Japan Seeks Renewable Energy As Main Power Source By Fiscal 2040

TOKYO, Dec 17 (NNN-NHK) – Japan plans for the first time to make solar, wind and other types of renewable energy, the country’s largest source of power by fiscal 2040, a draft government plan showed, today. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, presented the draft basic energy plan, which is…

Australian Wool Production Forecast To Drop To 100-Year Low

CANBERRA, Dec 17 (NNN-AAP) – Australia’s wool production is forecast to fall to its lowest level in over 100 years, next year. According to a new report from the industry body, Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee (AWPFC), Australia is expected to produce 279.4 million kilograms of shorn raw wool, in…

New Zealand’s Minimum Wage To Increase By 1.5 Percent

WELLINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-RNZ) – New Zealand’s minimum wage rate will increase by 1.5 percent to 23.5 NZ dollars an hour, from Apr 1, 2025, the smallest percentage increase in about three decades. The upcoming minimum wage rise follows a 2-percent increase last Apr, to 23.15 NZ dollars an hour,…

Sri Lankan Parliament Elects New Speaker

COLOMBO, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lankan parliament, today, unanimously appointed ruling National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament, Jagath Wickramaratne as its new speaker. Wickramaratne was nominated by Prime Minister, Harini Amarasuriya, and the Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake supported her proposal. No other names were proposed,…

MUFG Bank Mulls Penalising Executives Over Theft By Ex-Employee

JAPAN, Dec 17 (NNN-NHK) – The head of MUFG Bank, said yesterday, his bank is considering penalising its executives, including himself, as he apologised over the alleged theft by a former employee of more than one billion yen ($6.5 million) from customers’ safe deposit boxes. “The incident shook the foundations…

Japan Finance Ministry Official Arrested For Taking Up-Skirt Photo

TOKYO, Dec 17 (NNN-NHK) – A 44-year-old official from Japan’s Finance Ministry, has been arrested, for allegedly taking an up-skirt photo of a woman at a train station, in the suburbs of Tokyo, local media reported, yesterday. Yasutaka Yoneta, who is a member of the ministry’s Policy Research Institute, is…

Indonesia Beefs Up Security For Christmas, New Year’s Eve Celebrations

JAKARTA, Dec 17 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesian police and soldiers will jointly deploy 141,443 personnel, to secure Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations nationwide, National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said, yesterday. The general noted that, the personnel would be stationed at 61,452 locations across the country. “The locations to…

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Striking Military Target In Tel Aviv With “Hypersonic Missile”

SANAA, Dec 17 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthis, said in a statement yesterday that, they have launched a “hypersonic missile” towards Israel, hitting a military target in Tel Aviv. “In support to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, we carried out a military operation targeting a military target of the Zionist…

12 Indian Nationals Killed Over Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Georgia

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-PTI) – At least 12 Indian nationals were killed, due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Georgia, officials said, yesterday. The bodies were found on the second floor of an Indian food restaurant, at a ski resort in Gudauri. The victims were identified as employees working in…

Bangladesh Celebrates 54th Victory Day

DHAKA, Dec 17 (NNN-BSS) – With due solemnity and rich tributes paid to the martyrs of the Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh, yesterday, celebrated its 54th Victory Day. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent country. The Victory Day’s programmes commenced with a 31-gun salute in the…