WHO congratulates China for getting malaria-free certificates

The WHO declared China malaria-free on Wednesday, following a 70-year effort GENEVA, July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China was certified as malaria-free on Wednesday by the World Health Organization, following a 70-year effort to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease. The country reported 30 million cases of the infectious disease annually in the…

Update: Death toll rises to 18 from Florida condo collapse as bodies of 2 children found

SURFSIDE (Florida, US), July 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, has grown to 18 after bodies of two children were discovered, local authorities announced. “I’m pained to tell you we found two additional bodies in the rubble, which brings our total count to…

Canada: Third unmarked graves discovered near former indigenous residential school run by church

The area of the Marieval Indian Residential School and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau VANCOUVER, July 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Another Canadian indigenous community announced Wednesday the discovery of the remains of 182 people in unmarked graves around a former indigenous residential school near Cranbrook in British Columbia province of Canada.…

Croatia reaffirms support for North Macedonia’s EU integration

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic (R) meets with visiting North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski in Zagreb, Croatia ZAGREB, July 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Croatia on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for North Macedonia’s European integration. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic met with visiting North Macedonia President Stevo Pendarovski…

Russia’s progress cargo ship successfully launches to space station

A Russian Soyuz rocket launches the Progress 78 cargo resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan  MOSCOW, July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s Progress 78 mission was successfully launched to space on Tuesday. The Progress MS-17 cargo spacecraft launched to the International Space Station from…

US wildfires: Extreme drought-plagued Los Angeles launches fireworks buyback program ahead of July 4

    LOS ANGELES, July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The drought-plagued city of Los Angeles announced a fireworks buyback program ahead of the US July 4 holiday, hoping to rein in the explosives’ illegal use in a setup similar to gun buyback programs. The initiative will make it possible to anonymously hand in…

Venezuela opposition group cleared to stand in election, says Pres Maduro

CARACAS, July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Venezuelan opposition coalition has been granted permission to contest regional elections in November after a three-year ban, the country’s electoral council said. The Democratic Unity Roundtable, known by its Spanish acronym MUD, has been cleared for “participation in the next elections” for governors and…

Germany completes troop pull-out from Afghanistan: minister

BERLIN, July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany has completed its troop pull-out from Afghanistan, started in May, the defence ministry announced, ending a nearly 20-year deployment there alongside US and other international forces. The announcement of the pull-out of German troops, whose presence there was second only to the US forces,…

US condo collapse: Death toll rises to 16

SURFSIDE (Florida, US), July 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four more bodies were discovered overnight in the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Florida, authorities said Wednesday, as the search for more than 140 people unaccounted for entered its seventh day. The official death toll now stands at 16 after most…

Somalia to hold presidential election Oct 10

 MOGADISHU, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia will hold a long-delayed presidential election on Oct 10, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday, following months of deadlock that turned violent at times. Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble’s office unveiled the timetable for indirect parliamentary and presidential elections on Twitter, saying political leaders…