US exempts UN, aid groups from effort to cut off Yemen’s Houthis

Workers prepare foodstuff at a food distribution center supported by the World Food Program in Sanaa, Yemen WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States exempted aid groups, the United Nations, the Red Cross and the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices from its designation of Yemen’s Houthi…

US presidential inauguration: 12 National Guard troops removed from guard duty after vetting

Officials say the National Guard members were removed because of “security liabilities” WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A dozen members of the US National Guard have been removed from securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after vetting by the FBI, including two who made extremist statements in posts or texts about…

US declares China committing ‘genocide’ against Uighurs

Ethnic Uighur demonstrators take part in a protest against China in Istanbul, Turkey WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States declared that China is carrying out genocide against the Uighurs and other mostly Muslim people, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dramatically raising pressure over Beijing’s sweeping incarceration of minorities…

Libya urges joint int’l efforts against illegal immigration

TRIPOLI, Jan 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Al-Mabrouk Abdulhafith, head of the Libyan Anti-Illegal Immigration Department, on Tuesday called for joint international efforts to resolve the issue of illegal immigration. Abdulhafith made his remarks during a meeting with German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza, according to a statement issued by the Libyan…

Ethiopia unrest: Humanitarian access to Tigray still faces obstacles – UN

The Tigray region faces some of the toughest development challenges in Ethiopia UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN humanitarian access to Ethiopia’s conflict-stricken Tigray region still faces obstacles, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Although movements of humanitarian cargo inside Tigray are improving substantially,…

Covid-19: Frustrated Amazon villagers tackle virus with faith potions

BELA VISTA DO JARAQUI (Brazil), Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Remote Amazon village communities, feeling abandoned by the state, are turning to religion and traditional remedies for protection in the coronavirus pandemic. Raimundo Leite de Sousa, 34, claims he recovered from Covid-19 with a potion made from the stinktoe and crabwood…

Covid-19: Pres-elect Biden leads Covid memorial on eve of inauguration

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President-elect Joe Biden signalled a new tone for the US government by leading a powerful tribute to the 400,000 Americans lost to Covid-19 as he arrived in Washington on the eve of his inauguration. Biden, who has suffered deep personal tragedy and is known for…

Covid-19: Malawi President overrule court ban on lockdown as virus cases rise

LILONGWE, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi rolled out a first set of anti-coronavirus restrictions this week after its president overruled a court ban on lockdown measures to tackle a surge in cases.Unlike the rest of the continent, daily life had been unfolding normally in the southern African country since its…

Swiss government outlines strategic foreign policy for Africa

ACCRA, Jan 20 (NNN-GNA) — The Government of Switzerland says it will prioritise and promote issues of peace, security and human rights as strategic foreign policy in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next four years (2021-2024).It has also identified the issues of migration, prosperity, sustainability and digitalization as core elements of the…

Covid-19: Africa’s cases surpass 3.2m – Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — COVID-19 cases in Africa have reached 3.26 million as of Jan 18, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s Africa Covid-19 dashboard, the death toll from the pandemic stood at 78,911 on Monday,…