Catalan leader demands Puigdemont’s ‘immediate release’

     BARCELONA, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Catalonia’s regional leader called for the “immediate release” of his exiled predecessor Carles Puigdemont, who was arrested in Italy the day before on charges linked to a failed Catalan independence bid.     “We demand the immediate release of Carles Puigdemont,” Pere Aragones told a news conference…

Kenya first African nation to back Tedros second term as WHO chief

    NAIROBI, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya became the first African nation to back Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ bid for a second term as  head of the World Health Organization (WHO).    The 56-year-old Ethiopian was nominated by Germany on Wednesday in a move that surprised many observers, who had predicted that…

Indian Americans protest outside White House over Modi’s visit

Activists gather outside White House to protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of Indian Americans have gathered at Lafayette Square, the park in front of the White House, to protest against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the…

Covid-19: Dutch boy wins right to Covid jab despite dad’s refusal

Children aged 12 to 17 in the Netherlands can choose to be vaccinated but need permission from both parents THE HAGUE, Sept 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Dutch court has ruled that a 12-year-old boy had the right to get a Covid jab to visit his dying grandmother despite his vaccine-sceptic…

Extreme wildfires in N. California cause mandatory evacuation of 4,000

LOS ANGELES, Sept 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — An explosive wildfire in northern California expanded to 4.9 square km in 24 hours, triggering multiple mandatory evacuation orders, under which over 4,000 residents fled from their homes. Dubbed Fawn Fire, the fire started some 19 km north of Redding city on Wednesday night,…

Foreign offenders expelled from Chile as deportation of irregular migrants set to resume

SANTIAGO, Sept 24 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean migration authorities expelled 49 migrants who were found guilty of human trafficking in addition to carrying weapons illegally, the Department of Migration and International Police of Tarapacá reported. The measure was adopted as a commutation of sentence, Miguel Ángel Quezada, presidential delegate to Tarapacá…

Argentina makes payment to IMF and strives to stay afloat

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 24 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — While Argentine President Alberto Fernández described his country’s situation facing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as “decide” before the United Nations, a US 1,885 million dollar capital payment was made Wednesday to the global organization. Thus, Argentina paid the first maturity of the US…

Over 60-Year-Old Salvadoran Judges To Leave Office Before Friday

SAN SALVADOR, Sept 24 (NNN-TELESUR) — El Salvador’s Supreme Court (CSJ) announced that 248 judges dismissed by President Nayib Bukele’s judicial career reforms must leave office before Friday or lose their compensation, which is equivalent to 24 months of salary. On Aug 31, the pro-government Senate approved the dismissal of…

Spain:Catalan independence leader Carles Puigdemont arrested in Italy

ROME, Sept 24 (NNN-TELESUR) — The former president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), who is an MEP, was arrested upon his arrival in L’Alguer, a municipality on the island of Sardinia where he was scheduled to participate in an event with the Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Victòria Alsina, and…

US House approves US$1 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US lawmakers green-lit US$1 billion to resupply Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system after funding was controversially stripped from a separate Bill following a revolt from the Democrats’ left flank. The…