Update: Death Toll Rises To 10 In Violent Protests Over Citizenship Law In India’s Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (NNN-PTI) – The death toll, during protests against the controversial new citizenship law, has risen to 10, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said today (Saturday). The dead include an 8-year-old boy, who was trampled in the stampede, after police resorted to baton…

Kazakhstan Set To Abolish Death Penalty

NUR-SULTAN, Dec 21 (NNN-RIA) – President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said, he ordered procedures, to abolish the death penalty in the country. Tokayev made the remarks, at the second meeting of the National Council of Public Trust, held in the capital, Nur-Sultan. The council, comprising prominent social activists, deputies of…

Japan’s Cabinet Approves Record 938 Billion USD Draft FY 2020 Budget

TOKYO, Dec 21 (NNN-NHK) – The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, approved a draft budget for fiscal 2020, aimed at covering ballooning social security costs, amid a rapidly ageing society and dealing with the fallout from a consumption tax hike, that has seen private and public consumption wane. The…

Russia Has No Desire To Rejoin G7: Diplomat

MOSCOW, Dec 21 (NNN-TASS) – Moscow no longer wishes to rejoin the Group of Seven (G7), as it has other priorities, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said. There are other platforms where serious issues are being addressed, including the G20, formats for Eurasian integration and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia,…

Japan’s Abe, Iran’s Rouhani Discuss Tensions In Middle East

TOKYO, Dec 21 (NNN-XINHUA) – Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, held talks with Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, amid tensions in the Middle East. Rouhani, on a two-day trip to Japan, marking the first for an Iranian president since 2000, heard from Abe about his concerns about rising tension in the…

Turkey Intercepts 59,712 Illegal Migrants In 2019

ISTANBUL, Dec 21 (NNN-ANADOLU) – The Turkish coast guard caught a total of 59,712 illegal migrants, trying to reach Europe via Turkey this year, the force unveiled. The Aegean Sea remains the main route for illegal migrants, as 59,455 of them attempted to sneak into Greece with inflatable boats, according…

13 Syrian Soldiers Killed In Daesh Gas Field Attack

DAMASCUS, Dec 21 (NNN-SANA) – Daesh militants attacked a gas field in central Syria’s Homs province, killing 13 Syrian soldiers, a war monitor reported. The Daesh militants launched the attack on Thursday night, on the gas field in the desert region, in the eastern countryside of Homs, killing 13 soldiers…

Syrian Army Captures Five Villages In Idlib Within 12 Hours

DAMASCUS, Dec 21 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian army advanced in battles against the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib, capturing five villages within 12 hours, a war monitor reported. The Syrian army launched its latest offensive on Thursday morning, targeting rebel positions in the eastern and southeastern countryside of…

Lebanon’s New PM Plans A Government Of Experts

BEIRUT, Dec 21 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon’s newly-appointed Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, vowed to form a government of experts, to deal with the current economic and political challenges. “I totally understand the demands of the protesters. I only ask them to give us some time, to form an exceptional government capable…

China-Aided Conservatory Starts Construction In Lebanon

BEIRUT, Dec 21 (NNN-NNA) – Construction of a China-aided conservatory, with an investment of 62 million U.S. dollars, was started on Friday. “It is an important landmark in the cultural exchanges between China and Lebanon, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon, Wang Kejian…
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