IMF approves aid for world’s 28 poorest countries

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund approved new emergency aid for 28 of the world’s poorest countries to help them alleviate their debt and better cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement, which follows a similar measure passed in mid-April for 25 countries, is…

Belarus opposition leader joins Berlin protest ahead of Merkel meeting

BERLIN, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged protesters to keep up their fight against strongman Alexander Lukashenko after she arrived in Berlin Monday for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This, our struggle, has not only united the Belarusians in our homeland but in the…

Covid-19: US deaths top 210,000 – Johns Hopkins University

NEW YORK, Oct 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — US COVID-19 deaths surpassed 210,000 on Monday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. With the national caseload topping 7.4 million, the death toll across the United States rose to 210,013 as of 3:23 p.m. local time…

Military takes key posts in Mali’s interim govt

BAMAKO, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A transition government tasked with leading Mali back to civilian rule was appointed on Monday, with numerous members of the military junta that seized power in a coup occupying key posts. Following the bloodless Aug 18 coup that toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the junta…

Covid-19: India and South Africa ask WTO to waive rules to aid drug production

GENEVA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India and South Africa want the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property rules to make it easier for developing countries to produce or import COVID-19 drugs, a letter to the WTO shows. In their letter dated Oct 2 the two countries called on…

Covid-19: EU commission president says she’s self-isolating after contact with positive person

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Commission PresidentS Ursula von der Leyen has said she is self-isolating after having contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. “I’ve been informed that I participated in a meeting last Tuesday (Sept 29) attended by a…

Iraq: 2 rocket attacks target Baghdad airport, Green Zone

Iraq’s military says two Katyusha rockets hit near Baghdad airport BAGHDAD, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Two Katyusha rocket attacks targeted Baghdad airport and the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital on Monday without causing human casualty, the Iraqi military said. One of the attacks took place before dawn when two rockets were fired…

India conveys support for safe, sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas back to Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW (Myanmar), Oct 6 (NNN-BSS) — India has conveyed its support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy repatriation of forcibly displaced persons from Myanmar’s Rakhine State and announced for deepening economic and trade ties between the two countries. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla expressed the support during…

EU backs Nigerian or South Korean for WTO job: diplomats

BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU member states have thrown their weight behind two women candidates to lead the World Trade Organization, one from Nigeria and the other from South Korea, diplomats said. European envoys gave their support to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, and Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s…

Brazil GDP decline set for less than feared at 5.8 percent: IMF

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s economy is set to shrink by 5.8 percent in 2020, the International Monetary Fund said, revising up an earlier forecast but warning the country faced “excpetionally high” risks. “The economy is projected to shrink by 5.8 percent in 2020, followed by a partial recovery…