US: Pentagon to mandate Covid shots for military

 WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Pentagon said it will make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for all members of the US military by mid-September, amid an alarming surge in infections by the Delta variant. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo he would ask President Joe Biden to approve the…

Trial over Iran 1988 mass murder begins in Sweden

 STOCKHOLM, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Iranian official accused of involvement in the 1988 execution of thousands of political dissidents goes on trial in Sweden on Tuesday in a landmark case likely to stoke tensions in the Islamic republic. Hamid Noury, 60, is accused by Swedish prosecutors of “intentionally taking…

US to review classified 9/11 documents for possible publication

 WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US officials vowed to review classified documents related to the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks to see which could be made public — a recurring demand of some victims’ relatives. The FBI said in a letter to the US attorney for the southern district of…

First West African case of deadly Marburg virus detected: WHO

 GENEVA, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinea confirmed a case of Marburg disease, the World Health Organization said on Monday, the first recorded in West Africa of the lethal virus that’s related to Ebola and, like Covid-19, passed from animal hosts to humans. The virus, which is carried by bats and…

100 children among 200 people killed at site for displaced in Ethiopia: UN

Children wait next to sacks of wheat during food distribution near the village of Baker in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia UNITED NATIONS, Aug 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chief said she was extremely alarmed by the reported killing of more than 200 displaced people, including 100…

US to continue to support Afghan forces as Taliban advance

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Pentagon said on Monday that the U.S. military will continue to support Afghan troops as Taliban militants seized several cities over the weekend. The security situation in Afghanistan is “clearly not going in the right direction,” Pentagon Press Secretary John…

Zambian president meets AU observer mission team ahead of Aug 12 polls

LUSAKA, Aug 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Monday met an Election Observer team from the African Union (AU) ahead of this week’s general elections. The Zambian leader met the team led by former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House where they held talks. During…

Zambian president commissions Chinese-built modern airport terminal

Zambian President Edgar Lungu launches the second terminal building at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka LUSAKA, Aug 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Zambia on Monday launched a modern airport terminal, which was built by a Chinese company. The southern African nation launched the second terminal building at the Kenneth Kaunda…

Covid-19: Canada begins to allow entry for fully vaccinated US citizens, permanent residents

A vehicle from the United States passes through a boundary marker at the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada OTTAWA, Aug 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Canada unilaterally began to allow the entry by fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents on Monday after the two countries agreed to…

EU countries boost fire-fighting help to Greece

BRUSSELS, Aug 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU countries are stepping up their help to Greece to fight forest fires devastating its mainland and some islands, the European Commission said as it coordinated the assistance. There are now nine planes, 1,000 firefighters and 200 vehicles deployed by European Union states, a statement…