US shooting: 3 police officers charged with fatally shooting 8-year-old Fanta Bility, injuring 3 others

PHILADELPHIA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US prosecutors have charged three policemen with an eight-year-old girl’s death, dropping a murder case against two teenagers who were initially held. The officers opened fire on a vehicle outside a high school football game near Philadelphia on Aug 27, 2021 after hearing gunshots a block…

Nigeria shoot-to-kill order issued over jail breaks after 5,000 escaped in the past year

Insecurity in some areas of the country means prisons are vulnerable to those wanting to free inmates ABUJA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s interior minister has ordered prison guards to “shoot to kill” those involved in jailbreaks. Rauf Aregbesola made the comments in an address to prison staff in the southern…

Covid-19: WHO warns pandemic not over amid Europe case records

GENEVA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning to world leaders that the coronavirus pandemic “is nowhere near over”. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned against the assumption that the newly dominant Omicron variant is significantly milder and has eliminated the threat…

UN confirms 2021 among seven hottest years on record

  GENEVA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The past seven years have been the hottest on record, the United Nations confirmed, adding that 2021 temperatures remained high despite the cooling effect of the La Nina weatherphenomenon.   “The warmest seven years have all been since 2015,” the UN’s World Meteorological Organization…

Senior US diplomats in Sudan for talks over ending crisis

 KHARTOUM, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senior US diplomats met with pro-democracy activists Wednesday in Sudan as part of talks to discuss the way forward after last year’s military coup, Washington’s embassy in Khartoum said. Sudan has been shaken by regular protests and a deadly crackdown since the Oct 25 military…

Covid-19: Omicron unlikely to mark end of pandemic, Russian expert says

 MOSCOW, Jan 20 (NNN-TASS) — The coronavirus pandemic will continue until most people develop immunity, Director of Russia’s Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg told the Rossiya-24 TV channel. “I do believe that everyone can contract it [Omicron]. But unfortunately, I see no scientific reasons to believe…

East Africa: FAO launches $138 million plan to avert hunger crisis in Horn of Africa

A man collects water from a water tank in Kenya ROME, Jan 18 (NNN-UNNS) — More than $138 million is needed to assist rural communities affected by extended drought in the Horn of Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, launching a comprehensive response plan for the region.…

Canada ends contract with Malaysia’s glove maker Supermax over labour allegations

OTTAWA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada has terminated its sourcing contract with Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corporation following allegations about forced labour, the country’s public services and procurement department said. Malaysian factories making products ranging from medical gloves to palm oil have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations that they…

Jamaica make history by qualifying for 3 bobsleigh events at Beijing Winter Olympics

Jamaica first sent a four-man bobsled to the 1988 Calgary Winter Games KINGSTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Jamaica have qualified for three Olympic bobsleigh events for the first time ever, their team said, setting the stage for a Cool Runnings-style underdog drama to unfold at the Beijing Games. For the…

Guinea military junta allows ousted Pres Alpha Conde to travel to UAE for medical checkup

Deposed Guinean president Alpha Conde during his last swearing in in June 2021 CONAKRY, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four months after his ouster by the current military junta, former-Guinean President Alpha Conde has been allowed to travel out of the country for the first time.According to reports from the capital,…