Covid-19: Brazil reports over 160,000 new cases for 3rd straight day

BRASILIA, Jan 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazil reported 166,539 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the third consecutive day on which the country registered more than 160,000 cases, the National Council of Health Secretaries said. The new cases have brought the nationwide tally to 23,751,782, it said. Meanwhile, the…

Update: New York mayor calls for national action on guns after death of police officer

   NEW YORK, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York’s mayor called on the federal government to help “stop the flow of weapons” in the city after a police officer was killed and another wounded in a shooting on Friday.    America’s largest city has been rocked by a spate of…

Covid-19: Poland widens testing as cases hit record 36,665

Drivers line up in their cars at the entrance of a drive-thru Covid-19 testing lab in Lodz, central Poland WARSAW, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Poles will be able to get tested for Covid-19 in pharmacies free of charge, the government said on Friday, after the country reported a record 36,665…

US shooting: One NY police officer shot dead, another in critical condition; gunman dead

A massive NYPD response was invoked following the fatal shooting of a fellow officer in Harlem on Friday NEW YORK, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One New York police officer lost his life and another remains in critical condition following a shooting Friday in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. The New…

Nigeria outrage at Kano schoolgirl Hanifa Abubakar killing

Hanifa Abubakar was kidnapped outside an Islamic school she also attended  KANO (Nigeria), Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The discovery of the decomposing body of five-year-old schoolgirl Hanifa Abubakar has triggered shock and outrage across Nigeria, where the hashtag #JusticeForHanifa is trending. The owner of her school, Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, has…

UN condemns deadly air strike on Yemen prison

Hope of finding survivors in the rubble is said to be fading  UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN has condemned an air strike on a Yemen detention centre that has killed more than 70 people. The facility in Saada, a stronghold of the rebel Houthi movement in north-western…

Covid-19: Brazil to stop unvaccinated footballers playing in top leagues

CBF headquarters, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil BRASILIA, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said players must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to take part in this year’s league championship, The CBF said it was in constant contact with health bodies and had sent an updated list of requirements…

US, Russia promise to work to ease Ukraine tensions

GENEVA, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Washington and Moscow’s top diplomats on Friday agreed to keep working to ease tensions over Ukraine, with the United States promising a written response to Russian security requirements next week and not ruling out a presidential meeting. As fears grew that Russia could invade its…

UN chief ‘convinced’ Russia won’t invade Ukraine

   UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be against international law and said he was confident that it would not happen.    “There should not be any military intervention. In this context, I think that diplomacy is the way…

UN General Assembly president to join China’s Winter Olympic torch relay

 BEIJING, Jan 22 (NNN-) — China said the president of the UN’s General Assembly will take part in the Winter Olympics torch relay, which organisers announced would be closed to the public because of coronavirus fears.    Abdulla Shahid will participate in next month’s relay before the Feb 4 opening of…