Russia blocks extension of UN mission to Libya: diplomatic sources

  UNITED NATIONS, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has deadlocked the Security Council over the one-year renewal of the United Nations political mission in Libya, threatening international unity ahead of a presidential election on Dec 24, diplomatic sources said.   Moscow, which has veto-wielding power, did not approve the language…

Kosovo war crimes court begins first case

  THE HAGUE, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first case at a special court probing Kosovo’s 1998-1999 independence conflict begins on Wednesday in The Hague, with the war crimes trial of a former rebel leader.   Salih Mustafa, 49, a commander in the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), faces…

Covid-19: US approaching Delta wave peak but virus expected to become endemic

  WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The latest coronavirus wave in the United States driven by the Delta variant could soon peak, but experts warn against complacency and expect the virus will be part of everyday life foryears to come.   The seven-day-average of daily cases as of Monday was…

Covid-19: France gets tough on vaccine rule for health workers

  PARIS, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French government faces a stand-off with tens of thousands of health workers and carers Wednesday over a new rule requiring them to receive a Covid-19 vaccine or face suspension without pay.   Starting Wednesday, hospital staff, ambulance drivers, retirement home workers, private doctors,…

More women now hold powerful cabinet posts in Tanzania

Samia Suluhu, Tanzania’s first woman president has elevated women to top posts DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Samia Suluhu Hassan keeps boosting the role of women in the Tanzanian government as she entrusts them with key ministerial roles that could ultimately define her legacy as the first…

Covid-19: Britain to roll out booster vaccines for over 50s

LONDON, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Booster vaccines will be offered to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes, and frontline health and social care workers, the Government has announced.Experts said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should be used as the booster dose for more than 30 million people, and that…

Colombia: Environmental defenders killed in record numbers in 2020 – Report

Activists gather around crosses in front of the Colombian Embassy in Brussels BOGOTA, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia is the world’s most dangerous country for environmental defenders, a report by Global Witness, an international human rights group, highlighted.For the second year in a row, the Andean nation saw the highest…

Czech president and his predecessor both treated in same hospital

Milos Zeman PRAGUE, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Czech President Milos Zeman has been taken to hospital, his spokesperson said, without disclosing the reason or his anticipated length of stay.A separate adviser to the president told Czech Radio that it was a matter of routine examinations.Zeman’s predecessor, Vaclav Klaus, is also…

Coal replaces wind as Germany’s biggest energy source in first half of the year

This was 20.9 percent more than the same six-month period last year BERLIN, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Coal displaced wind power as Germany’s most important energy source in the first half of the year, with a debate over climate change, measures raging ahead of elections in September.According to calculations by…

Greece probes crash that killed witness in Netanyahu trial

A coast guard vessel arrives with two bodies at Pythagorio port, on the eastern Aegean island of Samos ATHENS, Sept 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek authorities are investigating the crash of a private plane from Israel that killed a prosecution witness in Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.Haim Geron, a former senior official…