Mali coup leaders ‘free’ ousted president

Many Malians welcomed the overthrow of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta BAMAKO, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s coup leaders say that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has been released from detention, and is at his home.He was arrested during last week’s military takeover and hours later announced his resignation as president.The coup…

Togo: First in Africa to eradicate sleeping sickness

The sleeping sickness parasite gets into the bloodstream BRAZZAVILLE, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo has become the first African country to eliminate sleeping sickness as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.It received “validation” of the sickness’ elimination after not reporting a single case in the…

Covid-19: Aussie gov’t pledges funding to help poorer countries access vaccine

CANBERRA, Aug 28 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Australian government has pledged funding to a global effort to ensure that poorer countries have cheap access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Marise Payne, minister for Foreign Affairs, and Greg Hunt, the Minister for Health, announced that Australia has committed 80 million Australian dollars to…

New Zealand PM says gunman deserves lifetime of ‘utter silence’

WELLINGTON, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the life sentence for the Christchurch mosque gunman on Thursday, saying he deserved a lifetime of “complete and utter silence”. “The trauma of March 15 is not easily healed but today I hope is the last where we…

Covid-19: US now says asymptomatic people don’t need virus test after exposure

WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After previously encouraging people without Covid-19 symptoms to get tested if they have been exposed to someone diagnosed with the virus, US health authorities have abruptly reversed their position without a clear explanation. The changes in guidance were quietly made to the Centers for Disease…

Covid-19: Peru seeks 6,000 volunteers for China vaccine trial

LIMA, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru on Wednesday began registering volunteers for clinical trials of a Chinese vaccine against the coronavirus. Six thousand volunteers, who must be aged between 18 and 75 and not have contracted the virus, will be recruited by Cayetano Heredia and San Marcos universities via a…

US: ‘Unsurvivable’ storm surge feared as Hurricane Laura strengthens to category 4

LAKE CHARLES (United States), Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hurricane Laura was barreling towards the coast of the southern US states of Louisiana and Texas as a monster Category 4 storm, prompting warnings of “unsurvivable” storm surge and evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents. The Miami-based National…

DR Congo militia kills 24 in troubled Beni region

BENI (DR Congo), Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 24 civilians were killed over two days by a notorious militia in the Beni region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the army is battling armed groups. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a mainly Muslim movement that originated in Uganda…

Russian Pres Putin vows military support for Belarus’ embattled Pres Lukashenko

MOSCOW, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putinvowed military support for embattled Belarusian leader AlexanderLukashenko on Thursday, while urging a peaceful resolution to unrestand demonstrations that erupted after a disputed election. EU ambassadors in the capital Minsk on Thursday denounced acrackdown on the opposition in the wake of the…

Covid-19: New post-lockdown record for France with 5,000 new cases

PARIS, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French health authorities reported more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the previous 24 hours, hitting their highest figure since May days before children return to school nationwide. Public Health France said it had recorded 5,429 new infections, after 3,304 on Tuesday. The daily figure…