Three Killed As Super Cyclone Amphan Batters India’s West Bengal, Odisha

NEW DELHI, May 21 (NNN-PTI) – Three people were killed Wednesday, after super cyclone Amphan battered India’s eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha. According to local media, two women and a man were killed after gusty winds uprooted trees in Howrah and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.…

Iran’s President Lauds “Self-Sufficiency” Amid U.S. Sanctions

TEHRAN, May 21 (NNN-IRNA) – U.S. sanctions have hurt Iranians over the past years, but they also led to great achievements, such as self-sufficiency in many areas, Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, said. “Despite the harsh conditions of the country and the illegal and unjust sanctions and the severe economic pressure…

WHO Should Not Be Used As Puck To Settle Political Accounts: Russian Deputy FM

MOSCOW, May 19 (NNN-TASS) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) should not be used as a puck to settle political accounts, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Tuesday. “WHO should not become a puck to be passed back and forth, pursuing goals other than those of building most efficient…

Netanyahu Asks For Pass On Attending His Corruption Trial

JERUSALEM, May 20 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, filed on Tuesday, a request not to stand before the court, at the opening session of his criminal trial next week. In the request, Netanyahu’s lawyers say, his presence was “unnecessary” and would cost “a fortune.” According to the lawyers,…

Lebanon Announces End Of Academic Year, Cancels Official Exams Amid COVID-19

BEIRUT, May 20 (NNN-NNA) – The Lebanese cabinet agreed on Tuesday, to end the academic year for schools and cancel official exams, amid increases in COVID-19 infections in the country. Students will take no official exams but continue their online education until the end of this month, it said. Meanwhile,…

Palestine Abolishes All Agreements With Israel, U.S. To Protest Against West Bank Annexation

RAMALLAH, May 20 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine, on Tuesday, declared the abolition of all agreements and understandings with Israel and the U.S., in protest against Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank. “The Palestine Liberation Organisation and the State of Palestine are absolved, as of today (yesterday), of all…

Africa’s COVID-19 Cases Rise To 88,172

ADDIS ABABA, May 20 (NNN-ENA) – The number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases across Africa rose from 84,634 Monday afternoon, to 88,172 as of Tuesday afternoon, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The continental disease control and prevention agency, which noted that the virus has…

Japanese Gov’t To Provide Cash Hand-Outs To Students In Need Amid Pandemic

TOKYO, May 20 (NNN-NHK) – The Japanese government is planning to offer financial aid to students here, who are struggling due to the pandemic, with the Cabinet on Tuesday approving the programme. The Cabinet agreed to offer students who are suffering financially up to 200,000 yen (1,900 U.S. dollars) in…

Thai National Carrier To Seek Restructuring Via Bankruptcy Court

BANGKOK, May 20 (NNN-TNA) – Thailand’s national flag carrier, Thai Airways International Plc, will seek restructuring via a bankruptcy court, after the Thai Cabinet Tuesday approved a rehabilitation plan for the troubled state enterprise. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed to the plan, proposed by the…

Indonesian Capital Extends Partial Lock-down Again As Cases Leap

JAKARTA, May 20 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, which is hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, on Tuesday, decided to prolong a large-scale social restriction as the number of virus infections spikes in the country. Jakarta’s governor, Anies Baswedan, announced that, the partial lock-down is extended for another 14…