Laos Expects Fifth Lao-Thai Bridge To Bring Benefits To Residents, Boost Connectivity

VIENTIANE, Dec 30 (NNN-KPL) – The opening of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, sparked optimism among people in Laos, who hope it will improve livelihoods and regional connectivity, boost trade, tourism and transportation, and further strengthen the long-standing friendship between Laos and Thailand. The bridge, linking Bolikhamxay province in Laos,…

Over 3,000 Nomination Papers Collected For Bangladesh’s 13th General Election

DHAKA, Dec 30 (NNN-BSS) – More than 3,000 nomination papers have been collected, from 69 returning officers, to contest the polls for Bangladesh’s 13th general election, to be held on Feb 12 next year, according to the Bangladeshi Election Commission. The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the election expired…

Floods, Blizzard Leave Four Killed, Nine Missing Across Iran In 48 Hours

TEHRAN, Dec 30 (NNN-IRNA) – Floods and blizzard, left at least four people dead and nine others missing across Iran, over the past two days, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said, late yesterday. In a statement published on its website, the IRCS said, the victims were from the north-western…

Jordan Evacuated 19th Group Of Patients From Gaza For Treatment

AMMAN, Dec 30 (NNN-PETRA) – The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), yesterday, evacuated the 19th group of sick children from the Gaza Strip, under the Jordanian Medical Corridor initiative, according to its statement. Twenty child patients have been evacuated for treatment at Jordanian hospitals, along with 46 companions, in a move…

Feature: Egypt’s Valley Of Whales Becomes New Hotspot For Growing Astrotourism

FAYOUM, Egypt, Dec 30 (NNN-XINHUA) – In the desert stillness of Egypt’s Wadi El-Hitan, a group of stargazers kneeled on the cooling Fayoum sands, as Mohammed Hassan’s green laser sliced through the ink-black sky to illuminate the glowing disk of Jupiter. Wadi El-Hitan, or the Valley of the Whales, located…

One Dead, 45 Injured In Road Crash In Philippines

MANILA, Dec 30 (NNN-PNA) – A 19-year-old male was killed, and 45 others were injured, after a tourist bus overshot a highway, and tilted on its side in Quezon province on Luzon island in the Philippines, police said, yesterday. The bus, which was carrying passengers from Metro Manila, was travelling…

Thailand’s Industrial Output Decreased In Nov

BANGKOK, Dec 30 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s industrial output, contracted in Nov, weighed down by lower petroleum production and a sharply stronger baht currency, official data showed, yesterday. The country’s manufacturing production index (MPI) sank 4.24 percent last month, compared to a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Industry. The…

Former Kyrgyz President Atambayev Stripped Of Several State Awards

BISHKEK, Dec 30 (NNN-KNA) – Former Kyrgyz President, Almazbek Atambayev, has been stripped of several state awards by a presidential decree, signed by incumbent president, Sadyr Japarov, the presidential service said, yesterday. According to the official presidential website, the decree was issued pursuant to a verdict of the Pervomaisky District…

Indonesian Military, Police Deploy Over 48,000 Personnel For Post-Disaster Recovery In Sumatra

JAKARTA, Dec 30 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian military and national police, have deployed a total of 48,669 personnel to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces, to support reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, after floods and landslides killed 1,140 people and caused extensive damage, senior officials said here, yesterday. Indonesian National…

Seven Turkish Policemen Injured In Raid Against Daesh

ISTANBUL, Dec 29 (NNN-TRT) – Seven Turkish policemen were injured, after coming under gunfire, during a counter-terrorism operation, targeting suspected Daesh members, in the north-western province of Yalova, it was reported today. Provincial police units raided a residence in Elmalik village, where a clash erupted during the operation, said the…