Belarus athlete under protection in Japan after forced flight claim; plan to seek asylum in Europe

Belarus sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya claims her team is forcing her to return home and spent the night under protection TOKYO, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Belarusian Olympic athlete who claimed her team was forcing her to return home spent the night under protection and may be seeking asylum, officials said…

Europe wildfires: Fires rage across southern region, forcing hundreds to evacuate

Turkey has suffered its worst fires in at least a decade. PARIS, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of villages were evacuated in tourist hotspots in southern Turkey on Sunday as wildfires that have claimed eight lives raged for a fifth day, while blazes also hit Greece, Italy and Spain. Fanned…

US: 4 killed in helicopter crash in remote California

LOS ANGELES, Aug 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Four people were killed Sunday afternoon in a helicopter crash in Colusa County in the western U.S. state of California, authorities said. The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that it received a report of the crash at 1:15 p.m. local…

US authorities scramble, trade blame as millions face eviction

 WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eviction protections expired Sunday for millions of Americans who could face homelessness within days, triggering a scramble to unlock billions in stalled rental aid and recriminations in Washington. Renters had been shielded from eviction for nearly a year as part of a government moratorium intended…

15 soldiers killed, six missing in Niger attack: ministry

 NIAMEY, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifteen soldiers were killed and six more are missing after a “terrorist” attack in southwest Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said. The soldiers were first ambushed and later hit by an improvised explosive device as they tried to evacuate their…

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu starts 2-day official visit to Rwanda Monday

Tanzania president Samia Suluhu KIGALI, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzanian President Samia Suhulu arrive Monday in Kigali for her first visit to Rwanda.During the two-day visit, she is expected to hold private talks with President Paul Kagame.President Suluhu’s visit follows recent high-level meetings between top officials from the two countries.The…

Covid-19: Uganda govt, health protection body clash over exorbitant treatment in private hospitals

KAMPALA CITY KAMPALA, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO) has challenged the government over the delay to regulate the cost of COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals, which many nationals describe as “exorbitant.”This comes roughly two months after the Ministry of Health announced that discussions with private facilities…

Cuba registers new daily records for cases, deaths from COVID-19

HAVANA, Aug 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cuba on Sunday set a new daily record of 9,747 cases and 87 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 394,343 and the death toll to 2,845. The Ministry of Public Health said in its daily report that three pregnant women and…

US blames Iran for tanker attack, prepares for response

The Mercer Street WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States blamed Iran for the attack against an oil tanker managed by an Israeli-owned company in the north Arabian Sea, saying “an appropriate response” is forthcoming. Zodiac Maritime, a London-based firm owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, said on Friday…

UNICEF deplores vandalism of Libya’s water systems

TRIPOLI, Aug 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned vandalism of Libya’s water supply systems. “UNICEF deplores vandalizing water systems which cut off children and their families from water, increasing the likelihood of water-borne diseases spreading in the affected areas,” UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday.…