Syrian, Iranian FMs Condemn Ongoing Israeli Military Operation In Gaza

DAMASCUS, Dec 20 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, yesterday, condemned the intensifying Israeli military operation in Gaza. In a phone conversation, both ministers expressed grave concern about the escalating situation in Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, and condemned “the continuous Israeli and…

Palestinian Death Toll From Israeli Attacks In Gaza, West Bank Nears 20,000

GAZA, Dec 20 (NNN-XINHUA) – The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 19,667, and 52,586 others were wounded, since Oct 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, late yesterday. Meanwhile, Palestinian deaths and injuries from Israeli raids in the West Bank climbed to…

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Fresh Attacks On Two Ships In Red Sea

SANAA, Dec 19 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthi militia, yesterday claimed responsibility for attacks on an oil ship and a cargo ship, in the southern part of the Red Sea, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. “Our naval forces carried out a qualitative military operation against two ships linked to Israel. One…

Palestinian Death Toll Rises To 19,453 In Gaza: Ministry

GAZA, Dec 19 (NNN-WAFA) – The death toll of Palestinians has risen to 19,453 in the Gaza Strip, since the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct 7, the health ministry said yesterday. Ministry spokesman, Ashraf al-Qedra, said during a press conference in the southern Gaza Strip that, 52,286 Palestinians…

Iranian FM Urges Pakistan To Designate Jaish-Ul-Adl As Terrorist Group

TEHRAN, Dec 19 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, yesterday called on Pakistan, to designate Jaish-ul-Adl as a terrorist group, as it was behind a recent deadly attack on police forces in south-eastern Iran. In a phone call with Pakistani caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Amir-Abdollahian mentioned the…

Sri Lankan Authorities Suspend Licences Of 400 Foreign Employment Agencies In Past 12 Months

COLOMBO, Dec 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lankan authorities have suspended the licences of 400 foreign employment agencies in the past 12 months, for violating the terms of their licences, a minister said, yesterday. Addressing an event in Colombo, to mark International Migrants Day, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha…

Filipino Politicians, Business Leaders, Scholars Call For Dialogue Over South China Sea Situations

MANILA, Dec 19 (NNN-PNA) – Some politicians, business leaders and scholars in the Philippines, have expressed their views that the maritime issues do not comprise the sum-total of relations between the Philippines and China, and called on the two sides to strengthen dialogue and consultation. Philippine Foreign Undersecretary, Jesus Domingo,…

Chinese FM Wang Yi Met DPRK Deputy FM

BEIJING, Dec 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, met with Deputy Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Pak Myong Ho, yesterday, in Beijing. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said, the traditional friendship between…

Iraq Holds First Provincial Elections In A Decade

BAGHDAD, Dec 19 (NNN-NINA) – Iraq yesterday held provincial elections in 15 of the country’s 18 provinces, after a 10-year hiatus over political differences. Voting began after 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) when 7,166 polling centres opened under tight security measures, as millions of Iraqis voted in Baghdad and…

Over 1,200 Illegal Immigrants Held In NW Turkish Province: Report

ISTANBUL, Dec 19 (NNN-TRT) – Turkish security forces have rounded up a total of 1,209 illegal immigrants, in the north-western province of Edirne in Nov, it was reported yesterday. The seized illegal immigrants had been sent to the migration office in Edirne, according to the report, without specifying any details.…