Ivory Coast PM to spend weeks in France on medical rest after heart exam

Gon Coulibaly is the governing party candidate in October’s presidential election ABIDJAN, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, the ruling party’s candidate in this year’s presidential race, will stay in France for a few weeks of medical rest after undergoing a heart exam, the presidency…

Covid-19: Kenya, Uganda latest to receive IMF help against pandemic

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The IMF approved a $739 million emergency loan for Kenya and $491.5 million for Uganda, as the East African countries deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Both face severe economic shocks amid efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Washington-based crisis lender said in announcing…

US military killed 132 civilians globally in 2019: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One hundred thirty-two civilians were killed last year in US global military operations, the army said, a number far lower than those published by NGOs. The Department of Defense “assesses that there were approximately 132 civilians killed and approximately 91 civilians injured during 2019 as…

Sudan: Tribal clashes in South Darfur kill 30 people

KHARTOUM, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirty people were killed in tribal clashes that erupted in Sudan’s South Darfur province, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s office said in a statement. “South Darfur’s governor presented a detailed report about the situation in the province which showed that clashes erupting between tribal elements saw…

Covid-19: US death toll climbs by 2,073 in 24 hours with prison infections hit 30,000

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States recorded 2,073 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 73,095, according to the latest real-time tally Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University. The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities —…

Covid-19: Brazil presidential spokesman tests positive for virus

SAO PAULO, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s spokesman has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the government said, the latest case to hit close to the far-right leader, who rejects social distancing measures. Army General Otavio Rego Barros, 59, one of the administration’s top public figures, “is…

US Pres Trump vetoes measure limiting his war powers in Iran

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump vetoed what he called a “very insulting” congressional resolution seeking to limit his war powers in Iran. In a statement, Trump said he had used his veto because the resolution — a rare bipartisan rebuke to the president approved in March…

Covid-19: Spain lawmakers extend state of emergency

MADRID, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s parliament voted to extend the country’s state of emergency, allowing stringent coronavirus lockdown measures to remain in place for at least two more weeks. The government imposed a nation-wide lockdown nearly eight weeks ago to curb the outbreak, which has killed more than 25,000…

Covid-19: France reports 278 new coronavirus deaths

PARIS, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France reported 278 new deaths from coronavirus but also announced a steep fall in the number of hospital patients, as the country prepares to gradually ease its lockdown. The health ministry said 25,809 people were now confirmed to have died from the virus in hospitals…

Covid-19: ‘Thousands would die’ if lockdown ended, says Argentine president

BUENOS AIRES, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentine President Alberto Fernandez ruled out an immediate exit from Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown, saying to do so would “lead to the death of thousands.” Opposition parties, economists and business leaders have stepped up demands for the government to relax strict quarantine measures to allow…