US: Four skiers killed, 4 injured in avalanche; highest toll since 1992

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four skiers were killed and four others wounded after an avalanche struck in a canyon in the western US state of Utah, local authorities and media said. The Utah Avalanche Center, which documents avalanches in the region, said it was the highest toll since 1992.…

Covid-19: French cases, patient numbers ease as AstraZeneca inoculations start

PARIS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France reported a fall in new COVID-19 infections and in the number of patients being treated in hospital, slightly easing pressure on the health system as the country rolled out shots with a third approved vaccine. The country registered 20,586 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on…

Covid-19: Bolivia funeral homes, cemeteries overwhelmed as deaths mount

LA PAZ, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Corpses in Bolivia have begun to pile up as a fierce second wave of COVID-19 has overwhelmed funeral homes and cemeteries, according to officials, stoking fears the growing backlog could become yet another focal point of infection. The bodies of the dead, wrapped in…

Protests erupt in Chilean lakeside resort after street performer shot dead by police

A public building burns during a protest after a police officer shot dead a street juggler in Panguipulli, Chile SANTIAGO, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protests erupted in a popular lakeside resort in southern Chile after a policeman shot and killed a street performer in the normally sleepy village. Arsonists attacked…

Ecuadorans choose their president: socialist or banker?

QUITO, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Some 13 million Ecuadorans are eligible tovote in presidential elections Sunday in which a socialist and a formerbanker are vying for leadership of a country besieged by deep economicproblems. Opinion polls show leftist economist Andres Arauz and conservativeGuillermo Lasso the clear frontrunners among 16 candidates,…

Cuba authorizes private activity in majority of sectors

HAVANA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba announced that private activity will be authorized in most sectors, a major reform in the communist country where the state and its companies dominate economic activity. The measure, which was unveiled last August by Labor Minister Marta Elena Feito, was approved Friday during a…

US Pres Biden opens major push for LGBTIQ rights abroad

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden has quicklylaunched a campaign to support LGBTIQ people abroad, putting their rightshigher on the US foreign policy agenda than ever before. Elevating a 2011 initiative launched by his former boss Barack Obama —and reversing a turnaround under Donald Trump — Biden is…

Ethiopia establishes emergency coordination centre to address humanitarian needs of 2.5 million people

Months of fighting in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray has reportedly left hundreds of thousand displaced ADDIS ABABA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia has established an emergency centre in northern Tigray regional state to address the humanitarian needs of 2.5 million people, an Ethiopian official said.Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner at Ethiopia National Disaster…

DR Congo’s President Tshisekedi becomes African Union chairman

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi ADDIS ABABA, Feb 8 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi has now taken over the helm of affairs at the African Union to serve as chairman for one year.He replaces his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, following the…

Eight Shabaab militants killed in central Somalia

The attack came as talks between regional leaders and the Somali government continued in Dhusamareb MOGADISHU, Feb 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least eight Shabaab militants were killed and five others injured in an intense clash in the central region of Mudug in Somalia, an official confirmed.Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Security Minister…