KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's central bank Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and China's central bank the People's Bank of China (PBOC) have renewed the bilateral currency swap arrangement for a term of five years, with the size maintained at 180 billion yuan or 110 billion ringgit, the BNM said on Tuesday.

The BNM said in a statement that the first agreement between the bank and the PBOC was established in 2009, and was renewed in 2012, 2015 and 2018. (Malaysia-China-Currency Swap Deal)

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COLOMBO -- The Sri Lanka Navy on Tuesday afternoon said six people died and 14 people including children were rescued after a ferry capsized in Kinniya in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province earlier in the day.

Navy Spokesperson Captain Indika De Silva told Xinhua that the ferry capsized early Tuesday while it was crossing a waterway as the bridge above has been damaged. (Sri Lanka-Boat Capsizal-Toll)

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Health Minister Andrew Little said drug-checking services will continue to operate legally at festivals, pop-up clinics, university orientation and other places this summer and beyond thanks to a law passed on Tuesday.

The services have been legal since last summer under temporary legislation that expires next month.

The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No. 2), which passed its third reading and will come into effect on Dec. 7, means services can now continue and be expanded as required, Little said in a statement. (New Zealand-Drug Checking-Pass)

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KABUL -- Afghanistan has exported 698 tonnes of dried fruit within the past two weeks, a spokesman of the Taliban caretaker government said on Tuesday.

"According to information provided by the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, Afghan traders have exported 698 metric tonnes of dried fruit, including 585 tonnes of raisins, to European Union, Australia, the United States and several countries in Asia during the past two weeks," spokesman Inamhullah Samangani wrote on Twitter. (Afghanistan-Dry Fruits-Export)