India, Tanzania strengthen ties

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Abdallah Ulega (L), and High Commissioner of India to Tanzania DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 18 (NNN-GNA) — India is targeting the health, education and water sectors as the Asian country expresses its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Tanzania.The Indian investment projects were estimated at…

Two dozen Nigerian troops die in air crash and evacuation mission gone awry

ABUJA, Aug 18 (NNN-GNA) — At least two dozen Nigerian security operatives have died in total after a helicopter conveying dead and wounded soldiers from an evacuation mission in Niger state, 249km north of Abuja, crashed on Monday.The evacuation mission had been to retrieve soldiers wounded or killed in an…

US imposes visa bans on Congolese officials for trafficking wildlife to China

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government has imposed visa bans on several Congolese officials found culpable for trafficking endangered wildlife to China in the latest move to back conservationists.The State Department listed Cosma Wilungula Balongelwa, former Director General of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), and Leonard…

Most of West Africa ready to join standby force in Niger: ECOWAS

Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum ACCRA, Aug 18 (NNN-GNA) — The Economic Community of West African States has said most of its member states are ready to participate in a standby force that could intervene in Niger following a coup there late last month.Defense chiefs from the 15-member regional bloc…

US: 3 people have died after infection with rare flesh-eating bacteria in Connecticut and New York

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least three people have died in Connecticut and New York after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria that can be found in warm, brackish waters or raw shellfish, officials confirmed. Two people in Connecticut became infected with Vibrio vulnificus and died after swimming in two separate…

Strong 6.3 earthquake rattles Colombia, nearby aftershock registers 5.7, USGS says

BOGOTA, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A strong earthquake followed by a big aftershock rattled the country of Colombia on Thursday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey is reporting. The notable quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, the USGS said, and was recorded about 10 miles north of Cumaral just…

South Africa: Citizens urged to vaccinate amid confirmed case of COVID Eris variant in Gauteng

GAUTENG (South Africa), Aug 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — The National Department of Health confirmed the first case of the new COVID-19 “Eris” variant from a sample taken in Gauteng.  The department has since used this opportunity to remind citizens that they can still access life-saving vaccines at public healthcare facilities, although…

South Africa: NATJOINTS confident of safe, secure 15th BRICS Summit

PRETORIA, Aug 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has affirmed South Africa’s ability to successfully host the 15th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Summit. “This is the second time that the country is hosting the BRICS Summit on South African shores. As…

Peru welcomed 1.3 million foreign tourists from January-July 2023

LIMA, Aug 18 (NNN-ANDINA) — Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Mathews said that 1,327,666 foreign tourists arrived in Peru from January to July 2023 —an important figure that denotes a 38.5% increase over the same period in 2022. These data are reflected in the Monthly Tourism Report until July 2023,…

Peru’s President: 2024 budget to finance high-impact regional projects worth US$4.04bn

LIMA, Aug 18 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru’s Pres Dina Boluarte announced that the Public Sector Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2024, to be submitted by the Executive Branch to Congress, includes the financing of high-impact regional projects worth S/15 billion (US$4.04 billion) in key areas such as potable water, sanitation, health, agriculture,…