US issues more Cuba sanctions as Pres Biden prepares to meet Cuban American leaders

WASHINGTON, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on the Cuban police force and two of its leaders in response to the Havana government’s crackdown on protesters as President Joe Biden prepared to meet Cuban American leaders at the White House. The US Treasury Department said the sanctions were a…

US wildfires: California wildfire flares but within line crews have built

PARADISE (California, US), July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — California’s largest wildfire so far this year was flaring up Friday but it was because the flames were chewing through unburned islands of vegetation within a perimeter that firefighters have built, authorities said. The Dixie Fire covered 974 square kilometres in the mountains of…

First evacuation flight brings 221 Afghans to US

WASHINGTON, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first flight evacuating Afghans who worked alongside Americans in Afghanistan brought more than 200 people, including scores of children and babies in arms, to new lives in the United States on Friday, and President Joe Biden said he was proud to welcome them home.…

Covid-19: Africa’s cases surpass 6.63 mln – Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA, July 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 6,635,522 as of Friday afternoon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union, said the death toll from the pandemic stands…

Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels issue fresh demands as ceasefire calls grow

The rebels rejected a unilateral ceasefire offered by Addis Ababa MEKELLE (Tigray, Ethiopia), July 31 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels issued a new list of demands which the group said must be met before engaging in ceasefire talks with the government.In a statement, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front called for…

Covid-19: ‘The war has changed’ – US documents sound alarm on Delta variant

WASHINGTON, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Delta variant of the coronavirus is as contagious as chickenpox, probably causes more severe disease, and breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals may be as transmissible as unvaccinated cases, according to a leaked US government document.    The internal slide presentation produced by the Centers…

UN arms embargo on Central African Republic extended for year, China abstains

UNITED NATIONS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — : The United Nations Security Council extended a Central African Republic (CAR) arms embargo and targeted sanctions regime for another year, however China abstained in the vote because it believes the measures should be removed. The 15-member Security Council imposed the arms embargo on…

Covid-19: Brazil to cancel contract for Russian vaccine, minister says

BRASILIA, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil plans to cancel a contract signed in March for 10 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said as the South American nation struggles with one of the worst outbreaks in the world. He said the move was due to…

Covid-19: UN warned of ‘dire’ situation in Myanmar

Volunteers carry the body of a Covid-19 victim to a cemetery in Yangon UNITED NATIONS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain warned the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that half of Myanmar’s population of 54 million could become infected with COVID-19 within the next two weeks. The UK convened the meeting…

New Peruvian President appoints leftist congressman Guido Bellido as PM

LIMA, July 30 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Peru’s President Pedro Castillo Thursday appointed Congressman Guido Bellido Ugarte of his Peru Libre leftwing party to become the country’s new Prime Minister, while the remaining members of the cabinet are still due to take office. “For the more than 30 million Peruvians, for the…