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…

Serbia’s new national holiday triggers unease in Balkans

BELGRADE, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Serbia kicked off a new national holiday with a display of military power and calls for all Serbs in the Balkans to unite under one flag, triggering unease among its neighbors decades after similar calls led to the bloody wars in the 1990s.Serbs were told to…

Mexico: 22 foreigners abducted from hotel abandoned by captors

MEXICO CITY, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in northern Mexico have found 38 people, including 22 Haitians and Cubans, who were abducted from a hotel, authorities have said.The chief prosecutor of the northern state of San Luis Potosi said the victims were found alive on a roadside late Tuesday, apparently…

WHO aims for 30 percent of needed Africa coronavirus jabs by February

The African Union and its partners had expected to buy half the doses needed GENEVA, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have said they hope to provide Africa with about 30 percent of the COVID-19 vaccines the continent needs by February, badly missing the 60 percent…

UN withdraws Gabon peacekeepers from CAR over sex abuse claims

The UN has struggled for years with allegations of sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers LIBREVILLE, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gabon’s defense ministry has said the United Nations will withdraw the country’s 450-strong peacekeeping contingent from the Central African Republic (CAR) over sexual abuse allegations.“In recent weeks, exceptionally serious acts that…

French forces kill Daesh Sahel jihadist leader wanted by US: Pres Macron

 PARIS, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of Daesh in the Greater Sahara, who was wanted for deadly attacks on US soldiers and foreign aid workers, has been killed in an operation by French troops.   Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi was “neutralised by French forces”, President Emmanuel Macron tweeted early…

One million Nigerian children to miss school due to insecurity: UN

   ABUJA, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One million Nigerian children will likely stay away from school because of the threat of violence after a series of mass kidnappings and attacks targeting students this year, the UN said.    More than 1,000 pupils have been snatched in mass abductions for ransom…

UN Security Council ‘concerned’ about ‘major threat’ from North Korea missiles: France

  UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council on Wednesday gathered behind closed doors for an emergency meeting about North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test which member states consider a “major threat,” the French ambassador said.    In the past, such meetings — this one called by…

New York says UNGA delegates must be vaccinated, angering Russia

 NEW YORK, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All leaders and diplomats attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week will have to provide proof of vaccination, the city government said, sparking anger from Russia.   Delegates must be vaccinated to enter the debate hall, the mayor’s office told…

World leaders will hold closed-door climate meet at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host a closed-door meeting of world leaders Monday on the sidelines of the GeneralAssembly in New York to boost climate commitments.   The roundtable comes less than six weeks before a major United…