‘Like a military base’: Washington locks down during Pres Biden inauguration

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Instead of cheering masses, Joe Biden’s welcome to the White House on Wednesday was miles of metal barriers, masked security forces and a dystopian-looking Washington that would normally be primed to party on Inauguration Day. The lockdown meant the contingent of roughly 25,000 National Guard…

Pres Biden signs sweeping executive orders to undo Trump policies on climate change, pandemic

President Joe Biden signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden signed 15 executive actions shortly after being sworn on Wednesday, undoing policies put in place by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and making…

Joe Biden sworn in as 46th US president

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, ending the tumultuous four-year term in the White House of Republican Donald Trump. Biden, 78, took the oath of office from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts at a…

Trump leaves White House for the last time as US president

President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Jan 20. Trump is en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president. He emerged from the…

World leaders welcome US transfer of power to Biden

The Capitol building is surrounded by American flags on the National Mall PARIS, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several world leaders said they were looking forward to Wednesday’s transfer of power in the United States, where Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn in as president after four turbulent years under Donald…

Zimbabwean foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo succumbs to COVID-19

HARARE, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo died Wednesday, a day after testing positive to COVID-19, acting chief secretary to the president and cabinet George Charamba said in a statement. He becomes the third government minister to succumb to COVID-19 since the pandemic hit the country…

Outgoing Pres Trump pardons 73 people, including ex-aide Bannon, on last day

Steve Bannon WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted pardon to 73 people, including his former White House adviser Steve Bannon, in his last day in office, the White House said. Bannon, 67, was charged last year with defrauding Trump supporters of hundreds of…

Government rejects plans by British Airways to move Ghana services from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport

Former Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda ACCRA, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Government of Ghana says it has rejected plans by airline operator, British Airways, to change its London-Accra-London flight origination and termination point.The Ministry of Aviation in a statement said it had received notification from the management of…

British-owned Vedanta mine settles Zambian villagers’ pollution claim

The villagers allege the polluted water has caused severe health problems LONDON, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) —More than 2,500 Zambian villagers are to receive an undisclosed settlement from UK-based mining giant Vedanta Resources over their pollution claims. The claimants live by the huge Nchanga Copper mine, owned by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a…

Italy PM Conte wins crucial Senate vote to stay in power

 ROME, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has won a crucial vote to stay in power – days after former PM Matteo Renzi pulled his party out of the coalition. The vote in the Senate – 156-140, with 16 abstentions – means, however, that Conte does not have an…