Covid-19: African Development Bank approves $288 mn virus loan to South Africa

ABIDJAN, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Development Bank has approved a $288 million loan to South Africa to help fight coronavirus and mitigate the economic fallout of the pandemic. South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent, with over 380,000 cases and at least 5,368 fatalities recorded to…

Covid-19: Global infections pass 15 mn, as Latin America cases soar

PARIS, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of novel coronavirus infections around the world passed 15 million Wednesday, with Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the hardest-hit regions, notching more than four million cases. In the United States, home to over a quarter of global infections, President Donald Trump…

Covid-19: Madagascar hospitals ‘overwhelmed’ amid spike in cases

Hospitals in Antananarivo have warned they are running out of beds ANTANANARIVO, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hospitals in Madagascar have warned they are overwhelmed after a spike in coronavirus cases in a country where the president has been promoting a herbal drink to treat the virus. A record 614 new…

US unrest: Pres Trump to send ‘surge’ of hundreds of federal agents to cities amid increase gun violence

WASHINGTON, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —President Donald Trump is to send “a surge” of federal security forces to US cities in a crackdown on crime. Chicago and two other Democratic-run cities are being targeted in the Republican president’s move, amid a spike in violence. But federal deployments in Portland, Oregon, have proved controversial.…

US orders China to close Houston consulate “to protect American IP”

China says US orders it to close its consulate in Houston WASHINGTON, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, by Friday (July 24) – a move described as “political provocation” by Beijing. The US State Department said the decision was taken…

Nigeria receives US$890 million from Global Fund to tackle HIV, TB, Malaria

Nigeria government receives US$890 Million from global fund; Dr Ehanire ABUJA, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian government has received $890 million as grants from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the fund would be used to implement programmes aimed…

Zambia asks China for debt relief

Zambian President Edgar Lungu (L) and President Xi Jinping LUSAKA, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambian President Edgar Lungu has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for debt relief in a telephone call between the two leaders on Monday. President Lungu cited the country’s reduced revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic, according…

Covid-19: DR Congo president announces lifting of restrictions

President Felix Tshisekedi KINSHASA, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Democratic Republic of Congo has lifted the “state of health emergency” introduced on March 24 to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.In a televised address, president Felix Tshisekedi announced that from July 22, shops, banks, restaurants, cafés, bars and…

At least 20 Nigerian soldiers killed by bandits in northern Katsina State

ABUJA, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 23 soldiers have been killed in an ambush in northwestern Nigeria.Armed militants opened fire on the soldiers as they walked through a forested part of the Jibia district in Katsina State, security sources said.So far, the bodies of 23 soldiers have been accounted…

Saudi king chairs cabinet meeting from hospital, in stable condition

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz RIYADH, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi King Salman held a cabinet meeting via video call from hospital in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday, a day after the 84-year-old monarch was admitted with what state media said was inflammation of the gall bladder. The king was in…