Covid-19: Northern Brazilian state declares curfew over virus

SAO PAULO, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Amazonas state in northern Brazil announced a 10-day curfew to try to slow the spread of thecoronavirus, as cases soar and hospitals run out of beds and oxygen. Authorities warned of a dire situation across the vast state. In itscapital Manaus, the health system…

US ‘deeply troubled’ by reports of violence, irregularities in Uganda poll: State Dept

WASHINGTON, Jan 17, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The US State Department said it is “deeply troubled” by reports of violence and irregularities surrounding Uganda’s presidential election, which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth term in office. “The Ugandan people turned out to vote in multiparty national elections on January 14 despite…

Ethiopia unrest: Returning displaced persons find Tigray homes, infrastructure looted, damaged: UN

Ethiopian refugees await transfer at a border reception centre in Hamdayet, Sudan  UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Displaced persons who are returning to Ethiopia’s conflict-stricken Tigray region find their homes, government buildings and infrastructure looted and damaged or destroyed, UN humanitarians said. Two joint needs assessment missions were deployed…

South Korean court orders Japan to compensate former sex slaves

SEOUL, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A South Korean court on Friday ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation to 12 World War II sex slaves or their families, in an unprecedented ruling likely to infuriate Tokyo. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Japan should pay the victims100 million won…

China draws comparison between storming of US Capitol, HK protests

Capitol police look on as pro-Trump protesters attempt to storm the US Capitol BEIJING, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China drew a comparison on Thursday between the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and last year’s often-violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong but noted that no…

EU “highly concerned” over Iran’s uranium enrichment programme

BRUSSELS, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union (EU) is “highly concerned” over Iran’s decision to start enriching uranium with 20 percent purity, a spokesperson said.Peter Stano, a spokesperson for the bloc’s external action service, said at the European Commission’s daily briefing that Iran’s decision was “regrettable.”Iran started production of…

Opposition parties in Ivory Coast to take part in coming legislative polls after boycotting last presidential elections

President Alassane Ouattara ABIDJAN, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A coalition of opposition parties in Ivory Coast said they would participate in legislative elections slated for March 6.The announcement further eases political tensions after deadly clashes. The two main opposition parties, the Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI) and Ivorian Popular Front…

African Union, UN hails Gulf diplomatic rapprochement

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Union hailed the diplomatic rapprochement to end a blockade against the Gulf nation of Qatar.“I wish to commend Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for restoring full diplomatic ties with the state of Qatar,” tweeted Chairperson of the African Union…

Sudan signs deal on normalising ties with Israel, agrees aid deal

KHARTOUM, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan signed the “Abraham Accords” paving the way to normalising ties with Israel, alongside an aid deal to access $1 billion annual World Bank financing, during an unprecedented visit by the US treasury chief.The deals were signed less than a month after Washington removed Khartoum…

Covid-19: Kenyan government sacks 86 doctors striking coronavirus conditions

NAIROBI, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Kenyan government dismissed 86 doctors who had refused to resume work amid an ongoing strike since December 2020, against poor working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.Chibanzi Mawachonda, secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Pharmacists and Dentist’s Union (KMPDU), a doctors’ association, was among…