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…

Cambodia Says Thai Army Bombed Bridge Inside Cambodian Territory

PHNOM PENH, Dec 21 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia said yesterday that, the Thai military had used an F-16 fighter jet, to bomb a concrete bridge inside Cambodian territory. “At 10:58 p.m. (on Dec 19), the Thai military deployed an F-16 fighter jet, to drop two bombs, destroying the civilian O’ Jik…

Turkish Intelligence Chief Met Hamas Delegation In Istanbul

ANKARA, Dec 21 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organisation Director, Ibrahim Kalin, met with Hamas Political Bureau member and chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, in Istanbul yesterday, to discuss implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. During the talks, the Hamas official said, Hamas is adhering to the ceasefire terms and outlined…

Zionist Israel Murders Two Palestinians In West Bank, Two Others In Gaza; Death Toll – 70,925: Officials

RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Dec 21 (NNN-WAFA) – Two Palestinians were murdered by the Zionist Israeli forces, in separate incidents in the northern West Bank yesterday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. According to the ministry in Ramallah, a 16-year-old, Rayan Mohammed Abdel Qader Abu Mualla, was murdered in Qabatiya. His body is…

Some Local Militias In Iraq Agree To Disarm, Transition To Politics

BAGHDAD, Dec 21 (NNN-NINA) – Head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Faiq Zidan, said yesterday that, several armed factions have agreed to surrender their weapons to the state and transition into political entities. Zidan thanked “the leaders of the factions, for responding to his advice to cooperate in enforcing…

Egypt, Russia Vow To Boost Strategic Cooperation

CAIRO, Dec 21 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, met here yesterday, during which they emphasised their shared commitment to enhancing strategic cooperation between the two countries. Al-Sisi expressed appreciation for the steady growth of bilateral relations across political, economic, and commercial domains, according…

Three Security Personnel Killed In NW Pakistan Blast

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (NNN-APP) – At least three security personnel were killed and three others injured, when a blast hit a vehicle of the security forces, in Pakistan’s north-west Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said yesterday. According to the police, the vehicle carrying the security personnel was passing…

SEA Games Concluded In Thailand

BANGKOK, Dec 21 (NNN-TNA) – The 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, concluded in Thailand last night with a vibrant ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. The closing ceremony of the biennial multi-sport event was centered on the theme “The Sound of Whistle,” a concept designed to symbolise hope,…

Yen Slides Towards Potential Intervention Zone Despite BOJ Rate Hike

TOKYO, Dec 20 (NNN-NHK) — The yen weakened to a roughly one-month low in the 157 range per dollar late yesterday, nearing levels that could trigger official buying, after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised benchmark interest rates without offering clear plans for future hikes. The yen fell sharply against…

Australia Funds New Robotic Floats To Boost Global Ocean, Climate Data

MELBOURNE, Dec 20 (NNN-AAP) – Australia is expanding its role in global ocean monitoring, with the deployment of 12 new robotic biogeochemical (BGC) Argo floats, the University of Tasmania (UTAS), said, yesterday. The project strengthens Australia’s contribution to the global Argo network of around 4,000 robotic floats, which has been…