COVID-19 Sub-Variant JN.1 Case Detected In Kerala

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-PTI) – A case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has been detected in India’s southern state of Kerala, the Indian government said. India’s health ministry said yesterday that, the case was detected during an ongoing routine surveillance activity by Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG). “The case…

Sri Lankan Police To Launch Special Anti-Crime Operation

COLOMBO, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lankan police will launch a special operation starting from today, to curb organised crimes and drug-related activities, Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles said, yesterday. The minister told the media that, he directed the police to take stringent measures against drug smuggling and organised…

India, Oman Signed Pacts For Cooperation In Areas Including Combating Financial Crimes

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-PTI) – India and Oman, yesterday signed agreements for mutual cooperation in various fields, ranging from culture, information technology (IT) and combating financial crimes, during the state visit of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said. The visiting Sultan held talks with Indian Prime…

New York’s Met Museum Agrees To Return 14 Stolen Cultural Artefacts To Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Dec 17 (NNN-AKP) – New York’s Metropolitan Museum (the Met), has agreed to return 14 looted cultural treasures in its possession to Cambodia, after several years of negotiations, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said in a statement, yesterday. The repatriation includes several masterpieces, such as…

Over 7,000 Sri Lankans Affected By Rainy Weather This Week

COLOMBO, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – Over 7,000 people in Sri Lanka have been affected by inclement rainy weather this week, the country’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), said yesterday, in its latest situation report. The situation report said, 7,061 people, from 2,271 families, have been adversely affected by heavy rains by…

Road Mishaps Claimed 11 Lives In India

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-PTI) – Eleven people died in two separate road mishaps in India, government officials said. In the first accident, five persons, including two women and two children, died, in the country’s southern state of Kerala. All the deceased belonged to the same family. The second road…

Iran Executes Man Over Spying For Mossad

TEHRAN, Dec 17 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran, yesterday executed a man, convicted of espionage against the country, on behalf of foreign intelligence services, including Israel’s Mossad, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported. The execution was carried out in the south-eastern city of Zahedan, in Sistan and Baluchestan province,…

WHO Chief Reiterates Call For Ceasefire In Gaza

GENEVA, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Tedros made the appeal at an annual press conference, organised by the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations in Geneva. The director-general…

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Fresh Drone Attacks At Israeli Targets In Eilat

SANAA, Dec 17 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthis, yesterday said, they had launched cross-border drone attacks on several targets in Israel’s southern city of Eilat. “We have carried out a military operation on sensitive targets in Eilat, using a large batch of drones,” Yehya Sarea, Houthi military spokesman, said in a…

Kuwait Names Crown Prince Mishal As New Emir

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 17 (NNN-KUNA) – The Kuwaiti cabinet, yesterday, declared Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as the new Emir of Kuwait. He succeeded the throne following the death of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah earlier the same day at 86. Issa Al-Kandari, Kuwait’s deputy prime minister…