Japan Requests Record Defence Budget For Fiscal 2025 Despite Concerns

TOKYO, Aug 31 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s Ministry of Defence, submitted a record-breaking defence budget request of 8.54 trillion yen (about 59 billion U.S. dollars) for the fiscal year 2025. The request yesterday marked the first time the country’s defence budget request has surpassed the 8-trillion-yen mark, reflecting the government’s intensified…

Vietnam’s Two Major Airports To See Over 800,000 Passengers On National Day Holidays

HANOI, Aug 31 (NNN-VNA) – The two airports in Vietnam’s biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are expected to serve more than 800,000 passengers, during the four-day National Day holiday from today to Tuesday, local media reported. Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, will welcome about 338,000 passengers,…

Air India To Operate Vistara Flights From Nov 12 Following Merger

NEW DELHI, Aug 31 (NNN-PTI) – Indian airline, Vistara, yesterday said, it has merged with the country’s flag carrier, Air India, and its flights would be operated by Air India from Nov 12. According to the airline, starting Sept 3, customers will no longer be able to make bookings with…

Kyrgyzstan To Host CSTO Command And Staff Exercises

BISHKEK, Aug 31 (NNN-KNA) – “Interaction-2024” – the command and staff exercises with the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) – will be held in Kyrgyzstan next month, the country’s Defence Ministry said yesterday. On Thursday, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Andrei Serdyukov, briefed…

Ethiopian FM Called For Joint Efforts To Maintain Peace In Horn Of Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 31 (NNN-ENA) – Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, called for joint efforts among countries in the Horn of Africa, to fight al-Shabaab in Somalia. Briefing journalists in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, yesterday, Atske Selassie said, al-Shabaab is “well-equipped” to carry out deadly attacks in the…

Lula Da Silva Warns Elon Musk Must Respect Brazilian Laws

BRASILIA, Aug 31 (NNN-CMA) – Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, warned yesterday that, businessman, Elon Musk, owner of social network X, must respect the decisions of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and cannot insult Brazilian authorities. Lula da Silva told local radio station MaisPB in Joao Pessoa, the…

Woman Injured Five In Bus Knife Attack In Germany

BERLIN, Aug 31 (NNN-DW) – A woman injured five people with a knife, on a bus in Siegen, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, last night, according to local police. Three were in life-threatening conditions, police said. The woman has been arrested. At least 40 other passengers were on the…

At Least Six Killed, Dozens Injured In Russia’s Attack On Ukraine’s Kharkiv

KIEV, Aug 31 (NNN-UNIAN) – At least six people were killed and 59 others injured, in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv yesterday, according to Kharkiv regional governor, Oleg Synegubov. Russia launched an attack with guided bombs from the Belgorod region, striking five locations, including a 12-story…

Beloved Giant Pandas In Japan To Return To China Next Month

TOKYO, Aug 31 (NNN-NHK) – Beloved giant pandas, Ri Ri and Shin Shin, currently residing at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens, will return to China next month, the metropolitan government announced, yesterday. Giant panda Ri Ri, a male, and female giant panda Shin Shin, both from south-west China’s Sichuan Province, arrived…

Roundtable On Utilisation Rate Of RCEP Rules Held In Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Hosted by the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), and the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific (BRICAP), a roundtable on the utilisation rate of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) rules was held here yesterday. Over 50 experts and representatives of…