Spain declares volcano hit La Palma as disaster zone

MADRID, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s government classified the island of La Palma, which has been struck by a volcanic eruption, as a disaster zone on Tuesday, a move that will trigger emergency subsidies and other support measures. The government announced a first package of €10.5 million (US$12.30 million), which…

Covid-19: South Africa administers close to 17 million vaccines to date

PRETORIA, Sept 28 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa has administered 16,999,722 doses of COVID-19 jabs as of Monday evening, the Department of Health said. The tally includes the two-dose Pfizer vaccine as well as the single shot of the Johnson & Johnson jab. According to the latest data, 159,732 vaccines were…

France’s Sanofi halts work on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

PARIS, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi said it was stopping work on an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 despite positive test results as it lags behind rivals on producing a coronavirus shot. The company said it would focus instead on another type of jab it is developing with British…

Blast rocks residential area in Sweden’s Gothenburg, four badly hurt

GOTHENBURG, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four people were seriously hurt in an explosion and fire in a central residential area of the Swedish city of Gothenburg early on Tuesday. The immediate cause of the blast and blaze was unclear. At least 16 people were taken to hospital after fire fighters…

US: Murders rose 30 percent in 2020 – FBI

The number of murders in the United States rose by around 30 percent in 2020 over the previous year, to some 21,500 WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of murders in the United States rose by around 30 percent in 2020 over the previous year, to some 21,500, the…

South Sudan dismisses UN report on corruption

Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro JUBA, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s government has dismissed a UN report accusing the country’s governing elite of looting tens of millions of dollars from public coffers, saying it is the victim of an “international campaign”. Last week, the UN’s Commission on Human Rights…

Major corporations urge Brazil to boost climate pledges

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of the 107 biggest companies in Brazil called for the Bolsonaro government to strengthen its environmental commitments, just one month ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.   “Brazil should be a participant in climate negotiations,” the companies said in…

Venezuela: Third dialogue round ends in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Sept 28 (NNN-TELESUR) — The representative of the Kingdom of Norway in the dialogue process between the Government of Venezuela and the opposition, Dag Nylander, indicated that both Venezuelan delegations agreed to create broad participation mechanisms to pacify the South American country. “It was agreed to immediately hold…

10 dissident rebels killed in Colombia

  BOGOTA, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia’s armed forces killed 10 rebels suspected of belonging to one of the largest dissident FARC units, a senior military official said.   The country is experiencing some of the worst attacks by armed groups since a peace deal was signed with the Revolutionary…

Germany election: Coalition talks begin after close election

BERLIN, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The polls have closed and Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have claimed victory in the federal election. But the country is no closer to knowing who will be its next leader. Now, the complicated process of forming a coalition government begins. SPD leader Olaf Scholz…