US to re-designate Houthis as terror group

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US will re-designate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as “global terrorists”, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan said the designation is in response to the ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed group. The decision will require US financial institutions to…

Nigeria: 2 killed, 77 injured in Ibadan explosion caused by explosives stored by illegal miners

Buildings have been reduced to near rubble at the site of the blast and vehicles destroyed IBADAN (Nigeria), Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A deadly blast that rocked the Nigerian city of Ibadan overnight was caused by explosives stored by illegal miners, the Oyo state governor has said. Two people were…

UK: King Charles III and Princess of Wales Kate in health scares

LONDON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s royal family has had a double health scare as King Charles III faces treatment for an enlarged prostate and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, recuperates from abdominal surgery. Separate announcements came within 90 minutes of each other from Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace,…

UK: House of Commons passes Rwanda migrant bill

LONDON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak got his government’s plans to send people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom to Rwanda for consideration to stay there instead through the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday.  Sunak had faced a potential rebellion from both the moderate and right flanks of his Conservative Party in…

Ecuador prosecutor investigating gang attack on TV station shot and killed

GUAYAQUIL (Ecuador), Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The public prosecutor who was leading the investigation into the on-air assault on an Ecuadorian television station has been shot and killed in a brazen daylight attack in the crime-ridden city of Guayaquil. César Suárez, who focused on cases involving organized trans-national crime in Guayas province…

Pilot working to extinguish a fire in Chile died after crashing on a highway

SANTIAGO, Jan 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — A Spanish pilot lost his life when the firefighting plane he was operating crashed in the central Maule region, as reported by the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) of Chile. Christian Little, the executive director of Conaf, expressed, “He was the Chief Pilot in Spain and…

Comoros President Azali Assoumani wins fourth term in disputed poll

MORONI, Jan 17 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Comoros President Azali Assoumani has been re-elected for a fourth term in a poll disputed by the opposition as “fraudulent”. He secured the win with 63% of the vote, the electoral body Ceni said. Opposition candidates in the Indian Ocean archipelago alleged instances of ballot…

Tobacco use declining despite industry interference: WHO

The “tobacco epidemic” is among the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing over eight million people a year. GENEVA, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people using tobacco continues to decline despite industry attempts to jeopardize progress towards stamping out cigarettes and other such products,…

Eight dead and an estimated 100 people missing after the latest Nigeria boat accident

ABUJA, Jan 17 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Eight passengers were confirmed dead and an estimated 100 were missing after their overloaded boat capsized in north-central Nigeria, the emergency services said. It is the latest in a series of deadly boat accidents that increasingly point to regulatory failures. The passengers were being conveyed…

Tanzania issues alert over red eyes outbreak

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 17 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzania’a Ministry of Health has urged members of the public to take precautionary measures following the outbreak of red eye disease. Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Prof Pascal Ruggajo said that the disease known medically as conjunctivitis has spread in…