Update: Rare tropical storm lashes northeastern United States

  NEW YORK, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tropical Storm Henri slammed into Rhode Island on the US east coast, knocking out power to thousands of Americans, uprooting trees and bringing record rainfall before weakening asit moved across New England.   The storm — earlier downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane…

UN again relocates staff from Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations flew 120 persons from Kabul to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in addition to the relocation of 100 UN staff members on Wednesday. Passengers included UN personnel and members of several nongovernmental organizations that serve as implementing partners of the UN in Afghanistan, said…

Swedish PM says to step down in November

Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven STOCKHOLM, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said that he will step down in November as party leader and prime minister. The unexpected announcement by the leader of the Social Democratic Party was made during his annual summer speech on Sunday. “I…

10 dead, dozens injured in road crash in southern Ghana: official

ACCRA, Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least 10 people died and dozens were injured in a road accident involving two buses in southern Ghana on Sunday, an official confirmed. Winneba Municipal Fire Officer Henry Asiedu said the accident happened when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided at Gomoa Mampong,…

Haiti quake: Death toll rises to 2,207 as challenges remain in delivery of aids

LES CAYES (Haiti), Aug 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of people killed by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Aug 14 in Haiti has risen to 2,207, with 344 still missing, the country’s civil protection agency reported. The agency said on Twitter that a week after the earthquake, which also left at…

Covid-19: South Africa uses ‘pop-up’ vaccination centres to boost number of jabs

Olekantse Serati was one of the dozens of people who decided to get jabs on Friday. PRETORIA, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At the busy taxi stand near Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, a health worker with a megaphone called out to commuters, calling them to come and get a COVID-19 vaccination.Olekantse Serati…

Covid-19: All travellers entering Uganda to take mandatory test from Sept 3

Test on arrival is a key new rule in Uganda’s fight against the pandemic KAMPALA, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Starting Sept 3, all travellers arriving in Uganda, including citizens, will be subjected to a mandatory PCR Covid test before they are cleared to enter the country.The Ministry of Health has…

Senegal: Flash floods wreak havoc, displace dozens of families in capital Dakar

A section of the affected flood area DAKAR, Aug 23 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Flash floods affected the area of Keur Massar in the outskirts of the Senegalese capital, Dakar in the past week. A heavy downpour has led overflow of tributaries affecting local families.Hundreds of families have abandoned their homes following…

Covid-19: Battered airlines owed billions as governments withhold cash

Airlines have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic MONTREAL (Canada), Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Airlines are owed almost US$1 billion across 20 countries as governments seek to hang on to hard currency, depriving the industry of vital cash at a time when travel has been devastated by the coronavirus crisis.Figures…

Ethiopia to launch platforms to rival Facebook, Twitter

Facebook is the most used social media platform in Ethiopia ADDIS ABABA, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia will launch home grown social media platforms to rival Twitter and Facebook, head of the country’s intelligence outfit has disclosed. Shumete Gizaw, Director of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA) said other virtual…