EU, UK warn of big differences as Brexit talks head to London

BRUSSELS, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A round of intensified Brexit talks ended on Thursday with both sides warning of big remaining differences but committing to more negotiations next week in London. The four days of meetings in Brussels were the first held face-to-face since the coronavirus shutdown, with hopes high…

Covid-19: Global cases exceed 11 million

PARIS, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months. The number of cases is more than double the figure for severe influenza illnesses recorded annually,…

Libya: Booby traps cause 130 casualties in southern Tripoli in 5 weeks – UN

Map of Libya TRIPOLI, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that 130 Libyans were killed and injured by booby traps in the south of the capital Tripoli over the past five weeks. The 130 casualties, 75 civilians and 55 clearance operators, are all victims…

Covid-19: With no new patients, 74 facilities in Tanzania shut down – minister

A street vendor sells face masks and hand sanitizers in Dar es Salaam DAR ES SALAAM, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s health minister on Friday announced the government was shutting down 74 out of 85 designated COVID-19 facilities across the country for lack of patients. The ministry said in a…

Tanzania becomes a middle income country: World Bank

Tanzanian Shilling DAR ES SALAAM, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania is now officially a middle income country after the World Bank published a reviewed classification of world economies.The East African nation enters into that bracket of middle-income countries with a GNI per capita of between $1,006 and $3,955 – a…

Covid-19: Somalia resumes local flights

Somalia resumes local flights MOGADISHU, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s cabinet has approved the resumption of local flights from Sunday, with one daily passenger flight to and from regional states. Aviation Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Oomaar said that the airports were re-opening with precautionary measures. “The pandemic has not yet been…

Singer’s murder: Normalcy returning to Ethiopia capital, AU speaks, net still blocked

ADDIS ABABA, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four days since the murder of famed Oromo entertainer Hachalu Hundessa, normalcy is returning to the Ethiopian capital after the last few days of deadly protests, bomb blasts and deployment of the army to curb rising violence. Many businesses and offices in Addis Ababa…

Armed men kill 30 villagers in Mali attacks

 A Malian soldier inspects a village house destroyed in an inter-communal attack BAMAKO, July 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed men have killed at least 30 villagers in Mali in simultaneous attacks on several villages in the conflict-riven centre of the country, local officials said. The attacks took place on Wednesday in…

French presidency says PM Philippe and his government have resigned

PARIS, July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French government led by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and his government submitted their resignations Friday, which President Emmanuel Macron has accepted, the presidency said. No reason was given in the short statement, but a cabinet shuffle had beenwidely expected after Macron vowed to chart…

China crackdown sparks Western offers of asylum for Hong Kongers

HONG KONG, July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Western nations are moving to offer millions of Hong Kong residents refuge after Beijing passed security laws designed to choke the city’s protest movement – but many obstacles prevent a mass exodus. The United Kingdom is leading allies in offering nearly half the city’s 7.5…