US vaping-related deaths rise to 42, cases of illness to 2,172

ATLANTA, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US health officials on Thursday reported 2,172 confirmed and probable cases and 3 more deaths from a mysterious respiratory illness tied to vaping, taking the death toll to 42, so far this year. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,051 confirmed…

UK: Protest forces PM Johnson to cancel election campaign

LONDON, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled a planned campaign visit to a bakery in southwest England on Thursday after protesters gathered outside. Johnson was due to visit the bakery in Glastonbury as part of a tour to drum up support ahead of a snap election…

US urges coalition to take back Daesh detainees, boost funding

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged members of the coalition fighting the Daesh group to take militant detainees back to their countries and step up their funding to help restore infrastructure in Iraq and Syria, parts of which were severely damaged by conflict. “Coalition…

Australia braces for heavy winds, lightning amid bushfire threat

Fire crews are battling to manage blazes ahead of predicted heat MELBOURNE, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australia braced on Friday for strong winds that could whip up bushfires in two states over the weekend and add to a toll of more than 270 homes destroyed and 1 million hectares of land…

MH17 calls ‘show ties between Russian officials, rebels’

The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over a rebel-held area of eastern Ukraine THE HAGUE, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Investigators looking into the downing of flight MH17 over Ukraine released intercepted phone calls on Thursday showing close links between “high-ranking” Russian…

Italy declares state of emergency in Venice after flood

A dock, partially flooded, lies damaged in Venice VENICE, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy declared a state of emergency for Venice after an exceptional tide surged through churches, shops and homes, causing millions of euros worth of damage to the UNESCO city. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the Cabinet had approved…

Four killed, scores wounded in Baghdad protests – police, medics

Iraqi demonstrators run for cover as they clash with Iraqi security forces during the ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least four protesters were killed and more than 65 wounded on Thursday in clashes with Iraqi security forces who were trying to push them back…

Bolivia interim president rules out Morales election bid

LA PAZ, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s interim president Jeanine Anezon Thursday ruled out exiled leader Evo Morales from standing in newelections as thousands of demonstrators marched through La Paz in support of the socialist icon and against the new, acting leader. Columns of people streamed into the seat of…

Israeli warplanes resume airstrikes on Gaza after rockets firing

GAZA, Nov 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Israeli warplanes resumed airstrikes early Friday on facilities that belong to the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in response to new rockets fired into Israel. Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli aircraft struck training facilities that belong to al-Quds Brigades in…

UN Security Council renews mandate of peacekeeping force in Abyei

The Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). UNITED NATIONS, Nov 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council on Thursday renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, a territory contested by Sudan and South Sudan, by six…