Libyan security arrests foreigner possessing 32 hand grenades

TRIPOLI, Jan 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Libyan Ministry of Interior announced arresting a foreign national with 32 hand grenades in his possession in Garabulli city, some 50 km east of the capital Tripoli. The arrested individual faces charges of armed robbery, the ministry said, adding that machine gun ammunition was…

US mass shootings set record as gun violence surges in 2021

Gun violence spiked in 2020 and 2021, contributing to Philadelphia recording more homicides than ever before NEW YORK, Jan 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States saw a record high of 691 mass shootings – with at least four victims in one incident – in 2021 as gun violence surged within…

Mexico, Afghanistan, India lead as 45 journalists killed globally in 2021 – IPI

VIENNA, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In 2021, a total of 45 journalists were killed in connection with their work, an International Press Institute (IPI) research revealed.Mexico, Afghanistan and India are currently the three deadliest countries for journalists to work in.Of the number, nine journalists were killed in Sub-Saharan Africa, most…

Nigeria: Police raid bandits camp in Kaduna, rescue victims

Nigeria police raid bandits’ camp ABUJA, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian policemen raided a bandits’ camp belonging to one Isiya, a notorious bandit, located in Sabon Birni forest of Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State on Friday.One bandit was killed while two were arrested during the operation, the…

Modest requiem for a titan: South Africa holds modest state funeral for ‘Spiritual Father’ Tutu

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, here seen with Tutu’s widow Leah, called the late archbishop ‘the spiritual father of our new nation’ CAPE TOWN, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa on Saturday held a state funeral for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the last great hero of the struggle against apartheid, that…

Covid-19: New curbs in England ‘last resort’ – minister

   LONDON, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s health minister insisted that reimposing coronavirus restrictions in England would be “an absolute last resort” and that the country must “try to live with Covid”.   Britain is among the countries in Europe hardest hit by the pandemic, registering nearly 149,000 deaths. On…

France bans plastic packaging for fruit and veg

   PARIS, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A ban on the use of plastic to package a range of fruit and vegetables came into force in France on Saturday, to the dismay of the sector’s packaging industry.    Environmentalists have long campaigned against single-use plastics as pollution worsens globally while President…

Ethiopia-Tigray conflict: UN reports record number of civilians killed in airstrikes across Tigray Region

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of civilians have been reportedly killed over the past week in a barrage of air strikes in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region – the highest casualties recorded since October. Last week, the Ethiopian government said that its troops would not advance further into Tigray,…

France culls over 600,000 poultry in new bird flu outbreak

The culls include flocks where outbreaks occurred, as well as preventive slaughtering of birds in surrounding areas PARIS, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France has culled 600,000 to 650,000 chickens, ducks and other poultry over the past month, officials said, in a race to contain a bird flu virus threatening to…

Covid-19: WHO optimistic about beating coronavirus in 2022

GENEVA, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) chief says he is optimistic that the coronavirus pandemic will be defeated in 2022, provided countries work together to contain its spread. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu warned against “narrow nationalism and vaccine hoarding” in a New Year statement. His comments…