Covid-19: Rich and poor vaccine divide worsening, warns WHO

GENEVA, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Covid-19 vaccine divide between rich and poor nations is worsening by the day, the World Health Organization warned, insisting the failure to distribute doses fairly could cost the global economy trillions of dollars. The WHO said it needed $26 billion this year for its…

Brazil: 19 dead, dozens hurt in bus crash

BRASILIA, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bus overturned in southern Brazil in the early hours of Monday, killing 19 people and injuring dozens, officials said. The bus was nearing the end of a 3,000-kilometer journey from Ananindeua in northern Brazil to Balneario Camboriu in the south with 53 passengers and…

Cyclone Eloise brings floods to Mozambique’s second city Beira

MAPUTO, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Parts of central Mozambique have been flooded after Cyclone Eloise struck near the port city of Beira with wind speeds of up to 160km/h. Beira received 250mm (10 inches) of rain in 24 hours, according to Mozambique’s National Institute of Meteorology (INAM). Local officials and…

US incident: Police vehicle ploughs into crowd watching street racing, one injured

TACOMA (Washington, US), Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A police officer is under investigation in the US after his vehicle ploughed into a group of people, running over at least one, in Tacoma, Washington. Nobody was killed in the incident, although one person was rushed to hospital with injuries. A video…

Covid-19: Top adviser warns France at ’emergency’ virus moment

More than 26,000 are now in hospital with the virus, according to government data  PARIS, Jan 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s top medical advisor said that a third national lockdown would probably soon be needed to combat coronavirus in the country. A strict curfew was implemented over the weekend, but cases continue to climb.…

UN builds jetty in Somalia to spur fishing industry

MOGADISHU, Jan 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — The World Food Program (WFP) has started building a fishing jetty in Somalia to help boost the fishing industry in the country, a senior United Nations envoy in Somalia said. James Swan, the United Nations secretary-general’s special representative for Somalia, said the project, in the…

Covid-19: Sierra Leone capital goes into 2 weeks lockdown

Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown goes into a two-week lockdown starting Jan 25 FREETOWN, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown goes into a two-week lockdown starting Monday, as the government revises measures to contain the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.Sierra Leone remains one of the countries least hit…

Covid-19: Dutch PM condemns lockdown riots as ‘criminal volence’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte  AMSTERDAM, Jan 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned riots across the country this weekend in which demonstrators attacked police and set fires to protest against a night-time curfew to slow the spread of COVID-19, calling them “criminal violence”. The police said hundreds of people…

Argentina’s voluntary abortion law enters into force

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 25 (NNN-EPE) — Argentina’s newly expanded abortion law enters into force on Sunday, after the 10-day preparatory period since being signed by President Alberto Fernandez. Now, women will be able to voluntarily interrupt their pregnancies up until the 14th week of gestation without legal penalty. In addition,…

Tropical Cyclone Eloise: Several dead as storm sweeps Africa’s east coast

MAPUTO, Jan 25 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — At least nine people died after Tropical Cyclone Eloise hit Mozambique in Africa’s southeast, bringing rain and powerful winds of around 130 kilometers per hour. The victims died in the worst-hit port city of Beira, most of them killed by falling trees, authorities said. Cars…