Update: Libyan leader orders probe into Tripoli clashes

TRIPOLI, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libyan President of the Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi issued orders to start an investigation into the clashes that erupted in southern Tripoli between two security forces. The orders also included an immediate cease-fire and the return of all fighting forces to their headquarters. “The General…

Zambia elects first woman as parliament speaker

Supporters of Hakainde Hichilema wearing party regalia in Lusaka on August 16 [File: Marco Longari/AFP] LUSAKA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia’s parliament has elected its first female speaker, more than a week after longtime opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as the country’s new president. Nelly Mutti, a lawyer…

Bolivia contains wildfires in Beni and Santa Cruz departments

LA PAZ, Sept 4 (NNN-TELESUR) — Bolivia’s Civil Defense Vice Minister Juan Calvimontes said that about 95 percent of the forest fires that started in the Beni and Santa Cruz departments on Aug 1 have been extinguished. “Currently, there are only fires in San Matias municipality, in Santa Cruz department,…

500,000 Haitian children at risk of cholera, malaria: UNICEF

Get our newsletter delivered directly to your inboxI have already subscribed | Do not show this message again PORT-AU-PRINCE, Sept 4 (NNN-TELESUR) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that at least 540,000 children in Haiti are at risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea in the…

Suspected case of “mad cow” in central Brazil; live cattle prices plummet

BRASILIA, Sept 4 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture confirmed it was investigating a suspected case of “mad cow” in the central state of Minas Gerais. The situation dating to Aug 31 caused abattoirs and meatpacking plants to stop the purchase of cattle with an immediate downfall in prices,…

Covid-19: Uruguay and Argentina to allow crowds back at stadiums for football World Cup qualifiers

MONTEVIDEO, Sept 4 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has agreed to allow the return of La Celeste fans for the next home football World Cup qualifying game, but with capacity restrictions and only for vaccinated fans. Meanwhile, its Argentine counterpart has set a 30% cap and instead of…

Covid-19: UK panel against giving jabs to healthy young teens

LONDON, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government’s independent advisory body on vaccines said it would not recommend jabbing all 12- to 15-year-olds against coronavirus, arguing the benefits were “too small”.    The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a panel of experts which advises ministers, has been weighing…

UN chief to host Afghanistan aid meeting in Geneva on Sept 13: spokesman

 UNITED NATIONS, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will travel to Geneva to convene a high-level conference on aid for Afghanistan on Sept 13, his spokesman said. The country, now under the control of the Taliban after 20 years of war, is facing a “looming humanitarian…

Covid-19: Cuba starts vaccinating children in order to re-open schools amid Covid surge

 HAVANA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuban authorities on Friday launched a national campaign to vaccinate children aged two to 18 against Covid-19, a condition set by the Communist government in order to reopen schools for in-person instruction amid a spike in infections. Children aged 12 and older will be the…

Covid-19: Canada sees urgent need to get more young people vaccinated

OTTAWA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New modeling shows an “urgent need” to get more young adults in Canada vaccinated as the country fights a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Delta variant, the public health agency said. At the current rate of vaccination, new COVID-19 cases could surge…