Kenya: 1,094 cholera cases reported countrywide

NAIROBI, Dec 1 (NNN-KBC) — 10 counties have reported cholera-related cases in recent days with Nairobi, Garissa and Machakos recording highest number of cases.  This was disclosed by Acting Health Services Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth during the launch of Kenya’s Status Report on infection prevention and control in health…

FAO and Germany step up humanitarian action in rural Somalia

About 6.7 million facing starvation in Mogadishu, Somalia amid biting drought MOGADISHU, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Government of Germany and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have together increased humanitarian assistance through cash transfers to mitigate the impact of drought on the food security and livelihoods…

WFP cuts food aid to Sudan due to funding gap

KHARTOUM, Dec 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday announced the reduction of its food aid to Sudan due to lack of funding. Reducing the WFP aid to the Sudanese affects life-saving treatment and increases the risk of malnutrition and potential mortality among 50 percent…

Tunisian, Libyan PMs meet to discuss bilateral ties

TUNIS, Dec 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane met here on Wednesday with her Libyan counterpart Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties, according to a statement released by the Tunisian government. During the meeting, Bouden Romdhane reiterated Tunisia’s firm support for the Libyan people…

US: Two volcanoes erupt simultaneously in Hawaii for first time in nearly 40 years

HONOLULU, Dec 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two volcanoes on Hawaii Island are erupting simultaneously for the first time in nearly 40 years as lava approaches a major highway in the largest island of the United States’ Hawaiian archipelago. Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, began to erupt on Sunday. Nearby,…

Landslide hits Brazilian highway, kills 2, leaves 30-50 missing

BRASILIA, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least two people have been killed, and dozens more are missing after a landslide ravaged a section of highway in southern Brazil, sweeping some 20 cars and trucks along with it, authorities said. The torrent of mud came rushing down a steep hillside on…

Covid-19: New variant drives virus surge in France; hospitalizations rise in Italy

PARIS, Dec 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — The BQ.1.1 subvariant of COVID-19 is currently taking precedence over the BA.5 subvariant in France, immunologist Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee for Monitoring and Anticipating Health Risks (COVARS), said. The latest resurgence of COVID-19, according to her, is the “beginning of a wave,” even…

Dengue fever cases in Sudan exceed 4,000; 29 deaths

KHARTOUM, Dec 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — The total number of suspected dengue fever cases in Sudan has exceeded 4,000 as the African country is struggling to battle one of its worst dengue fever outbreaks in years, the Sudanese health ministry said. “There are 4,104 suspected cases of dengue fever, including 516…

South Africa: Pres Cyril Ramaphosa faces threat of impeachment over ‘Farmgate’

 PRETORIA, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a possible impeachment threat over the “Farmgate” scandal. The president has been accused of covering up a $4m theft from his farm in 2020, including kidnapping and bribing the burglars into silence. A leaked report from an independent…

EU Commission calls for freeze on €13bn funding for Hungary

Viktor Orban  BRUSSELS, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU’s executive has recommended that billions of euros of funding for Hungary should be withheld because Viktor Orban’s government has failed to enact widespread reforms. In total, the European Commission recommends that €13.3bn of EU money should be put on hold in…