EU recognizes Taliban victory in Afghanistan; UK to accept 20,000 afghans

BRUSSELS, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union is ready to begin dialogue with the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) but their recognition will depend on what they do, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrel said. “The Taliban have won the war. So we will have to talk with them, in…

Covid-19: Chile reports lowest number of daily cases since April 2020

Chileans queue for the vaccine in the capital Santiago SANTIAGO, Aug 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile reported 405 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, the lowest daily figure since April 2020, for a total of 1,630,330 cases, Health Minister Enrique Paris said. In the same period, there were also…

UN condemns obstruction of Libya’s main water supply

Tripoli faced severe water shortages before, especially during the 2011 uprising against Gaddafi TRIPOLI, Aug 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Support Mission (UNSMIL) in Libya condemned the recent obstruction of Libya’s main water supply system by an armed group. “On 14 August, armed actors forced the closure of the…

COVID-19: Libya to reopen border crossing, resume flights with Tunisia

TRIPOLI, Aug 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libya announced plans to reopen its border crossing and resume flights with neighboring Tunisia. Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah issued instructions to the interior minister and transportation minister on the resumption of movement between the two countries, while stressing the need to take protective measures against…

Covid-19: Five US states set records for cases as hospitalizations soar; Texas governor test positive

Texas Governor Greg-Abbott NEW YORK, Aug 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — Five US states set new records for the average number of daily new COVID-19 cases over the weekend as infections caused by the Delta variant overwhelm hospital systems across the country and prompt many states to reinstate public health restrictions. Florida,…

US military has evacuated 3,200 people from Afghanistan so far: official

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US military has evacuated more than 3,200 people from Afghanistan so far, including 1,100 on Tuesday alone, a White House official said. “Today, US military flights evacuated approximately 1,100 US citizens, US permanent residents, and their families on 13 flights,” the official said, adding:…

Earthquake, storm and floods: no relief in sight for Haiti as toll rises

 LES CAYES (Haiti), Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti has risen to 1,941, the Caribbean nation’s civil protection agency said, as a tropical storm brought torrential downpours on survivors already coping with catastrophe. More than 9,900 people were wounded when the…

Firefighters in south of France battle blazes overnight

A massive deployment of firefighters in southern France has been dispatched to battle several large forest fires PARIS, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A massive deployment of firefighters has been dispatched to battle several large forest fires in southern France.“All my support to the 650 firefighters who are mobilized to protect…

Firefighters struggle to fight fires in Southern Portugal

ALGARVE (Portugal), Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 600 firefighters are fighting against fires that started Monday in the tourist region of Algarve, south of Portugal, and that forced the evacuation of 60 people, informed the emergency services.A firefighter was hospitalised after suffering burns, a spokesman for the regional command of…

Flooding in Germany unearths 350 kilos of WWII ammunition

Flooding in Germany unearths 350 kilos of WWII ammunition BERLIN, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Some 350 kilograms of World War II ammunition has been unearthed by the recent flooding in western Germany, regional authorities in Trier said.It was primarily cartridges, grenades, and pyrotechnics that were found, the Supervision and Service…