Vaccine-sceptic French lawmaker dies after contracting Covid-19

Jose Evrard had expressed support on social media for protesters against Covid-19 curbs and health measures PARIS, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French lawmaker Jose Evrard, whose vaccine-sceptic far-right party had opposed government measures to control the spread of Covid-19, has died after contracting the coronavirus, the president of the parliament…

Liberian jails run out of food for inmates

MONROVIA, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All 15 prison facilities in Liberia have this week run out of food for inmates. This has caused two prisons, including the main Monrovia Central Prison, to temporarily shut their doors to newcomers, prison officials have said. The situation is being blamed on a number…

Kenya: Record 82 political parties approved for 2022 elections

NAIROBI, Jan 8 (NNN-KBC) — A record 82 political parties have been approved by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to participate in the coming general elections slated for August. The commission has approved the political parties nomination rules for the 82 parties seven months to the elections. Addressing the…

Covid-19 update: World passes 300 million cases as Omicron breaks records

PARIS, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The total number of COVID-19 cases registered worldwide passed 300 million on Friday, with the Omicron variant’s rapid spread setting new infection records in dozens of countries over the last week. In the past seven days, 34 countries have recorded their highest number of weekly…

Wolf Volcano erupts in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands

Tallest Galapagos Volcano erupts, spewing lava QUITO, Jan 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Wolf Volcano, the tallest in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, located on Isabela Island, erupted early Friday morning, the country’s Geophysical Institute reported. According to a statement from the institute, the eruption began at 00:20 a.m. local time, generating a cloud…

UN chief welcomes release of Ethiopia’s political prisoners

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the release from prison in Ethiopia of numerous detainees, including key opposition figures. Details of the release were not immediately available. But it coincided with efforts to open dialogue between the government and rebels in northern Ethiopia leading up…

Food prices hit 10-year high in 2021: UN FAO

ROME, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global food prices reached a 10-year high in 2021, rising by an average of 28 percent compared to the previous year, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said.    The FAO’s Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities,…

Covid-19: World Bank approves $90 mn in pandemic aid for Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank has approved $90 million in additional financing for Iran, to help fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, a spokesperson said.    The Washington-based development lender’s board of directors approved the aid on Dec 21, a World Bank spokesperson said, which “will be utilized…

Case of African swine fever reported in northern Italy

ROME, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A case of African swine fever has been detected in a wild boar in Italy, news agency ANSA said Friday, raising fears of a blow to the country’s meat industry.   Highly transmissible and fatal for pig populations, African swine fever (ASF) does not present…

US accuses New York man of tracking opponents of Egypt’s Pres Sisi

US Justice Department said it took Pierre Girgis, 39, into custody on Thursday WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in the United States have arrested an Egyptian-American man from New York on allegations that he unlawfully worked at the behest of the Egyptian government to track the “political opponents” of…