Covid-19: Peru’s cases total 3,496,009; death toll reaches 209,468

LIMA, Feb 21 (NNN-ANDINA) — The number of citizens infected with COVID-19 rose to 3,496,009 and the death toll reached 209,468 in Peru as of Feb 19 at 10 pm, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has reported. Within this framework, 4,067 cases were detected and 53 people passed away due to the…

Somali President, PM reject ‘illegal’ oil deal with US firm

Engineers and visitors explore an exploratory well near Dharoor town, from the port of Bosasso on the Gulf of Aden in Puntland, Somalia MOGADISHU, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s president and premier have declared null and void a deal signed by their energy minister with a US company to explore…

Russia has lists of Ukrainians ‘to be killed or sent to camps,’ US letter to UN

GENEVA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has warned the United Nations it has information that Russia has lists of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps” in the event of an invasion, according to a letter sent to the UN rights chief. The letter, which came as Washington…

Israel’s economy minister visits Morocco to cement trade ties

RABAT, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – An Israeli minister arrived in Morocco on Sunday for a visit aimed at developing economic and trade ties, in the latest sign of expanding cooperation after the countries normalised relations in 2020.    Economy Minister Orna Barbivai is due to sign “a historic cooperation agreement” aiming…

Nigeria military airstrikes kill seven children in Niger

ABUJA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Nigerian military airstrike targeting bandits has killed seven children and injured five others in the southern part of neighboring Niger. A local governor of the Maradi region near Nigeria, Chaibou Aboubacar, confirmed the incident on Sunday. Aboubacar said the strike occurred on Friday in…

Covid-19: UK’s PM Johnson to scrap all legal curbs as criticism mounts

LONDON, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set Monday to announce an end to all pandemic legal curbs in England, insisting it is time to move on despite political opposition and unease from the UN’s health agency.    Two years after Covid-19 sparked the worst health crisis…

Canada: Police reclaim capital Ottawa after trucker siege ends

OTTAWA, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The last big rigs were towed Sunday out of Canada’s capital, where the streets were quiet for the first time in almost a month after a massive police operation ended a drawn-out siege by protesters opposing Covid health rules.   A major clean-up was underway in…

Brazil storm death toll rises to 152

PETROPOLIS (Brazil), Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides in the scenic Brazilian city of Petropolis has risen to 152, authorities said, as the pope sent his condolences. Rescue workers and residents searching for their missing relatives continued digging through mountains of mud…

Sudanese man killed in crackdown on anti-coup protests as UN expert arrives

KHARTOUM, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Sudanese man was shot dead Sunday as security forces cracked down on rallies against last year’s military coup, medics said, as a UN rights expert arrived in the country. Regular protests have rocked the northeast African country since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led…

US begins counter-terrorism training in Africa amid upheaval

JACQUEVILLE (Ivory Coast), Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States’ yearly counter-terrorism training program for African forces began on Sunday in Ivory Coast at a time of upheaval in which Islamist fighters control large areas, coups are on the rise and French forces are winding down. The training program, known…