Cuba announces higher prices for electricity and fuels

HAVANA, Jan 11 (NNN-ACN) — Higher tariff prices for services like fuels and electricity in Cuba were announced by government officials as part of a package of measures aimed at relaunching the local economy in 2024. During the prime-time TV show “The Round Table” the ministers of Mines and Energy,…

Swiss court rejects bid to drop Gambian ex-minister’s trial

Former Gambian minister, Ousman Sonko ZURICH, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Switzerland has ruled that the trial of a former Gambian minister can go ahead on charges including murder, torture and rape.Ousman Sonko denies the accusations, which are said to have happened under the repressive regime of The…

Zambia to receive cholera vaccines amid deadly outbreak

Zambia has been battling a cholera outbreak since last year LUSAKA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia expects to receive one million cholera vaccine doses from the World Health Organisation amid an outbreak that has killed 249 people since last October.Roma Chilengi, the health adviser to President Hakainde Hichilema, said the…

UK unveils plans for ‘biggest nuclear power expansion in 70 years’

LONDON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK government announced plans for what it said was the country’s “biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years to bolster its energy independence and meet carbon emission targets. The Civil Nuclear Roadmap includes exploring the construction of a major new power station, 300…

UK’s top government climate change adviser steps down

LONDON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of the UK’s top advisory body on climate change, Chris Stark, resigned on Thursday. Stark, who took up the role of chief executive at the independent Climate Change Committee in 2018, has been critical of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s environmental policies, saying they…

Ecuador ‘in state of war’ on third day of cartel terror campaign

QUITO, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With city streets largely deserted apart from a massive military deployment, Ecuador found itself in a “state of war” Wednesday as drug cartels waged a brutal campaign of kidnappings and attacks in response to a government crackdown. Hundreds of soldiers patrolled the capital Quito, where…

South Africa: President emphasises importance of human rights

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (NNN-SANEWS) — With South Africa heading to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague for acts committed by Israel in the context of its attacks on Gaza, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country approached the court due to its opposition to the ongoing slaughter of…

Global unemployment set to worsen in 2024: UN ILO

GENEVA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The global unemployment rate will increase slightly in 2024, the United Nations said as it raised concerns about stagnant productivity, worsening inequalities and inflation biting into disposable income. The UN’s labour agency said the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down, with ongoing geopolitical tensions…

UN says chopper ‘crash landed’ in Somalia, reports hostages taken by al-Shabaab militants

Al-Shabaab. militants captured a United Nations helicopter, carrying passengers aboard MOGADISHU, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations said that one of its helicopters “crash landed” in Somalia and some passengers were reportedly taken hostage by the militant group Al-Shabaab. The chopper was carrying nine passengers and crew when it “crash…

Poland: Police arrest former interior minister and deputy minister for abuse of power

Protesters gathered outside the presidential palace and police headquarters after the two MPs were detained WARSAW, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Polish police have arrested the former interior minister and deputy interior minister inside the presidential palace in Warsaw in a day of unprecedented political theatre. Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Wasik…