Covid-19: Social gatherings of more than six to be banned in England

LONDON, Sept 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnsonwill announce a ban on social gatherings of more than six people in England to curb the spread of COVID-19, local media reported Wednesday. New measures reducing the maximum number of social gatherings from 30 to six — both indoors and…

Covid-19: South Sudan ‘concerned’ about Ethiopia’s coronavirus surge

JUBA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The health authorities in South Sudan have expressed concern at the surge of COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Ethiopia.This is after Ethiopia reported its highest rate of infection last week since it confirmed its first cases in March, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).Ethiopian Airlines has daily…

Zambia’s president leads nation in mourning death of a giant pond fish

Some students believed the fish brought them good luck in exams LUSAKA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia is mourning the death of a giant pond fish at one of country’s biggest public universities, the Copperbelt University (CBU).The fish – affectionately known as Mafishi – has been mourned by political adversaries…

Ethiopian Airlines in talks to rescue ailing South African Airways – CEO

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Airlines is in talks over the possibility of being involved in the rescue of the South African Airways (SAA), said the head of the airlines Tewolde Gebremariam.“Some discussion is taking place between ET (Ethiopian Airlines’ International Air Transport Association (IATA) code) and the…

Ethiopia bars journalists from Tigray elections, deemed illegal by federal authorities

People walk past a campaign sign of a political party in the city of Mekele, Tigray ADDIS ABABA, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian authorities forcibly removed journalists from a plane heading to Mekele in northern Tigray region, ostensibly to prevent the coverage of a controversial election there. Reporters aboard an…

Mali: Military junta given until Sept 15 to appoint civilian leader

The junta is yet to respond to the announcement made on Monday BAMAKO, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The military junta that ousted Mali’s president has been given until Sept 15 to appoint a civilian leader to lead the transition. Leaders from the West African bloc, Ecowas, said the proposed civilian…

Covid-19: AstraZeneca pauses vaccine trial after unexplained illness involving a volunteer

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it had “voluntarily paused” a randomized clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine in what it called a routine action after a volunteerdeveloped an unexplained illness. The company, which is developing the drug alongside the University ofOxford, is a frontrunner in the…

Covid-19: Pandemic threatens lives of millions of children, says UN

PARIS, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Disruptions to health services due to thepandemic are putting millions of additional lives at risk worldwide, theUnited Nations said Wednesday, warning that Covid-19 could reverse decades of progress in reducing child mortality. The past 30 years have seen remarkable strides forward in preventing ortreating causes…

Covid-19: Brazil to launch vaccination drive in January

BRASILIA, Sept 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil will launch a mass vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in January, the government said. “We are signing contracts with those who manufacture the vaccine and the expectation is that the vaccine will reach us starting in January. In January of next year…

US presidential election: Pres Trump says to put personal money into reelection campaign if necessary

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Donald Trump said that he would put his own money into his reelection campaign if necessary, though downplaying the need for it currently. “If we needed any more, I would put it up personally, like I did in the primaries last time,” Trump…