Covid-19: US Army to discharge soldiers who refuse vaccine

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Army announced it will begin discharging soldiers who refuse to comply with a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination rule. “Unvaccinated Soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardise readiness,” Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said in a statement. “We will begin involuntary separation proceedings…

Covid-19: Italy PM lifts some measures, vows further reopening

A security officer checks customers’ green pass at the entrance to a clothing store in Naples, southern Italy ROME, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s government decided to ease several anti-Covid restrictions, including for schools, as Prime Minister Mario Draghi promised to “continue to advance on this path of reopening.” Among…

Mexican President says economy to grow by 5 pct in coming years

MEXICO CITY, Feb 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he was confident the economy will be able to grow at a rate of about 5 percent in the coming years, as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes. At his usual daily press conference at the National Palace in…

Death toll rises to 28 from heavy rains in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state

Firefighters search for landslide victims after heavy rains in Franco da Rocha, Sao Paulo SAO PAULO, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floods and landslides caused by torrential rains have killed at least 28 people in southeastern Brazil, with seven still missing, authorities said. The death toll was up by four since…

African lobby calls for wetlands protection to boost climate resilience

NAIROBI, Feb 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The enhanced protection of African wetlands is key to boosting the resilience of local communities in the face of climatic shocks, poverty and food insecurity, a green lobby said. Mithika Mwenda, the executive director of Nairobi-based Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said the continent’s ability…

Covid-19: Portugal sees over 20,000 deaths

LISBON, Feb 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portugal registered 56 more deaths associated with COVID-19, bringing the national death toll to 20,024, according to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). The daily epidemiological bulletin shows that there were 54,693 more new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to…

Guinea-Bissau gov’t confirms 11 dead after failed coup attempt

Umaro Sissoco Embaló, a former army chief, was elected president in 2019 BISSAU, Feb 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The minister of tourism and spokesman for the government of Guinea-Bissau, Fernando Vaz, confirmed that 11 people died during the failed coup attempt that took place in the country on Tuesday. During a…

Portuguese president confirms Antonio Costa as PM

Antonio Costa LISBON, Feb 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that Antonio Costa has been nominated to continue as head of the country’s new government. The decision was announced in a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic. In accordance…

Turkey-Greece migrants crisis: Turkey says 12 migrants blocked by Greece die at border; Greece denies

  ISTANBUL/ATHENS, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey accused neighbouring Greece of allowing 12 migrants to die in the winter cold after stripping them of their clothes and then pushing them back across the border.    The charges from Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu — dismissed as “utter nonsense” by Greece…

Presidents Putin, Xi to stress ‘common views’ on security at Games meeting: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Feb 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will voice their shared views on international security at a meeting during the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, a Kremlin advisor said. The two leaders will meet in the Chinese capital Friday as their countries…