Covid-19: Mozambique, Gambia declares state of emergency

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi MAPUTO/BANJUL, July 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has announced another 30 days of emergency from Friday midnight in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus. This is the second time the country has declared a health emergency since March when it confirmed its…

Covid-19: Another Nigerian airline sacks employees

A plane belonging to Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s largest airlines ABUJA, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Nigerian airline has sacked more than 100 pilots and engineers in another wave of sacking in the troubled aviation sector. Bristow Helicopters has been forced to restructure due to the effects of the…

Egypt withdraws from latest Nile dam talks

The timetable for filling the dam is yet to be agreed CAIRO, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt has withdrawn from the renewed talks on the future of a giant hydropower project on the Nile River being built by Ethiopia. The latest standoff is over new filling guidelines proposed by Ethiopia.…

South Sudan’s only female governor promises security

Sarah Cleto Rial previously lived in the US JUBA, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s only female governor Sarah Cleto Rial has promised to restore security in the western Bahr El-Ghazal State that has been affected by a six-year-old conflict.Rial said she would focus on peace and reconciliation.“We know that…

Guinea PM supports Alpha Conde to re-contest for president

CPNAKRY, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinean Prime Minister Kassory Fofana proclaimed his support for President Alpha Conde at a party convention likely to confirm whether he runs for a third term in office, a scenario that has stirred bloody protests in the West African state. Fofana made the appeal at…

DR Congo armed groups killed 1,300 in first half of 2020: UN

KINSHASA, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,300 people were killed in the first half of 2020 by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, three times more than in the same period in 2019, according to a report published by the United Nations. Between January and June 2020,…

Lebanon gives investigating committee four days to find culprits: minister

BEIRUT, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Lebanon has given an “investigative committee” four days to determine responsibility for the devastating explosion in Beirut port on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe told French radio Thursday. “This morning, a decision was taken to create an investigative committee which in four…

US presidential elections: Sec of State Pompeo offers $10 million reward over election interference

WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would offer a $10 million reward to arrest any state actor who interferes in the November elections. US intelligence has said that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to support Donald Trump, especially though manipulation of…

Covid-19: US signs $1 billion vaccine deal with Johnson & Johnson

WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government announced a new $1 billion investment in a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson, guaranteeing 100 million doses. J&J, via its subsidiary Janssen, had already received $456 million in March. The new money will allow the company to ramp up…

Covid-19: US adds 1,242 deaths in 24 hours – Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States added 1,262 more deaths to its COVID-19 toll in the 24 hours ending at (0030 GMT Thursday), according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The world’s largest economy also added 53,158 new cases of the virus, the Baltimore-based institution’s tracker showed.…