TEHRAN -- At least 17 people were killed in heavy rains and subsequent flood in the southern Shiraz city of Iran on Monday, official IRNA news agency reported.

In the incident, at least 74 others were injured, according to the Emergency Organization of Iran, the report said. (Iran-Flood-Shiraz)

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Monday said it is following up developments in the Gaza Strip with grave concern, particularly the recent hours' escalation, despite Egypt's efforts to maintain calm.

The committee accused the Israeli government of "seeking to use the developments in the Israeli election next month, and utilize it for the benefit of the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies." (Palestine-Israel-Gaza Strip)

- - - -

TBILISI -- Visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday reassured that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) supports Georgia's aspiration to join it and hopes Georgia will be admitted into it soon.

During a joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze in Tbilisi, the NATO head said he hopes Georgia can soon be admitted into NATO, and underlined that it is only up to Georgia and NATO to make decisions about this issue. (Georgia-NATO-Chief)

- - - -

ATHENS -- Greece marked on Monday the 198th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence on March 25, 1821 against the 400-year Ottoman rule with a customary military parade in the center of Athens.

In his message for the day, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who attended the parade in Athens, urged Greeks to continue defending freedom, friendship and cooperation among nations. (Greece-Independence Day)

- - - -

TASHKENT -- The World Bank has approved a loan worth 200 million U.S. dollars to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in one of Uzbekistan's densely populated rural areas, the bank said on Monday.

According to a statement, the loan will come from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a member of the World Bank Group, and will help to start a new rural enterprise development project in the eastern Ferghana Valley. (Uzbekistan-World Bank-Loan) Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)