Covid-19: UK reports record 189,213 cases, 332 deaths as Ireland relaxes testing rules

LONDON, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Kingdom recorded 189,213 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a daily record, and 332 deaths, government data showed. Case numbers were up from the previous record of 183,037 on Wednesday, with infections being driven by the new Omicron variant. While the government has…

Brazilian Pres Bolsonaro refuses flood aid from Argentina, drawing Bahia rebuke

Sergio da Silva dos Santos hands clothes to other residents in front of a flooded house accessed by canoe at Sambaituba in Ilheus, Bahia state RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rejected an offer of aid from Argentina, saying that his country did not need…

US wildfire: Wind-driven Colorado grass fire destroys hundreds of homes, displaces thousands

DENVER (Colorado, US), Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fierce, wind-driven wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes, injured at least a half dozen people and prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents in and around two towns east of the Rockies near Denver, authorities said. The swiftly spreading prairie grass…

AU chairperson calls for utmost restraint in Somalia

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday expressed concern over the ongoing political tension in Somalia. The chairperson of the pan-African bloc “is following with deep concern the serious current political tension in Somalia,” an AU statement read.…

Sudan: Demonstrations in capital, other cities to demand civilian rule

Sudanese demonstrators rally near the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum KHARTOUM, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mass protests started in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other cities on Thursday to demand civilian rule. According to eyewitnesses, various protests headed to assemble at Sharwani bus station, to march to the Republican…

Sudan: UN chief condemns looting, attacks on UN facilities, equipment in Darfur

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned looting and attacks on UN facilities and equipment in Darfur, which were gifted to the government of Sudan for civilian use. Unknown armed groups attacked a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in El Fasher, the capital of North…

Presidents Biden, Putin hold phone call amid heightened tensions over Ukraine

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Joe Biden spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin via phone on Thursday amid heightened tensions over Ukraine. Biden urged Russia to “de-escalate tensions with Ukraine” and he made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will “respond decisively if…

Covid-19: Uganda confirms 1,800 new cases

Data from the ministry indicate that 2,136,079 tests have so far been conducted in Uganda KAMPALA, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s Ministry of Health says 1,809 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 with four more virus deaths as infections on Thursday surged to 139,079 cases since March last year…

Covid-19: Johnson booster 85% effective against Omicron – South Africa study

 JOHANNESBURG, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A booster of US coronavirus vaccine Johnson & Johnson was 85 percent effective in preventing serious illness in areas where Omicron was dominant, a South African trial study indicated.    The South African Medical Research Council conducted the study on health workers from Nov 15…

Chile road accident kills 9

SANTIAGO, Dec 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — A road accident in the town of Peumo, in the O’Higgins region in central Chile, killed nine and seriously injured two, the Chilean government reported. According to Ricardo Guzman, an official from the O’Higgins region, a large truck and a van carrying workers collided and…