US YouTuber, Belgian influencer dead in Iceland plane crash

(From left) Nicola Bellavia and Josh Neuman. REYKJAVIK, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An American YouTube star and a Belgian social media influencer were among the four victims of a plane crash in Iceland last week, reports said. Josh Neuman, a 22-year-old US adventurer with more than one million YouTube subscribers,…

US gun violence: Air Force ordered to pay 230 mln USD over 2017 Texas church shooting

A memorial to the victims of the 2017 shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas HOUSTON, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A federal judge ordered the US Air Force to pay more than $230 million to the survivors and the families of the victims of a 2017 shooting…

Update: Canadian PM Trudeau says trucker protest against vaccine mandates ‘has to stop’

OTTAWA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded an end to a protest by hundreds of truckers against Covid-19 restrictions that has paralyzed the capital, as Ottawa’s mayor called on federal authorities for support. “It has to stop,” Trudeau said during an emergency debate in the House…

Protest against vaccine mandates: Anger rises over Canada truckers’ ‘siege’

People bring gas tanks to truckers to continue their occupation near the Canadian parliament hill OTTAWA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Overwhelmed by hundreds of trucks laying siege to Canada’s capital, Ottawa’s mayor called on federal authorities to help end the show of force against Covid restrictions which has paralysed the…

Commonwealth, WHO to strengthen cooperation on public health issues

GENEVA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to strengthening their collaboration on a broad range of public health issues of particular concern to Commonwealth member states and governments, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic,…

Kenya: IEBC concludes ECVR Phase II exercise, over 1M new voters registered

NAIROBI, Feb 8 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has concluded voter registration in all 1,450 County Assembly Wards (CAWs), institutions of higher learning and Huduma Centers countrywide. The commission has also concluded the exercise in the United States of America, Qatar, Germany, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda,…

Update: Russian Pres Putin says ready for compromise after talks with Macron on Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for compromise and would look at proposals put forward by French leader Emmanuel Macron during talks on Monday, while still blaming the West for raising tensions over Ukraine.    Emerging from a meeting in the Kremlin that lasted…

Senegalese pack streets to welcome victorious Cup of Nations team

Fans crowd the roads around the Dakar airport waiting for the Senegal team to return in triumph DAKAR, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of jubilant fans packed the streets of Senegal’s capital Dakar to welcome the national squad home after its Africa Cup of Nations win. Led by…

Covid-19 disrupts health services in 92% of 129 countries: WHO

GENEVA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Disruptions in basic health services such as vaccination programmes and treatment of diseases like AIDS were reported in 92 per cent of 129 countries, a World Health Organization survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showed. The survey, conducted in November-December 2021, showed services…

South Africa failed to foresee, disrupt deadly unrest, report says

People loot an area near a burning warehouse PRETORIA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s police and intelligence services failed to anticipate and disrupt days of arson and looting last year in which more than 300 people died, a report into the unrest commissioned by the president and released on…