Covid-19: Worrying trends in seven EU countries – EU agency

STOCKHOLM, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven European Union countries — Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Malta — are of “high concern” due to rising Covid-19 death rates, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention warned. The Stockholm-based EU agency’s latest assessment report said thesecountries had “an…

Covid-19: Top US health official hits out at ‘offensive’ attacks by Trump ally

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Robert Redfield, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said he was “disappointed” at “offensive” criticism of his agency over its Covid-19 response by an ally of President Donald Trump. Redfield’s remarks at a Senate hearing represent some of his…

US: NASA chief warns Congress about Chinese space station

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NASA chief Jim Bridenstine told lawmakers it was crucial for the US to maintain a presence in Earth’s orbit after the International Space Station is decommissioned so that China does not gain a strategic advantage. The first parts of the ISS were launched in 1998…

Covid-19: North Korea shot dead South Korean fisheries official in its waters – Seoul

SEOUL, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korean forces shot dead a SouthKorean fisheries official who disappeared off a patrol vessel and ended up in Pyongyang’s waters, Seoul’s defence ministry said, calling it an“outrageous act”. The 47-year-old man had been on board a vessel near the western borderisland of Yeonpyeong, the…

13 insurgents killed in Afghan eastern Logar province

KABUL, Sept 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 13 insurgents have been confirmed dead as government forces launched cleanup operation in Kharwar district of the eastern Logar province on Wednesday, Shahpor Ahmadzai the Provincial Police spokesman said. The restive district, according to the official, was under Taliban attacks for the…

Australian rescuers forced to euthanise some beached whales as toll rises

MACQUARIE HARBOUR (Australia), Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australian rescuers were forced to begin euthanising some surviving whales from a mass stranding that has already killed 380 members of the giant pod. While 88 pilot whales have been saved since the pod was discovered beached on Tasmania’s rugged western seaboard four…

Bangladesh urges Myanmar to interact with Rohingyas for durable solution

DHAKA, Sept 25 (NNN-BSS) — Bangladesh Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said it is time for Myanmar to interact with their displaced Rohingya people here in confidence building measures for a meaningful and durable solution. “We have requested Myanmar officials to come and talk to their displaced Rohingyas for…

Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram are recruiting Nigerians in North – Ghana President Akufo-Addo

Ecowas Chairman, President Nana Addo and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria ABUJA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has said Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram are taking advantage of poverty in North-East Nigeria, to recruit new members.Akufo-Addo stated this while on a working visit to the Economic…

Covid-19: Bishop says South Sudan churches may close again if cases surge

JUBA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s Catholic churches may be closed again if the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases increase, a bishop has said. The Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin, noted that keeping churches opened with increasing new cases of the virus is “just donating life to pandemic.” “If…

Bulgaria court convicts two over 2012 Burgas bus attack on Israelis

Bulgarian prosecutors said the evidence linked the defendants and the attack to Hezbollah  SOFIA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Bulgarian court has sentenced two men to life in jail over a bus bombing in 2012 that killed five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian driver. Meliad Farah, a Lebanese-Australian, and Hassan…