Muslim majority Senegal rejects attempt to toughen anti-gay laws

Homosexuality is widely considered unacceptable in Senegal DAKAR, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bill introduced in the Senegalese parliament meant to toughen existing laws against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has been rejected.Gay sex is already punishable by up to five years in jail.The bill would have lengthened the…

Nigerian Army shuts down Adamawa market used as Boko Haram trading hub

The move was taken to foil imminent attacks by Boko HaramThe move was taken to foil imminent attacks by Boko Haram ABUJA, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian Army has shut down the Song cattle market after intelligence gathered showed that Boko Haram members were sending rustled cattle to be…

ECOWAS pushes Mali to hold elections next month

ECOWAS wants elections to be held in Mali in February BAMAKO, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has been pushing Mali’s military government to allow elections by February.This week, the group sent a mediator, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, to deliver a message…

Ethiopia-Tigray crisis: Tigray Hospital running out of food for starving children, says doctors

MEKELLE (Tigray, Ethiopia), Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three-month old Surafeal Mearig lies helpless at the biggest hospital in Ethiopia’s war-torn region of Tigray. His eyes are wide open, and his ribs press against his thin-wrinkled skin. He is among many children suffering from malnutrition because of the 14-month civil war…

UNICEF provides water supply equipment to Libyan city

TRIPOLI, Jan 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — UNICEF said that it has provided water supply equipment to the Libyan city Surman, some 60 km west of the capital Tripoli. “UNICEF has provided water pumps to Surman to support the municipality and General Company of Water and Wastewater to provide safer water services…

Covid-19: Chile to start administering 4th dose next week

 SANTIAGO, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile will start administering a fourth Covid vaccine dose to people with weakened immune systems from Monday, President Sebastian Pinera said, as the country recorded its highest number of daily cases in six months.   New case numbers had been stable until the appearance of…

Covid-19: WHO reports record-breaking number of new cases over 2.6 mln

  GENEVA, Jan 8 (NNN-TASS) — More than 2.6 mln coronavirus cases were registered around the world in the last 24 hours, which is the highest daily rate for the entire pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.   Thus, the organization reported about 296,496,809 cases and 5,462,631 deaths. The…

Covid-19: UK to deploy troops to virus-hit London hospitals as PM Johnson declares hospitals on “war footing”

LONDON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain will deploy troops to hospitals in London to alleviate severe staff shortages caused by the Omicron outbreak, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.    Around 200 armed forces personnel will join health workers in the capital, which has been particularly badly hit by the…

Covid-19: 3 dose-vaccinated Austrian chancellor tests positive

VIENNA, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Austria’s head of government Karl Nehammer on Friday tested positive for Covid-19, the chancellery announced.    Nehammer, who has received two doses of vaccine and a booster, had not however experienced any symptoms, it added.    “No cause for worry, I’m fine,” the Austrian chancellor wrote in…

Covid-19: Latest global developments

  PARIS, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are the latest developments in the ..coronavirus crisis:   . INDIA: Election rallies are cancelled in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, over a sudden surge driven by the Omicron variant, with infections nearly tripling in two days.   . ITALY: Italy is making vaccination compulsory…