Russia says Kabul seems safer under Taliban than it was under Ghani

MOSCOW, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan praised the Taliban’s conduct and said the group, still officially designated a terrorist organisation in Russia, had made Kabul safer in the first 24 hours than it had been under the previous authorities. The comments by Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov reflect an undisguised…

Covid-19: Nigeria opens 2nd phase of vaccination with US-donated vaccines

ABUJA, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Nigeria has started the second phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program. Over 4 million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by the United States through the COVAX facility will be rolled out in this second phase of vaccination, said Boss Mustapha, secretary of the…

Over 1,700 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast in past week: UN migration agency

TRIPOLI, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 1,700 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast over the past week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. In the period of Aug 8-14, “1,788 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya,” the UN migration agency said, adding 22,045…

Haiti quake death toll rises to 1,419, injured now at 6,000

A boy is tended to outside Les Cayes General Hospital LES CAYES (Haiti), Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday climbed to 1,419, authorities announced. The 7.2-magnitude quake also left at least 6,900 people injured and destroyed over 37,000 homes,…

Pres Biden says deteriorating situation in Afghanistan “did unfold more quickly” than US anticipates

US President Joe Biden delivering remarks on Afghanistan at the White House WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — President Joe Biden stood by his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan while acknowledging Kabul’s collapse to the Taliban came much sooner than Washington had anticipated. “I stand squarely behind my decision,”…

Covid-19: Interpol issues global alert of vaccine scams

LYON (France), Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The international police organization Interpol has issued a global alert as fraudsters target governments with COVID-19 vaccine scams.In more than 60 cases in 40 countries, representatives of health ministries and hospitals have received offers to buy vaccines approved for distribution in their country, Interpol said on…

Afghanistan: World must unite to ensure Kabul will not be safe haven for ‘global terrorist threat’, says UN chief

        UNITED NATIONS, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the world to work together to “suppress the global terrorist threat in Afghanistan” after the Taliban took control of the war-torn country. “The international community must unite to make sure that Afghanistan is never again…

Afghanistan: Taliban takeover is world’s failure, says UK

   LONDON, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan is a “failure of the international community”, Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said, assessing that the West’s intervention was a job only half-done.    “All of us know that Afghanistan is not finished. It’s an unfinished problem for the…

Afghan military plane crashes in Uzbekistan’s Surkhondaryo, confirms defence ministry

Russia’s RIA news agency earlier on Monday cited Uzbekistan’s defence ministry as saying the pilot had ejected and was injured. TERMEZ (Surkhondaryo, Uzbekistan), Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Afghan military plane has crashed in Uzbekistan, the Central Asian country’s defence ministry said on Monday, confirming earlier reports. “The military plane…

Afghanistan: Russian ambassador to meet Taliban in Kabul Tuesday

 MOSCOW, Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said its ambassador to Afghanistan will meet with the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday and that it will decide on whether to recognise the new government based on its conduct.   “Our ambassador is in contact with the Taliban leadership, tomorrow he will meet…