Belarus president Lukashenko re-elected, one dead after protests erupted throughout the country

Lukashenko cast his ballot at a polling station in Minsk MINSK, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated his counterpart in Belarus on his re-election after a disputed vote that led to a police crackdown on protesters. The Kremlin said Putin had sent Alexander Lukashenko a…

Covid-19: US hits 5 million cases as Pres Trump criticised over relief package

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States reached the extraordinary milestone of five million coronavirus cases as President Donald Trump was accused of flouting the constitution by unilaterally extending a virus relief package. The US has been hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic, recording nearly 163,000 deaths — by far…

Eleven from one family drown in flash flood in Panama

PANAMA CITY, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven people from one family died Sunday in Panama when their home was swept away in a flash flood as they slept, officials said. Nine of them were minors, said Carlos Rumbo, head of the national civil protection service. Two other people are missing…

COVID-19 cases in Americas surpass 10 mln: WHO

GENEVA, Aug 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Americas has crossed the 10 million mark, accounting for over half of the global tally, according to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday. As of 10 a.m. CET (0800 GMT) on Friday,…

Over 150,000 Somalians fled homes since June due to flooding: UN

Somalis gather at a site for internally displaced people near Mogadishu UNITED NATIONS, Aug 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 150,000 Somalians have fled their homes since June due to flash and riverine flooding in the southern regions of this Horn of Africa nation, a UN spokesman said. “In Somalia, the…

Mauritian gov’t declares state of environmental emergency after oil spill

 People gather to look at the stranded MV Wakashio ship which is leaking oil PORT-LOUIS, Aug 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a state of environmental emergency due to an oil spill on Friday, according to a statement issued on the same day after a cabinet meeting.…

Covid-19: Lagos mosques, churches reopen

All worship places were closed in March LAGOS, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Muslims in Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos, will hold their Friday prayers in mosques for the first time in nearly four months.Churches will resume services on Sunday.All places of worship were closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.Lagos…

New Zealand: Prime Minister Ardern kicks off election campaign after taming virus

AUCKLAND, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand Prime Minister JacindaArdern kicked off her Labour Party’s election campaign Saturday riding high in the opinion polls after a successful response to the coronavirus outbreak. Ardern’s popularity as preferred prime minister — often referred to as“Jacindamania” — topped 60 percent in the latest…

Army officer, 5 militants killed in clashes in western Afghanistan

KABUL, Aug 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — An Afghan national army officer and five militants were killed during clashes in Afghanistan’s western province of Badghis, the country’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Saturday. “On Friday evening, the Taliban insurgents tried to attack Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) position in Bala…

Covid-19: US pandemic worse than Mexico, Lopez Obrador says after travel warning

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador MONTERREY (Mexico), Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the United States had greater problems from the coronavirus than his country, a day after the US State Department urged citizens not to travel south of the border, citing high contagion rates. “We…