26 Sep 2022; MEMO: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said yesterday that "Palestine is a national issue" for his country, pointing out that "there is no Algerian young or elderly who does not support Palestine."

In a meeting with Algerian governors, Tebboune said: "We do not accept Palestine to be occupied," adding that "we will continue supporting it even if it was occupied by the world's strongest power."

"Palestine is for Palestinians, not for others," he stressed.

PARIS (AP) — France forecasts growth to slow down substantially next year in the EU’s second-biggest economy, amid fears of a recession in neighboring Germany as the economic situation in Europe is slammed by the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

France’s budget, presented Monday in a Cabinet meeting, is based on an predicted growth of 1% next year — down from an estimated 2.7% this year.

As the country faces soaring energy and food prices, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said inflation in France is expected to reach 6% in the coming months and 4% later next year.

NEW DELHI, Sept 26 (NNN-Bernama) — Six soldiers, including two majors, were killed in a Pakistani military helicopter crash in the province of Balochistan on Sunday night.

The helicopter crashed during a flying mission in the Harnai area, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Monday.

“All 6 personnel on board including 2 pilots have embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” the ISPR said.

This is the second army helicopter crash in Balochistan in less than two months.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates, home to global business and travel hub Dubai, will ease masking requirements imposed over the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said Monday.

As of Wednesday, the wearing of face masks will no longer be required in public places, except for medical facilities, mosques and public transportation, the official WAM news agency reported.

Masks will also be optional in schools. But food service workers and anyone confirmed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19 are still required to wear one.

ALMATY, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan, one of Russia's close ex-Soviet partners, will not recognise the possible annexation of Ukraine's eastern regions by Russia through referendums held there, the Central Asian nation's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Voting took place in four Ukrainian regions mostly held by Russian forces, the start of a plan by President Vladimir Putin to annex a big chunk of Ukraine in what the West says is violation of international law that significantly escalates war in the country. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine "a special military operation". 

DAMASCUS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 102 bodies have so far been found after a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized off the Syrian shore, while 40 others were still missing, a war monitor reported on Sunday.

Twenty people have been rescued by the Syrian authorities, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The boat, which was carrying up to 150 immigrants, set off from Lebanon on Tuesday and was heading toward Europe. It sank near the shore of the Syrian coastal city of Tartous on Thursday, according to Syrian official statements.

CARACAS, Sept 26 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Venezuelan Government of Nicolás Maduro subscribed to the negotiating table formulated by Mexico to put an end to tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a conflict that has been active for seven months since Feb 24.

The Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Rafael Faría Tortosa, assured that his country adheres to the peace proposal designed by the Government of Mexico and which was presented on Sept 23 before the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).

OTTAWA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Canada will drop all COVID-19 restrictions for travelers from Oct. 1, including vaccination and masking requirements for flights and trains, the government said on Monday.

The move is likely to boost the Canadian travel industry, already booming after months of lull during the pandemic.

Canadian carriers were also pressing for an end to mask mandates on flights, citing thousands of incidents of non-compliance this year alone.

MEXICO CITY, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) voted on Monday to fire president Mauricio Claver-Carone, a person with knowledge of the vote said, after an investigation showed the only American president in the bank’s 62-year history had an intimate relationship with a subordinate.

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (APP): Pakistan can make active use of the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Canton Fair in Guangzhou and other product-specific platforms exhibitions in China to increase its foreign exchange reserves, Trade and Investment Counselor, Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, China, Muhammad Irfan said.

HAVANA (AP) — Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it approached the western tip of Cuba on a track to hit the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday.

Ian was forecast to hit the western tip of Cuba as a major hurricane and then become an even stronger Category 4 with top winds of 140 miles (225 kilometers) over warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking Florida.

As of Monday, Tampa and St. Petersburg appeared to be the among the most likely targets for their first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 40,188 over the past day to 20,833,109, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Monday.

In absolute terms, the number of daily COVID cases has been the lowest since September 6, when 38,500 cases were recorded. A day earlier, 46,758 daily cases were recorded.