BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Seven EU countries have ordered ammunition under a landmark European Union procurement scheme to get urgently needed artillery shells to Ukraine and replenish depleted Western stocks, according to the EU agency in charge.

The orders - placed under contracts negotiated by the European Defence Agency (EDA) - are for 155mm artillery rounds, one of the most important munitions in the war of attrition between Ukraine's troops and Russian invaders.

Cape Town, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The South African parliament has described the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum as "a seminal moment" of harmonious unity and collective ambition for the BRICS nations.

In a statement on Friday, the parliament said the forum, which kicked off in Johannesburg on Wednesday, represented a progressive journey and mutual dedication to reinforcing global dialogues and alliances.

BRUSSELS, September 29. /TASS/: The North Atlantic Council has decided to send in more KFOR troops to help stabilize the situation in Kosovo.

(AP) --- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered one of the top commanders of the Wagner military contractor to take charge of “volunteer units” fighting in Ukraine, signaling the Kremlin’s effort to keep using the mercenaries after the death of their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In remarks released Friday by the Kremlin, Putin told Andrei Troshev that his task is to “deal with forming volunteer units that could perform various combat tasks, primarily in the zone of the special military operation” — a term Moscow uses for its war in Ukraine.

JERUSALEM, Sept 29 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s Supreme Court heard yesterday, arguments challenging a controversial law, that makes it harder to remove an incumbent prime minister.

An eleven-judge panel of the court’s 15 judges, convened for the discussion, which was chaired by Chief Justice, Esther Hayut.

They discussed appeals against a law known as the “incapacitation law,” that was passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in March.

NEW DELHI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Sikh activists on Friday staged a demonstration outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in the northern Indian state of Punjab, demanding punishment for the killers of a Sikh separatist in Canada.

Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament that there may be a link between New Delhi and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia.

KAZAN, September 29. /TASS/: Moscow is alarmed by attempts by non-regional players to intensify their activities in and around Afghanistan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a written address to the participants in the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan now taking place in Kazan.

KIEV, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has provided 81 billion euros (85.95 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Ukrinform news agency reported Friday, citing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The sum includes financial support and military and humanitarian aid, according to the report.

Since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has received 13.5 billion euros in macro-financial assistance from the EU, according to the Ukrainian Finance Ministry.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (NNN-Bernama) — The United Kingdom (UK) will continue its collaboration with Malaysia to support the country’s ambition in making technical and vocational education and training (TVET) a key driver of economic prosperity.

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry said the UK is dedicated to improving access to skills and education, ensuring the future readiness of the global workforce as well as encouraging social inclusivity and gender equality.

BUCHAREST, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Romania is moving air defences closer to its Danube villages across the river from Ukraine where Russian drones have been attacking grain facilities, and is adding more military observation posts and patrols to the area, two senior defence sources said.

The measures, along with the deployment of four additional U.S. F-16 fighter jets and an expanded no-fly zone, are a sign of growing concern in Romania and the broader NATO alliance that the Ukraine war could spill over into its territory.

MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/: The development of transport communications and logistics is important for Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Moscow hopes to continue this work, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

SAN JOSE, Sept 29 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Costa Rica in Central America intends to declare a state of emergency due to an increased wave of migrants on their way to Mexico and later cross to the United States.

“I have instructed the security ministry to take a firm stance with anyone who takes Costa Rica’s kindness for weakness,” Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves said at a media briefing, referring to recent riots by migrants crossing the nation.

Since January, more than 386,000 migrants have passed through the border from Panama into Costa Rica.