Briefly

BELARUS

Leader orders border with Ukraine closed

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the country's border guard to completely close the border with Ukraine, the state news agency Belta reported on Friday. In a speech dedicated to the country's Independence Day, Lukashenko said he was "astounded by the number of weapons being smuggled from Ukraine to Belarus". That is why, he said, he "instructed the border guard to fully close the border with Ukraine", adding that only civilians will be able to enter Belarus.

UNITED STATES

Condo to be razed, death toll now at 24

Search teams recovered two more bodies at the site of the collapsed Florida apartment block, bringing the death toll to 24, authorities said on Saturday. The search for victims was temporarily halted in the afternoon so demolition crews could prepare to bring down part of the building that was still standing. The razing took on special urgency as Tropical Storm Elsa churned in the Caribbean, following a path expected to bring it to Florida early this week. More than one week after the collapse, 121 people were still listed as missing.

UNITED NATIONS

Chief expresses deep concern over Tigray

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern on Saturday over the situation in Ethiopia's Tigray. He said it is "essential to have a real cease-fire" to pave a way for dialogue in order to bring a political solution to Tigray. Guterres stressed that the presence of foreign troops is an aggravating factor of confrontation. According to media reports, food and fuel are running out in the capital of war-torn northern Tigray region. About 400,000 people are in famine condition and nearly 2 million are on the brink of famine.

MOROCCO

Spain-bound migrants pulled from boats

The Moroccan navy rescued 244 Spain-bound migrants in 48 hours, the official news agency MAP reported on Sunday. The migrants, including women and minors, were mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, said the agency quoting a military statement. They were in several inflatable boats in the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates the African continent from Europe. Some of the migrants were taken back to various Moroccan ports.

Xinhua - Agencies