Update: 14 dead in fire at COVID-19 hospital in North Macedonia

SKOPJE, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen people have died in a fire at a hospital treating coronavirus patients in North Macedonia, authorities said on Thursday.  The fire broke out late on Wednesday following an explosion in a COVID-19 clinic in Tetovo in the northwest of the Balkan country, said Prime…

Russia moves Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets to Belarus to patrol borders, Minsk says

A Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet MOSCOW, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has sent Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets to western Belarus to form a joint military training centre, fly joint missions and patrol the two countries’ borders, the Belarusian defence ministry said. The announcement comes two days before the start of military…

Pres Biden wants solar to provide 45% of US energy by 2050

Solar panels are seen on the roof of a building in Baldwin Park, California WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Biden administration said the United States should aim to garner nearly 50 per cent of its electric supply from solar energy by mid-century, unveiling the latest component of its climate…

Covid-19: Chile to vaccinate kids 6 to 11 with medical conditions

SANTIAGO, Sept 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile will resume its vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) next week by vaccinating adolescents aged 14 to 17, and children aged 6 to 11 with underlying medical conditions, Deputy Minister of Public Health Paula Daza said. “Between Monday, Sept 13 and Thursday,…

Fifth deceased found at the site of explosion in Russia’s Noginsk

  MOSCOW, Sept 9 (NNN-TASS) — The death toll from a household gas explosion in a residential building in Noginsk near Moscow has risen to five people, the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in theMoscow Region said.   “The body of the fifth victim was found under…

125 villagers massacred in Ethiopia’s Amhara: doctors

  ADDIS ABABA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 125 villagers were massacred in Ethiopia’s Amhara region earlier this month, doctors and local officials said Wednesday, but rebels from neighbouring Tigray rejected claims they wereresponsible.   It was the latest reported mass killing in the 10-month conflict in northern Ethiopia…

ECOWAS suspends Guinea after coup; demand return to constitutional order and release of detained Pres Conde

  ACCRA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — West Africa bloc ECOWAS has decided to suspend Guinea following a military coup in the country, a top regional diplomat said, urging a return to “normal constitutional order”.   Special forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power in the West African state…

Algeria detains 22 alleged separatist group members

  ALGIERS, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Algerian court has ordered 22 suspected members of a regional separatist group placed in pre-trial detention, an aid group and local media reported.   The detainees were among around 30 people arrested in recent days by the police on suspicion of belonging to…

Update: Islamists suffer crushing defeat by liberal parties in Morocco vote

  RABAT, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco’s long-ruling Islamists have suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections to liberal parties seen as close to the palace, according to provisional results announced earlyThursday.   The Justice and Development Party (PJD), which headed the ruling coalition for a decade, saw its support…

US Supreme Court grants prisoner stay of execution on religious grounds

 WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A death row prisoner in Texas was granted a last-minute stay of execution by the US Supreme Court Wednesday night after asking that his pastor be allowed to hold him as he is put todeath by lethal injection.   “The application for stay of execution…