Seven Soldiers, Five Taliban Militants Killed In N. Afghan Clashes

KUNDUZ, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Seven soldiers and five Taliban militants were killed, during armed clashes in Imam Sahib district, of Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province last night, a local official confirmed today. “The clashes erupted after unknown number of militants, armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades, attack security checkpoints…

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Approves COVID-19 Relief Loans Worth 966 Million USD

COLOMBO, Oct 18 (NNN-SLNEWS) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), approved 966 million U.S. dollar-loans, under a relief programme for COVID-19-affected businesses, local media reported, today. A total of 61,907 applications for loans, under the Saubagya COVID-19 Renaissance facility, have been approved, according to an official statement issued…

New Zealand To Form New Gov’t Before Official Election Results

AUCKLAND, Oct 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand Labour Party leader, Jacinda Ardern, said at a press conference today, she expected to form a government within the next two to three weeks, before the release of official election results. According to the preliminary count results, for the New Zealand 2020 General…

20 Killed, Over 26,000 Evacuated In Cambodia Due To Flooding

PHNOM PENH, Oct 18 (NNN-AKP) – Flash floods in Cambodia so far left 20 people dead and forced the evacuation of 26,608 people, Seak Vichet, a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said yesterday. Tropical storm-triggered rains caused floods in 19 of the kingdom’s 25 cities and…

Africa’s Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Pass 1.62 Million

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 18 (NNN-ENA) – The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent has reached 1,622,455, as of yesterday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, a specialised healthcare agency of African Union Commission, said that, the number of…

12 Al-Shabab Militants Killed In Central Somali Region

MOGADISHU, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Somali National Army (SNA), killed 12 members of al-Shabab fighters, in an operation in the central region of Hiran, a military official said yesterday. The operation was conducted in an area between Bule Burde and Jala Laqsi towns, where the militants were forcing the locals…

Egypt Reopens Schools For 23 Million Students Amid Anti-COVID-19 Measures

CAIRO, Oct 18 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt officially reopened yesterday, tens of thousands of schools, for millions of students across the country, to start the new academic year, while implementing precautionary measures against the COVID-19. The plan of the Ministry of Education for the 2020/2021 academic year is based on maintaining…

Nigeria Announces Major Nationwide Anti-Terror Operation

LAGOS, Oct 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – Nigeria announced the launch of a major military operation across the country to combat insecurity, the army said, in a statement. The annual exercise, code-named “CROCODILE SMILE” is part of the army’s efforts to combat insecurity in the West African nation, said Sagir Musa, an…

Sudanese Police Free 66 Hostages Held By Human Trafficking Groups

KHARTOUM, Oct 18 (NNN-SUNA) – The Sudanese Police, announced that, 66 hostages, held by human trafficking groups, have been freed. “Gedaref State Police, managed to free 66 Ethiopian and Sudanese victims, at Al-Quraisha locality, on the Sudanese-Ethiopian border, who have been held by a network active in human trafficking,” said…

Morocco Reports Highest Daily COVID-19 Cases

RABAT, Oct 18 (NNN-MAP) – Morocco, yesterday, reported 3,763 new COVID-19 cases, the biggest single-day increase so far, taking the number of infections in the country, since Mar 2, to 170,911. The total number of recoveries increased to 141,381, after 2,393 new ones were added, the ministry of health said…