Covid-19: Venezuela to implement seven-day hard lockdown to slow coronavirus

The seven days will be followed by a week of more flexible measures CARACAS, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela implement a week of hard lockdown starting Monday to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said.The seven days will be followed by a week of…

Niger presidential election heads for run-off on Feb 20

NIAMEY, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Niger is set for a second round of vote as no candidate clinched the needed majority for a first round win in the Dec 27 vote.Former Prime Minister and favorite to win Mohammed Bazoum, of the ruling party, came first with 39.33 percent of the…

Rescue group Open Arms reports saving dozens of migrants off Libyan coast

A group of 169 people were picked were picked up from an overflowing boat MADRID, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 170 migrants were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Spanish rescue group Open Arms last week, the group announced in a tweet.A group of 169 people, including several children,…

AfCFTA will revive coronavirus-hit Africa – Ghana’s Pres Akufo-Addo

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana ACCRA, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), will put African countries back on track after being hit by coronavirus pandemic.According to him, the African trade deal will be a…

Central African Republic rebels seize Bangassou, says UN

Bangassou, pictured the month before it was seized, is on the border with DR Congo  BANGUI, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Rebel forces have seized a south-eastern city in the Central African Republic, an official from the country’s United Nations mission says. The rebels staged a dawn raid and were now everywhere in…

Covid-19: Botswana extends curfew as new strain detected

  GABORONE, Jan 4 (NNN-XINHUA) — Botswana announced extension of nighttime curfew up to Jan 31 following the emergence of a new and more transmissible strain of COVID-19. Minister of Health and Wellness Edwin Dikoloti made the announcement through national television, saying the curfew, enacted by the president on Dec…

Brazil wildfires surge again in 2020, a decade-high

BRASILIA, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of wildfires in Brazil increased 12.7 percent last year to a decade-high, according to official figures likely to add to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro’s government over the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. There were a total of 222,798 wildfires across Brazil in…

Brexit: UK’s plans to be tested as festive period ends

LONDON, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain faced the first true test of its Brexit preparations on Monday, with thousands of lorries expected to make the Channel crossing for the first time since the country left the EU’s single market and customs union. Britain left the EU’s institutions late Thursday, but…

Covid-19: Zimbabwe reintroduces national lockdown as cases surge

HARARE, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s government imposeda national lockdown with immediate effect, following a surge in Covid-19cases, creating a major problem for most citizens who rely on the informalemployment sector. Only essential services, such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarketswill remain operational for the next 30 days, putting more pressure…

Covid-19: US officials reject Pres Trump claims on ‘exaggerated’ toll, defend vaccine rollout

WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US officials rejected outgoing Pres Donald Trump’s claim that the national Covid-19 death toll of more than 350,000 has been exaggerated, but defended the stumbling campaign to vaccinate millions of Americans. Some 4.2 million people in the US have received initial doses of the two-dose…