UN grants $150 million in aid for 13 underfunded crises – the largest ever so far

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations is allocating $150 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to support seriously underfunded humanitarian operations in 13 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.Topping the list of underfunded crises are Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,…

Somalia government spokesman wounded in suicide bomber attack in capital

Somali security look at the wreckage of a vehicle at the scene of an explosion Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s government spokesperson was wounded in an explosion in the capital in a suspected suicide bomber attack, state-run media reported.A photographer at the scene of the blast reported seeing…

Sudan pro-democracy faction agrees to UN-brokered talks

KHARTOUM, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A prominent Sudanese pro-democracy group has conditionally accepted the UN’s offer to broker an end to political deadlock following the October military coup.Jaafar Hassan, a spokesperson for the Central Council for the Forces of Freedom and Change (CCFFC), said in a press statement that the…

Mali: President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, ousted in a 2020 military coup, dies aged 76

Keita was remvoed from office in a coup BAMAKO, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was ousted in a 2020 military coup, has died at the age of 76, his family said.“President IBK died this morning at 09:00 GMT in his home” in the capital,…

Nominations open for the Africa food prize 2022

Aerial view of the Rwandan capital, Kigali KIGALI, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Africa Food Prize committee is pleased to announce the launch of 2022 nominations for the Africa Food Prize. The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent award recognizing an outstanding individual or institution that is leading the effort…

Ethiopia says WHO chief has links to rebellious Tigrayan forces

WHO Director, Tedros Adhanom ADDIS ABABA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate its leader for supporting rebellious forces fighting the Ethiopian government.WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who previously served as the Ethiopian health minister and foreign minister, said earlier…

Germany ‘to do all’ to ensure Ukraine’s security: FM Baerbock

KYIV, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany will do everything in its power to guarantee Ukraine’s security, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on her first visit to Ukraine, amid rising fears of a Russian invasion.    “We will do our all to guarantee Ukraine’s security. We will do our all to…

UK PM in populist fight-back after ‘partygate’ scandal

LONDON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boris Johnson is hoping a slew of policy announcements, including scrapping controversial Covid passports and abolishing the BBC licence fee, can save his position as British prime minister, reports said.    The 57-year-old Johnson’s future has been thrown into doubt by a furious political and…

Covid-19: Ecuador declares red alert in most of country over Omicron

QUITO, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador declared a red alert in most of the country following a ten-fold increase in Covid-19 cases.    The red alert applies to 193 of the South American country’s 221 cantons, including major population hubs such as Quito and Guayaquil.    Schools have also been…

US calls on North Korea to ‘cease’ its ‘unlawful’ missile launches

 WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States called on North Korea to “cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities,” after Pyongyang fired two suspected ballistic missiles in its fourth weapons test this month, a State Department spokesman said.   In a call with South Korean and Japanese officials, the US…