Covid-19: UK PM apologizes for attending Downing Street garden party during lockdown

LONDON, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized on Wednesday for attending a Downing Street garden party during the country’s first lockdown in 2020. During the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions at the House of Commons (lower house of the British Parliament), Johnson admitted that he…

Greece strengthens protection, integration of unaccompanied refugee minors

ATHENS, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Greek officials presented on Wednesday a series of action plans aimed to enhance the protection and integration of thousands of unaccompanied minors during the refugee and migrant influx. The number of unaccompanied minors in Greece has dropped from 5,424 in February 2020 to 2,576 in…

Covid-19: Botswana president back to work after coronavirus illness

Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana President GABORONE, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has returned to work after going into self-isolation since Jan 2 after testing positive for Covid-19 in the last week of 2021 but didn’t show any symptoms. In his absence, his deputy, Slumber Tsogwane assumed presidential duties.On…

Nigeria lifts ban on Twitter after seven months – Official

Nigeria banned Twitter on June 4 after it deleted a tweet of President Buhari ABUJA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s federal government has lifted a ban on global social media giants Twitter.The decision was announced by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria – Twitter Engagement and Director-General of the…

Seychelles: The Island Nation hunting for a lost $50m foreign aid, missing since 20 years ago

Seychelles an island paradise but many people live in poverty VICTORIA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six of Seychelles’ most prominent citizens including the former First Lady are facing charges in a corruption scandal involving $50m of missing foreign aid. The money was a gift to the tiny republic 20 years…

Covid-19: Quebec to impose health tax on unvaccinated Canadians

QUEBEC CITY, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Canadian province of Quebec will charge a health tax to residents who are not vaccinated against Covid-19. Quebec, which has seen the highest number of Covid-related deaths in Canada, is currently struggling with a surge in cases. On Tuesday, the premier announced that…

US sanctions five North Koreans after missile launch

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on five North Koreans linked to the country’s ballistic missile program, a day after Pyongyang carried out what it said was the launch of a hypersonic missile.   The Treasury Department said the five individuals being sanctioned were “responsible for…

Ukrainian soldier killed on eve of Russia-NATO talks

  KYIV, Jan 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukraine said Wednesday one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting with pro-Moscow separatists on the eve of talks between NATO and Russia in Brussels over the conflict.    Tensions around Ukraine have escalated in recent months, as Washington and Kyiv’s European allies accuse Russia of…

Covid-19: Omicron quickly overtaking Delta globally in terms of circulation – WHO

   UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA, Jan 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Omicron is quickly overtaking the Delta variant of COVID-19 and becoming dominant around the world, a senior WHO official has warned, with the global health agency cautioning that there is “increasing evidence” Omicron is able to evade immunity but has less disease severity as compared to other…

US Coast Guard rescues 176 Haitians from sailboat near Florida

Haitian migration towards the United States has been on the rise as the island nation battles poverty, violence and political instability MIAMI (Florida, US), Jan 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States Coast Guard pulled 176 Haitians from an overloaded, unseaworthy boat as it approached the coast of Florida, officials said,…