Update: Coronavirus-hit Hubei reports fewest new confirmed cases in 9 days

Medical staff conducts medical test for a patient at a temporary hospital converted from “Wuhan Livingroom” in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province WUHAN (China), Feb 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Central China’s Hubei Province, center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported 2,097 new confirmed cases and 103 new deaths on Monday, local…

At least five dead in suicide attack in Kabul: officials

KABUL, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A suicide attack rocked the Afghan capital Kabul early Tuesday killing at least five people, officials said, in what was the first major assault in the city in months. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which comesafter nearly three months of relative calm…

13 Rohingyas die in trawler capsize in Bay of Bengal

COX’S BAZAR, Feb 11 (NNN-BSS) — At least 13 Rohingya people includingwomen and children died in a trawler capsize in the Bay of Bengal near theSaint Martin’s island Tuesday morning, police said. “The bodies of at least 13 Rohingyas were retrieved while 56 others rescuedalive after a Malaysia-bound trawler carrying…

Russian air strikes kill 5 civilians in Syria – Monitor

DAMASCUS, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian air strikes killed at least five civilians in the last major opposition bastion in northwestern Syria bringing the death toll to 25 in less than 24 hours, a monitor said.The early Monday morning raids hit a populous village in Aleppo province where battles between…

UN calls for donations to tackle desert locusts in Africa

Locusts swarms, seen here in Kenya, have triggered UN concern UNITED NATIONS, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs called on the international community to help East African countries affected by locust swarms, expressing his deep concern over the situation.“There are 13 million people in the…

US charges four Chinese military officers in 2017 Equifax hack

The FBI released this wanted picture of the suspects WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has charged four Chinese military hackers in the 2017 breach of the Equifax credit reporting agency that affected nearly 150 million American citizens, Attorney General William Barr said.“This was a deliberate and sweeping…

Syria opposition commanders warn of Idlib military escalation

IDLIB (Syria), Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Syrian opposition commanders have said a counteroffensive against government forces in the country’s northwest could start “at any moment” amid escalating tensions in the region. The warning came hours after Ankara said five Turkish troops were killed in shelling by the Syrian army in…

Australia weather: Rain could put out remaining New South Wales blazes

Flooding was widespread across the state SYDNEY, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heavy rains in New South Wales in recent days have led to hopes that all the bushfires in the Australian state could be out by the end of the week. Since Friday, parts of the fire-ravaged Australian state have…

Zimbabwe to arrest traders transacting in US dollars

HARARE, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has warned that traders who continue to demand payment in US dollars will face prosecution. In June, the country abandoned the use of the US dollar for its official currency the Zimbabwe dollars; reintroducing a local currency that was scrapped…

UN chief wants Sudan dropped from terror list

UN’s Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres ADDIS ABABA, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told African leaders that it’s time to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Addressing the annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Guterres said the UN would drum up international…