Pres Biden calls on US Supreme Court to protect abortion rights

WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden’s administration urged the US Supreme Court not to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling that legalised abortion nationwide in an upcoming case concerning a restrictive Mississippi law. The administration brief backs Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, in its…

Canadians vote as Trudeau’s bid for decisive win hangs in the balance

People lining up outside a polling station in Toronto OTTAWA, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadians went to the polls on Monday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared likely to lose his bid for a parliamentary majority after a tough campaign that may have dashed his Liberal Party’s hopes for a…

Covid-19: Vietnam to buy 10 million Cuban-made vaccine doses

HAVANA, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba agreed to provide Vietnam with 10 million doses of its homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, Abdala, for which the Asian nation has given emergency approval. A deal was signed between the two countries during an official visit by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the communist island, the…

South Africa: Johannesburg Mayor Jolidee Matongo killed in car crash

President Ramaphosa (L) and the mayor Jolidee Matongo (R) JOHANNESBURG, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the new mayor of Johannesburg, following his death in a car crash aged 46. Jolidee Matongo had been campaigning with Ramaphosa before the accident. His vehicle collided…

French anger at viral bullying of 11-year-olds

PARIS, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French education officials have condemned an online bullying trend targeting children born in 2010. The #Anti2010 trend has gained momentum over the past month on the video sharing app TikTok. Posts on the site have gained millions of views, with users encouraged to form an…

Russia: Putin’s party wins majority in parliamentary election

  MOSCOW, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Kremlin-loyal United Russia party has recorded an overwhelming victory in Russia’s parliamentary elections. With more than 99% of the votes tallied, the electoral commission said United Russia had won 49.83% of the vote. It was also ahead in 198 seats of the 225 deputies apportioned by…

At least 2 dead in blasts in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad: health official

JALALABAD (Afghanistan), Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least two people were killed and 19 more were wounded in separate explosions in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Saturday, according to a health official.    The attacks, which targeted Taliban vehicles, are the first deadly blasts since the new government was established in…

Yemen’s gov’t complains to UNSC over Houthi attack on Mocha port

Missiles and explosive-laden drones fired by the Houthi militia ripped through the Red Sea port of Al-Mocha ADEN, Sept 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Yemen’s government said that it had complained to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over the Houthi attack on the Mocha port, a newly refurbished commercial seaport in…

Dozens of Palestinian protesters injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers in West Bank: medics

RAMALLAH, Sept 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Dozens of Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in protest against the Israeli settlement in the West Bank, medics and eyewitnesses said. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that 217 protesters were injured by Israeli soldiers, including…

Lebanon judge seeks arrest of ex-minister charged in Beirut blast

The Beirut explosion flattened much of the city’s port BEIRUT, Sept 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The lead judge investigating Lebanon’s massive port explosion last year has issued an arrest warrant for a former government minister who failed to appear for questioning, state media has reported.Youssef Fenianos, the former public works minister,…