Update: South Africa shuts beaches, probes sea pollution following chemical spill after riots

 DURBAN (South Africa), July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African authorities said they were investigating possible pollution suspected to be linked to a spill at a chemical plant attacked during last week’s riots after dead fish washed ashore. The spill was identified on Thursday after an agrochemical warehouse near the eastern…

Covid-19: Senegal’s bus operator suspends intercity services amid virus surge

            DAKAR, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senegal’s national bus operator announced that it will suspend intercity transport due to a recent surge in Covid-19 infections in the West African country. Bus routes between cities will stop running from Sunday, operator Dakar Dem Dikk said in a statement. It…

Covid-19: France to require negative coronavirus test within 24 hours for some European arrivals

PARIS, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France said it would require people not fully vaccinated and arriving from some European countries to show a negative Covid test taken within the previous 24 hours.Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule,…

Covid-19: UK maintains mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travellers from France

Persons arriving from France will have to quarantine for five to ten days LONDON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain said that it was scrapping a planned easing of coronavirus rules for travellers from France, which had been due to take effect on Monday, because of the continued presence of the…

German president thanks helpers as flood deaths rise above 130

A regional train sits in the flood waters at the local station in Kordel, Germany BERLIN, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people who have died in the devastating flooding in western Germany rose further on Saturday, while the president thanked rescue workers who continued to search for survivors.Early…

Nigerian parents living through student abduction nightmare

The remaining wares of students of Bethel Baptist High School are seen inside the school premises KADUNA (Nigeria), July 18 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) –The families of more than 100 Nigerian children snatched from a school nearly two weeks ago pray for their safe return.Judith is one of the more than 100 Nigerian…

South African Pres Cyril Ramaphosa says riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned as death toll rises to 212

PRETORIA, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said the violence that has rocked the country was pre-planned, describing it as an assault on democracy. Riots were sparked by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. The death toll has risen to 212, up by almost 100 since Thursday,…

Belgium takes back mothers and children from Syria jihadist camps

 BRUSSELS, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten children and six mothers held in prison camp for jihadists in Syria have been flown home to Belgium. It is the biggest repatriation of suspected Daesh members since the group’s fall in 2019. Hundreds of Europeans who travelled to Syria to join Daesh, including…

Belgian PM heads to scene as flood toll mounts

BRUSSELS, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander de Croo headed for the scene of what he has branded “unprecedented” flood damage, as officials warned the death toll would increase. De Croo was joined on Saturday by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the river valleys of…

US: Pres Biden vows to appeal ruling against ‘Dreamers’ immigration program

WASHINGTON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden denounced as “deeply disappointing” a federal judge’s decision curbing a program that protects undocumented migrants brought to the country as children. In a statement from the White House, Biden said the Justice Department would appeal the ruling by Texas-based Judge Andrew Hanen,…