Nepal’s Foreign Trade Increased In First Five Months Of Current FY

KATHMANDU, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Nepal’s foreign trade increased by 20.07 percent year-on-year, in the first five months of the current 2025-26 fiscal year, following growth in both exports and imports, a government agency said, yesterday. According to the Department of Customs’ report, the total trade volume reached 882.69 billion…

New Zealand, India Concluded Free Trade Agreement

WELLINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-RNZ) – New Zealand and India, yesterday, announced the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), that will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95 percent of New Zealand’s exports, while granting zero-duty market access to all of India’s exports. The deal, to be signed in the…

Syrian, Turkish FMs Discussed Refugees, Economy And Security In Damascus

DAMASCUS, Dec 23 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, met here yesterday, to discuss refugee returns, economic cooperation and regional security, Syrian state media, Al-Ikhbariya TV, reported. At a joint press conference, al-Shibani said, they discussed counter-terrorism efforts, measures to prevent the…

Nine Terrorists Killed In Separate Operations In NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (NNN-APP) – Nine terrorists were killed in two intelligence-based operations, in Pakistan’s north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said, yesterday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, four terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Dera Ismail Khan…

Iraq, Pakistan Vow To Strengthen Ties, Promote Regional Stability

BAGHDAD, Dec 22 (NNN-NINA) — Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, discussed with his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, here yrsterday, ways to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional stability. According to a statement from the Iraqi presidency, both leaders emphasised the importance of “aligning positions and strengthening coordination” to contribute…

UAE, French Presidents Vow To Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

ABU DHABI, Dec 22 (NNN-WAM) – President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with French President, Emmanuel Macron, here, on Sunday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest. The two leaders reviewed the historical and strategic partnership between their countries…

Malaysian Court Turns Down Former PM’s Appeal For House Arrest

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, failed in his appeal to be moved to house arrest, after the High Court here ruled against his application yesterday. High Court judge, Alice Loke Yee Ching, ruled that, the additional materials submitted by Najib in support of…

5.3-Magnitude Quake Hit New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea – GFZ

PORT MORESBY, Dec 22 (NNN-PINA) – An earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.3, jolted the New Britain region, Papua New Guinea, at 2307 GMT on Sunday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicentre, with a depth of 10 km, was initially determined to be at 5.66 degrees…

Urgent: 15 Killed, 19 Injured Following Bus Crash In Indonesia’s Semarang City

JAKARTA, Dec 22 (NNN-ANTARA) – At least 15 people were killed and 19 others injured, after a long-distance bus crashed at a toll road exit, in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, early today, the local search and rescue authority said.– NNN-ANTARA  

Nearly 2.8 Million Afghan Refugees Return From Iran And Pakistan This Year: UNHCR

KABUL, Dec 21 (NNN-BNA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reported that, nearly 2.8 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran, so far, this year. In a statement, the UN refugee agency warned of mounting humanitarian and protection challenges, noting that, many of…