California firefighters race to subdue flames before heat and winds return

LOS ANGELES, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five weeks after California erupted in deadly wildfires supercharged by record heat and howling winds, crews battling flames pushed on to consolidate their gains as forecasts called for a return of blistering, gusty weather. California already has lost far more landscape to wildfires this summer than during…

Canada police say six ricin-laced letters sent to US, including White House

A resident watches police activity from her balcony in a condo building in Longueuil LONGUEUIL (Quebec, Canada), Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian police searched an apartment in a Montreal suburb linked to the woman arrested for sending a ricin-filled envelope to the White House and to five other addresses in Texas, the Royal…

Covid-19: Normality could return in summer 2021 if vaccine succeeds – UK health minister

Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock LONDON: Britain could return to pre-lockdown normal by next summer if a vaccine succeeds and is rolled out in the early part of 2021, health minister Matt Hancock said.  “For the mass rollout we’re talking about the first bit of next year, if all goes well ……

Covid-19: Over 60 wealthy nations join WHO’s vaccine plan

GENEVA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 60 wealthy nations have joined a WHO-backed programme to facilitate poor countries’ access to coronavirus vaccines, but the US and China are not on the list published Monday. The World Health Organization has in coordination with the global vaccine alliance group Gavi and…

Colombia: At least 10 die in new killings

BOGOTA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 10 people were slain in two new multiple killings in Colombia at the weekend, authorities said, amid the worst violence there since a 2016 peace deal. The bullet-riddled bodies of four young men were found dumped in a mangrove swamp in Narino department…

Mass temporary recruitment to replace Liberia’s striking medics

The striking healthcare workers are demanding for better salaries MONROVIA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Liberia’s health ministry has been ordered to recruit new personnel to temporarily replace 9,000 healthcare workers who have been on a strike for nearly a week. The striking healthcare workers are demanding for better salaries, improved…

Cameroon soldiers jailed for killing women and children, accused supporting Boko Haram

oThe government initially dismissed the footage as “fake news”, but later arrested seven soldiers. YAOUNDE, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four Cameroonian soldiers have been sentenced to 10 years for their roles in shooting dead two women and two children in 2015. The killings were captured on a video that circulated…

Sudan to hold talks on removal from US terror list

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is leading the Sudanese delegation KHARTOUM, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan has sent a high level delegation to the United Arab Emirates to negotiate with American officials as the country tries to get removed from the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism.The Sudanese delegation is…

Uganda: A policeman among two arrested over fire at iconic university

KAMPALA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A policeman and a private security guard have been arrested in Uganda, as police investigate the cause of the fire which gutted an iconic building at Makerere University in the capital, Kampala. Investigators are looking into whether there was a lapse in security at the…

Mali’s ex-defence minister Ba N’Daou named transition president

Military leader Colonel Assimi Goita, announcing the appointment, added that he himself would serve as vice president of the transition government BAMAKO, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s former defence minister Ba N’Daou has been announced as president of a new transition government, the leader of the Sahel state’s ruling military…