Japan OKs FY 2024 Budget, Defence Spending Reaches New High

TOKYO, Dec 23 (NNN-NHK) – The Japanese government, yesterday, adopted a draft budget of 112.07 trillion yen (about 787 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal year 2024, with defence spending hitting an all-time high for the 10th straight year. The figure approved by the cabinet for the fiscal period from Apr,…

Update: UN Security Council Passes Resolution To Boost Humanitarian Aid Access To Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – The UN Security Council, yesterday passed a key resolution, emphasising the immediate acceleration of aid deliveries to the distressed civilians in Gaza, but without the original call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas. Resolution 2720 demands parties to the conflict…

Two Dead, Two Missing After Boat Sank In Eastern Indonesia

JAKARTA, Dec 23 (NNN-ANTARA) – Rescuers have found most of the victims who had been missing since Wednesday, after their boat capsized off the coast of Mamuju regency, in the eastern Indonesian province of West Sulawesi, a local search and rescue official told local media, yesterday. The Mamuju Search and…

Six Labourers Shot In NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (NNN-APP) – Six labourers were killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen, in Pakistan’s north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in the wee hours of yesterday morning, police said. At least one worker was also critically injured in the attack, that occurred in Wana town, in South Waziristan, the…

After India’s Olympic Medalist Malik Quits, Wrestler Punia Returns Award

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (NNN-PTI) – India’s Olympic medalist grappler, Bajrang Punia, yesterday announced, he was returning his Padma Shri (India’s fourth-highest civilian award) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in protest. “The daughters who were to become the brand ambassadors of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (Save the girl child, educate…

Sri Lankan Police Arrest Over 10,000 Crime Suspects In Six Days

COLOMBO, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan police have arrested over 10,000 suspects, in connection with drug-related offenses and other criminal activities, in a recently launched operation, the police said, yesterday. The police said in a statement that, they made the arrests in an operation launched on Dec 17, to…

Israel Creates Massive Obstacles To Aid Distribution In Gaza – UN Chief

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said yesterday that, the Israeli offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza. Many people are measuring the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation in Gaza, based on the number of trucks allowed to unload aid…

Kyrgyz President Signs Law On Changing National Flag Design

BISHKEK, Dec 23 (NNN-KNA) – Kyrgyzstan will partially change the design on the country’s national flag, with a corresponding law, signed by President Sadyr Japarov, said his press service, yesterday. The law on amendments to a law “On State Symbols of the Kyrgyz Republic” was adopted, in order to improve…

Japanese Gov’t Relaxes Ban On Arms Exports Amid Criticism

TOKYO, Dec 23 (NNN-NHK) – The Japanese government, yesterday, lifted its ban on exports of arms and ammunition, manufactured under license from foreign companies to their countries, and conditionally to third countries. The controversial change was brought up under the revised Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology,…

Indian Opposition Lawmakers Protest Against Their Suspension From Parliament

NEW DELHI, Dec 23 (NNN-PTI) – Opposition parties in India, yesterday, staged a protest here against the recent record suspension of 146 lawmakers from the two houses of parliament. The protest, called by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), was attended by leaders from Congress, left parties, Dravida Munnetra…