Global fears rise as more China virus cases found on cruise ship

BEIJING, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China’s coronavirus crisis deepened onThursday with the death toll soaring to 563, as thousands of people trappedon quarantined cruise ships added to global panic about the epidemic. More than 28,000 people have now been infected across China as authorities struggle to contain the outbreak despite…

Bangladesh seeks EU support for Rohingya repatriation

ROME, Feb 7 (NNN-BSS) — Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought continued support of the European Union (EU) including Italy to ensure safe, dignified and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. “The Bangladesh prime minister also expressed thanks to the EU including Italy for their support to the…

10 dead in Peru traffic accident

LIMA, Feb 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 10 people were killed in a predawn collision between a minibus and a cargo truck in south Peru’s Arequipa region, local authorities said. The Wednesday accident occurred in the La Joya district at around 5:40 a.m. local time, at km 957 of the…

China’s Tianjin restricts entry, exit to homes to prevent coronavirus spread

BEIJING, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China’s northern city of Tianjin began on Thursday restricting the entry and exit of people from residential compounds and villages to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the official People’s Daily reported. Tianjin is following the example of several other major cities including Beijing…

Russia to coordinate efforts with Turkey, Iran on Syria’s Idlib

MOSCOW, Feb 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — Russia will continue close coordination with Turkey and Iran to achieve lasting stability and security in Syria’s Idlib, where violence has surged dangerously, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “We reaffirm our commitment to the agreements and mutual understandings reached within the Astana format, providing for…

South Sudan: National campaign helps over 700,000 children enroll back in school

JUBA, Feb 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — South Sudanese government and multilateral partners on Thursday launched a national campaign that will see more than 700,000 children enroll back in school. A statement from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued in Juba, said the campaign will help 709,002 children enroll for early…

Algerian leader pardons more than 6,000 prisoners in conciliatory gesture

ALGIERS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday pardoned more than 6,000 prisoners, extending a process of clemency that has outdone in scale similar conciliatory gestures by his predecessors. Tebboune, elected in December in a vote rejected by a mass protest movement seeking the total replacement of…

South African national parks declare war on poachers

Hunter Mitchell, South African conservationist taking a rhino for a walk, in Cape Town JOHANNESBURG, Feb 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — South Africa is escalating the fight against poaching using different means and collaborating with other countries in the midst of increased activity by illegal hunters, said South African National Parks (SANParks).…

Lesotho: First Lady Maesaiah Thabane formally charged with murdering rival

First Lady Maesaiah Thabane  MASERU, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The wife of the prime minister of Lesotho has been formally charged in court with murdering his previous wife. First Lady Maesaiah Thabane has not yet been asked to plead. She surrendered to police on Tuesday for questioning. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has also…

Iran sentences man to death for spying for the CIA

TEHRAN, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran’s top court has confirmed a death sentence for a man convicted of spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Amir Rahimpour “earned a lot of money” to pass on information about Iran’s nuclear programme to the US, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said. He added that “two…