Update: China virus death toll hits 213 – govt

BEIJING, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The nationwide death toll in China’s coronavirus outbreak has risen to 213, with nearly 2,000 new cases confirmed, the National Health Commission said on Friday. In its daily update, the commission said 43 new deaths had occurred as a result of the virus, all but…

Mozambique: Militants attack college, torch homes; no casualties

MAPUTO, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected militants have attacked an agriculture college in northern Mozambique.Reports from Cabo Delgado province say the insurgents torched homes and looted shops in Bilibiza, where the college is based.The students were not on campus at the time and there are no reports of any casualties…

UN says Nigeria could lose more than a million children to pneumonia

PARIS, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 1.4 million children could die from pneumonia over the next decade in Nigeria, according to the UN.The UN’s children agency Unicef has in its latest forecast said Nigeria could have the world’s highest amount of deaths caused by pneumonia.Overall, Unicef said its forecast estimates…

Financially-troubled South African Airways to cancel more flights

PRETORIA, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Airways (SAA) has announced it is cancelling more flights in a bid to “ensure [it] is running efficient flights”.In a statement, the troubled airline said it was cancelling dozens of domestic and international flights next month due to “low demand based on current…

Leprosy still endemic in 18 states in Nigeria – Govt

ABUJA, Jan 31 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The Nigerian federal government has said that 18 states are currently leprosy endemic, with few cases of the disease also being reported in others. It said Nigeria was among the few countries in the world still reporting above 1000 new cases annually, adding that in…

Zimbabwe govt, EU launch €10m project

HARARE, Jan 31 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Zimbabwean Government and the European Union officially launched the €10 million Zimbabwe Economic Partnership Agreement Support Project that is expected to boost small to medium scale enterprises. The ZEPA project was officially launched by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana who was…

Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus GENEVA, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.“The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening…

Nigeria to announce reopening of its border on Friday

The blockade has had a ripple effect on trade in the West African sub-region ABUJA, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian government is expected to announce the reopening of its border with Benin after months of closure.According to Citi FM’s report, the Nigerian government in a memo signed by the…

Mali plans to increase the size of its army to rein in jihadists

Malian Armed Forces soldiers are pictured during anti-insurgent operation BAMAKO, Jan 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali will increase the size of its army by about 50% in a recruitment drive this year aimed at uprooting jihadist groups, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse said. The plan is to hire 10,000 new soldiers in…

Portuguese president wants EU unity in talks with UK over future relationship

 Boris Johnson has said he will not extend the transition period beyond 31 December 2020 LISBON, Jan 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that he hopes there will be unity among the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) in the negotiations of the future…