Covid-19: World Bank approves $12 bln for vaccines

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank said that it approved $12 billion for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, tests and treatment. The financing “aims to support vaccination of up to a billion people,” the bank said in a statement. The money is…

Mali: 23 soldiers, civilians killed in militant attacks

BAMAKO, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twenty-three people were killed in central Mali in a series of attacks, officials said, in the deadliest ambush since military officers seized power in August. Militants raided a military outpost in the central town of Sokoura, near the border with neighbouring Burkina Faso, killing nine…

Turkey: 44 people die from bootleg alcohol; 30 others hospitalised

ISTANBUL, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 44 people have died in less than a week after consuming bootleg alcohol in Turkey, where clandestine production has grown because of high taxes on alcoholic beverages, local media reported. State-run TRT television reported that the victims had died since last Friday in…

Campaigning begins for Ivory Coast presidential vote

ABIDJAN, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Campaigning begins in Ivory Coastfor the Oct 31 presidential election, with incumbent AlassaneOuattara seeking a controversial third term while the opposition is pushingfor civil disobedience amid violent demonstrations. Many observers fear a pre- or post-election crisis comparable to that in2010-2011 when 3,000 people died and…

Covid-19: Surge in cases in Europe of ‘great concern’, says WHO Europe

COPENHAGEN, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization’s European office said that the soaring number of Covid-19 cases in Europe has caused “great concern”, but said the situation was still better than the peaks in April. “The evolving epidemiological situation in Europe raises great concern. Daily numbers of cases…

Somalia: Army kills 61 al-Shabaab militants in attack near Mogadishu; 18 soldiers also die

MOGADISHU, Oct 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — Somali army killed 61 al-Shabaab militants in an ambush near the town of Afgoye, some 30 km west of the capital Mogadishu, police confirmed. Dhame Sadik Adan, a police spokesman, said 18 soldiers died after the insurgents ambushed Somali National Army (SNA) troops on their…

Russia, Turkey urge ‘joint efforts’ to end Karabakh fight: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin called for international cooperation to end fierce clashes over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan, during a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said. The two leaders “stressed the urgent need for joint efforts to end the…

Kyrgyzstan president Jeenbekov announces resignation

BISHKEK, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kyrgyzstan’s President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on Thursday, saying he wanted to bring an end to the crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month. “I am not clinging to power. I do not want to go down in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a…

US encourages Saudis to normalize ties with Israel

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel, in what would be a massive boost for the Jewish state amid normalization by two other Gulf Arab kingdoms. Bahrain, which tightly coordinates its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab…

Bangladesh urges int’l community to help rehabilitate Rohingyas in Myanmar

DHAKA, Oct 16 (NNN-BSS) — Bangladesh put emphasis on immediate repatriation of the Rohingyas in their homeland and reiterated call to the international community, including the United States, to help in their rehabilitation process. “We want immediate repatriation of the Rohingyas and the world community, including the United States, should…