US: Storm grazes Florida and takes aim at the Carolinas

MIAMI, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floridians along the state’s Atlantic coast hunkered down on Sunday as Tropical Storm Isaias plowed northward just offshore, whipping the state with high winds, rain and the threat of flash floods as it went. At 11 p.m. Eastern time, the center of the storm was…

Namibia to close schools, limit public gatherings as COVID-19 cases surge

WINDHOEK, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibian schools will be suspended for the second time in four months next week, while limits on public gatherings will be tightened further to 100 from 250 amid surging cases, President Hage Geingob said. In a televised speech, Geingob said the decision to suspend schools…

Ivory Coast’s former PM named by Gbagbo’s party as presidential candidate

Pascal Affi N’Guessan, president of FPI (Ivorian Popular Front), speaks after being chosen as candidate for October’s presidential election by his party during the party’s 5th congress in Abidjan ABIDJAN, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The party of Ivory Coast’s former president Laurent Gbagbo named his one-time prime minister Pascal Affi…

Covid-19: Peru sees 428,850 cases, 19,614 deaths

Workers move a coffin with the body of a COVID-19 victim out of a refrigerated container before its cremation at the El Angel crematorium, in Lima LIMA, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru on Sunday passed 13,000 coronavirus deaths, the health ministry said, a day before the country is scheduled to…

Covid-19: Colombia’s cases reach 317,651, death toll hits 10,650 as armed gangs imposes stricter lockdowns

BOGOTA, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia’s Ministry of Health on Sunday reported a total of 317,651 cases of COVID-19, with 139,037 cases considered active. The death toll rose to 10,650 after 320 more patients died from the disease in the previous day. As many as 11,470 new cases were detected in the same 24-hour period,…

Firefighters struggle to contain blaze in southern California

LOS ANGELES, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,300 firefighters were battling a blaze that was burning out of control Sunday in southern California, threatening thousands of people and homes east of Los Angeles. The so-called Apple Fire that broke out Friday near the city of San Bernardino has so…

Boko Haram fighters kill at least 16 in Cameroon: mayor

DOUALA, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighters from the Boko Haram group killed at least 16 people in an attack on a camp for displaced people in northern Cameroon, an official said. “The toll is currently 16 dead, it is clear that it was Boko Haram that was responsible,” local mayor…

Opposition candidate Ali sworn in as Guyana’s president

GEORGETOWN, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Guyana’s opposition candidate was sworn in as president on Sunday, hours after being declared winner of the disputed March 2 general election in the oil-rich, cash-poor South American nation. Irfaan Ali, 40, of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was named the top vote-getter by Guyana…

Covid-19 cases worldwide pass 18 million: official tally

PARIS, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of coronavirus cases recorded worldwide has passed 18 million, according to tally from official sources at 2240 GMT Sunday. At least 18,011,763 cases have now been registered as the pandemic’s rate of infection continues to accelerate. A million more cases have been detected…

Covid-19: PM Boris Johnson postpones lockdown easing in England

LONDON, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The further easing of lockdown restrictions in England has been postponed for at least two weeks, amid concerns over an increase in coronavirus cases. Casinos and bowling alleys will remain shut, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it was time to “squeeze the brake pedal”.…