New African Swine Fever Outbreak Reported In S. Korean Farm

SEOUL, Jan 17 (NNN-YONHAP) – An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed at a pig farm in Gangneung, a city in South Korea’s Gangwon province, it was reported today. Local authorities said today that, about 20,000 pigs raised at the farm will be culled in accordance with…

Thailand Sets Up Economic Diplomacy Plan To Navigate Volatile Global Trade

BANGKOK, Jan 17 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday, announced its strategy for economic diplomacy, designed to navigate global trade volatility and shield its export-dependent economy from rising trade protectionism. Speaking after a meeting with private sector leaders, Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow outlined the new approach, which centres…

Kazakhstan Reroutes Oil Exports As Caspian Pipeline Consortium Faces Restrictions

ALMATY, Jan 17 (KTA) – Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas, rerouted about 300,000 tonnes of oil in Dec last year, amid restrictions on supplies through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), the company’s press service said yesterday. The oil was redirected via alternative export routes, operated by national oil…

Syria’s Kurdish-Led Forces Announce Withdrawal To Advance Integration Talks

DAMASCUS, Jan 17 (NNN-SANA) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said yesterday that, its forces would withdraw from current contact lines with government forces, east of Aleppo, to advance military integration talks with the authorities. In a post on social media platform X, SDF General Commander, Mazloum Abdi, said,…

Syrian Interim Leader Issued Decree Affirming Kurdish Rights As Tensions Escalate

DAMASCUS, Jan 17 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, today issued a decree affirming the cultural, linguistic and civic rights of Syrian Kurds, as tensions rise between the authorities and Kurdish-led forces, in Aleppo and its eastern countryside. The decree underscores that, Syrian Kurds are an “integral and authentic”…

12 Terrorists Killed After Attempting Bank Robberies In SW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Jan 17 (NNN-APP) – Pakistani security forces killed 12 terrorists on Thursday, during an operation in Kharan district of the country’s south-west Balochistan province, Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti said, yesterday. Addressing a press conference in the provincial capital, Quetta, Bugti said, the terrorists were killed after their attempt…

Kazakhstan’s Oil Transporter Records Highest Crude Oil Throughput In Seven Years

ALMATY, Jan 17 (NNN-KTA) – Crude oil transportation, via the trunk pipeline system of Kazakhstan’s national oil transporter, KazTransOil, reached 45.1 million tonnes last year, the highest level recorded over the past seven years, the company’s press service said, yesterday. According to KazTransOil, its crude oil throughput exceeded 36 billion…

5.2-Magnitude Quake Hits Hokkaido – GFZ

TOKYO, Jan 17 (NNN-NHK) – An earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.2, jolted Hokkaido, at 1934 GMT yesterday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicentre, with a depth of 55 km, was initially determined to be at 41.30 degrees north latitude, and 142.83 degrees east longitude.– NNN-NHK

Azerbaijan Expands Gas Exports To Europe By Supply To Austria, Germany

BAKU, Jan 17 (NNN-TNA) – The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), said yesterday that, it has officially commenced natural gas deliveries to Austria and Germany, via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, expanding its exports to Europe. The supplies started this month,…

S. Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Sentenced To Five Years In Prison On Arrest Obstruction Charges

SEOUL, Jan 17 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s former impeached President, Yoon Suk-yeol, was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges, yesterday. The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court, in charge of Yoon’s obstruction of justice case, handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing…