Covid-19: Schools reopen in Uganda after nearly-two-year coronavirus closure

15 million pupils have not attended school in Uganda since March 2020 KAMPALA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda has ended the world’s longest school closure, ordering millions of students back to the classroom after a gap of nearly two years.Some 15 million pupils have not attended school in Uganda since…

Scala Dei Turchi: Sicily’s famed white cliffs streaked red by vandals

The red can clearly be seen on the white cliffs  NICOSIA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An investigation has been launched after Sicily’s normally white Scala dei Turchi cliffs were stained red. The marl cliffs, which attract thousands of tourists every year, were defaced sometime overnight on Friday. Sicily’s President Nello Musumeci…

Nigeria motorbike gang attack: Death toll rises to 200

The criminal gangs are well organised and operate in several states in north-west and central Nigeria ABUJA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 200 people in Nigeria’s north-western Zamfara state have been buried after a wave of vicious attacks by gangs of gunmen over several days. Survivors said that motorbike-riding…

US says spoke to Russia on reciprocal action, warned on Ukraine

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) and Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R)   GENEVA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she spoke to Russia about reciprocal moves to de-escalate on missiles and exercises, but renewed warnings of major costs if…

Covid-19: Anti-vaccine protesters rally in France, Germany, Austria, Italy

Demonstrator holds a banner reading “No to health pass” and “Truth” during a protest against the health pass and COVID-19 vaccines at Place du Palais-Royal, Paris PARIS, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters have taken to streets across western Europe in protest against COVID-19 vaccine requirements, with more than 100,000 people…

Zimbabwe: 11 feared dead after boat capsises in crocodile-infested Limpopo River

HARARE, Jan 9 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — At least 11 Zimbabweans who attempted to cross the crocodile-infested Limpopo River into South Africa are feared dead after a boat transporting them capsized, while three others were swept away in different incidents. Beitbridge Police District Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo saidt only one body had…

Ecuador: No human or wildlife damages reported after Galapagos volcano eruption

QUITO, Jan 9 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute has reported the Wolf Volcano, located on Isabela Island, the largest in the Archipelago of the Galapagos, went into eruption early Friday. The volcano, the highest of the Galapagos, is some 100 kilometers from the nearest human settlement.  The volcano’s slopes also…

Covid-19: Anvisa okays vaccine entirely produced in Brazil, but disapprove by vaccine-sceptic Pres Bolsonaro

BRASILIA, Jan 9 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the first nationally manufactured COVID-19 vaccine and also considering a second pediatric drug after having cleared Pfizer’s for children aged 5 to 11. Anvisa issued a favorable opinion for the Rio de Janeiro state-run Oswaldo Fiocruz Institute to…

UN envoy welcomes meeting of Libyan military leaders

TRIPOLI, Jan 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations envoy Stephanie Williams welcomed a meeting between military leaders from the Libyan interim government and the eastern-based army, reiterating UN’s support for a peaceful resolution to the country’s longstanding conflict. The UN secretary-general’s special adviser for Libya made the remarks after Muhammad Al-Haddad,…

Ethiopia-Tigray crisis: Airstrike kills dozens in Tigray IDP camp, aid staff

MEKELLE (Tigray, Ethiopia), Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifty-six people have been killed and dozens more injured in an airstrike on a camp for the displaced in northern Ethiopia, aid workers say. Images on social media purportedly show people receiving treatment after the strike on a school in the town of…