Africa needs to spend US$15.7 billion on refineries to curb emissions

Africa’s overall energy consumption is set to increase at twice the pace of the global average ABIDJAN, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African nations need to spend about US$15.7 billion on their refineries to curb emissions and meet climate-change targets as demand for oil and gas surges, according to an industry…

Ivory Coast frees dozens of people detained over election violence

Ivorian anti-riot police arrive to disperse demonstrators ABIDJAN, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Judicial authorities in Ivory Coast have freed dozens of people arrested during a violence-marred presidential election last year, President Alassane Ouattara said on Friday.Roughly 100 people died in violence linked to the election last October, which saw Ouattara…

US expands citizenship for children born abroad in win for same-sex couples

 WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US says children born abroad using assisted reproductive technology can now qualify for citizenship, in a move seen as a win for same-sex couples. To be eligible before, babies born overseas needed to be genetically related to the American parent. The change follows lawsuits…

9/11 attack: Families of victims tell Pres Biden not to attend memorials unless he declassifies files

NEW YORK, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Family members of the victims of the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks have called on President Joe Biden to stay away from memorial events unless he declassifies files about the attacks. Nearly 1,800 people signed a letter calling on him to release documents that…

Six rescued in human trafficking bust in south Nigeria

LAGOS, Aug 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Six teenage victims of human trafficking were rescued during a law enforcement operation in the southern state of Edo, Nigerian police said. Philip Ogbadu, the state police chief of Edo, told reporters in Benin City, the state capital, that the victims, aged 16 to 19,…

Striking Canadian border agents reach deal on salaries, work environment

 MONTREAL, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A strike by Canadian border agents has ended with an agreement on raises and other issues, a union announced. Thousands of agents joined the work-to-rule strike Friday, three days before the land crossing reopens to Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Public Service…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro fans judiciary flames, calls top judge ‘son of a whore’

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro BRASILIA, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro ignored calls to drop his feud with the Supreme Court on Friday (Aug 6) and called one of its justices a “son of a whore”, amid rising tensions over his unfounded claims the nation’s voting system is vulnerable…

Covid-19: Argentina partially reopens as it approaches 5 million cases

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina will relax coronavirus restrictions as infection and mortality rates falls, the government announced, even as the South American nation approached 5 million cases with more than 107,000 deaths. The government said its plan includes an increase in the number of people who can…

Cuba legalizes small and medium enterprises in boost for private sector

HAVANA, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Cuban government approved a law authorizing the creation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a major shift in the communist-ruled country where state-owned companies are the norm. The change comes nearly a month after thousands of Cubans flocked to the streets decrying dictatorship and…

Greece fires spread uncontrolled, killing a fireman

One of the worst blazes has struck the island of Evia, close to Athens ATHENS, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people have been killed and six areas put on high alert as uncontrolled wildfires spread across Greece. Huge clouds of smoke are billowing over the northern outskirts of Athens, where people…