Monday world’s hottest day on record, initial measurements show: US meteorologists

PARIS, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  The world’s hottest day on record, exceeding an average of 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time, according to initial measurements taken on Tuesday by US meteorologists. The average daily air temperature on the planet’s surface on July 3 was logged at…

Rights situation in Belarus ‘catastrophic’: UN

GENEVA, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The human rights situation in Belarus is catastrophic, and only getting worse, the United Nations special rapporteur on the country said. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Minsk is deliberately purging civil society of its last dissenting voices, Anais Marin told the UN Human Rights…

Relief in Senegal and beyond after Pres Sall averts election crisis

DAKAR, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Relief swept Senegal and its supporters after President Macky Sall declared he would not seek a contested third term in office, a move that defused fears of bloodshed.Reactions at home and abroad were almost universally positive after Sall, ending months of feverish speculation, said that…

US 4th July celebrations: 1 woman dead and 9 others injured in fireworks explosion in western Michigan

PARK TOWNSHIP (Michigan, US), July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fireworks explosions in adjacent counties in western Michigan left at least one woman dead and nine others with injuries from critical to minor, authorities said. Both explosions happened Monday within about 30 minutes of each other and no more than 48 kilometers…

US: Suspected cocaine found at White House sparking evacuation

The Secret Service said the white powder – thought to be cocaine – was found in a work area of the White House’s West Wing WASHINGTON, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A white substance that sparked an emergency evacuation at the White House on Sunday night tested positive for cocaine. The…

South Africa: Parents urged to prioritise child safety following fiery death of two unattended toddlers

MANDLANZINI (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), July 5 (NNN-SANEWS) — KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has reiterated her call for parents and caregivers to take every necessary precaution to protect their children. Khoza’s call comes after the tragic incident that occurred in Mandlanzini, Richards Bay, resulting in the loss of two…

Southern African Water Ministers strengthen transboundary relations

PRETORIA, July 5 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, will on Thursday host Ministers responsible for water in Botswana, Namibia and the Kingdom of Lesotho during the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) Forum of Parties. The meeting of Ministers responsible for water in the four member States…

Argentina, Brazil take aim at EU’s environmental trade deal conditions

PUERTO IGUAZU (Argentina), July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina and Brazil, South America’s largest economies, took aim at an “unacceptable” EU stance in negotiations with the Mercosur bloc for a free trade deal long delayed due to stated European environmental concerns. Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay reached an agreement…

South Sudan: Pres Kiir pledges country’s first election

JUBA, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir pledged that delayed elections set for next year would go ahead as planned and that he would run for president. Kiir, a towering guerrilla commander, has been the nation’s only president since he led it to independence from Sudan in…

US Independence Day: Pres Biden denounces wave of shootings

WASHINGTON, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden called again on Tuesday for stricter gun control measures while denouncing a wave of shootings that overshadowed Independence Day. Five people were killed and four wounded in a shooting in Philadelphia on Monday night, police said. Another shooting overnight in Fort Worth,…