US admits to ‘intercepting’ Iranian passenger plane; passengers injured as plane take precautionary measures

Iranian passenger plane in Syrian airspace WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, July 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Central Command has claimed responsibility for engaging with an Iranian passenger plane in Syrian airspace. Iranian officials have threatened to take legal and political action over the incident. US Central Command on Thursday confirmed that one of…

Kenyan plane that crashed in Somalia last week, triggered by donkeys mishap

NAIROBI, July 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Kenyan cargo plane that crashed in Somalia last week was triggered by rogue donkeys that were grazing near the runway, a preliminary investigation report said.Preliminary reports from Somali Civil Aviation Authority indicate the animals were grazing on shrubs close to the runway when the…

Sudan discovers a mass grave of military officers

Omar al-Bashir is former Sudan President KHARTOUM, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Sudanese government has announced that it has discovered a mass grave dating to 1990. The attorney general said the mass grave had 28 military officers believed to have been involved in a failed coup against former President Omar…

Covid-19: Uganda records its first coronavirus death

Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda KAMPALA, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda has recorded the country’s first coronavirus death, according to a tweet from the ministry of health.Further tweets explain that the 34-year-old woman was originally being treated for pneumonia in hospital last week. She died on Tuesday and was buried…

US Pres Trump tells Pres Putin hopes to avoid US-Russia-China arms race

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he hopes to avoid an “expensive” US arms race with Russia and China, the White House said. Washington and Moscow are preparing negotiations on a successor to the New START treaty capping their countries’ nuclear…

Trump could lose reelection in 100 days – and the US is on edge

WASHINGTON, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Donald Trump has 100 days from Sunday to save his presidency, while America tries to avoid a collective nervous breakdown ahead of one of the most divisive, tension-filled elections in US history. Coronavirus is ravaging the economy, adding steadily to a death toll already over…

Covid-19: UN chief tells China coal has no place in post-COVID recovery

BEIJING, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Coal power has no place in a post-coronavirus economic recovery plan, the UN chief said in a speech broadcast in China, which has reportedly stepped up production of the polluting energy source. “There is no such thing as clean coal, and coal should have no…

Covid-19: Brazil study finds no hydroxychloroquine benefit

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A study published Thursday on the use of hydroxychloroquine in Brazil to treat COVID-19 found the drug ineffective, the latest blow to President Jair Bolsonaro’s push for its widespread use. The clinical trial, conducted at 55 hospitals across Brazil and published in the…

Afghanistan: Taliban say ready for peace talks next month if prisoner swap complete

KABUL, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Taliban are prepared to hold peace talks with the Afghan government after a religious holiday next month as long as an ongoing prisoner swap had been completed, the insurgents said Thursday. The group was “ready to begin intra-Afghan negotiations immediately after Eid in case…

Covid-19: South African schools to be closed again over virus

PRETORIA, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s public schools will close again for a month from Monday to limit the spread of coronavirus as the country grapples with surging infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. “Cabinet has decided today that all public schools should take a break for the next four…