Saudi Arabia reaffirms no Israel deal without Palestinian peace

BERLIN, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia said itwill not follow the United Arab Emirates in establishing diplomaticties with Israel until the Jewish state has signed an internationallyrecognised peace accord with the Palestinians. The UAE last week became the first Gulf state to normalise relationswith Israel, in a historic US-brokered…

Mali’s opposition to work with coup leaders on transition

103 BAMAKO, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s opposition vowed to work on a political transition with the military leaders who seized power and called a mass rally for Friday to celebrate the “people’s victory”. The opposition coalition M5-RFP said it would work with the military junta on “developing a roadmap”…

Dozens of migrants die in year’s deadliest shipwreck off Libya: UN

GENEVA, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 45 migrants and refugees perished off Libya this week in the deadliest shipwreck there so far this year, the United Nations said. The UN agencies for refugees and migration said in a statement that 37 survivors from Monday’s shipwreck, who were rescued by…

10 pro-gov’t militiamen, 7 militants killed in pre-dawn clashes in N. Afghanistan

TALUQAN (Afghanistan), Aug 21 (NNN-Xinhua) – Ten pro-government local militiamen and seven Taliban militants were killed in pre-dawn clashes in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar province on Thursday, a provincial government spokesman confirmed. “Taliban attacked a security checkpoint of pro-government tribal militiamen, known as local uprising fighters, in surrounding areas of Khwaja…

Thousands flee as fast-moving wildfires spread in California

LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Thousands of people fled their homes in northern California as hundreds of fast-moving wildfires spread across the region, burning houses and leading to the death of a helicopter pilot. In Vacaville — a city of about 100,000 people located between the state capital Sacramento…

Israeli tanks shell Gaza after incendiary balloon attacks

GAZA, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israeli tanks shelled Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip overnight in response to continued waves of incendiary balloons across the border, the army said Thursday. The continuing cross-border violence came despite the attempts of Egyptian security to end the flare-up, which has seen two weeks…

Covid-19: Europe can fight virus without lockdowns – WHO

COPENHAGEN, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe can combat the new coronavirus without full lockdowns now that authorities are better prepared and have gained knowledge about how to fight it in recent months, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. “With the basic nationwide and additional targeted measures, we are in a…

Covid-19: Russia to test vaccine on 40,000 people

MOSCOW, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said it wouldstart clinical trials of its controversial coronavirus vaccine nextweek, involving tens of thousands of people. President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that Russia hadbecome the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, though theannouncement was met with caution from scientists and…

Three killed in earlier rocket attack in Kabul: ministry

KABUL, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A rocket attack that struck Kabul thisweek as the city marked Afghanistan’s independence day killed at least three people, including two members of President Ashraf Ghani’s honour guard, officials said Wednesday. Fourteen rockets were fired into central Kabul on Tuesday as the countrymarked the 101st…

Philippines bans poultry products from Australia over bird flu outbreak

MANILA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Philippines said it has temporarily banned the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Australia after the presence of the highly pathogenic H7N7 avian flu virus was detected at an egg farm. Australia, which accounts for less than 1 per cent…