Covid-19: Russian Pres Putin to self-isolate due to contact with inner circle

Russian President Vladimir Putin MOSCOW, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Russian President Vladimir Putin is going into self-isolation because of coronavirus cases in his inner circle, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. The announcement came in the Kremlin’s readout of Putin’s phone call with the Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Putin has been…

Update: Nigeria recaptures 108 inmates after prison outbreak

  ABUJA, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 108 out of 240 inmates who escaped from a prison in central Nigeria have been recaptured, a prison official said Tuesday.    Heavily armed gunmen stormed the Security Custodial Centre in Kabba, in Kogi State, late on Sunday, freeing scores of inmates.    It was…

Rainfall helps firefighters control southern Spain’s inferno

A seaplane flies over a wildfire near the town of Jubrique, in Malaga province, Spain MADRID, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in southern Spain say that rain has helped to bring under control a major wildfire that ravaged 7,800 hectares of land despite more than five days of intense firefighting work by…

Russian Pres Putin condemns foreign troops in Syria in Assad meeting

 MOSCOW, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the presence of foreign troops in Syria, a Kremlin statement said Tuesday, as he held unannounced talks in Moscow with the country’s embattledPresident Bashar al-Assad.    Moscow has been a key ally of the Assad regime throughout the Syrian conflict…

Tanzania President appoints first female Defence Minister

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed a politician dismissed for criticising her predecessor as energy minister in a cabinet reshuffle that also included the nomination of the country’s first female defence minister. Former deputy environment minister January…

Covid-19 pass becomes mandatory for certain services in Lithuania

Citizens are seen on a street in Vilnius, Lithuania VILNIUS, Sept 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — The national COVID-19 certificates became mandatory for people to access certain services in Lithuania on Monday. The Opportunity Pass can be issued to people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 180 days, have tested…

Tunisian president sacks minister of youth, sports and professional integration

TUNIS, Sept 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian President Kais Saied removed Minister of Youth, Sports and Professional Integration Sihem Ayadi from her duties, the Tunisian Presidency said. The statement did not clarify the reasons of this decision. On July 25, Saied announced that he had removed Hichem Mechichi from the post…

Wildfire evacuees tempted not to vote in Canada election

  LYTTON (Canada), Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — On the front lines of global warming, evacuees from Lytton, a western Canadian village destroyed by wildfires in June, are detached and bitter about the upcoming Sept 20 snap elections.    Lytton, located 250 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, gained international attention for setting…

Flood, storm surge warnings as Hurricane Nicholas heads for Texas

A satellite image shows Hurricane Nicholas on Sept 13 HOUSTON, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nicholas strengthened into a hurricane late Monday ahead of making landfall along the central Texas coast, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The storm is expected to hit the region with “life-threatening” rainfall, strong…

Sudan floods kill over 80 people: official

   KHARTOUM, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floods following heavy rain in Sudan have killed more than 80 people and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes, an official said.    “A total of 84 people were killed and 67 others injured in 11 states across Sudan since the beginning…