Covid clouds world New Year party

SYDNEY, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world began ushering in 2022 on Friday after another tumultuous and pandemic-ridden year capped by new restrictions, soaring case numbers, and a slight glimmer of hope for better times ahead. The past 12 months saw a new US president, the first spectator-free Olympics, and…

Eight soldiers killed in Mali attack, army says

BAMAKO, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight soldiers have been killed and seven others were injured when their patrol was ambushed by a suspected armed group in western Mali, the army said in a statement. The attack occurred late in the afternoon on Wednesday near the town of Nara, about 30km…

Update: Most devastating wildfire in Colorado history torches some 600 structures

Footage of fires burning in Superior, Colorado DENVER (Colorado, US), Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — After only five hours of burning on Thursday, the Marshall fire in Boulder County, Colorado, engulfed some 600 homes and became the most devastating wildfire in the state’s history. “This is catastrophic,” said ABC News, pointing…

US weather: California announces state of emergency in 20 counties for winter storms

Drivers drive slow through flooded intersections as winter storms continue to pass over Southern California LOS ANGELES, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency in several counties in the wake of recent winter storms, which caused power outages, damaged structures, uprooted trees and barricaded…

Covid-19: US reports record child hospitalisations

The massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the US is putting children in the hospital in record numbers WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of children hospitalised with COVID-19 in the United States has hit record high due to the Omicron-fueled surge. During the week of Dec 22-28, an…

Diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games is ‘meaningless’: World Athletics President Sebastian Coe

World athletics president Sebastian Coe LONDON, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he takes human rights “very seriously” but that Britain’s diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics is “meaningless”. The United States, Australia and Canada have also announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games over China’s human rights record,…

Mexico disbands makeshift camp with thousands of migrants

TAPACHULA (Mexico), Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican officials dismantled a makeshift migrant camp in the country’s south near the Guatemalan border, government officials said. Many of the migrants, some families with children, had been waiting in Tapachula camp for months, which some described as a “prison” due to the squalid…

South Africa: Desmond Tutu’s body lies in state in his old cathedral

A service was held for Archbishop Tutu’s family at the church  CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mourners have been filing past the coffin of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as his body lies in state at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who…

Covid-19: France suspends transit ban for UK nationals during festive period

PARIS, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK nationals will be allowed to travel through France if they are going to their home in an EU country during the festive period. France suspended its Covid restriction after UK travellers faced difficulties reaching their country of residence. Eurotunnel, which had earlier issued warnings…

Beijing Winter Olympic 2022: African athletics opposes politicization of sports

 YAOUNDE, Dec 31 (NNN-XINHUA) — African Athletics Confederation president Hamad Kalkaba Malboum has called for efforts not to let politics get in the way of sports. “Sports is first and foremost apolitical. Sports is a means to bypass egoism so that, young people in the world could gather in one…