DAMASCUS -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in on Saturday for a fourth seven-year term, emphasizing the importance of production, investment, and anti-corruption given the tough economic situation in the country.

Speaking during his inauguration ceremony, Assad said the focus of the next phase will be on increasing production, which is the key to improving livelihood amid the tough economic hardship in Syria. (Syria-President-Inauguration)

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LONDON -- British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling "a bit groggy" last night.

He said on Twitter that he has had two jabs of the vaccine and his symptoms are "mild". He is now self-isolating at home with his family. (Britain-Health Secretary-COVID-19)

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia recorded a fresh high of 138 single-day death toll from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total deaths to 6,866, according to the Health Ministry.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement another 12,528 new COVID-19 infections were reported, of which 19 are imported and 12,509 are local transmissions, bringing the national total to 905,851. (Malaysia-Pandemic)

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BAGHDAD -- Four Iraqi soldiers were killed on Saturday in an attack by militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in the northern province of Kirkuk, a provincial police source said.

The attack took place in the morning when IS militants opened fire on an army outpost in a village near the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, Falah al-Obaidi told Xinhua. (Iraq-Militants) Enditem

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