US places $7 million bounty on Boko Haram leader

Abubakar Shekau is the leader of Nigeria’s extremist group Boko Haram ABUJA, March 6 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The US government has reiterated its reward of $7million (N2.5bn) for anyone with credible information that can lead to the arrest of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau. This came as Boko Haram insurgents in…

Eight footballers die in serious road accident in Guinea, 17 others injured

The country is in a state of mourning hearing the news CONAKRY, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinean football is in mourning following a terrible road accident involving second-tier team Club Sportif Etoile de Guinee.The accident claimed the lives of eight players with 17 others seriously injured.Etoile were leaving for the…

Kenya, Somalia leaders agree to ease recent tensions

The border dispute case is set to be heard at the International Court of Justice in June. MOGADISHU, March 6 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The presidents of Somalia and Kenya have in a phone conversation agree to ease recent tensions following a heightened diplomatic row, that informed Kenya warning Somalia against threatening…

Pakistan struggles to combat devastating locust plague: UN

KARACHI, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pakistan’s farmers are struggling to combat the worst locust plague in nearly three decades as insect swarms decimate entire harvests in the country’s agricultural heartlands and send food prices soaring. Heavy rains and cyclones sparked “unprecedented” breeding and the explosive growth of locust populations on…

‘This is not a drill’: WHO urges world to take covid-19 more seriously

GENEVA, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World health officials have warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough, as outbreaks surged across Europe and in the United States where medical workers sounded warnings over a “disturbing” lack of hospital preparedness. Global markets tumbled again over concerns about the…

Syrian Pres Assad says Turkish counterpart Erdogan blackmailing Europe with refugees

49 DAMASCUS, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan of blackmailing Europe by opening its borders to fleeing refugees. “Turkey has started to send a second wave of refugees as a form of blackmail to Europe,” Assad said in an interview with…

Children among nine dead in Gaza market blaze: ministry

GAZA CITY, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine Palestinians including several children were killed after a fire broke out in a bakery in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian authorities said, without specifying the cause. Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, said 85 people were…

Ivory Coast’s Ouattara says he won’t run for re-election

The Ivorian president told lawmakers it was time to hand over power to a new generation ABIDJAN, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said he would not stand for re-election in October, ending speculation about his political future ahead of a highly-anticipated vote. Ouattara had previously said he would run if…

High-level business conference in Ivory Coast cancelled as Africa’s coronavirus concerns mount

ABIDJAN, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A high-level business conference due to take place in Ivory Coast next week has been postponed, signalling heightened concern over the spread of coronavirus in Africa, which has registered relatively few cases. But as infections spread across Asia, Europe and the United States and led…

African airlines face $40 mln hit in 2020 from coronavirus

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 plane at the Bole International Airport in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa ADDIS ABABA, March 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Coronavirus disruption could cost African airlines $40 million in revenue this year, a global industry body said, a potentially devastating hit to often struggling airlines counting on lucrative…