African, European leaders set 2022 meeting to ‘reset’ relationship

Flag of the European Union BRUSSELS, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African leaders will meet their European counterparts at a summit to redefine their relationship, even as the continent feels the pain of recent negative policies from Europe.The meeting, planned for February, will come weeks before the US-Africa summit set to…

South Africa court blocks Shell’s oil exploration

South African activists organised several protests against Shell’s seismic testing plans  PRETORIA, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A South African court has halted oil giant Shell’s seismic testing for oil and gas along the country’s eastern coastline, pending a final ruling. The decision has been hailed by environmentalists who fear that…

Somalia crisis: PM Roble defiant after President Farmajo suspends him

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has been in the post since 2020 MOGADISHU, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has suspended the prime minister, who is facing allegations of involvement in the theft of land. Mohamed Hussein Roble accused the president of trying to stage a coup, and…

US shooting: Five dead, two wounded in multiple shootings in Colorado state; gunman shot dead

  WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a shooting spree across multiple locations in Colorado, which ended when the gunman was himself shot dead, has risen to five, police said.   The trail of shooting began around 5:00 pm on Monday and unfolded across at least four…

Presidents Biden, Putin to hold phone call on Thursday: White House

 WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak by phone Thursday on “a range of topics,” the White House said Wednesday, as preparations are made for in-person US-Russia security talks next month.    The US and Russian leaders will “discuss a range of topics, including upcoming…

Covid-19: US hits new record for daily cases – Johns Hopkins

   WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has reached its highest-ever average of new Covid cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as the Omicron variant spread at a blistering pace.   The moving seven-day average of new cases was 265,427 as of Tuesday, surpassing the previous…

Covid-19: WHO worried for health systems over threat from twin Omicron-Delta ‘tsunami’

   GENEVA, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A “tsunami” of Omicron and Delta Covid-19 cases will pile pressure on health systems already being stretched to their limits, the World Health Organization warned.   The WHO said the Delta and Omicron variants of concern were “twin threats” that were driving new case numbers…

Update: Death toll rises to 16 in latest Greece migrant boat accident

ATHENS, Dec 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least sixteen people died when a migrant boat sank in the Aegean, Greece’s coastguard said early Saturday, just hours after a similar incident claimed another 11 lives. The latest tragedy – the third since Wednesday – came amid high smuggler activity not seen in Greek waters…

More than 10,000 Russian troops returning to bases after drills near Ukraine: Report

MOSCOW, Dec 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 10,000 Russian troops have been returning to their permanent bases after month-long drills near Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday (Dec 25), citing the Russian military. Interfax said that the drills were held in several regions near Ukraine, including in Crimea,…

Armed indigenous Mapuches in Southern Chile burn 31 cabins, forestry machinery and open fire on a hydrant aircraft

SANTIAGO, Dec 25 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The indigenous Mapuche tribe violent groups in southern Chile, involved in arson and destruction attacks, have warned that as long as forestry and construction companies keep ”devastating our resources, and the jails of southern Chile continue full of Mapuche patriots incarcerated, weichan (armed resistance) will…