Covid-19: First known US cases of potent South African variant found in South Carolina

A colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (yellow) WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A potent coronavirus variant originating in South Africa and possibly resistant to current vaccines and antibody treatments has been detected for the first time in the United States…

Covid-19: UK bans direct flights from UAE, shutting world’s busiest international route

Due to border closures caused by Covid-19, Dubai to London was the world’s busiest international route in January LONDON: Britain is banning direct passenger flights to and from the United Arab Emirates from Friday, shutting down the world’s busiest international airline route from Dubai to London. Britain said it was…

Covid-19: 1,000 Cuban, Haitian migrants stranded in Colombia

BOGOTA, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The closing of Panama’s border due toCovid-19 has stranded a thousand migrants — most from Haiti and Cuba — in Colombia, as they had planned to sneak across on their way to the UnitedStates, officials said. Now in makeshift tents on the beach of Necocli,…

US: Taliban have ‘not met their commitments’ in Afghan peace deal

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Taliban are not meeting thepromises they made in the peace agreement with the United States, including reducing violence and cutting ties with Al-Qaeda, the Pentagon said. “We are still involved in trying to get a negotiated settlement. TheTaliban have not met their commitments,” said…

Covid-19: WHO virus experts poised to start Wuhan fieldwork

WUHAN (China), Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Experts from the World Health Organization met Chinese officials Friday ahead of their first site visits in Wuhan for a coronavirus origins probe which will take in a food market presumed to be “ground zero” of the pandemic. The fieldwork was set to begin…

Covid-19: UN chief receives vaccine in New York

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 29 (NNN-XINHUA) – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine here on Thursday, according to a report published on the UN official website. The UN chief said on Twitter that he was fortunate and grateful to get the shot, and…

Colombia: Tribunal charges former FARC members with war crimes

BOGOTA, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight high-ranking members of Colombia’s now-defunct FARC guerilla movement, including serving politicians, are being charged with war crimes for kidnapping more than 21,000 people during a decades-long civil conflict, a court said. The eight belonged to the secretariat of the FARC, its highest decision-making body,…

US: At least six dead in poultry plant chemical leak near Atlanta

GAINESVILLE (Georgia, US), Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A liquid nitrogen leak at a food-processing plant killed at least six people and injured another 11 near the southern US city of Atlanta Thursday, police said. There were “5 fatalities confirmed on the scene” of the leak, police fromGainesville, Georgia told reporters,…

Stranded Nigerians evacuated from UAE arrive in Abuja

The returnees are part of the 802 Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia ABUJA, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has announced the return of 384 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates.The returnees are part of the 802 Nigerians stranded in Saudi Arabia that the Nigerian government had…

Algeria upholds prison terms for ex-prime ministers convicted of corruption

The two former prime ministers Ahmed Ouyahia (L) and Abdelmalek Sellal ALGIERS, Jan 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Algerian court on Thursday upheld hefty prison sentences against two former prime ministers who served under ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.The judgement confirmed sentences of 15 years for Ahmed Ouyahia and 12 years for Abdelmalek…