Dutch foreign minister resigns over Afghan crisis

Outgoing Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag THE HAGUE, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag resigned on Thursday after parliament formally condemned her handling of the Afghanistan evacuation crisis. Lawmakers approved a motion criticising the government for failing to evacuate some Afghans, and for missing signs of an imminent…

Australia nuclear sub deal will help peace in Indo-Pacific: UK PM

 LONDON, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to play down Chinese fears that a deal to provide Australia  with nuclear-powered US submarines threatened regional stability.    Johnson told parliament the move, part of a new defence alliance between  Britain, Australia and the United States, was “not…

Libya’s NOC says Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil terminals blockades have ended

The oil port of Es Sider, Libya TRIPOLI, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s National Oil Corp (NOC) on Thursday said that a blockade of the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil terminals had ended and that export operations had returned to normal. Protesters at those two ports and another, Hariga, had…

Covid-19: Kenya to manufacture vaccines starting next year

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe NAIROBI, Sept 16 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Kenya will next year start manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines locally in collaboration with unnamed pharmaceutical firms in a move aimed at easing supply hitches that have derailed mass innoculation. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe revealed in an internal vaccination blue print…

Covid-19: France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers

A nursing staff member wears a handmade mask during a demonstration against mandatory health passport for hospital workers PARIS, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of health workers across France have been suspended without pay for failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of a deadline this week, Health Minister Olivier…

EU must step up and build defence – European Commission President Von Der Leyen

STRASBOURG, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU should seek to beef up its military capabilities to confront security threats and global crises. She told the European Parliament she believed EU military forces would be “part of the solution”. After the Afghan pull-out…

Covid-19: Russian Pres Vladimir Putin says “several dozen” people in his circle have covid

MOSCOW, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that dozens of people in his entourage tested positive for the coronavirus before he went into self-isolation earlier this week. The Russian leader, who announced in March he had been vaccinated, started self-isolating on Tuesday after being identified as…

Storm Nicholas moves over Louisiana, drenching US Gulf coast

BATON ROUGE (Louisiana, US), Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Storm Nicholas has weakened to a tropical depression as it crawls from Texas into southern Louisiana on Wednesday, unleashing heavy rain across a landscape where Hurricane Ida recently destroyed thousands of rooftops, now covered with flimsy tarpaulins. Forecasters said Nicholas would slow to a stall over…

Unvaccinated children suffering COVID-19 impact, Pan American health agency warns

A 14-year-old boy gets a dose of the Soberana 02 vaccine during its clinical trials at a hospital in Havana, Cuba WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As more adults get their COVID-19 vaccines, children who are not yet eligible for vaccination in most countries are representing a larger percentage of hospitalisations and even…

Thousands of Salvadorans march against President Bukele

People take part in a protest against the use of Bitcoin as legal tender and legal reforms to extend president Nayib Bukele’s term SAN SALVADOR, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of Salvadorans took to the streets to protest against President Nayib Bukele, who they accuse of a power grab aimed…