South Africa to give free access to national parks in November after postponement due to COVID-19

Tourists on a tour in one of SANParks facilities PRETORIA, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — The managing body of South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that annual National Parks Week will be held on Nov 22-28 to give citizens free access to most of its parks. SANParks traditionally hosted the week-long…

UN peacekeeping chief positive about drawdown of Abyei mission

UN peacekeepers on patrol in Abyei UNITED NATIONS, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix remained positive about a possible drawdown of the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, a disputed area along the Sudan-South Sudan border. Despite the internal challenges that Sudan and South Sudan each…

Covid-19: New infections in Netherlands hit highest in 3 months

THE HAGUE, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of positive COVID-19 tests in the Netherlands over the past 24 hours rose to the highest amount in over three months, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced. The RIVM reported 7,301 positive tests from Tuesday to Wednesday,…

Tunisian interior minister meets Interpol official on fighting terrorism, organized crime

TUNIS, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine met with Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported. During his meeting with Stock, Charfeddine said Tunisia supports the organization’s efforts in fighting terrorism and organized crime, and underlined the need to…

At least 4 dead in avalanche on Ecuador’s volcano

La Palma: Hundreds More Evacuate To Flee Volcano Lava QUITO, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An avalanche on a snow-capped Ecuadoran volcano killed at least four climbers and injured a fifth, officials said. The avalanche struck a group of about a dozen mountaineers while at an altitude of 6,100m on the…

Covid-19: Russia reports 36,582 new cases

People wearing face masks line up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a shopping mall in Moscow MOSCOW, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — Russia has reported 36,582 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 8,352,601, the official monitoring and response center said. The nationwide death…

EU top court fines Poland 1 mln euros per day amid legal row

The towers of the European Court of Justice are seen in Luxembourg BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — The top court of the European Union (EU) fined Poland one million euros per day for ignoring an EU ruling that called for the suspension of the country’s Supreme Court disciplinary chamber. The…

US Revokes Licence Of Top Chinese Telecoms Company

Federal Communication Commission, led by Jessica Rosenworcel, has taken action against several Chinese telecoms firms  WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Washington has revoked the US licence of one of China’s biggest telecoms companies citing “national security” concerns. China Telecom must stop providing services in America within 60 days. Officials said…

Italy: Two dead as rare storm floods streets of Sicilian city

The streets in the centre of Catania were flooded after heavy rain  CATANIA (Sicily, Italy), Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flooding triggered by a powerful storm has overwhelmed the Sicilian city of Catania, killing at least two people. Fierce storms battered southern Italy for a third day on Tuesday, leaving roads…

Military coup: Released Sudan PM Abdalla Hamdok under close surveillance; other civilian leaders still detained as 4 protesters killed

Sudanese people protest against a military coup that overthrew the transition to civilian rule KHARTOUM, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was brought home late Tuesday, his office said, after a day of intense international pressure following his removal in a military coup.   Hamdok was “under…