Covid-19: US inflation spike also due to generous pandemic stimulus

 WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden blames global supply snarls for the wave of price increases hitting US consumers and businesses, but the trillions of dollars injected into the economy during the pandemic also share responsibility.  The Covid-19 crisis disrupted manufacturing worldwide and caused shipping snags, creating global shortages…

Covid-19: Russia sees record daily virus cases amid Omicron surge

  MOSCOW, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia on Friday reported a record number of new coronavirus infections over the previous 24 hours, a government tally showed, with officials warning of surging cases driven by the Omicronvariant.    A government website reported 49,513 new infections in Russia, which is already one…

Covid-19: Nine evacuated as covid hits Antarctic research base

A general view of the Argentinian Esperanza military base BUENOS AIRES, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — For the first time since the start of the pandemic the coronavirus has reached an Argentine research base in Antarctica, causing the evacuation of nine unvaccinated staff who tested positive for Covid-19, an official said.…

Sudan: US won’t resume aid without civilian government

KHARTOUM, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Embassy in Khartoum said on Thursday that Washington would not resume its paused economic assistance to Sudan until violence there comes to an end and a civilian-led government is restored. As part of broader international punitive measures, the US halted $700 million in emergency…

Nigeria: Troops eliminate 49 terrorists/bandits as 863 others surrender – DHQ

ABUJA, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops killed 49 terrorists and bandits across theatres of operations while 863 terrorists surrendered in the last two weeks.Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko was giving an update on operations of the armed forces on Thursday…

Brazil: Bolsonaro’s mother dies while the President was on tour in Suriname

SAO PAULO, Jan 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Olinda Bonturi Bolsonaro, the mother of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has died early Friday in the city of São Paulo after being hospitalized last Monday. She was 94. “With regret [I announce] the passing of my dear mother. May God welcome you in his…

Covid-19: First case of flurona (flu/covid) in Argentina spotted in Santa Fe

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Health officials in the Argentine province of Santa Fe confirmed the first case of flurona (inFLUenza + coRONAvirus) had been detected in the country in a 3-year-old boy hospitalized in the provincial capital. The child, who was admitted to the intensive care unit at…

US charges Belarus officials with air piracy over Ryanair flight diversion

NEW YORK, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Justice department charged four Belarus officials with air piracy Thursday for last year’s forced diversion of a Ryanair flight in order to arrest a dissident on board. Two top officials of the state air navigation authority and two security officials were accused…

Peru: Traditional fishermen in despair over oil spill caused by Tonga volcanic eruption

Cleaning crews work to remove oil from a beach annexed to the summer resort town of Ancon, northern Lima CALLAO (Peru), Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of traditional fisherman living just outside the Peruvian capital fear their livelihoods are ruined following an oil spill caused by a volcanic eruption thousands of miles…

International Red Cross hack exposes half a million vulnerable people

The Geneva-based organisation said it had shut down its systems for reuniting families GENEVA, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hackers targeting the International Red Cross (ICRC) have stolen the personal details of more than half a million “highly vulnerable” people. The humanitarian organisation, which works with victims of war, the missing…