Migrants and those without ID face hunger in South Africa

PRETORIA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has marshalled huge resources towards preventing its poor from starving because of COVID-19, but undocumented citizens and stranded migrants face hunger as they slip through the net, aid workers say. Some 11,000 families waited for charity food parcels on Wednesday in a queue…

Burundi voting ends in calm despite fraud allegation

BUJUMBURA, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Voting in Burundi’s presidential election passed calmly on Wednesday despite simmering political violence, the coronavirus pandemic and the opposition accusing the authorities of fraud.In what could be the first competitive presidential election in Burundi since a civil war erupted in 1993, the ruling CNDD-FDD party’s…

Migrant boat crossings to UK surge during Covid-19 lockdown

French police, wearing protective masks against the coronavirus, with young migrants picked up off Calais as they tried to get to Britain by boat LONDON, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of unaccompanied young migrants crossing the Channel from France to Britain has spiked during the coronavirus outbreak, as travel restrictions…

Covid-19: South Sudan’s VP Riek Machar in self-isolation after testing positive

JUBA, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Vice-President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, who was part of a task force to fight coronavirus, is in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. Machar said as several other members of the task force were infected a new team was taking over their work.…

Covid-19: Greece to reopen tourism season in June, PM says

 ATHENS, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Greek tourist season will kick off next month, with international charter flights to popular locations resuming in July, the prime minister says. “The tourism period begins on 15 June, when seasonal hotels can reopen,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address. “Let us make this summer…

France: Pres Macron loses majority as defectors form new party

 PARIS, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The party of French President Emmanuel Macron has lost its outright majority in parliament, after a group of MPs broke away to form a new party. Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity will be largely formed of seven MPs from La République en Marche (On the Move) and other ex-supporters of…

Covid-19: More than 100 virus infections in French slaughterhouse

RENNES (France), May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at a slaughterhouse in western France, the regional health authorities said. The cases follow coronavirus outbreaks at meat plants not only in France but also in Germany, Spain, Australia, the United States and…

Covid-19: Prime Minister Trudeau puts on mask, Canadians urged to do same

OTTAWA, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he now wears a face mask in public when social distancing is not possible, as health authorities urged everyone in the country to do the same. But officials emphasized that wearing masks should not become an excuse to ignore…

Military helicopter crashes outside Moscow, crew killed: ministry

MOSCOW, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian army Mi-8 helicopter crashed outside Moscow during a training flight on Tuesday, killing the crew, the defence ministry said. “As a result of a crash landing the crew of the helicopter died of their wounds,” the defence ministry said. Defence ministry spokespeople declined…

North Korea halting talks with US until election is over, Russia says

MOSCOW, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korea has halted talks with the United States until the results of the US presidential election in November are known, Russia’s ambassador to Pyongyang told news agencies Wednesday. President Donald Trump has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times at historic summits…