US charges former Taliban commander with killing US troops in 2008

NEW YORK, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Taliban commander already in US custody has been charged with murder and terrorism-related offenses in the deaths of three US troops and an Afghan interpreter and the downing of a US helicopter in Afghanistan in 2008, federal prosecutors in New York said. The US Attorney’s Office…

US Senate approves temporary lift to debt ceiling, averting default

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Senate on Thursday approved legislation to temporarily raise the federal government’s US$28.4 trillion debt limit and avoid the risk of a historic default this month, but it put off until early December a decision on a longer-lasting remedy. The Senate voted 50-48 to pass…

US nuclear sub damaged in underwater collision in South East Asia

A US Navy image shows the USS Connecticut departing a Washington naval base for deployment in May 2021 WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US nuclear submarine was damaged after hitting an unidentified object while operating underwater in Asia, the US Navy said.  The USS Connecticut, a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine,…

Germany and Denmark repatriate 37 children and 11 ‘ Daesh women’ from Syria

BERLIN, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany says it has repatriated eight women, who had joined the so-called Daesh, and 23 children from a camp in northern Syria. They were brought back in a joint operation with Denmark, who repatriated three women and 14 children, Germany’s foreign ministry said. Germany’s Foreign…

UN, humanitarian partners scale up life-saving response in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — United Nations agencies and their humanitarian partners are racing against time to deliver life-saving aid and supplies to crisis-hit Afghans ahead of winter, a UN agency said.   “In September, more than 3.8 million people received food assistance, 21,000 children aged 6-59 months and…

Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah wins Nobel Literature Prize

   STOCKHOLM, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose work touches on colonialism and refugee life, on Thursday won the Nobel Literature Prize, the Swedish Academy said.   Gurnah, who grew up on the island of Zanzibar but came to England as a refugee at the end of…

Guinea coup leader appoints civilian Prime Minister

Junta leader Doumbouya with ECOWAS Chair Akufo-Addo during a visit to Conakry CONAKRY, Oct 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinea’s military president Colonel Mamady Doumbouya has appointed a former diplomat as prime minister in the transitional government.Mohamed Béavogui, who once served as United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, was named on Wednesday through a…

Brazil police find stash of Nazi material in home of suspected child abuser

A handout photo released by police shows Nazi uniforms RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Rio de Janeiro found a vast collection of Nazi uniforms and memorabilia in the home of an alleged child abuser, along with several weapons, officials said.  The 58-year-old suspect, identified as Aylson…

17 migrants found dead on Libya beach: Coast guard

The bodies of 17 migrants have been found washed up on a Libyan beach TRIPOLI, Oct 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The bodies of 17 migrants have been found washed up on a Libyan beach after their boat capsized during a bid to reach Europe by sea, the coast guard said. Libya…

WHO backs malaria vaccine rollout for Africa’s children in major breakthrough

NAIROBI, Oct 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said the only approved vaccine against malaria should be widely given to African children, potentially marking a major advance against a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people annually. The WHO recommendation is for RTS,S – or Mosquirix – a…