Covid-19: Cubans celebrate no local transmission for first time in four months

People get hand sanitizer before entering a shop in Havana HAVANA, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba for the first time in 130 days said there were no new domestic cases of COVID-19 as most of the country moved into the final phase of resuming normal activities with masks and social…

Covid-19: Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister tests positive

Nigeria, as at end of June 2020, was Africa’s third most impacted country ABUJA, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama confirmed that he had tested positive for the virus, becoming the latest top politician to be infected. He disclosed via Twitter that his positive result came from…

Covid-19: President of Bolivian Football Federation dies after catching virus

LA PAZ, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), Cesar Salinas, died Sunday after being hospitalized with COVID-19 earlier this month, officials said. The federation confirmed his death in a statement that highlighted his “dedication and commitment to national and international football.” Salinas, 58, had…

Covid-19: Brazil’s death toll nears 80,000

BRASILIA, July 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll raced towards 80,000 on Sunday, after 716 deaths in the past 24 hours pushed the total number to 79,488. The number of people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached 2,098,389, after tests detected 23,529 new cases in the…

Two dead as Dutch army helicopter crashes in Caribbean

THE HAGUE, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people died when a Dutch army helicopter crashed into the sea soon after take-off from the Caribbean island of Aruba, the Netherlands defence ministry said Monday. The chopper was on its way to neighbouring island Curacao on Sunday afternoon when it came down…

Covid-19: Mauritius says it spent $265 million on virus wage assistance

People wait in line to enter a supermarket in Grand Baie, Mauritius PORT LOUIS, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Mauritian Treasury said it has disbursed 10.6 billion rupees under its two employment assistance programs to companies and self-employed people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. From March 16 to the end of…

Russian fleet tracks US destroyer in Black Sea

MOSCOW, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Russian Black Sea Fleet has begun to track the US guided-missile destroyer Porter, which entered the Black Sea on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “The Black Sea Fleet’s forces have begun to track USS Porter (an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer), which entered the Black Sea at 19:45 local time…

Brazil’s indigenous chief Raoni in ‘stable’ condition, depressed after wife of 60 years died

BRASILIA, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, one of the Amazon rainforest’s best-known defenders, is “stable” after receiving a blood transfusion in hospital, his institute said. Raoni, a chief of the Kayapo people in northern Brazil, has been hospitalized since Thursday for weakness, shortness of breath, poor appetite…

Covid-19: Peru passes 13,000 deaths

LIMA, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru on Sunday passed 13,000 coronavirus deaths, the health ministry said, a day before the country is scheduled to reopen restaurants as part of easing lockdown measures. An additional 189 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the toll to 13,187, according to…

Covid-19: Pres Macron threatens walk-out during clashes with Dutch and Austrian compatriots at EU coronavirus summit

 BRUSSELS, July 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tempers flared as the deadlocked EU coronavirus summit rolled over from Sunday into Monday, with French President Emmanuel Macron upbraiding his Dutch and Austrian colleagues and threatening a walk-out. Frustration had been building for three days as the 27 leaders wrangled over the size and…