Covid-19: Number of cases worldwide up by over 338,779 in past day, says WHO

GENEVA, Oct 9 (NNN-TASS) — The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide topped 36 million in the past day, up by 338,779 in the past 24 hours, the World Health Organization said in its daily bulletin. According to the international organization’s figures, the global number of fatalities increased by…

NATO chief says allies will leave Afghanistan together

BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NATO insisted Thursday that its members would consult and decide together on when to leave Afghanistan, after US President Donald Trump vowed to bring American troops home by Christmas. Trump, trailing in polls ahead of the Nov 3 presidential election, made his surprise announcement on…

Indonesia: 11 feared dead after ship capsizes off Bali 4 days ago

JAKARTA, Oct 9 (NNN-XINHUA) – Eleven people were feared dead after aship sank in the waters off Indonesia’s Bali resort island four days ago, atop rescuer said on Friday. The fishing ship, KM Tanjung Permai, operated by a fishing firm was hit byhuge waves and capsized in the sea off…

Mali: Release of 12 personalities arrested during coup d’état

Former Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cissé in March 2020 in Bamako BAMAKO, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The military who seized power on Aug 18 in Mali before embarking on a transition supposed to bring civilians back to power announced the release of the 12 civilian and military personalities arrested in…

Azeris and ethnic Armenians fight as Russia, U.S. and France seek ceasefire

Smoke rises as Azerbaijan’s forces shell targets during the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh near the city of Terter, Azerbaijan YEREVAN/BAKU/GENEVA, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians fought with artillery and heavy guns as the United States, France and Russia stepped up efforts to secure a…

Last French hostage in the world released by jihadists in Mali

 Sophie Pétronin ran a charity for malnourished children before she was abducted in the northern city of Gao on Christmas Eve in 2016 BAMAKO, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in Mali have confirmed the release of an elderly French aid worker, two Italian captives and a top Malian politician, all believed to…

Ukraine’s new daily coronavirus cases exceed 5,000

A passenger wearing a protective face mask is seen in a bus amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in central Kiev KIEV, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukraine registered a record 5,397 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the national security council said, up from a previous record of 4,753 new…

Homeland Security steps up warnings about 2020 U.S. election security

The logo of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stepped up warnings about foreign threats to US election security, affirming other agencies’ concerns regarding Russian interference in particular. In a 26-page “Homeland Threat Assessment”, DHS said that “Russia…

Covid-19: Pandemic pushes up cost of Norway’s oil and gas projects

OSLO, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the development of Norway’s offshore oil and gas projects, pushing up costs and postponing startups, the government and oil company Equinor EQNR.OL said. The costs of ongoing projects rose by 13.2 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.4 billion) from a year ago…

Westgate: Two found guilty over Kenya shopping mall attack

Suspects (left to right) Hassan Hussein Mustafa, Liban Abdullahi Omar, and Mohamed Ahmed Abdi standing in the dock during their appearance for their case at the Milimani court in Nairobi. Abdi and Mustafa were found guilty, while Omar was acquitted of charges. NAIROBI, Oct 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in…