IMF confirms plan to expand emergency aid to help countries deal with food shocks

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed that it is moving toward expanding emergency financing for countries hit by surging food prices and shortages triggered by the war in Ukraine, with some 20 to 30 countries seen most in need. IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said…

Somalia: Military says offensive retakes 20 villages from Al-Shabaab militants

MOGADISHU, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s military says an offensive in the central Hiran region has captured 20 villages that were occupied by the militant group al-Shabaab. A Somali National Army commander, Captain Mohamed Ibrahim Daud, tsaid that army troops backed by armed locals have killed more than 100 al-Shabaab…

Argentina: Superminister Massa clinches IMF deal pending board approval

WASHINGTON, Sept 113 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s Superminister Sergio Massa and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristialina Georgieva reached an agreement for a US$ 4 billion loan for the country’s Central Bank (BCRA). If the Board of Directors should approve of it, the disbursement would be almost a formality, since…

Nearly 50 Armenian soldiers killed in fierce clashes with Azerbaijan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan YEREVAN, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armenia said Tuesday that nearly 50 of its soldiers had been killed in the worst clashes with Azerbaijan since their war two years ago, but Russia said it had convinced the historic rivals to agree to a rapid ceasefire. After…

Air strike on Ethiopia’s Tigray: rebels, hospital

MEKELLE (Tigray, Ethiopia), Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The capital of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region was hit by an air strike on Tuesday, hospital officials and Tigrayan rebels said. The reported strike on Mekelle came just days after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said it was ready for a ceasefire…

Los Angeles reports area’s first death due to monkeypox; 2nd known death in the US

LOS ANGELES, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Los Angeles Department of Public Health said it had confirmed the area’s first death due to monkeypox, saying the individual was severely immunocompromised and had been hospitalised. The department said it had made the determination that the death in Los Angeles County was…

UK: Royals stage vigil as mourners stream by queen’s coffin

EDINBURGH, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — King Charles III and his siblings staged a vigil over the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as thousands of mourners in Edinburgh filed past to pay their final respects. The new monarch, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Andrew stood with heads bowed on…

Heatwaves: France sees record heat for September

BORDEAUX, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France saw record temperatures for September hit the country, notably the south west, amid a heatwave drifting up from Morocco, the Meteo-France weather service said. The thermometer hit 39.1 degrees Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit) at Mont-de-Marsan in the southwestern Landes department and 39C at nearby…

At least 17 dead in bloody 72 hours in Colombia

BOGOTA, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 17 people were killed over the last three days in Colombia in a spate of violent incidents, authorities said, highlighting the huge task facing President Gustavo Petro. In the northern city of Barranquilla, six people were shot dead by gunmen on Monday morning…

US: Bezos rocket crashes after lift-off, only experiments aboard

This image provided by Blue Origin shows a capsule containing science experiments after a launch failure and parachuting onto the desert floor CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida, US), Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A rocket crashed back to Earth shortly after lift-off Monday in the first launch accident for Jeff Bezos’ space travel…