Ecuador President Lasso to be investigated for tax fraud after Pandora Papers leak

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso QUITO, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador’s attorney general’s office said it has opened a preliminary investigation against President Guillermo Lasso for tax fraud, after an opposition leader presented allegations against him linked to the Pandora Papers leak. Former presidential candidate and indigenous leader Yaku Perez called…

Update: American actor Alec Baldwin fatally shoots woman with prop gun on movie set

Alec Balwin is a co-producer of the film Rust, which was being filmed in New Mexico  LOS ANGELES, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A woman has died and a man has been injured after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on a New Mexico film set. Police in the US…

Nigeria: Biafra separatist Nnamdi Kanu pleads not guilty to terrorism

This was the first time Nnamdi Kanu (in white) had been seen in public since June  ABUJA, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian separatist Nnamdi Kanu has pleaded not guilty to charges levelled against him by the authorities, including terrorism and treason. His appearance in court was the first time…

Canada hospitals use drones to carry lungs for transplant – a global first

   TORONTO, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In the dark of night, a drone takes off from a Toronto hospital rooftop, the hum of its rotors barely audible over the bustling sounds of the cars and pedestrians below in Canada’s largest metropolis.    On its maiden flight, with a bird’s-eye view of…

WHO chief vows ‘profound transformation’ of agency after abuse scandal in 10 countries

  GENEVA, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization’s chief promised a “profound transformation” of the global body following allegations of rape and other sexual abuse by its staff in the Democratic Republic of Congo.   An independent commission of enquiry released a devastating report on Sept 28 that found…

UN launches cash plan to prop up Afghan economy

  GENEVA, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations launched a funding programme aimed at preventing the Afghan economy from collapsing during the winter by getting cash flowing through the local economy again.   The UN Development Programme has set up a trust fund through which governments can channel finance via…

Covid-19: Latin America will take ‘many years’ to recover from pandemic damage, says IMF

   WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — It will take “many years” for Latin American and Caribbean nations to recover from the economic damage inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the IMF warned.    “They should anticipate a long and winding road ahead, with setbacks along the way, as the damage brought by…

US: Woman dead after shooting by prop firearm on Alec Baldwin movie set; a man also injured

A woman has died after being shot during the filming of a movie starring Alec Baldwin LOS ANGELES, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A woman has died after being shot during the filming of a movie starring Alec Baldwin, US law enforcement officers said. The incident happened on a set in…

Pres Biden: US would defend Taiwan against China

US President Joe Biden participates in a CNN town hall at Baltimore Center Stage in Baltimore, Maryland BALTIMORE, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden on Thursday said the United States would defend Taiwan if the island were attacked by China, which considers it part of its territory. “Yes,” he…

Ethiopia hits Tigray region in third day of air strikes: Government

Ethiopian government soldiers ride in the back of a truck on a road near Agula, north of Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia ADDIS ABABA, Oct 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia carried out an air strike on the city of Mekelle for the third day this week, a government…