Head of an Iran free-trade zone said measures have been introduced to simplify imports of industrial raw materials via streamlined customs procedures, with goods clearance taking at most one week to 10 days.

US natural gas rigs totaled 132 in the week to Oct. 23, down from 133 the previous week.

A magnitude-7.0 earthquake hit Baqing County, Nagqu, Tibet at 22:33 on Oct 22, depth 10 km. The quake affected 13,673 people; 12,489 have been evacuated (7,600 in Maru township, 4,889 in Gangqie township). By 17:00 on Oct 23, central, regional, municipal and county authorities had dispatched 60,518 relief items across 20 categories, including 4,758 tents and 2,000 prefabricated housing units. Main roads were reopened by midday and power to the affected area was fully restored at 20:38 on Oct 23 after repairs to the final low-voltage distribution zone.