US heatwaves: Southwest Region heats to expand east

WASHINGTON, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A heatwave baking the US Southwest for weeks is set to expand into central and eastern regions. Beginning in the Midwest, the hot weather will extend east as far as the southern tip of Florida by Wednesday, say meteorologists. Temperature records were surpassed in several major…

Algeria wildfires: Dozens, including 10 soldiers, killed and thousands evacuated

Fires have been sweeping North Africa on the border between Tunisia and Algeria  ALGIERS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 34 people have been killed and thousands evacuated after wildfires broke out across Algeria, the country’s interior ministry says. Outbreaks of 97 wildfires were recorded across 16 provinces affecting forest,…

Peru will relaunch competitiveness agenda to boost development: Economy Minister

LIMA, July 26 (NNN-ANDINA) — Economy and Finance Minister Alex Contreras announced that he will meet with private sector guilds to relaunch the national competitiveness agenda with the aim of further boosting the Peruvian economy. “Therefore, I am going to meet with the representatives of the private sector to, indeed, rethink…

Peru: Gov’t allocates US$1.117 billion for prevention works in response of El Niño

LIMA, July 26 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola reported that the Government has allocated S/4 billion (about US$1.117 billion) for prevention works in the face of the eventual arrival of global Coastal El Niño. “The Global El Niño phenomenon may cause a health crisis and shortage, and could affect…

Latvia beaches closed after spill from sewage treatment plant

RIGA, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An accident at a sewage treatment plant in western Latvia has caused a large spill of untreated waste into the Baltic Sea, leading to the closure of beaches and a ban on swimming, local authorities said. At least 1,250 tonnes of waste containing sulphurous sludge…

Greece wildfires: Two pilots die after firefighting plane crashes

Rescuers at the site of the plane crash after a water drop in Platanistos on the island of Evia, Greece ATHENS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Greek air force pilots have died after a plane crashed while fighting wildfires on the Greek island of Evia, officials say. The water-bombing plane…

Cameroon: Death toll rises to 37 in building collapse

YAOUNDÉ, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a building collapse in Cameroon’s business hub Douala rose to 37, as neighbours recalled the structure’s “failings” and “cracks”, fearing more bodies lie under the ruins. The four-storey block of flats collapsed onto another residential building in the north of the…

Sudan crisis: 16 killed as homes hit in Khartoum air, artillery strikes

KHARTOUM, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Air strikes and artillery barrages from Sudan’s warring generals killed at least 16 people in a Khartoum neighbourhood on Tuesday, a neighbourhood group reported. After more than 100 days of war, the latest bombardments added to a toll of at least 3,900 killed nationwide. “Sixteen citizens died in…

UN stages food summit as more people around world go hungry

 ROME, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A three-day United Nations summit opened in Rome aimed at tackling a “broken” global food system where millions are starving, billions are obese and the planet is suffering. The food systems summit comes amid growing food insecurity around the world, with UN agencies warning of…

Mayor of Ecuador port city slain in shooting that kills 1 other, wounds 4

Ecuador Mayor shot dead QUITO, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The mayor of Ecuador’s third largest city was slain Sunday in a shooting that killed one other person and wounded four more, including two suspected attackers, officials said. Agustín Intriago, a 38-year-old lawyer, belonged to the local Better City movement in…