Update: Indonesia hunts for survivors as quake death toll hits 56

MAMUJU (Indonesia), Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a powerful earthquake on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has jumped to 56, authorities said Sunday, with thousands left homeless as rescuers raced to find anyone still alive under mountains of rubble. Hospitals were overrun with hundreds of injured after the 6.2-magnitudequake…

US state capitals, Washington on alert for possible pro-Trump armed protests

Jan 6: Some rioters breached the U.S. Capitol WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten days after rioters breached the US Capitol in a deadly attack that stunned the world, cities nationwide were girding for a potential new wave of violent protests over the weekend, erecting barriers and deploying thousands of…

Covid-19: India begins world’s biggest vaccination drive

A Doctor administering COVID-19 vaccine NEW DELHI, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India on Saturday started inoculating health workers in what is expected to be the world’s biggest coronavirus vaccination programme.A health worker at a government hospital in Delhi became the first person to receive a vaccine shot in the country…

Powerful earthquake in Indonesia’s Sulawesi kills at least 34, injures hundreds

Search and rescue operations are underway after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia JAKARTA, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 34 people were killed and hundreds more injured after a 6.2-magnitute earthquake hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early Friday, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said.The epicenter of the quake, which struck at…

Taliban kills 24 in attacks on security forces in Afghanistan

Taliban militants killed 24 members of the local security forces KABUL, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of Taliban militants killed 12 members of the local security forces in the country’s western Herat province, officials said.The forces were having dinner on Friday evening when three Taliban militants opened fire on…

EU impressed with Uganda poll, says diplomatic delegation

Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Uganda, Ambassador Atillio Pacifici KAMPALA, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Uganda, Ambassador Atillio Pacifici, said they are impressed with the level of organisation and peaceful conduct exhibited during the presidential and parliamentary polls held…

UN peacekeeper killed, 2 injured ambushed in Central African Republic

The soldier died in an ambush by a coalition of rebels near Grimari BANGUI, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Burundian peacekeeper was killed during an ambush by rebels in the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, the fifth soldier killed since a rebel offensive broke out in the country.The…

UN peacekeeper dies, another injured after vehicle strikes mine in northern Mali

BAMAKO, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A United Nations peacekeeper has died in northern Mali after his vehicle struck a mine, the organization said.The peacekeeping mission’s tanker truck, which was part of a logistics convoy, drove over the mine near the town of Tessalit, in the Kidal region, on Friday afternoon,…

South Sudan ‘ready to mediate between Sudan, Ethiopia’ to end border conflict

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir JUBA, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has expressed readiness to mediate between Sudan and Ethiopia to end their border conflict, said Sudan’s Sovereign Council.Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Thursday met with Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s presidential adviser…

Ugandan President Museveni wins re-election in vote his rival says was rigged

President Yoweri Museveni KAMPALA, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s longtime leader Yoweri Museveni has been re-elected for a sixth term amid allegations of fraud and lack of transparency around the vote count.The country’s election commission said Museveni won 58.64% of the nearly 10 million ballots cast, while opposition leader Bobi…