Covid-10: Ecuador saves over 56,000 jobs during pandemic, says president

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Ecuador to protest against the government’s economic response to the coronavirus outbreak QUITO, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Ecuadorian government was able to save more than 56,000 jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a Humanitarian Aid Law that was put…

US presidential election: First ballots issued in North Carolina

WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than half-million absentee ballots, the first ballots of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, have left elections offices en route to voters who have requested them across the southern state of North Carolina, a spokesman for the North Carolina Board of Elections said. Over 643,000…

Serbia, Kosovo agree on economic normalization, after meeting with US Pres Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump (M), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo agreed to economic normalization at a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday. With Serbian…

China backs Venezuela’s right to safeguard national sovereignty: FM

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (L) greets Chinese medical experts in Caracas, Venezuela BEIJING, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — China stands with the Venezuelan people in their fight against COVID-19 and upholds the Venezuelan government’s right to safeguard national sovereignty, and national dignity and development, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi…

Lebanon: Beirut marks one month since deadly port blasts

People participate in a prayer gathering to mark one month after huge explosions in Beirut BEIRUT, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — A number of Muslim and Christian clerics and a big crowd of citizens held a prayer gathering near the destroyed wheat squashes at the port of Beirut for those who…

More vessels join rescue efforts on burning oil tanker off Sri Lanka’s eastern coast

Fireboats extinguish fire of an oil tanker in the seas off Sri Lanka’s eastern coast COLOMBO, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Sri Lanka Navy said more vessels had joined the rescue efforts in dousing the flames on board an oil tanker which caught fire on Thursday morning in the seas…

Beirut explosion: Rescuers investigate ‘heartbeat in the rubble’

People at the scene are hoping for a miraculous story of survival BEIRUT, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Rescuers in Beirut are continuing to search through the rubble of a building amid reports a person could be alive, one month after a massive blast devastated the Lebanese capital. Specialist sensor equipment was to sent…

Hong Kong security law: UN experts voice deep concerns

HONG KONG, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) —UN human rights experts have told China a new security law for Hong Kong poses a serious risk to the city’s freedoms. The legislation has been widely criticised since it was imposed by Beijing in June after months of huge pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong last year. In…

Turkey must drop ‘threats’ for talks to begin: Greek PM

ATHENS, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Turkey to stop making “threats” against his country if talks on reducing tension in the eastern Mediterranean over maritime borders and gas exploration are to begin. “Let threats go away so that the contacts can begin,” Mitsotakis said as…

Covid-19: KLM and Etihad among airlines barred from Nigeria

Domestic flights within Nigeria have already resumed ABUJA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria has barred airlines from a number of countries as it resumes international passenger flights on Saturday. Ten airlines have not been allowed to operate – including Air France, KLM Royal Dutch from the Netherlands, Lufthansa from Germany,…