Argentine Patagonia hit by devastating fire covering over 80,000 hectares

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 6 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — About 80,000 hectares of Argentine Patagonia came under fire during the weekend and the smoke has even reached the city of La Plata, a little over 1,000 kilometers northeast of the epicenter in the Puerto Madryn region, in the province of Chubut. Some 226…

Banana-made brew kills 11 in Rwanda, officials say

KIGALI, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven people have died in Rwanda’s south eastern district of Bugesera since Christmas Day after drinking a local brew made from bananas, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has confirmed. Four others are reported to be in hospital for treatment. High levels of methanol, found in…

UNICEF distributes protective materials to schools in Western Libya

TRIPOLI, Jan 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Protective and sanitizing materials have been distributed to a number of schools in Western Libya to stem the spread of COVID-19, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. “This month, UNICEF launched the second part of its Back to School initiative, distributing cleaning and disinfection…

Pope Francis criticizes couples who refuse to have children

THE VATICAN, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pope Francis has criticized couples who choose not to have children.“Too many couples don’t have children because they don’t want any, or they have only one because they don’t want any more,” the 85-year-old told scores of the faithful at a general audience in…

South Africa: ‘Hammer’ Man arrested for breaking into Constitutional Court

He caused material damage by smashing some glass doors JOHANNESBURG, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A few hours after a major fire in the South African parliament in Cape Town, there was another incident at one of the country’s democratic institutions on Wednesday.According to the police, a 36-year-old man tried to…

Covid-19: US private hiring surged to 807,000 in December – ADP

  WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hiring in the United States surged in December, with private companies adding 807,000 workers, particularly in the service sector, payroll services firm ADP reported.    It was a big upswing from the 505,000 gain in November and nearly double the increase economists had been expecting,…

Niger police seize record 200kg of cocaine from Mayor’s car

Authorities said the seizure was Niger’s largest single haul of cocaine  NIAMEY, Jan 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A local mayor and his driver have been arrested in a desert in northern Niger with more than 200kg of cocaine in their vehicle, police say. The two suspects, who have not been named,…

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…