Covid-19: South Africa government, private hospitals agree deal on coronavirus patients

A man walks past the words “Coronavirus” painted on a wall PRETORIA, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The South African government has agreed how much it will pay private hospitals and medical practitioners to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients if public hospitals run out of space, a senior health official said. The government…

Covid-19: African Development Bank loans Nigeria almost $300m

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Development Bank has loaned Nigeria just over $288.5m to help it deal with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The finance minister warned last month that Nigeria’s economy – Africa’s largest – could shrink by up to 9%. Nigeria suffered a…

Covid-19: Ex-Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre returns to prison after serving two-month house arrest because of coronavirus

Chad’s former dictator, Hissene Habre DAKAR, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad’s former dictator, Hissene Habre returned to prison in Senegal on Sunday after a two-month release aimed at protecting him from the coronavirus. Habre seized power in Chad in 1982, fleeing to Senegal in 1990 after he was overthrown. The…

Sec of State Pompeo offers US help in cleaning huge Russian oil spill

WASHINGTON, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States offered to help Russia clean up a vast fuel spill that has fouled an Arctic river in northern Siberia. “Saddened to hear about the fuel spill in Norilsk, Russia,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter. “Despite our disagreements, the United…

Mexico: Ten killed in attack on rehab center

CELAYA (Mexico), June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten people were killed in an attack on a drug rehabilitation center in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, local authorities said. An armed group stormed the center in Irapuato on Saturday afternoon and opened fire, killing nine people instantly, the municipal government said.…

Pres Trump plan to slash US troops sparks concern in Germany

BERLIN, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas voiced regret at reports that President Donald Trump plans to cut the number of US troops stationed in Germany, stressing that close cooperation was in the interests of both countries. Other senior politicians in Berlin were more blunt in their…

Covid-19: No cases in Vatican City; last positive case in early May – Holy See

VATICAN CITY, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Vatican has announced there are no more cases of Coronavirus among Holy See employees – the governing body of the Catholic Church – and others inside Vatican City. Matteo Bruni, Holy See press chief, said: “The last person declared sick with Covid-19 in recent weeks…

Covid-19: US records 691 coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours as Pres Trump calls on states to further ease lockdown

WASHINGTON, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Coronavirus pandemic killed 691 people in the United States in the past 24 hours, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University.The latest deaths bring the total in the United States to 110,482, and there have been 1,938,842 cases, according to a real-time tally maintained by the…

US unrest: Protesters tear down slave trader statue in England

Protesters in Bristol pull down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston LONDON, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A slave trader’s statue in Bristol has been torn down and thrown into the harbour during a second day of anti-racism protests across the UK. It comes after largely peaceful demonstrations in London…

Covid-19: 600 nurses killed worldwide as World Bank says coronavirus ‘a devastating blow for world economy’

GENEVA, June 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Statistics from the International Council of Nurses (I.C.N.) indicates that over 600 nurses across the world have been killed by COVID-19.Approximately 230,000 health-care workers have also contracted the virus.Howard Catton, the Chief Executive Officer of International Council of Nurses (I.C.N.) noted that, “We need a central…