Covid-19: Global deaths toll reach 4,268,017

  PARIS, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The novel coronavirus has killed at least 4,268,017 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to official sources compiled on Friday.    At least 200,887,900 cases of coronavirus have been registered. The vast majority have recovered, though some have continued to…

South Africa’s jailed former president Zuma hospitalised ahead of graft trial

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma, jailed for contempt of court last month, was admitted to hospital on Friday, less than a week before he is due in court for a separate graft trial. The Department of Correctional Services “can confirm that former president Jacob…

Nigerian customs seize huge haul of endangered wild animal parts

LAGOS, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigeria Customs Service has arrested three suspected high-level traffickers with 7.1 tonnes of pangolin scales and 846 kg of ivory seized, the Wildlife Justice Commission said in a statement. “Acting on intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission, Nigeria Customs Service officers searched a residential address…

Lions kill three children in Tanzanian wildlife reserve; another escape injured

The children were killed when they got lost in the wildlife reserve looking for their cattle DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three Ngoile primary school pupils have been killed by a lion in Orbalbal ward in Ngorongoro District in Tanzania’s Arusha Region.The children were searching their cattle that…

Road accidents kill 90 in Mali, Cameroon, Senegal

BAMAKO, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bus collided with a lorry killing 41 people and injuring 33 more during heavy rains in central MALI, the government said.Transport Minister Dembele Madina Sissoko said the dead included a baby after the passenger bus collided with a lorry carrying agricultural produce near the…

UN Security Council to discuss deadly tanker attack off Oman

The damaged Mercer Street Tanker moored off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates UNITED NATIONS, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain will raise a deadly tanker attack off the coast of Oman during a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday (Aug 6), diplomats said, but the 15-member body…

Covid-19: Festivals for Britain as events get US$1 billion reinsurance cover

LONDON, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain launched a government-backed reinsurance scheme totalling more than £750 million (US$1 billion) on Thursday to cover live events against cancellation risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after intense industry lobbying. Insurers stripped COVID-19 cover from event cancellation policies after the pandemic took hold last…

Covid-19: Ranks of Mexican poor swell to reach nearly 44% of the population

A low-income neighborhood in Mexico City MEXICO CITY, Aug 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico’s poverty rate grew to nearly 44 per cent at the end of last year, government data released on Thursday showed, worsened by an economic slump as the coronavirus pandemic led to steep budget cuts, business closures and…

Singapore eases border measures for travellers from Taiwan as COVID-19 situation improves

Currently, those with a travel history to Taiwan must serve a 14-day stay-home notice at a dedicated facility SINGAPORE, Aug 6 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore will soon allow travellers from Taiwan to take a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival and to go about their activities in Singapore if the…

Covid-19: Vietnam’s capital to extend curbs as new clusters emerge

Hanoi has in the past two weeks ordered people to stay at home and halted all non-essential activities HANOI, Aug 6 (NNN-VNA) — Vietnam’s capital Hanoi will extend coronavirus restrictions until Aug 22 after authorities warned of new clusters of infections detected in the city of more than eight million people.…