Covid-19: Four more deaths in Washington state, toll now 6

The outbreak in King County is focused on one nursing facility WASHINGTON, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four more people have died in a coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, bringing the total fatalities there to six. These are the first deaths due to Covid-19 on US soil. Washington declared a state…

Portugal confirms first coronavirus case

LISBON, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portugal confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, a 60-year-old man who had travelled back from northern Italy, which is the European hotspot for the virus.A second person hospitalised in Portugal with coronavirus symptoms, a 33-year-old man, was awaiting final test results after initial…

US to give Zambia $389 million grant for AIDS relief

An HIV adherence counsellor draws a woman’s blood for an HIV test LUSAKA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States will give Zambia a new one year bilateral grant of $389 million for AIDS relief starting in October after Congressional approval, Zambia’s ministry of health said in a statement.The grant…

Somali govt army clashes with regional force

MOGADISHU, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighting has broken out between the Somali military and soldiers of the regional government of Jubaland.Residents in the town of Bula Hawa – close to Somalia’s borders with Kenya and Ethiopia – say there have been exchanges of gunfire for several hours.Tension between the government…

Nigeria: About 50 villagers killed by gunmen in northern attack

ABUJA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen on foot have killed dozens of people during simultaneous attacks on several villages in northern Nigeria.Residents of the remote villages in Kaduna state say the attackers arrived on Sunday in large numbers and started shooting people and burning their homes.A police spokesperson in the…

Five soldiers killed in checkpoint attack in central Mali

Troops of the Malian army patrol the ancient town of Djenne in central Mali MOPTI (Mali), March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five Malian soldiers were killed when militants armed with rocket launchers attacked a checkpoint in a central region of the conflict-torn nation, a military source said.“At least five soldiers were…

Libya conflict: ‘Stressed’ Ghassan Salame resigns as UN envoy after efforts to seek peace failed

Salame says he had tried and failed to bring peace to Libya GENEVA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s special envoy for Libya has resigned saying his efforts to bring peace in the North African country had led to stress.Ghassan Salame said on Twitter he could not “take this much…

Covid-19: Africa’s low coronavirus outbreak rate baffles health experts

Nigeria was the first sub-Saharan country to report an official case of coronavirus GENEVA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa has a population of nearly 1.3 billion people and the continent was of concern to health experts especially the World Health Organization when it comes to proper health systems to combat…

Bus crash kills 25 in South Africa: minister

JOHANNESBURG, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twenty-five people died Monday when a bus rolled down an embankment in South Africa’s coastal Eastern Cape province, the country’s transport minister said. “Reports indicate that the driver lost control of the bus, whichsubsequently rolled down a steep embankment, leaving 25 dead andapproximately 62 injured,”…

Bye-bye handshakes: how coronavirus is changing global habits

PARIS, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Say no to a handshake, refuse kisses on the cheeks and definitely avoid hugging. Instead, a direct gaze or maybe a gesture with the hands. All around the world people are changing their daily habits at work, at home and in worship to reduce the…