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, we have had a total of 1,933 in the 52nd epidemiological week [of 2023]. If we compare with epidemiological week 51, we have had 1,086 cases more than the previous week, implying a 128% increase,” explained Health Minister María Renée Castro.

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — Over 100 firefighters battled a blaze Friday at a New Jersey industrial park that was home to the Singer Sewing Machine factory for more than a century.

A passerby reported the fire around 5:30 a.m., Mayor J. Christian Bollwage said.

No one was in the building and no injuries were reported, he said.

Two roofs and one wall collapsed, but the fire was burning in several buildings closest to the waterfront, away from the oldest historical portion of the building, Bollwage said.

SYDNEY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A fisherman who survived treading water for 23 hours off the coast of New Zealand after falling off his boat said he was lucky to be alive after being spotted due to the reflection from his wristwatch.

Will Fransen was pulled overboard without a life jacket on Jan. 2 while attempting to reel in a marlin in waters off the country's North Island.

He survived by treading water, while being briefly circled by a shark, before using his watch to attract the attention of a passing boat.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Thursday called for international action to stop fighting in Sudan.

Nearly nine months of war have tipped Sudan into a downward spiral that only grows more ruinous by the day. As the conflict spreads, human suffering is deepening, humanitarian access is shrinking, and hope is dwindling. This cannot continue, said Griffiths in a statement.

SEOUL, January 5. /TASS/: South Korea’s armed forces held firing drills in response to a North Korean shelling attack on the islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeongdo, Yonhap reported, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

It is noted that marine units stationed on these islands took part in the drills. The South Korean side shelled the adjacent waters using K9 self-propelled howitzers.

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Evacuation orders were issued Friday for residents in South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, Yonhap news agency reported.

The orders were issued at 12:02 a.m. local time (0302 GMT) and 12:30 a.m. each to evacuate residents in the island.

The island office sent out evacuation broadcasts at the request of a military unit.

NAIROBI, Jan 5 (NNN-KBC) – The number of Kenyans in need of humanitarian assistance stands at 1.5 million, with a majority of them having been affected by floods, caused by the recent El Nino rains, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) said in a report, yesterday.

“An assessment of the impact of the 2023 long rainy season on food and nutrition security projected that, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance during the Oct, 2023 to Jan, 2024, period, would drop to 1.5 million from 2.8 million in Jul, 2023,” NDMA said.

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — Over 100 firefighters battled a blaze Friday at a New Jersey industrial park that was home to the Singer Sewing Machine factory for more than a century.

A passerby reported the fire around 5:30 a.m., Mayor J. Christian Bollwage said.

No one was in the building and no injuries were reported, he said.

Two roofs and one wall collapsed, but the fire was burning in several buildings closest to the waterfront, away from the oldest historical portion of the building, Bollwage said.

BEIRUT, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The head of Hezbollah said on Friday Lebanon would be "exposed" to more Israeli operations if his powerful Lebanese armed group did not respond to the killing of the deputy chief of Hamas on the outskirts of Beirut.

Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, in what some analysts said could also be seen as a message to Hezbollah that its strongholds were vulnerable to attack.

WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — A woman was pulled carefully from the rubble 72 hours after a series of powerful quakes started rattling Japan’s western coast. Despite rescue efforts, the death toll Friday grew to at least 94 people, and the number of missing was lowered to 222 after it shot up the previous day.

MOSCOW, January 5. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin may pay a bunch of foreign visits in 2024 and the head of the Russian state has invitations from dozens of countries.

The Kremlin has not yet announced future visits of the Russian President. "I do not exclude but I am trying not to plan anything so far," Putin said earlier, referring to possible visits to friendly nations.

Over past months, the Russian leader received invitations to visit Brazil, Burundi, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Mongolia, Thailand, Turkey, and other countries.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — A day after a shooting sent bullets flying inside a small-town Iowa high school, leaving a sixth grader dead and five others wounded, the community of Perry is somber. Yellow crime tape still lined the campus that Perry High School shares with the town’s middle school on the east edge of town, flowers and stuffed toys had cropped up in mini memorials, and classes across the district were canceled Friday in favor of counseling.