Malaysia Maintains March Crude Palm Oil Exports Duty At Eight Percent

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has maintained its crude palm oil (CPO) export duty for March at eight percent. A circular from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board website, showed yesterday that, the CPO reference price for March has been increased to 3,793.94…

Indian Farmer Union Calls For One-Day Rural Shutdown Amid Massive Protest

NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (NNN-PTI) – A pan-India rural shutdown call, given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (United Farmers Front), and supported by Central Trade Unions, evoked a partial response yesterday. The farmer organisation asked for the suspension of all agricultural work for a day and urged village shops, markets and…

Japan Launched New H3 Rocket A Year After Failure

TOKYO, Feb 17 (NNN-NHK) – Japan launched its flagship H3 rocket today, nearly a year after the maiden launch failure, according to the country’s space agency. At about 9:22 a.m. local time, the vehicle, H3 rocket test flight No.2, was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre, on Tanegashima Island, in…

Two Arrested Over “Terror” Attack On Police Headquarters In Iran

TEHRAN, Feb 17 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s police have arrested two individuals, for involvement in a deadly “terrorist” attack last Dec, on a police headquarters in the south-eastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan. The two, identified as members of the Jaish al-Zulm “terror” group, that claimed responsibility for the attack…

Egypt Denies Building Shelters To Receive Palestinians Fleeing Gaza Conflict

CAIRO, Feb 17 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt yesterday denied reports that it is building shelters at its border area with the Gaza Strip, to receive Palestinians, in the event of forced displacement from the ongoing conflict. In a statement, chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), Diaa Rashwan, said, Egypt categorically…

Chinese Pentatonic Music Captivated Egyptian Audiences In Cairo

CAIRO, Feb 17 (NNN-MENA) – On the occasion of the Chinese Spring Festival, the China Cultural Centre in Cairo, organised yesterday, a symposium and a musical performance about integrating Chinese pentatonic music with contemporary creativity and modern technologies. During the event, attended by Egyptians and Chinese alike, renowned Chinese violist,…

Iraqi Security Forces Dismantled Drug Trafficking Network

BAGHDAD, Feb 17 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi security forces said yesterday that, they have dismantled a drug trafficking network and seized more than two million narcotic pills, in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and the western province of Anbar. Acting on intelligence reports, a security force affiliated with the Iraqi Intelligence…

Palestinian Death Toll In Gaza Rises To 28,775

GAZA, Feb 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,775, with 68,552 others wounded, the health ministry said, yesterday. The ministry said in a press statement that, the Israeli army killed 112 Palestinians and wounded 157 others during the…

Australia, Canada, New Zealand Call For Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire In Gaza

CANBERRA, Feb 16 (NNN-AAP) – Australia, Canada and New Zealand, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. According to a joint statement by prime ministers of the three countries, yesterday, they expressed “grave concern” over indications that Israel was planning a ground offensive into Rafah, a Palestinian city in…

Egyptian, Brazilian Leaders Discussed Upgrading Ties, Called For Ceasefire In Gaza

CAIRO, Feb 16 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, held talks yesterday, with visiting Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Cairo, where they discussed upgrading bilateral relations as well as the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. “During the talks, we agreed to develop relations in various political, economic,…