Ethiopia-Tigray crisis: Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans face ‘extreme lack of food’ – UN

The World Food Programme says 83 percent of the population in Tigray are food-insecure ADDIS ABABA, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 40 percent of people in Ethiopia’s Tigray are suffering “an extreme lack of food” in the face of an extended de-facto blockade of the war-hit region, a UN agency…

Rwanda to reopen Uganda land border after three-year closure

KIGALI, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rwanda said it will reopen its land border with Uganda next week after a three-year closure, a major breakthrough in efforts to repair ties between the neighbours.    The move followed a visit to Kigali by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s powerful son Muhoozi Kainerugaba last…

After days of deadlock, Italy speeds up presidential vote

  ROME, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian political leaders agreed Friday to speed up voting for the post of president after days of deadlock that has paralysed Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government.    Four rounds of voting in parliament since Monday have failed to produce anything close to a winner,…

Ukraine leader urges West not to stir ‘panic’ over Russia tensions

   KYIV, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to avoid creating “panic” in the face of the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border. “We don’t need this panic,” Zelensky told a news conference with foreign media.    He pointed to the need to “stabilise” Ukraine’s…

Covid-19: German cases hit record as parliament debates vaccine mandate

BERLIN, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany on Wednesday reported a new record of 164,000 COVID-19 infections in one day as the lower house of parliament prepared to debate proposals to either require or robustly encourage residents to be vaccinated. Around 75 per cent of the population has received at least one…

Angola to gradually eliminate import duties for Afcfta countries

 LUANDA, Jan 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — Angola will gradually eliminate import duties for products originating from member states of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), according to a communique released on Tuesday. The measure is based on the Memorandum on the Proposed Tariff Offer of Angola under the framework of…

Update: Backlash in Greece over snow storm ‘fiasco’

   ATHENS, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Outrage against the government and transport operators grew in Greece on Wednesday after a major snow storm stranded thousands of motorists on the country’s most modern motorway, whichremained blocked for a third day.    As Greek dailies headlined with a “fiasco” and the chief…

Canada: 93 potential indigenous graves found at school site

    MONTREAL, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) – An Indigenous community in Canada has identified nearly 100 “potential” graves at a residential school site, months after the discovery of hundreds of children’s remains at former boardingschools rocked the country.    The Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) community said on Tuesday that a…

Senegal: 2 soldiers killed, 9 missing during Gambia fighting

DAKAR, Jan 26 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The Senegalese military said two of its soldiers were killed and nine went missing during an operation in neighboring Gambia. The army blamed the acts on the Movement of Democratic Forces for Casamance (MFDC) separatist group. “The nine missing soldiers are probably held hostage by the…

US shooting: Second NY cop dies after gun battle in Harlem

NYPD officers salute as the body of Officer Wilbert Mora is transferred from NYU Langone Hospital to a Medical Examiner’s office in New York City NEW YORK, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A New York policeman wounded in an exchange of gunfire last week died Tuesday, raising the toll in the…