Brazilian police make record drug seizure

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazilian police have confiscated a record 28 tons of marijuana discovered inside a truck near the border with neighboring Paraguay, the Federal Police force said. The largest ever drug bust in Brazil took place on Wednesday, in an area between the towns of…

Covid-19: Turkey sees signs of slowdown in pandemic; Saudi Arabia continues to lead in region’s daily rise of infections

Saudi Arabia has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Gulf region CAIRO, May 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — Turkey saw new signs of slowdown in the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday with 961 new infections reported, while Saudi Arabia continued to lead the region in terms of daily rise of…

Covid-19: Two-day-old baby dies in South Africa – believed youngest in the world

PRETORIA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 2-day-old premature baby in South Africa has died from COVID-19, the government announced. The death marks the country’s first neonatal mortality from COVID-19 –one of the world’s youngest victims of the virus. The baby had lung difficulties and required support from a ventilator immediately…

South Sudan: Aid workers among 300 killed in inter-communal clashes

Health workers are still searching for more bodies in bushes JUBA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in South Sudan say at least 300 people have been killed and many more injured in the latest wave of inter-communal fighting in Jonglei state, east of the country. Three aid workers, including…

Zimbabwe minister sacked after remarks on MP’s abduction

Energy Mutodi HARARE, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s deputy information minister has been fired, hours after dismissing the abduction of a female member of parliament and two of her colleagues as a row over payment for sex. The government gave no reason for the dismissal of Energy Mutodi. A tweet…

Mozambique: Key port destroyed by militants reopens

Mocimboa da Praia, home to many fishermen, has been attacked several times MAPUTO, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Mozambican government has reopened the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia in the oil-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado, two months after it was destroyed by militants.The closure of the port had…

Covid-19: France’s daily toll dips to 83, no sign of second wave

PARIS, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of coronavirus deaths registered in France over the last 24 hours dipped to 83 on Thursday, as a top doctor said he was not seeing a second wave of infections despite the country easing its lockdown. The latest deaths in hospitals and nursing…

Covid-19: LatAm jobless to increase by 11.5mn, says UN

SANTIAGO, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has left an extra 11.5 million people unemployed in Latin America, the United Nations and the International Labour Organization said. The new estimate from the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the…

Covid-19: Italy death toll could be 19,000 higher than reported – agency

ROME, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s death toll from the novel coronavirus in March and April could be nearly 19,000 higher than the official figure of 32,000, the national social security agency said. The Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS), the largest social security and welfare institute in Italy, said…

Covid-19: Pres Trump orders US flags lowered to half-staff for virus victims

WASHINGTON, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump ordered US flags to be lowered to half-staff for three days in honor of Americans who have died from coronavirus. The announcement came as the US COVID-19 death toll approaches the 100,000 mark, and follows calls by Democrats to lower the flag…