US: Wildfire in California’s Big Sur forces evacuations

Authorities closed a stretch of Highway 1, with no estimated time for reopening LOS ANGELES, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters on Sunday battled a wildfire that broke out in the rugged mountains along Big Sur, forcing hundreds of residents on a precarious stretch of coast in the US state of…

Leave Ukraine now, US tells families of diplomats as Russia tensions boil

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the US embassy in Kyiv WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US State Department ordered the families of US diplomats in Ukraine to leave the country while urging US citizens to leave as soon as possible due to “increased threats of Russian military action.” Tensions…

Netherlands: Stowaway smoked out of aircraft nose wheel arriving from South AFRICA

Amsterdam stowaway: The man had been hiding for more than 11 hours before it landed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport AMSTERDAM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Police in the Dutch city of Amsterdam discovered a stowaway hidden in the nose wheel of a cargo plane arriving from South Africa, a spokeswoman said Sunday. The unidentified man is believed to have slipped on…

Ethiopia-Tigray crisis: UN says thousands of Eritrean refugees in Tigray dying as access to aid remains blocked

A scene in the Rawyan area of Western Tigray GENEVA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Refugee Agency says thousands of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s embattled northern Tigray province are living under life-threatening conditions because they have no access to humanitarian aid. U.N. refugee staff members say they were…

Covid-19: Thousands protest in Belgium against covid rules

People take part in a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium BRUSSELS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of demonstrators marched through Brussels on Sunday to protest anti-coronavirus rules as the Omicron wave causes infections to reach record highs. The sprawling crowd appeared far larger than previous demonstrations that…

Covid-19: Italy reports 138,860 cases, 227 deaths

Italy reported over 138,000 Covid-19 cases on Sunday ROME, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy reported 138,860 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, against 171,263 the day before, while the number of deaths fell to 227 from 333. Italy has registered 143,523 deaths linked to Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged in February 2020,…

One dead, three hurt in Hungary hospital fire

Scene of fire incident BUDAPEST, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire at one of Hungary’s largest hospitals in Budapest killed one person and injured three on Sunday, according to Hungarian emergency services. The blaze began in a ground floor detoxification unit at the Szent Imre hospital around 07:30 am, police…

Armenian president quits citing ‘difficult times’ for nation

  YEREVAN, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armenian President Armen Sarkissian announced that he is resigning his largely symbolic position, citing the inability of his office to influence policy during times of national crisis.    “I thought for a very long time and have decided to resign after four years of active…

Covid-19: Europe could be headed for pandemic ‘endgame’, says WHO

  COPENHAGEN, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Omicron variant has moved the Covid-19 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in Europe, the WHO Europe director said.   “It’s plausible that the region is moving towards a kind of pandemic endgame,” Hans Kluge said in an…

Cameroon govt says 16 killed in nightclub fire

     YAOUNDE, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroon’s government said Sunday that 16 people were killed in a fire caused by fireworks in a nightclub in the capital Yaounde.       “The initial report shows 16 dead and eight seriously injured” after the “accidental fire” broke out on in the early hours of…