Year: Official

PHNOM PENH, Mar 4 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia reported significant rises in the cases of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health illnesses in 2024, a health official said, yesterday. Lo Veasnakiry, secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, said, a total of 230,279 new cases of diabetes…

Thailand’s Business Sentiment Improved Slightly In Feb

BANGKOK, Mar 4 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s business sentiment rose marginally in Feb, mainly thanks to improvements in the manufacturing sector, the central bank said, yesterday. According to the Bank of Thailand, the country’s business sentiment index (BSI) recorded at 48.9, last month, slightly up from 48.5 in Jan, as most…