Update: US infections top three million as Trump pushes schools reopening

WASHINGTON, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States topped three million confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushed for schools to re-open amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many southern hotspots. The US remains by far the worst affected country, with over 132,000 deaths, while Brazil — whose virus-skeptic…

Covid-19: Nigeria restarts domestic flights amid easing coronavirus restrictions

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja ABUJA, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria resumed domestic flights after a hiatus of around three months as Africa’s most populous country relaxes restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the new coronavirus. The airports for the capital, Abuja, and commercial hub Lagos reopened…

Covid-19: Belgrade protesters storm Serb parliament over curfew

BELGRADE (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of police and protesters have been hurt in riots that broke out outside the National Assembly in the Serbian capital Belgrade. The protests began peacefully on Tuesday evening and included students and families, angered by a move to re-impose a weekend curfew because of a rise…

Covid-19: Italian beach nudists fined during police enforcement of social distancing, compulsory use of masks

The nude sunbathers were spotted by a marine patrol ROME, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six people who dared to go bare on the shores of an Italian lake have been given big fines for outraging public decency. The naturists were spotted by police patrolling the beaches of Abbadia Lariana in…

Malta allows stranded Somali migrants to get off boat

More than 110,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year VALLETTA, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of migrants who were stranded in dirty conditions aboard a ship that usually only carries animals have been allowed to disembark in Malta. The vessel had rescued around 50 people, mostly Somalis,…

Covid-19: Pandemic could push 49 million Africans into poverty – AfDB

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank ABIDJAN, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that 49 million Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty by the coronavirus pandemic The AfDB said that West and Central Africa stand to be most hit by the economic…

Covid-19: Zimbabwe’s health minister, accused of corruption, sacked – Statement

Zimbabwe’s Health minister, Obadiah Moyo HARARE, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sacked health minister Obadiah Moyo with immediate effect for inappropriate conduct, a statement from the presidency shared by information ministry secretary Nick Mangwana said. Moyo was arrested in June over allegations of corruption related to…

Ivory Coast Prime Minister dead, days after returning from medical treatment in France

Ivorian Prime Minister, Amadou Gon Coulibaly ABIDJAN, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Ivorian government has confirmed the death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, aged 61 in the capital Abidjan, on Wednesday. The deceased returned home last week (July 2) after a two-month absence during which period he was receiving…

Burkina Faso: 180 bodies found in ‘killing field’

HRW urged the government to uncover who had turned Djibo into a ‘killing field’ OUAGADOUGOU, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 180 bodies have been found in mass graves in northern Burkina Faso where soldiers are fighting jihadists, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report says. “Available evidence suggests government forces…

Singer’s murder: Ethiopia violence toll rises to 239 – police

ADDIS ABABA, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from demonstrations and ethnic violence that erupted in Ethiopia last week following the murder of a popular singer from the Oromo ethnic group has risen to 239, according to a tally of police figures. Pop star Hachalu Hundessa, a hero to…