Covid-19: France reports new daily record of 335,000 cases as Italy make vaccination compulsory for 50 years and above

 PARIS, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France set a record for new Covid cases over a 24-hour period on Wednesday with 335,000 additional infections recorded, Health Minister Olivier Veran told parliament.    It was the first time that French cases breached 300,000, smashing the previous record established on Tuesday when 271,686 new…

Netherlands suspends funding to Palestinian NGO

THE HAGUE, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Netherlands said it would cease funding a Palestinian NGO because of its “individual links” to a group deemed a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.    The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) is accused of ties to the…

Covid-19: Cuba tightens border controls as infections rebound

HAVANA, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba tightened border controls as the Caribbean island nation moved to tamp down a growing wave of coronavirus infections while keeping doors open for its economically vital tourism industry. The country will now require both a negative PCR within 72 hours and proof of vaccination…

Covid-19: Brazil green-lights vaccines for children age 5-11

BRASILIA, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian health authorities authorized Covid-19 vaccines for children age five to 11 on Wednesday, as South America’s most populous country faces a rapid increase in cases due to holiday gatherings and the arrival of the Omicron variant.    The final green light by Brazil’s Ministry…

UN condemns attack against its Lebanon peacekeepers

 UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations slammed as “unacceptable” an overnight attack against peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.    The peacekeepers — members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) — were attacked late Tuesday night by “unknown perpetrators,” he said.   …

UK BLM protesters acquitted over pulling down of slave trader statue

Protesters throw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol harbour, during a Black Lives Matter protest rally, in Bristol, England LONDON, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) –Three men and a woman were cleared of causing criminal damage for helping to pull down a statue of a 17th century slave trade…

Russia-led alliance to send forces to unrest-hit Kazakhstan

Russia-Led Bloc to Send Troops to Kazakhstan Amid Protests ALMATY, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russia-led military alliance said it would send peacekeeping forces to “stabilise” Kazakhstan, blaming mass protests that have plunged the ex-Soviet country into chaos on “outside interference”. Long seen as one the most stable of the…

Pro-government lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez reelected president of Venezuelan National Assembly

Venezuelan pro-Government deputies arrive in a caravan carrying portraits of the liberator Simon Bolivar (L) and the late president Hugo Chavez (R) to the National Assembly building to swear in an extraordinary ceremony, in Caracas CARACAS, Jan 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Pro-government Deputy Jorge Rodriguez was reelected president of Venezuela’s National…

Kenya declares curfew in parts of coastal region over insecurity

NAIROBI, Jan 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Kenyan government imposed a 30-day dusk-to-dawn curfew on areas affected by insecurity in the coastal Lamu County. The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government said the curfew follows the recent surge of attacks in the region where seven people have been killed…

US: Man exonerated in the killing of Malcolm X is suing New York state for $20 million

Muhammad Aziz NEW YORK, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Muhammad Aziz, one of the two men who last month were exonerated in the 1965 killing of US civil rights leader Malcolm X, sued New York state for at least $20 million in damages, saying his imprisonment had caused “deep and lasting…