Pakistan: 15 killed in rain-related accidents in Karachi

ISLAMABAD, July 10 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 15 people were killed and scores of others injured in separate rain-related accidents in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi over the last two days, local media reported. Most of the fatalities happened due to electrocution incidents in the streets which were inundated…

Update: 35 troops killed in Nigeria insurgent ambush, 30 missing

KANO (Nigeria), July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from an insurgent attack on a military convoy in northeast Nigeria has risenfrom 23 to 35, while 30 troops are still missing, security sourcessaid. Militants linked to the so-called Daesh group ambushed theconvoy on Tuesday at Bulabulin village, about 40 kilometres…

Covid-19: England’s Test and Trace asks 140,000 to self-isolate

LONDON, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In the first five weeks of England’s Test and Trace system, 144,501 people were asked to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus, new figures show. This was 85% out of a total of 169,863 identified close contacts. The…

Covid-19: South Africa plays down 1.5 million grave fears

Coronavirus is now spreading fast in South Africa, which had a lengthy and strict lockdown JOHANNESBURG, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The man in charge of health in South Africa’s economic hub of Gauteng, Bandile Masuku, caused consternation when he declared on national television that 1.5 million graves were being prepared…

Sudan: PM Abdalla Hamdok fires 4 ministers over slow reforms

At the end of June protesters in Khartoum called for reforms to be speeded up KHARTOUM, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s prime minister has replaced four key ministers after protests over the slow pace of reform following the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir as president last year.Abdalla Hamdok dismissed the health…

Anger over Malawi family cabinet appointees – husband, wife, sister, sister-in-law

President Lazarus Chakwera has unveiled his 23-member cabinet LILONGWE, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi’s new President Lazarus Chakwera has been criticised for including a husband and wife duo and siblings in his cabinet. The president’s former running mate in the 2019 elections, Sidik Mia, has been appointed minister for transport…

Covid-19: South African queen dies of coronavirus

Queen Noloyiso Sandile PRETORIA, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A royal family in South Africa has confirmed the death of Queen Noloyiso Sandile from Covid-19. A sister to the current Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini, she served as regent of the amaRharhabe royal family. Queen Noloyiso was married to the amaRharhabe…

Covid-19: Liberia’s ex-president to joint-head WHO coronavirus panel

Former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa GENEVA, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s former president, and Helen Clark, New Zealand’s former prime minister, are to head a panel to review…

Covid-19: Africa records over 500,000 cases – WHO

BRAZZAVILLE, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Covid-19 infections in Africa surpassed 500,000, and there is concern as a growing number of countries are experiencing a sharp rise in cases. So far, in less than five months, the virus has claimed 11,959 lives, overtaking the 11,308 lives lost in the world’s worst Ebola…

Covid-19: UK government unveils fresh US$37 billion package to stimulate economy

LONDON, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government unveiled a package worth £30 billion to save jobs and help the young into work to kickstart the coronavirus-hit economy. Delivering a mini-budget to parliament, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s measures included bonuses to companies retaining staff and taking on apprentices, investment…