Tropical storm makes landfall in northern Japan

 TOKYO, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A tropical storm hit northern Japan on Wednesday but there were no immediate reports of damage and Olympic football matches in the region were due to go ahead. Local authorities issued non-mandatory evacuation orders and set up emergency shelters as Tropical Storm Nepartak made landfall…

Children in once-Daesh-capital Raqqa still living in ruins four years after battle

A girl wearing a protective mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic sells slippers in an open air market RAQQA (Syria), July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four years after the battle for the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, children and families are still living in damaged homes with severely limited access to clean…

Death toll from rains in India nears 200, 25 still missing

NEW DELHI, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from rain-related accidents in western India rose to 192 on Monday, as bodies were recovered, but with 25 people still missing, officials said. More than 375,000 people had been evacuated from the flood-affected areas in Maharashtra. The state experienced its worst spell of monsoon…

Covid-19: Vietnam records 100,000 cases in over three months

A medical specialist collects a blood sample from a boy at a rapid testing center for coronavirus disease outside Hanoi HANOI, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Vietnam’s total number of coronavirus cases recorded since the Delta variant began wreaking havoc in April has breached 100,000, state media said on Monday.Authorities in…

Lebanon names billionaire businessman as PM to tackle economic woes

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati BEIRUT, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Following consultations with the various parliamentary blocs, Lebanese President Michel Aoun designated a new premier to deal with the country’s economic hardships, the presidential palace said.Najib Mikati, 66, a billionaire businessman who has served twice as premier in 2005 and…

Protests in Iran over another power outage

Power cuts in recent weeks have temporarily paralyzed many business centers TEHRAN, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Demonstrators gathered in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in response to renewed power outages, local media reported.Power cuts in recent weeks have temporarily paralyzed many business centers across the country, and on Monday it happened…

Afghan soldiers flee attack, cross border – Pakistan army

Afghan soldiers patrolling outside their military base on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of Afghan soldiers have slipped across the border into northwestern Pakistan after their border post was overrun, apparently by the Taliban, the Pakistani army says.A statement by the Pakistani army said…

Philippine leader Duterte reiterates vow to kill in last speech in congress

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address in Quezon City, Metro Manila MANILA, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated a vow to kill anyone who destroys the country and its youth, admitting that the fight against illegal drugs might not be finished before his…

Covid-19: Britain’s public transport hit by pandemic

LONDON, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s public transport services are being hit by staff self-isolating. Workers in the sector are among the vast number of people being pinged by the National Health Service (NHS) coronavirus app.Reduced timetables have been introduced on railways across England in an attempt to improve reliability…

Covid-19: South Africa eases restrictions as cases decline

PRETORIA, July 28 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation that the country had largely passed its peak of infections attributed to the third wave of Covid-19 that has been raging in the country since May.As a result, restrictions will be eased. The…