Covid-19: Australia’s Northern Territory plunged into lockdown as New South Wales see surge in cases

Darwin CBD in lockdown CANBERRA, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — A snap three-day lockdown has been announced for the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) after a new coronavirus case was detected. Chief Minister of the NT Michael Gunner announced on Monday that a man in his 30s who has spent…

Zambia opposition leader Hichilema wins presidential election

image captionSupporters of Hakainde Hichilema have been celebrating on the streets of Lusaka LUSAKA, Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has defeated incumbent Edgar Lungu in Zambia’s presidential election, the electoral commission said on Monday when releasing the final results from 156 constituencies, barring one. Hichilema defeated his…

Update: Death toll from floods climbs to 62, dozens still missing in north Turkey

Rescue workers search for survivors in the flood-hit town of Bozkurt, Kastamonu province ANKARA, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from severe floods and mudslides in the Black Sea region of Turkey has climbed to 62, the country’s emergency and disaster agency said. Floods caused by heavy rain hit…

Jordan’s king urges int’l efforts to achieve lasting peace over Palestinian issue

Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein AMMAN, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — King Abdullah II of Jordan underlined the necessity to step up international efforts to achieve just and comprehensive peace that would enable the Palestinians to establish their independent state. During a Sunday meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas…

Haiti hospitals struggle to treat thousands injured in quake

Injured patients rest at a hospital in Les Cayes LES CAYES (Haiti), Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hunched on benches, curled up in chairs or even lying the floor, those injured in the powerful earthquake that wreaked havoc on Haiti on Saturday crowded an overburdened hospital near the epicenter. The emergency…

Canadian PM announce federal election on Sept 20

OTTAWA, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday called an early election for Sept 20, saying he needed a new mandate to ensure voters approved of his Liberal government’s plan to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Trudeau, also Canadian Liberal Party leader, made the announcement after…

Covid-19: US daily cases could exceed 200,000 in coming weeks, warns NIH director

WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — US COVID-19 cases could break 200,000 a day as the latest surge of the virus driven by the Delta variant is “going very steeply upward with no signs of having peaked out,” said National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins. “I will be surprised if…

Covid-19: Canada’s cases surpass 1.45 mln

A staff member replaces a new face mask as required at the entrance of the Aviva Center during the 2021 National Bank Open in Toronto OTTAWA, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Canada’s new COVID-19 cases continue rising, bringing the cumulative total to 1,451,211 cases, including 26,700 deaths, as of Sunday afternoon,…

Update: Death toll from 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti rises to 1,297

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday rose to 1,297, the country’s civil protection agency reported. A breakdown of the fatalities in terms of departments shows that 1,054 people were killed in Sud, 122 in Nippes, 119 in Grand’Anse, and…

Italy wildfires: 75 per cent more forest fires compared to last year

ROME, Aug 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of forest and vegetation fires in Italy so far this summer is about 75 per cent higher than last year, according to the fire service.Between June 15 and Aug 15, there were 52,584 incidents, the fire brigade announced on Sunday. Last year, there…