Ethiopia Tigray conflict: Rebels build on capture of capital

Fighting between government troops and Tigrayan rebels have intensified in recent weeks MEKELLE (Tigray, Ethiopia), June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rebel fighters in the Tigray region of Ethiopia are continuing to gain ground after recapturing the regional capital Mekelle from government forces. The rebels have now entered the town of Shire, about…

Covid-19: Portugal exempts under-18s from quarantine

LISBON, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Under-18s travelling to mainland Portugal with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian will not have to quarantine, authorities have confirmed. The statement follows two days of confusion over whether Portugal’s new rules applied to minors. Under the rules, adults must quarantine for 14 days unless they…

US, Russia at odds as UN Council confronts threat of cyber attacks

UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council on Tuesday held its first formal public meeting on cybersecurity, addressing the growing threat of hacks to countries’ key infrastructure. While the US envoy to the world body asked that member states respect a framework already in place, her Russian counterpart…

South Africa: Former Pres Zuma gets 15-month jail term for refusing to respond to a corruption probe

Former South African President Jacob Zuma is being jailed for contempt of court PRETORIA, June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a historic ruling, South Africa’s top court handed the country’s former president, Jacob Zuma, a 15-month jail term for “egregious” contempt of court after he refused to appear before graft investigators.…

US: Pres Biden to visit Florida condo collapse site as hope dims for rescue

SURFSIDE (Florida, US), June 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden will visit the site of a deadly apartment building collapse in southern Florida on Thursday, the White House announced, as rescuers scoured the wreckage in an increasingly desperate search for survivors. A 12-story oceanfront condominium in Surfside, a neighborhood near…

Giant eruption of Costa Rica volcano

© – A Column of ash is expelled from the crater of Rincon de La Vieja volcano in Costa Rica SAN JOSE, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A volcano in northwest Costa Rica erupted on Monday, spewing an enormous column of smoke into the air in what could be its biggest outburst in…

Covid-19: Saudi Arabia to offer jabs to minors aged 12 to 18

RIYADH, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia will start inoculating minors aged 12 to 18 with the Covid-19 vaccine produced by BioNTech/Pfizer, the Ministry of Health announced.The announcement followed the approval of jabs for the age group by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority(SFDA), the kingdom’s state news agency SPA…

Covid-19: Pakistan fears another coronavirus wave may hit next month

ISLAMABAD, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pakistan on Monday reported its lowest daily coronavirus-related death toll during the third wave of the pandemic but health officials warned another wave might hit the country next month.At least 20 people died during the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry. The toll…

Israel authorises resumption of fuel delivery to Gaza

JERUSALEM, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) –Israel starting Monday resumed fuel deliveries to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza for energy production, a measure aimed at easing restrictions imposed during the recent conflict with the Hamas.From Monday, Israel will allow “the transfer of fuel to the Gaza Strip power station through the Kerem…

Bangladesh opens probe into deadly Dhaka building explosion

Officials inspect the site of the Dhaka blast that killed at least seven people DHAKA, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bangladeshi authorities have launched an investigation into a deadly explosion that killed seven people in Dhaka, officials said.The Sunday blast, believed to have been caused by accumulated cooking gas at a…