Brics Summit: Russia willing to cooperate in developing Africa – Pres Putin

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (NNN-SANEWS) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is willing to cooperate in the development of the African continent. “Russia is part of the five most economically powerful countries in the world despite pessimistic outlooks from Western experts,” he said. Putin, who participated in the 15th…

Brics Summit: President Ramaphosa calls for investment in Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the business community to invest in the continent and identify solutions to the rapid economic, technological and social changes underway. Addressing the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, during the BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Dialogue, the President said these changes…

Some Canadian wildfire evacuees return home as cooler weather brings relief

 WEST KELOWNA (Canada), Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cooler weather brought relief Tuesday in the gruelling fight against wildfires in western Canada, allowing some evacuees to return home, even as blazes still spread elsewhere in the nation. Across the country, more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) have burned this…

Peru: Cancosani village in Arequipa affected by ash and gases from Ubinas Volcano

SAN JUAN de TARUCANI (Arequipa region, Peru), Aug 23 (NNN-ANDINA) — Settlers in the village of Cancosani, in Arequipa region, have been the most affected by the cloud of gases and ash emitted by Ubinas Volcano, San Juan de Tarucani District Mayor Floro Choque reported. The local authority stated that nearly…

Peru extends state of emergency in border areas to control transnational crime

LIMA, Aug 23 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru has announced the extension of the state of emergency in its border areas in order to ensure compliance with immigration laws and to control transnational crime. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Alberto Otarola, who noted that the Peruvian National Police (PNP) has once…

Rare spotless giraffe born in US zoo

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Just three weeks old, a giraffe in the southern US state of Tennessee is already making headlines for its unique characteristics, or rather lack thereof: it has no spots. Described by Bright’s Zoo director David Bright as very rare, the animal known as a reticulated…

Russia: Eight dead trapped in Moscow sewer floods during tour exploring underground tunnels

MOSCOW, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight members of a tour group exploring underground tunnels in Moscow’s sewer system have been found dead after getting caught off-guard by flash flooding, local media said. The victims, who were touring an underground river known as the Neglinka, are believed to have become trapped…

Mexico: 16 people dead in road accident, over 30 injured

MEXICO CITY, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over a dozen people have died in a road accident on the Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway in central Mexico, officials from the state of Puebla said. A source from the Oaxacan state prosecutor said the death toll had risen to 16 from a previously reported 15. Among the fatally…

African Union suspends participation of Niger following military coup

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Union said it had suspended Niger until civilian rule in the country is restored and would assess the implications of any armed intervention in the troubled Sahel nation.The Peace and Security Council “requests the AU Commission to undertake an assessment of the…

BRICS summit of emerging economies begins in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Aug  23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The BRICS summit opened in South Africa as the loosely-defined club of large emerging economies seeks to assert its voice as a counterweight to the Western-led international order. The BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa represent a quarter of the global…