EU suspends funding to WHO programmes in DR Congo after sex scandal

GENEVA, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Commission has suspended funding to the World Health Organization’s programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to concerns over the UN agency’s handling of the sexual abuse scandal. An Oct 7 letter from the Commission marked “SENSITIVE” informed the WHO of the immediate suspension…

Haitian G9 gang calls for resignation of Prime Minister Henry

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 28 (NNN-TELESUR) — The G9 Fanmi e Alye leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier called for the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry as a condition to allow fuel distribution in the country. “Our demand is clear, pure, and simple. Our demand is the resignation of the Prime Minister,”…

Covid-19: Desperate Nicaraguans go to Honduras to get shots

MANAGUA, Oct 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Citizens of Nicaragua, which according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) ranks among the six countries in the region with the lowest vaccination rates, have been crossing over the border to neighbouring Honduras even on horseback and in rafts to receive a COVID-19 immunizer,…

EU plans large scale observation of Venezuelan elections

Freddy Nanez CARACAS, Oct 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The European Union already has 11 electoral experts in Caracas for the upcoming Venezuelan elections. Then the number is to grow to 44 long-term observers while by Nov 21 – voting day – the team is to surpass 100 members, the Electoral Observation…

Ecuador president calls for dialogue with indigenous on second day of protests

People protest against the economic policies of President Guillermo Lasso QUITO, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso called for dialogue following a second day of demonstrations by indigenous and civil society groups against gasoline price rises, and said his government would keep security forces on highways to maintain…

US President Biden vows to stand with Asia on freedom, hits out at China on Taiwan

US President Joe Biden speaks during the virtual ASEAN U.S. Summit, hosted by ASEAN Summit Brunei, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden told Southeast Asian nations the United States would stand with them in defending freedom of the seas and democracy and called…

Covid-19: Rio de Janeiro lifts outdoor mask requirement Thursday, Mayor declares victory

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Attention beach-lovers seeking a break from the pandemic: Rio de Janeiro is lifting its Covid-19 mask requirement for outdoor areas effective from Thursday, the state’s governorsaid, as once-pandemic-battered Brazil advances quickly with vaccinations.    “We are going to relax the requirement on wearing…

World faces growing threat of ‘unbearable’ heatwaves: Experts

 LONDON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — From Death Valley to the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent to sub-Saharan Africa, global warming has already made daily life unbearable for millions of people.   And if nothing is done to slow climate change, the record temperatures and deadly heatwaves it brings will only…

Spain: La Palma island braces for more earthquakes as volcano roars on

Lava flows from a volcano as it continues to erupt on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE (Canary Islands, Spain), Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents on Spain’s La Palma island braced for the possibility of bigger earthquakes that could compound the damage from a volcano…

Post-Brexit crisis: France threatens UK with sanctions in fishing row

   PARIS, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A smouldering row between London and Paris over post-Brexit fishing rights has flared up, with France threatening trade disruptions from next week if its boats are not granted more access toBritish waters.    The measures targeting British fish exports from Nov 2 would include…