Covid-19: French parliament approves vaccine pass

PARIS, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s parliament on Thursday approved President Emmanuel Macron’s plans for a vaccine pass to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant after a tumultuous debate whipped up by Macron’s comments that he wanted to “piss off” the unvaccinated. Macron told Le Parisien newspaper earlier this…

Luxembourg ends diplomatic mission in Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Jan 6 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Luxembourg has announced the withdrawal of its embassy in Managua while diplomatic ties with Nicaragua will be handled by the Embassy in Washington, DC as of Feb 1. Charge d’Affaires Joe Geisbusch will end his mission Jan. 30. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the…

River bathers killed, injured by piranhas in Paraguay

ASUNCION, Jan 6 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Two people were reported to have died as a result from attacks by piranhas -a species of carnivorous fish with a strong presence in fresh water courses in South America.- and many others were injured in various incidents along the Paraguay and Paraná rivers. According…

Argentine Patagonia hit by devastating fire covering over 80,000 hectares

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 6 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — About 80,000 hectares of Argentine Patagonia came under fire during the weekend and the smoke has even reached the city of La Plata, a little over 1,000 kilometers northeast of the epicenter in the Puerto Madryn region, in the province of Chubut. Some 226…

Banana-made brew kills 11 in Rwanda, officials say

KIGALI, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven people have died in Rwanda’s south eastern district of Bugesera since Christmas Day after drinking a local brew made from bananas, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed. Four others are reported to be in hospital for treatment. High levels of methanol, found in…

UNICEF distributes protective materials to schools in Western Libya

TRIPOLI, Jan 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Protective and sanitizing materials have been distributed to a number of schools in Western Libya to stem the spread of COVID-19, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. “This month, UNICEF launched the second part of its Back to School initiative, distributing cleaning and disinfection…

Pope Francis criticizes couples who refuse to have children

THE VATICAN, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pope Francis has criticized couples who choose not to have children.“Too many couples don’t have children because they don’t want any, or they have only one because they don’t want any more,” the 85-year-old told scores of the faithful at a general audience in…

South Africa: ‘Hammer’ Man arrested for breaking into Constitutional Court

He caused material damage by smashing some glass doors JOHANNESBURG, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A few hours after a major fire in the South African parliament in Cape Town, there was another incident at one of the country’s democratic institutions on Wednesday.According to the police, a 36-year-old man tried to…

Covid-19: US private hiring surged to 807,000 in December – ADP

  WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hiring in the United States surged in December, with private companies adding 807,000 workers, particularly in the service sector, payroll services firm ADP reported.    It was a big upswing from the 505,000 gain in November and nearly double the increase economists had been expecting,…

Niger police seize record 200kg of cocaine from Mayor’s car

Authorities said the seizure was Niger’s largest single haul of cocaine  NIAMEY, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A local mayor and his driver have been arrested in a desert in northern Niger with more than 200kg of cocaine in their vehicle, police say. The two suspects, who have not been named,…