Algeria wildfires: Fire crews make headway as Algerians pray for 71 dead

Villagers gather as smoke billows from a fire in the forested hills of the Kabylie region, east of Algiers ALGIERS, Aug 15 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Firefighters made headway against wildfires that have raged across northern Algeria for days but, as nationwide prayers were held for the dead, anger grew that the…

At least 22 killed in central Nigeria attack: police

 ABUJA, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A suspected Christian militia attacked a convoy of 90 Muslims on Saturday in Nigeria’s central Plateau state, leaving at least 22 people dead, police said. Northwest and central Nigeria have for years struggled with violence between mainly Muslim nomadic herders and Christian farmers over control of…

Niger floods: Death toll rises to 64; 70,000 people affected, 5,000 homes destroyed

 NIAMEY, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heavy rains that have lashed Niger since June have claimed 64 lives, authorities said, as floods and landslides hit the West African country normally used to drought. In a statement read out on national television, Niger’s cabinet said 32 people had died when their buildings collapsed,…

Deadly 7.2-magnitude quake strikes Haiti

At least 304 people have died and many more are injured  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful earthquake has struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, killing at least 304 people and injuring more than 1,800. The 7.2-magnitude quake hit the west of the country on Saturday morning, toppling and…

Pres Putin alarmed over ‘unprecedented’ natural disasters in Russia

 MOSCOW, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said the scale of natural disasters that have hit Russia this year has been “absolutely unprecedented”. Speaking at a video conference with officials on the effects of Siberia’s record-setting forest fires, he said it was “important” to work on the climate agenda…

Russia says all 8 die in water-bomber plane crash in Turkey

 MOSCOW, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said all eight people onboard a Russian water-dropping plane died when it crashed in Turkey during a firefighting mission. Moscow’s defence ministry said five Russian servicemen and three Turkish nationals were killed in the crash, news agencies reported. The Russian defence ministry earlier said the Be-200…

Covid-19: Guatemala declares state of emergency over Delta Covid surge

GUATEMALA CITY, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guatemala has declared a new state of emergency and will impose an overnight curfew from Sunday to contain a surge in Covid infections due to the Delta variant, President AlejandroGiammattei said.    The 30-day state of emergency is being implemented due to a rebound…

Fred hits Cuba with heavy rains, leaving in the early morning

HAVANA, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The tropical storm Fred hit the Eastern region of Cuba on Friday with heavy rains and thunderstorms in some areas. According to Cuba’s Meteorology Institute, “Fred has continued with little change in intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts and…

US impose more sanctions on Cuban security forces and officials

WASHINGTON/HAVANA, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Without departing from the growing line of hostility towards Cuba, the US government announced new sanctions against Cuban officials and a prevention unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). This time the White House targeted two Interior Ministry officials and a special unit known as…

Venezuela: Dialogue between government and opposition kicks off

The Government of Venezuela and the opposition (United Platform) sign a memorandum of understanding to begin the political negotiations in Mexico City MEXICO CITY, Aug 14 (NNN-TELESUR) — The dialogue between the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and the opposition began Friday with the aim of building an agreement for peaceful…