Rwanda receives 133 more asylum seekers from Libya

KIGALI, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 285 asylum seekers who were stranded in Libya and hosted in Rwanda have been relocated to third countries, the Rwandan government said. It comes as a new group of 133 asylum seekers arrived in the East African country. Upon arrival early Friday, the…

Major US wildfire grows, forcing new evacuations; currently 80 active fires

LOS ANGELES, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With oppressively hot, dry weather looming over much of the Western US and Canada on Sunday, the enormous Bootleg Fire in Oregon grew again and authorities ordered new evacuations. Bootleg, the largest of 80 major fires now active in the US, spread overnight from…

Algeria recalls Morocco ambassador over Berber comments

ALGIERS, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations on Sunday as a new diplomatic spat broke out between the regional arch-rivals. The move came after Morocco’s envoy to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, expressed support for self-determination for Algeria’s traditionally restless Kabylie region, a stronghold…

South Africa: Former pres Zuma graft trial to resume after deadly violence

PIETERMARITZBURG (South Africa), July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The long-running corruption trial of South Africa’s jailed ex-president Jacob Zuma to resume virtually on Monday, despite deadly violence that swept the nation after his imprisonment in an unrelated case. Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering related to the 1999…

Venezuela repatriates 700 citizens from Trinidad and Tobago

CARACAS, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Nicolas Maduro’s government repatriated more than 700 Venezuelans who fled to nearby Trinidad and Tobago amid their homeland’s crippling economic crisis, the Foreign Ministry announced Sunday. “More than 700 Venezuelans have arrived in Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago in the first ‘Vuelta a la…

Covid-19: Restrictions lifted in England, scientists warn of surge in cases

     LONDON, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government on Monday lifted pandemic restrictions on daily life in England, scrapping all social distancing in a step slammed by scientists and opposition parties as a dangerous leap into the unknown. From midnight (2300 GMT Sunday), nightclubs were able to reopen and other…

Covid-19: Uruguay aims to reopen its borders to vaccinated foreigners

MONTEVIDEO, July 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou said that the country is aiming to reopen its borders to foreigners who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year. “One of the hardest hit sectors that we have to help to reactivate is tourism. If…

Sudan says Nile water level stable despite Ethiopia’s 2nd filling of Nile Dam

KHARTOUM, July 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — A Sudanese official said that no drop in the water level of the Blue Nile has been detected despite Ethiopia’s start of the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). “Since April, Al-Daim station on the border with Ethiopia has not monitored any…

US shooting: One killed, 3 injured in Northern California

SAN FRANCISCO, July 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — One person died and three others were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning in Walnut Creek, Northern California of the United States, police said. Local police responded after receiving reports of a shooting at about 1:37 a.m., the police said in a Facebook…

UN chief calls for solidarity, unity to honor Mandela’s legacy

The UN General Assembly declared July 18, Mandela’s birthday, as “Nelson Mandela International Day” UNITED NATIONS, July 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for solidarity and unity in his video message for Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day). The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the “vital importance…