Covid-19 deaths, hospitalizations soar among youth in Americas

WASHINGTON, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hospitalizations and deaths of younger people are surging as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates across Latin America and the Caribbean, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa Etienne said. “Adults of all ages – including young people – are becoming seriously ill. Many of them are…

US watching Chinese rocket’s erratic re-entry: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Pentagon said it is following the trajectory of a Chinese rocket expected to make an uncontrolled entry into the atmosphere this weekend, with the risk of crashing down in an inhabited area. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is “aware and he knows the…

Pressure mounts on Colombia as protests begin second week

BOGOTA, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of demonstrators poured into Colombia’s streets Wednesday to protest the policies of President Ivan Duque, the eighth straight day of protests that have left at least 24 dead and hundreds wounded. Students, unions, indigenous people and other groups assembled Wednesday in the capital Bogota…

Mexico president hits back at critics over metro crash

MEXICO CITY, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday rejected any link between his austerity drive and a metro line disaster that left 25 dead, as devastated families began to bury the victims. The tragedy that struck on Monday night, when a section of elevated…

French lawmakers approve wide-ranging climate change legislation

The Citizens Convention for Climate was convened last year PARIS, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s National Assembly approved climate protection legislation that included input from a specially convened citizens’ panel but which activists argue does not go nearly far enough.The bill, which was passed in the lower house by 332…

French journalist kidnapped in Mali pleads for help in video

Kidnapped French journalist, Olivier Dubois PARIS, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A French journalist kidnapped by rebels in Mali’s northern city of Gao last month has appeared in a video appealing to French authorities to do everything they can to free him.“I’m Olivier Dubois. I’m French. I’m a journalist. I was…

Covid-19: Kenya confirms five cases of Indian variant

The five cases are all Indian nationals who have since been quarantined NAIROBI, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya confirmed that it has detected five cases of the Indian COVID-19 variant.Ministry of Health acting Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said that the five cases are all Indian nationals, who arrived in Kisumu on Thursday…

Nigeria army dismisses suggestions of takeover from Pres Buhari, facing worsening insecurity

Defence Spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu ABUJA, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s armed forces have dismissed suggestions that they should take over from President Muhammadu Buhari, who is facing mounting pressure over the country’s worsening insecurity.It was not the first Nigeria’s time armed forces have issued a statement backing Buhari, but the…

Nigerian bandits release abducted 27 Kaduna forestry college students

After the payment of ransom, the bandits only released 10 victims ABUJA, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The 27 students abducted by bandits from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, have been released. One of the persons who received the students said the release was facilitated by the…

Covid-19: Kenya probes curfew police after ‘sick baby dies’

Police have put up roadblocks nationwide to enforce a curfew introduced to reduce coronavirus infections NAIROBI, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Kenya’s police watchdog has begun an investigation into reports that a baby died after officers on curfew duty refused to let a taxi go to hospital. The four-month-old had developed breathing difficulties on Saturday…