Covid-19 keeps spreading across Bolivia

LA PAZ, Jan 4 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Bolivian health authorities reported a 128% surge in cases of Covid-19 nationwide in addition to the detection of the JN.1 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus -also known as Pirola- in the department of Santa Cruz. “We have had an increase in the number of cases,…

German emissions at 70-year low as coal use drops

 BERLIN, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German emissions were at their lowest point in around 70 years, as Europe’s largest economy managed to reduce its dependence on coal faster than expected, a study published Thursday showed. Europe’s biggest economy emitted 673 million tonnes of the greenhouse gases last year, 73 million…

Congo Republic declares state of emergency over devastating floods and landslides

BRAZZAVILLE, Jan 4 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) —A state of humanitarian emergency has been announced in the Republic of Congo, following flooding caused by heavy rains that’s been pouring for over a month. The government also announced the release of an emergency fund estimated at 4 million dollars to provide aid to disaster…

Argentina lifts restrictions on beef exports

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 4 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Argentine Government of President Javier Milei has authorized the export of seven “popular cuts” of beef which had been banned from sales abroad under Alberto Fernández, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (SENASA) greenlighted as from…

Italy surpasses 445 million tourist visits in 2023

ROME, Jan 4 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The total number of tourists presence reached 445.3 million in Italy during 2023, which represents a significant increase, 8,1%, in relation to the results achieved last year, an analysis indicates. According to a report presented by the Center for Tourism Studies of Florence, one…

UN top court to hear South Africa’s genocide case against Israel next week

THE HAGUE, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s top court will hear submissions next week from South Africa and Israel after Pretoria opened a case for what it called Israel’s “genocidal” acts in Gaza.    South Africa wants the International Court of Justice to urgently order Israel to suspend its military…

Mexico announces rescue of 32 kidnapped migrants

MEXICO CITY, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican authorities said Wednesday that they had rescued 32 migrants kidnapped while heading for the US border by bus through a northeastern region where criminal gangs operate. The abduction took place on Saturday in Tamaulipas state, whose highways are considered among the most dangerous…

2023 deadliest year in a decade for journalists: PEC

GENEVA, Jan 4 (NNN-XINHUA) — A record number of journalists were killed last year, making 2023 the deadliest year in a decade for media workers, the Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) announced here on Wednesday. According to the PEC, 140 journalists were killed in 2023. Of these deaths, 90 were…

1 soldier dead, 12 injured in blast attack in Colombia

BOGOTA, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed one soldier was killed and 12 others injured Wednesday in an attack with explosives in Turbo, a town in the country’s northwest Antioquia Department. The attack on a military unit of the army’s Seventeenth Brigade was blamed on the local…

Some 87,000 undocumented migrants arrested in Moroccan borders in 2023

RABAT, Jan 4 (NNN-XINHUA) — Moroccan army units and law enforcement authorities arrested about 87,000 undocumented migrants in 2023, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, the army’s General Command said Wednesday. The army said in a statement that the arrests were part of its efforts to monitor borders and maritime…