UK partygate crisis: Four top aides desert embattled PM Johnson

 LONDON, Feb 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered four staff defections on Thursday as pressure intensified on the embattled leader over lockdown parties and his loose-lipped style of politics.   One of the departures was linked to an inflammatory remark made by Johnson, attacking opposition Labour leader…

Argentines vent anger after adulterated cocaine kills 22

Relatives and friends of people who were poisoned with adulterated cocaine cry after talking to doctors outside the emergency room of a hospital in the outskirts of Buenos Aires BUENOS AIRES (Argentina), Feb 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 22 people have died in Argentina and more than 80 others have been…

Covid-19: Fatalities worldwide exceed 12,500 in past day – WHO

GENEVA, Feb 4 (NNN-TASS) — More than 12,500 coronavirus-related deaths were registered worldwide in the past 24 hours, making Thursday the deadliest day since July 2021, the World Health Organization said.    As of Feb 3, as many as 383,509,779 novel coronavirus cases and 5,690,824 coronavirus-associated deaths were registered across the…

Post-Brexit crisis: Northern Ireland first minister resigns over trade rules

Northern Ireland DUP first minister Paul Givan announces his resignation LONDON, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Northern Ireland’s First Minister Paul Givan resigned on Thursday, as part of the protest staged by his party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), against the post-Brexit trade arrangements known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. “Today…

UN: Sudanese leader pledges support for humanitarian missions

The inclusion of women in political processes will benefit all Sudanese people, the UN says. KHARTOUM, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chairman of Sudan’s transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations and provide safety for their personnel, particularly in the poverty-stricken…

Ecuador: Death toll climbs to 26 from flooding in capital Quito

Flood damage in Quito, Ecuador QUITO, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from Monday’s floods in Ecuador’s capital Quito rose to 26 on Thursday, with 10 people still missing and 53 injured, Mayor Santiago Guarderas said during a press conference. A survey of the aftermath showed eight houses had…

Chile wildfire: Blaze razes over 1,200 hectares of forest in south province

SANTIAGO, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — A fire in southern Chile’s Tierra del Fuego province ravaged some 1,235 hectares of forest in the commune of Timaukel, the National Forest Corporation (Conaf) said. Conaf’s acting regional director John Revello said the fire started Jan 25 on land owned by a forestry company,…

ECOWAS to send stabilization force to Guinea-Bissau after foiled coup

Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo ACCRA, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to send a stabilization force to help stabilize the security situation in Guinea-Bissau after Tuesday’s failed coup, an ECOWAS official said. ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said at a…

US: Pres Biden announces new actions as gun violence surges across the country

U.S. President Joe Biden WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Joe Biden announced a new set of actions aimed at reducing gun violence across the country. The Biden administration will crack down on illegal flow of guns, help prosecutors bring cases against those using “ghost guns” — unserialized and…

Italy’s President Mattarella sworn in for 2nd term

Sergio Mattarella delivers his speech at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome ROME, Feb 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian President Sergio Mattarella has been sworn into office to serve a second seven-year term. The 80-year-old agreed to remain as head of state after Italian political parties failed to agree on a…