Update: Coronavirus bites back in Europe as Latin America tops 250,000 deaths

PARIS, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global health authorities said European countries should be able to ride out a surge in coronavirus caseswithout reimposing full lockdowns, as the World Bank warned the crisis could push 100 million people into extreme poverty. Worrying spikes in cases reported Thursday in France, Italy, Spain…

Eight kidnap victims freed after Mexico shootout

GUADALAJARA (Mexico), Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican authorities said they had rescued eight people who had been kidnapped, including onewho had several fingers cut off, after an intense shootout in the city ofGuadalajara. Another abductee was found dead and three men were arrested after the raid on a house in…

Bolivia probes alleged former Pres Morales affair with minor

Former president of Bolivia Evo Morales LA PAZ, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s justice ministry has filed acriminal complaint against 60-year-old former president Evo Morales over an alleged sexual relationship with a minor, Deputy Minister Guido Melgar said. “The Justice Ministry has filed a complaint against citizen Juan EvoMorales Ayma…

Update: More evacuations as massive fires rapidly expand in California

LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A series of massive fires in northern and central California forced more evacuations as they quickly spread Thursday, darkening the skies and dangerously affecting air quality. The blazes, most of which were touched off by a rash of lightning strikesearlier in the week, are…

Update: Israeli planes hit Gaza after rocket fire

GAZA, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israeli planes launched raids against Gaza late Thursday in response to rocket fire, as mediators sought to broker an end to the latest flare-up. Rockets were fired at Israel but crashed inside the Palestinian enclave,according to witnesses and Gaza security sources. Palestinian sources reported light…

Covid-19: France daily cases hit new post-lockdown high

PARIS, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France recorded new coronavirus cases at the fastest daily rate since May, official figures showed, as the country prepares for the return from summer holidays. Almost 3,800 COVID-19 infections were confirmed Wednesday in the past 24 hours, the health ministry’s DGS public health division said.…

Covid-19: US cases surpass 5.5 mln – Johns Hopkins University

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 5.5 million, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. The US case count rose to 5,505,074, with the national death toll reaching 172,418 as of 1:27 p.m.…

North Korea: Leader Kim Jong-un calls rare congress for ruling party

PYONGYANG, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party for January to address policy “shortcomings” and lay out a new five-year plan for the isolated nation’s moribund economy. Kim made the announcement at a full meeting of the…

Six people die, 11 missing in floods in far-western Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least six people died and 11 are missing in a flood on a local stream at Ramaroshan Rural Municipality in far-western Achham district of Nepal, police and local government officials said. “The dead bodies of six people — three men and three women, have…

UAE connects first nuclear plant to national grid

DUBAI, Aug 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has been safely and successfully connected to the grid of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), official WAM news agency reported. “Grid connection of Unit 1 is the beginning of a new era in our project, which is…