Spain firefighters make gains in battle against Tenerife blaze

MADRID, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters made headway Friday in their battle against a vast wildfire raging out of control in the forested interior of Tenerife that has forced 4,500 people to flee the Spanish holiday island. The blaze, which officials say is the most “complex fire” to hit the…

ECOWAS defence chiefs agree ‘D-day’ for Niger military intervention

Most of ECOWAS’s 15 member states are prepared to contribute to the joint force ACCRA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — West Africa’s main bloc has agreed on a “D-day” for possible military intervention to restore democracy in Niger after generals toppled and detained President Mohamed Bazoum last month. The Economic Community of…

US Pres Biden ramps up three-way Japan, South Korea ties in sign to China

CAMP DAVID, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden will announce new security cooperation with Japan and South Korea including joint exercises at a first-of-a-kind three-way summit with their leaders that has already rattled China. The summit at the Camp David presidential retreat would have been unimaginable until recently, with the two treaty-bound…

China in favour of BRICS expansion ahead of Summit

PRETORIA, Aug 19 (NNN-SANEWS) — The upcoming BRICS Summit will usher new steps towards expanding the membership of BRICS countries, says Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong.  Xiaodong confirmed on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will be attending the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit, which will get underway next…

Peru: FA Ministry obtains donations to combat Guillain-Barré Syndrome

LIMA, Aug 19 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs obtained a donation of more than 2,000 human immunoglobulin units, necessary for the treatment of patients affected by Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare nervous system disorder that can lead to paralysis. This is the outcome of the efforts undertaken by the Peruvian Foreign…

Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot forces assault peacekeepers blocking unauthorised road construction in UN-patrolled buffer zone

NICOSIA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkish Cypriot forces on Friday assaulted UN peacekeepers who attempted to block controversial road construction in the buffer zone dividing Cyprus, the UN mission on the island said. The UN-patrolled area slices between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the south and a breakaway…

Russia sanctions ICC prosecutor, UK ministers: foreign ministry

    MOSCOW, Aug  19 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Russia announced sanctions Friday on the International Criminal Court prosecutor, who is seeking the arrest of President Vladimir Putin, as well as British ministers who have fiercely opposed Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine. The foreign ministry denounced the “unwavering military support from London” to Kyiv and “the aggressive implementation……

Niger: Herders-villagers clashes leave 28 dead – sources

  NIAMEY, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Violence erupted this week in a string of villages in remote southwest Niger leaving at least 28 civilians dead, sources said. “For now we have recorded at least 28 dead, but the toll could go up,” a senior official in the Tillaberi region close to Mali, said.…

Canada wildfires: Northwest Territories speeds up evacuations as fire approaches main city

YELLOWKNIFE (Northwest Territories, Canada), Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents of Yellowknife in Canada’s far north raced to evacuate as wildfires bear down on the remote city and other parts of the vast country.   Since authorities in the Northwest Territories issued the city-wide evacuation order late Wednesday, long lines of…

African leaders engage on environmental matters

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy has emphasised the importance of accelerating work on reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts. This work must focus on delivering key mandates such as the operationalisation of the Global Goal on Adaptation; the…