Afghanistan: US offers to pay relatives of 10 killed in botched drone strike

   WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it has offered to pay unspecified compensation to relatives of 10 people in Afghanistan including seven children who were killed by mistake in a US drone strike as American forces were completing their withdrawal.    In a statement the Pentagon…

Germany parties agree initial deal for next government

ext govt WorldAFPOctober 16, 2021 BERLIN, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz took a step toward succeeding Angela Merkel as chancellor, as his Social Democrats, the Greens and liberal FDP announced a preliminary deal to form a new government. The three parties have been holding talks since…

Russia says it chased US naval destroyer away from its waters

MOSCOW, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said one of its military vessels chased away a US naval destroyer that attempted to violate Russian territorial waters during Russian-Chinese naval drills in the Sea of Japan on Friday. There was no immediate comment from the US side. The Russian defence ministry said the crew…

US shooting: Parkland school shooter to plead guilty to killing 17

Nikolas Cruz will plead guilty, his lawyers have said MIAMI, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The former student accused of the Feb 14, 2018 shooting rampage at a school in Parkland, Florida, will plead guilty to murdering 17 people, his lawyer said. Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, took…

International call for Myanmar to let envoy meet Aung San Suu Kyi

SYDNEY, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight countries and the EU diplomatic chief urged the Myanmar junta to let a regional special envoy meet ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The call comes as concerns grow over the military government’s commitment to a “five-point consensus” agreed with regional bloc ASEAN…

Brazil pandemic probe to recommend Pres Bolsonaro face 11 criminal charges, senator says

BRASILIA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Brazilian Senate probe into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will recommend in its final report due next week that President Jair Bolsonaro face 11 criminal charges, the senator leading the inquiry said. Renan Calheiros said during a radio interview that the investigation launched…

Update: Fatal stabbing of British lawmaker declared as a terrorist incident

LONDON, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The fatal stabbing of British Member of Parliament David Amess was a terrorist incident, police said, as they investigated the second killing of a UK politician while meeting voters since 2016. The Metropolitan Police said its preliminary findings had revealed “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism”.…

UN extends Haiti mission by nine months

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council extended the UN mission in Haiti by nine months after an 11th-hour compromise was struck between western powers and China. The council passed a resolution extending the mandate by less than the one-year that the United States had sought…

Australian police seize record US$104 million heroin shipment in Melbourne bust, Malaysian suspect detained

MELBOURNE, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australian policed said they seized the largest heroin shipment ever detected in the country, worth an estimated A$140 million (US$104 million), and arrested a Malaysian national over the importation of the illicit drug. The 450kg shipment – as heavy as a grand piano – was…

Covid-19: Eight more deaths, 3,445 new cases in Singapore

As of Oct 14, 84 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and 85 per cent has received at least one dose SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore reported 3,445 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Friday, with eight more fatalities from complications due to the virus.…