UK health agency identifies new mpox strain in person who travelled to Asia

LONDON, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had identified a new strain of the mpox virus in England in a person who had recently travelled to Asia. “Our genomic testing has enabled us to detect this new mpox strain,” said Katy Sinka from the…

Cuba: Former finance minister sentenced to life in prison for spying, economic crimes

HAVANA, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Cuban finance minister was sentenced to life in prison for espionage and economic crimes, the Supreme Court said. “The Court has imposed a single sentence of life imprisonment” for “espionage crimes” and “acts detrimental to economic activity or contract execution,” the country’s highest…

Nigeria kidnappings: 100 rescued children handed over to state officials

MINNA (Nigeria), Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Around 100 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria last month were handed over to state officials Monday, a day after authorities secured their release. The children — many wearing football jerseys and girls in long robes — were driven into the Niger…

Benin: Two senior army officers taken hostage in coup attempt released; coup leader on the run, about a dozen soldiers arrested

COTONOU, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two high-ranking Benin army officers taken hostage during an attempted coup were released early on Monday, a day after the government said it thwarted the military takeover with support from Nigerian forces. Benin’s economic capital Cotonou was calm and traffic was returning to normal, after…

France returns smuggled dinosaur skeleton to Mongolia

PARIS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France was to hand over a 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton to Mongolia which was looted from the Gobi desert and seized by French customs. The “extremely rare” fossil of a Tarbosaurus baatar, considered to be the Asian cousin of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, was seized by French officials…

UN slams world’s ‘apathy’ in launching aid appeal for 2026

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations hit out at global “apathy” over widespread suffering as it launched its 2026 appeal for humanitarian assistance, which is limited in scope as aid operations confront major funding cuts. “This is a time of brutality, impunity and indifference,” UN humanitarian chief…

Spain: Choppy wave kills four in Tenerife, a tourist island hotspot

MADRID, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A wave that crashed into Tenerife at the weekend has killed four after sweeping away bathers on the Spanish tourist island hotspot, according to the authorities. Two men and a woman died on Sunday after visiting a section of coastline closed to the public because…

Ivory Coast’s incumbent leader Ouattara is sworn in for a fourth term

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara is inaugurated at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan ABIDJAN, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast’s incumbent President Alassane Ouattara was sworn in on Monday for a fourth term after taking over 89% of the vote in an October election marked by low turnout and unrest. “This vote…

Greece: Protesting farmers disrupt airport flights in Crete

ATHENS, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek farmers demanding the payment of EU subsidies on Monday shut down the two main international airports on the island of Crete after clashing with riot police in a growing showdown with the government. The shutdown forced the cancellation of several flights at Heraklion and…

Tanzania: Exports climb to 41tri/- amid gold, tourism growth

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 8 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE export of goods and services in Tanzania rose to 17.09 billion US dollars (about 41.8tri/-) in the year ending September this year, up from 14.9 billion US dollars (about 36.4tri/-) in the same period last year. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) revealed this…