Mali: President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, ousted in a 2020 military coup, dies aged 76

Keita was remvoed from office in a coup BAMAKO, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was ousted in a 2020 military coup, has died at the age of 76, his family said.“President IBK died this morning at 09:00 GMT in his home” in the capital,…

Nominations open for the Africa food prize 2022

Aerial view of the Rwandan capital, Kigali KIGALI, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Africa Food Prize committee is pleased to announce the launch of 2022 nominations for the Africa Food Prize. The Africa Food Prize is the preeminent award recognizing an outstanding individual or institution that is leading the effort…

Ethiopia says WHO chief has links to rebellious Tigrayan forces

WHO Director, Tedros Adhanom ADDIS ABABA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate its leader for supporting rebellious forces fighting the Ethiopian government.WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who previously served as the Ethiopian health minister and foreign minister, said earlier…

Germany ‘to do all’ to ensure Ukraine’s security: FM Baerbock

KYIV, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany will do everything in its power to guarantee Ukraine’s security, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on her first visit to Ukraine, amid rising fears of a Russian invasion.    “We will do our all to guarantee Ukraine’s security. We will do our all to…

UK PM in populist fight-back after ‘partygate’ scandal

LONDON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boris Johnson is hoping a slew of policy announcements, including scrapping controversial Covid passports and abolishing the BBC licence fee, can save his position as British prime minister, reports said.    The 57-year-old Johnson’s future has been thrown into doubt by a furious political and…

Covid-19: Ecuador declares red alert in most of country over Omicron

QUITO, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador declared a red alert in most of the country following a ten-fold increase in Covid-19 cases.    The red alert applies to 193 of the South American country’s 221 cantons, including major population hubs such as Quito and Guayaquil.    Schools have also been…

US calls on North Korea to ‘cease’ its ‘unlawful’ missile launches

 WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States called on North Korea to “cease its unlawful and destabilizing activities,” after Pyongyang fired two suspected ballistic missiles in its fourth weapons test this month, a State Department spokesman said.   In a call with South Korean and Japanese officials, the US…

UN releases “Sport for Peace” stamps to celebrate 2022 Winter Olympic Games

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) released the new “Sport for Peace” stamps to celebrate the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The UNPA said in a press release that it is the first time that it has issued stamps for the Olympic Winter Games. The stamps…

US: A week after Bronx fire, families to bury their loved ones

A memorial for the victims of an apartment building fire is displayed in front of the building in the Bronx borough of New York NEW YORK, Jan 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Bronx community gathers on Sunday to pay its final respects to perished loved ones, a week after a fire filled an apartment…

Update: Hostages freed after standoff at Texas synagogue; gunman dead

COLLEYVILLE (Texas, US) Jan 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — All four people who were held hostage at a synagogue in the US state of Texas have been safely released, more than 10 hours after a gunman disrupted a religious service and began a tense standoff with police. Members of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue…