Argentine private plane falls down on approach to Punta del Este killing two

MONTEVIDEO, Aug 23 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — An Argentine-registered single-engined aircraft fell Sunday in the Sierras de las Ánimas, in the Uruguayan department of Maldonado, near Punta del Este. Both occupants died. ”The flight which was under radar control disappeared from it at 12:43 local time, prompting a search and rescue operation…

One dead and many missing as Pemex offshore plant explodes in Gulf of Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Aug 23 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Six people were initially reported injured and taken to hospitals in nearby Campeche Sunday after a Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico was set ablaze following an explosion. Later Sunday Pemex announced one of its workers had perished and several…

US wildfires: Caldor Fire in California scorches over 100,000 acres

Flames from the Caldor Fire scorch the ground near a home in Grizzly Flats, California LOS ANGELES, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — California’s fast-moving Caldor Fire has spread so quickly that it burned an area roughly half the size of Chicago in less than a week, forcing thousands to abandon their homes. An…

Kabul airport gunfight leaves Afghan guard dead: Germany

 BERLIN, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German and US forces joined in a gun battle Monday at Kabul airport after Afghan guards and unknown assailants exchanged fire, with one guard killed, the German army said. “This morning at 4.13am, there was an exchange of fire between Afghan guards and unknown assailants…

Update: Rare tropical storm lashes northeastern United States

  NEW YORK, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tropical Storm Henri slammed into Rhode Island on the US east coast, knocking out power to thousands of Americans, uprooting trees and bringing record rainfall before weakening asit moved across New England.   The storm — earlier downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane…

UN again relocates staff from Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations flew 120 persons from Kabul to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in addition to the relocation of 100 UN staff members on Wednesday. Passengers included UN personnel and members of several nongovernmental organizations that serve as implementing partners of the UN in Afghanistan, said…

Swedish PM says to step down in November

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven STOCKHOLM, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said that he will step down in November as party leader and prime minister. The unexpected announcement by the leader of the Social Democratic Party was made during his annual summer speech on Sunday. “I…

10 dead, dozens injured in road crash in southern Ghana: official

ACCRA, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least 10 people died and dozens were injured in a road accident involving two buses in southern Ghana on Sunday, an official confirmed. Winneba Municipal Fire Officer Henry Asiedu said the accident happened when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided at Gomoa Mampong,…

Haiti quake: Death toll rises to 2,207 as challenges remain in delivery of aids

LES CAYES (Haiti), Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of people killed by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Aug 14 in Haiti has risen to 2,207, with 344 still missing, the country’s civil protection agency reported. The agency said on Twitter that a week after the earthquake, which also left at…

Covid-19: South Africa uses ‘pop-up’ vaccination centres to boost number of jabs

Olekantse Serati was one of the dozens of people who decided to get jabs on Friday. PRETORIA, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At the busy taxi stand near Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, a health worker with a megaphone called out to commuters, calling them to come and get a COVID-19 vaccination.Olekantse Serati…