Covid-19 update: World passes 300 million cases as Omicron breaks records

PARIS, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The total number of COVID-19 cases registered worldwide passed 300 million on Friday, with the Omicron variant’s rapid spread setting new infection records in dozens of countries over the last week. In the past seven days, 34 countries have recorded their highest number of weekly…

Wolf Volcano erupts in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands

Tallest Galapagos Volcano erupts, spewing lava QUITO, Jan 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Wolf Volcano, the tallest in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, located on Isabela Island, erupted early Friday morning, the country’s Geophysical Institute reported. According to a statement from the institute, the eruption began at 00:20 a.m. local time, generating a cloud…

UN chief welcomes release of Ethiopia’s political prisoners

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the release from prison in Ethiopia of numerous detainees, including key opposition figures. Details of the release were not immediately available. But it coincided with efforts to open dialogue between the government and rebels in northern Ethiopia leading up…

Food prices hit 10-year high in 2021: UN FAO

ROME, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global food prices reached a 10-year high in 2021, rising by an average of 28 percent compared to the previous year, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said.    The FAO’s Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities,…

Covid-19: World Bank approves $90 mn in pandemic aid for Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank has approved $90 million in additional financing for Iran, to help fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, a spokesperson said.    The Washington-based development lender’s board of directors approved the aid on Dec 21, a World Bank spokesperson said, which “will be utilized…

Case of African swine fever reported in northern Italy

ROME, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A case of African swine fever has been detected in a wild boar in Italy, news agency ANSA said Friday, raising fears of a blow to the country’s meat industry.   Highly transmissible and fatal for pig populations, African swine fever (ASF) does not present…

US accuses New York man of tracking opponents of Egypt’s Pres Sisi

US Justice Department said it took Pierre Girgis, 39, into custody on Thursday WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in the United States have arrested an Egyptian-American man from New York on allegations that he unlawfully worked at the behest of the Egyptian government to track the “political opponents” of…

Muslim majority Senegal rejects attempt to toughen anti-gay laws

Homosexuality is widely considered unacceptable in Senegal DAKAR, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bill introduced in the Senegalese parliament meant to toughen existing laws against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has been rejected.Gay sex is already punishable by up to five years in jail.The bill would have lengthened the…

Nigerian Army shuts down Adamawa market used as Boko Haram trading hub

The move was taken to foil imminent attacks by Boko HaramThe move was taken to foil imminent attacks by Boko Haram ABUJA, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian Army has shut down the Song cattle market after intelligence gathered showed that Boko Haram members were sending rustled cattle to be…

ECOWAS pushes Mali to hold elections next month

ECOWAS wants elections to be held in Mali in February BAMAKO, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has been pushing Mali’s military government to allow elections by February.This week, the group sent a mediator, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, to deliver a message…