Covid-19: World Bank wants $12 bn for vaccine in poor nations

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank said it has asked its board of directors to approve $12 billion to help poor countries purchase and distribute eventual vaccines against Covid-19. The bank has already implemented emergency response programs in 111 countries and the extra money, if approved, would be…

California wildfires burn 3.75 mln acres with 26 fatalities

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Wildfires in California have burned more than 3.75 million acres of land this year with 26 fatalities as of Monday, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). More than 66,000 people were under evacuation orders from several fast-growing new wildfires…

Xenophobia: Anti-Nigerian hashtag trends in South Africa

A protest was held outside the Nigerian High Commission last week PRETORIA, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — #NigeriansMustGo has been the top trending hashtag on Twitter in South Africa, in the latest sign of growing xenophobia against foreigners in the country. This comes just days after a small protest was held…

Update: Armenian separatists battle Azerbaijan 3rd day offensive in Karabakh

Yerevan and Baku have been locked in a territorial dispute over the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorny Karabakh for decades BAKU/YEREVAN, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armenian separatists in the Nagorny Karabakh region are resisting an Azerbaijani offensive, officials in Yerevan said, as heavy fighting entered a third day Tuesday ahead…

Covid-19: Positive tests rising in New York – governor

NEW YORK, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The rate of positive coronavirus tests is ticking up in New York, especially in neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations, the state’s governor Andrew Cuomo said. Of the 52,936 tests reported Sunday, 834 were positive, or 1.5 percent of the total, tweeted Cuomo. The…

Covid-19: New clampdowns for Montreal, Quebec City as cases soar

MONTREAL, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Quebec, the province hardest hit by the pandemic in Canada, reintroduced restrictions to limit the spread of the Covid-19 illness in three regions including Montreal and Quebec City. Premier Francois Legault said the closure of bars, concert halls, cinemas and libraries in these “red zones”…

Spain reports 31,785 new coronavirus cases since Friday

A man wearing a face mask is seen next to Spanish flags set up in memory of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims in a park, in Madrid MADRID, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s tally of confirmed coronavirus cases reached 748,266 on Monday, rising by 31,785 from Friday’s total, health ministry…

Covid-19: Peru’s healthcare system at risk of collapse due to pandemic – health minister

LIMA, Sept 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Peruvian healthcare system is at risk of collapse unless more is done to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Pilar Mazzeti warned Monday. As economic activity resumes on Oct 1, the risk of a second wave of outbreak will increase, Mazzeti…

Covid-19: Pentagon reports eighth military death

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — An eighth US service member has died from COVID-19, the Pentagon reported on Monday. The death was included in the Pentagon’s latest update of COVID-19 numbers related to its members. The identity of the service member was not immediately released but the person was reportedly…

Update: Togo’s president appoints first female prime minister

Victoire Tomégah Dogbé has been appointed as new Prime Minister, the first woman to ever hold the title in Togo LOME, Sept 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe on Monday appointed Victoire Sidemeho Dogbe-Tomegah as the first female prime minister in the country, according to a presidential decree. Dogbe-Tomegah…