PM Trudeau condemns ‘unacceptable and unjust’ jailing of Canadian Spavor in China

  OTTAWA, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the jailing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor in China on Wednesday as “unacceptable and unjust.”    “China’s conviction and sentencing of Michael Spavor is absolutely unacceptable and unjust,” Trudeau said in a statement after a Chinese court sentenced Spavor…

Argentine plans opening of land borders as Uruguay gets ready to allow tourists in, among many improvements

BUENOS AIRES/MONTEVIDEO, Aug 11 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguay will start allowing foreigners in as of Sept 1 while Argentina announced the reopening of its common land borders is being eyed for Sept 6, as tourism seems headed for a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels. Argentina’s National Migrations Director Florencia Carignano explained…

Update: Algeria wildfires kill 38, including 25 soldiers, authorities blame arson

Smoke rises from a wildfire in the forested hills of the Kabylie region, east of the capital Algiers ALGIERS, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Wildfires fanned by blistering temperatures and tinder-dry conditions have killed at least 38 people in Algeria, including 25 soldiers, authorities said, adding that the fires had criminal…

Covid-19: Hawaii to reimpose restrictions as Delta variant surges

HONOLULU, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hawaii will re-impose COVID-19 restrictions limiting social gatherings to avert straining the state’s healthcare, Governor David Ige said, as the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus pushed cases and hospitalisations in the United States to a six-month high. “I’ll be signing an…

Update: Brazil’s Pres Bolsonaro loses major vote after military display

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro BRASILIA, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro suffered a major defeat in Congress when lawmakers did not adopt his proposal to require printed receipts from some electronic ballot boxes. Bolsonaro has insisted printed receipts are needed to avoid fraud, without providing any evidence that…

Covid-19: The travel recovery has started, says Britain’s Heathrow Airport

LONDON, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s Heathrow Airport said that passenger numbers surged in July as the government eased travel restrictions and a recovery was underway, but warned that overall numbers were still down 80 per cent on pre-pandemic levels as many barriers remain. Heathrow said that in July more than…

US: Tropical Storm Fred forms off Puerto Rico

  MIAMI, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tropical Storm Fred, the sixth of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, formed south of Puerto Rico and was expected to move westwards through the Caribbean, the US National HurricaneCenter (NHC) said Wednesday.    The cyclone was about 40 miles southwest of Puerto Rico, the…

Cape Town Int’l Airport wins Africa’s top prize for sixth consecutive year

CAPE TOWN, Aug 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cape Town International Airport has won the 2021 Best Airport in Africa Award for the sixth consecutive year at the annual Skytrax World Airport Awards, the airport said Tuesday. As the gateway to South Africa’s legislative capital and a popular tourist attraction, the airport…

Drought alert in ten counties across Kenya once ravaged by locusts

Kenya’s drought response plan requires Ksh9.4 billion for July-November period NAIROBI, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya is warning of a looming drought in 10 counties that have been battling desert locusts in the past year.Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa issued a drought alert in Kilifi, Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Tana…

Five missing in a boat mishap in the Taraba state of Nigeria; nine rescued

The boat had 14 passengers on board JALINGO (Taraba, Nigeria), Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five persons are feared drowned in Taraba State, Nigeria following a boat mishap.The incident occurred when a boat carrying 14 passengers from Mayo-Reniwo village in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area to a village in Karim-Lamido Local Government…