People facing acute food insecurity reach 345 million worldwide: WFP

BAGHDAD: The number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide has more than doubled to 345 million since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and climate change, the World Food Programme (WFP) said. Before the coronavirus crisis, 135 million suffered from acute hunger worldwide, said Corinne Fleischer, the WFP’s…

US: Pres Biden forgives millions of student loans; critics fear inflation

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden said the US government will forgive US$10,000 in student loans for millions of debt-saddled former college students, keeping a pledge he made in the 2020 campaign for the White House. The move could boost support for his fellow Democrats in the November…

Ethiopia-Tigray crisis: Fighting erupts along border of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighting between forces from Ethiopia’s rebellious northern region of Tigray and central government forces has erupted around the town of Kobo, residents and both sides said, ending a months-long ceasefire. The fighting is a major blow to hopes for peace talks between Prime Minister…

Chilean government sets new push on bill to reduce working hours

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric SANTIAGO, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Chilean President Gabriel Boric said it has revived efforts to pass a bill that would reduce working hours in the country and fulfill a campaign promise. The bill, which aims to reduce the working week from 45 to…

Over 2,000 Tunisian minors reach Italy in 2022: rights group

    TUNIS, Aug  25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 2,000 Tunisian youngsters this year have made the perilous Mediterranean crossing from the North African country to Italy to seek a better life, a rights group said.  The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said the minors were among a total of 10,139…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian-installed head of Ukrainian town killed in car bomb; off-duty New Zealand soldier killed in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Aug 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Russian-installed head of the Ukrainian town of Mykhailivka in the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhia region was killed in a car bomb on Tuesday, an official in the region’s Russian-backed administration said.Writing on Telegram, Zaporizhzhia region administration member Vladimir Rogov said that Mykhailivka head Ivan…

Third case of monkeypox confirmed in Uruguay

MONTEVIDEO, Aug 24 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguayan health authorities have confirmed a third monkeypox infection had been detected in the country after 38 suspected cases were ruled out. Of the discarded cases, one was in the department of Artigas, two in Colonia, four in Maldonado, one in Rivera, one in Salto,…

ICC prosecutor demands action over Sudan war crimes

International Criminal Court s chief prosecutor Karim Khan (L) visits the Kalma camp for internally displaced people in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor expressed frustration over the lack of accountability for crimes committed during the Darfur conflict, telling…

Covid-19: Chad makes masks, social-distancing obligatory as cases mount

N’DJAMENA, Aug 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad reintroduced rules making it obligatory to wear face masks in public spaces and observe social-distancing as the number of coronavirus cases rises again in one of the world’s least-developed countries, the health ministry said. “In view of the epidemiological situation of the Covid-19 pandemic…

Parliamentary elections: Angolans head to Aug 24 polls in tightest ever race

LUANDA, Aug 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Angolans head to the polls on Wednesday in what is expected to be the most competitive vote in its democratic history, with incumbent president Joao Lourenco squaring up against charismatic opposition leader Adalberto Costa Junior. A struggling economy, the high cost of living, soaring poverty…