California fires spread, fouling air and spurring evacuations

LOS ANGELES, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thick smoke blanketed large areas of central and northern California as more people fled some of thebiggest fires in the state’s history which have raged largely uncontrolledthrough the week. One of the largest group of fires, dubbed the LNU Lightning Complex, hasscorched nearly 220,000…

Covid-19: Africa’s confirmed cases near 1.16 mln amid call for strong mitigation efforts

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 22 (NNN-XINHUA) – The number of confirmed COVID-19cases in Africa surged to 1,158,217 as the death toll from the pandemic roseto 26,968, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The number of people who recovered from their COVID-19 infections rose to 881,495 as…

Covid-19: US cases surpass 5.6 mln

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 5.6 million on Friday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. The national case count rose to 5,607,993, with the death toll in thecountry reaching 174,924 as…

Covid-19: Pandemic could be over within two years – WHO head Tedros

Dr Tedros said globalisation had allowed the virus to spread more quickly GENEVA, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will be over in under two years. Speaking in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Spanish flu of 1918…

Update: Mali finance minister released by military junta

BAMAKO, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffe and another top official have been released by the military junta that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The minister was among those detained after the military coup on Tuesday. Sabane Mahalmoudou, who worked for the president was among those arrested,…

Covid-19: Morocco tightens restrictions in tourist hubs

Armoured vehicles are patrolling the streets in the capital, Rabat RABAT, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Moroccan authorities have imposed tight new restrictions on movement in Casablanca and Marrakesh – the country’s main tourist hubs – following a spike in coronavirus infections. Several districts of the two cities will be…

Regional delegation to visit Mali to try to reverse coup as junta, opposition close ranks

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou BAMAKO, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — West African countries will send a delegation to Mali in an effort to reverse a military coup, presidents from the region said, as an opposition coalition there joined the junta in rejecting foreign interference. Leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of…

Covid-19: Mozambique lifts ban on foreign travel

Mozambicans can now leave and enter the country without the authorisation from the interior minister MAPUTO, AUG 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Mozambique have lifted a ban on foreign travel that was imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus.It means foreigners can also leave and enter the country provided…

Covid-19: Madagascar president sacks health minister after surge

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina ANTANANARIVO, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madagascar said it had fired its health minister as part of a government reshuffle, a move that came a month after he butted heads with the president for seeking outside help for coronavirus. The Indian Ocean island-nation saw COVID-19 cases surge in July despite…

Covid-19: US Pres Trump pushes universities to keep reopening despite cluster outbreaks

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — US President Donald Trump has urged universities to keep reopening their campuses, despite reports of COVID-19 cluster outbreaks among students across the country. The virus is very dangerous for older people, “but for university students the likelihood of severe illness is less than or equal…