Russia ramps up Siberia blazes battle

Fires in Siberia have burned with an increasing intensity in recent years YAKUTSK (Russia), Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia launched a national response centre and deployed additional firefighters to battle record-setting wildfires tearing through its coldest region of Yakutia in Siberia. While Siberia sees an annual wildfire season each summer, the…

Border agency trials high tech controls as Europe fears surging Afghan migrants

An aerostat balloon system of the European Union’s border agency FRONTEX, equipped with high tech surveillance cameras, flies over the airport of Alexandroupolis, Greece ALEXANDROUPOLIS (Greece), Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU’s border agency is trialling new high-tech surveillance equipment to detect migrant boats, just as rapid gains by Taliban…

US issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary

Washington saw security intensified WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of Homeland Security issued a new terrorism threat advisory ahead of the anniversary of the Sept 11 terror attacks and amid a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic. The National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin said the United States faces…

East Africa, India sign joint action plan to boost trade

NAIROBI, Aug 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — The East African Community (EAC) trading bloc and India have signed a joint action plan to boost bilateral trade by ensuring faster clearance of goods, officials said during the virtual signing ceremony on Friday. Both sides believed that the joint action plan will pave the…

UN chief calls on Taliban to halt offensive against gov’t forces

Taliban fighters in Herat UNITED NATIONS, Aug 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Taliban militants to immediately halt their offensive against government forces and return to the negotiating table in good faith, in the interest of Afghanistan, and its people. The top UN official told reporters…

Greek economy to grow despite Covid, fires; aided by tourism, says minister

         ATHENS, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greece’s economy will weather the twin blows of the Covid-19 pandemic and massive wildfires this year, aided by better-than-expected tourism arrivals, the finance minister said. “It’s a good year compared to last year. Compared to our estimates…it’s much better,” Finance Minister Christos Staikouras…

Ethiopia conflict: PM Abiy denounces ‘destructive’ rebel alliance as conflict grows

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia denounced a “destructive alliance” unveiled this week between rebels from war-torn Tigray and a group from Oromia, the country’s largest region.At a press conference, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum noted that lawmakers in May formally designated both the Oromo Liberation Army…

Niger floods: Heavy rains cause 52 deaths, 4,000 houses damaged

More than 4000 houses collapsed and 52 people died NIAMEY, Aug 14 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Heavy rainfall in Niger triggered severe flooding in several parts of the country resulting in more than 4000 houses collapsed and 52 people died. In Niamey, the village of Gaba Goura is one of the most…

NGO warns of disappearance of 18 migrants through a shipwreck in Morocco

One survivor told the NGO that 58 people were on the boat RABAT, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 18 migrants are missing since the sinking of the vessel they were travelling in off the coast of Tarfaya, in the far south of Morocco, after an unsuccessful attempt to reach…

Election vote count begins in Zambia

Presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema and incumbent president Edgar Lungu LUSAKA, Aug 14 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Vote counting has now begun in Zambia following the successful staging of the southern African nation’s general elections.After 12 hours of voting, polling stations started closing at 6 pm (1600 GMT), though hundreds still in queues…