Thailand Borrows 1.5 Billion USD From ADB To Revive Economy Hit By COVID-19

BANGKOK, Nov 17 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Finance and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), inked an agreement yesterday, for Thailand to secure a loan of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, to salvage an economy badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The 1.5 billion U.S. dollar-loan was part of Thailand’s one…

Eight Killed, 11 Injured In NW Pakistan After Van Falls Into Ravine

ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (NNN-APP) – A passenger van plunged into a ravine, in Pakistan’s northwest district of Nowshera yesterday, claiming eight lives, while injuring 11 others, a government official said. Women and a child were among those killed, when the vehicle tumbled off the Kaka Sahib road in Nowshera, a…

Hamas, Fatah Resume Reconciliation Dialogue In Cairo: Officials

GAZA, Nov 17 (NNN-WAFA) – Leaders of Hamas movement and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, resumed dialogue in Cairo, on ending internal division and achieving unity. Abdulatif al-Qanoua, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, told reporters, the two movements’ delegations convened yesterday in Cairo, to continue their reconciliation dialogue that has…

Qantas Turns 100, With Special Place In Hearts Of Australians

SYDNEY, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – It has been 100 years since Australia’s national airline, Qantas, was founded, making it one of the oldest continuously-operating airlines in the world, with a special place in the hearts of Australians. To mark the occasion, one of Qantas’ planes made a 100-minute celebration flight…

S. Korea’s Korean Air To Acquire Asiana Airlines

SEOUL, Nov 17 (NNN-YONHAP) – Korean Air Lines, South Korea’s biggest air carrier, will acquire the country’s debt-ridden second-biggest air carrier, Asiana Airlines, it was reported yesterday, state-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB), as saying. The KDB, one of the major creditors of the debt-laden airline, will invest in 500 billion…

Asia-Pacific Countries Report More COVID-19 Cases, Deaths

HONG KONG, Nov 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – Confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to climb in Asia-Pacific, as India recorded 435 new deaths, taking the death toll in India to 130,070. India’s tally reached 8,845,127, as 30,548 new cases were registered across the country, according to the latest data released by…

South Australia Reinstates COVID-19 Restrictions To Suppress New Outbreak

CANBERRA, Nov 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – South Australia (SA) reintroduced a range of COVID-19 restrictions, in an attempt to prevent the spread of a new outbreak of the virus. As of yesterday afternoon, there were 27,750 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and most cases in the last 24 hours are reported in…

Iran, Iraq Finalise Bilateral Defence Cooperation

TEHRAN, Nov 16 (NNN-IRNA) – Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, announced yesterday, the final steps in the drafting of an Iran-Iraq defence cooperation charter, after meeting with Iraqi Minister of Defence, Juma Inad Saadoun. “The two countries prepared a charter that is now in its…

Syrian FM Walid Al-Moallem Passes Away

DAMASCUS, Nov 16 (NNN-SANA) – Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moallem, died at dawn today, the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced. The official announcement is yet to name the cause of al-Moallem’s death. Born in 1941, al-Moallem studied economics and political science, at the Cairo University in Egypt, and graduated in 1963.…

COVID-19 May Have Appeared In Italy Earlier Than Thought: Study

ROME, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – COVID-19 may have been circulating in Italy since Sept, 2019, three months before it first emerged in China, according to a study released by the National Cancer Institute (INT). If true, it would mean that the virus was present in Italy three months before it…