Death toll from Lassa fever rises to 85 in Nigeria

ABUJA, Feb 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — The death toll from Lassa fever in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has risen to 85 since the beginning of the year, local health authorities said. In its latest update on Lassa fever, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said 15 dead cases were…

US Coast Guard returns 31 irregular Cuban migrants

HAVANA, Feb 21 (NNN-ACN) — The US Coast Guard returned 31 irregular Cuban migrants on Monday to the Orozco harbor, Bahia Honda municipality, in western Artemisa province.According to the Cuban Interior Ministry, the group included 29 men and two women who had previously made three illegal departures from the island.…

Cuban specialized forces fight fire in eastern region of the country

HAVANA, Feb 21 (NNN-ACN) — Specialized forces are facing a large-scale fire in the mountainous area of Pinares de Mayari, in Holguin province, sources from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA by its Spanish acronym) reported.On Twitter, the head of CITMA, Elba Rosa Perez Montoya, said that the…

UN tries anew to finish treaty protecting the high seas

 UNITED NATIONS, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN member states embraced “positive energy” as they launched two weeks of negotiations aimed at finally reaching a treaty meant to protect and preserve vast areas of the world’s oceans. After more than 15 years of formal and informal talks, this is the third…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: King Charles watches Ukraine troops training in UK

LONDON, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s King Charles III on Monday went to view Ukrainian soldiers receiving training in trench warfare in southwest England, as Russia’s large-scale invasion of its western neighbour nears the one-year mark. British forces announced last week that they had reached a target to train 10,000…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: French Pres Macron says only negotiations can end Ukraine conflict

Emmanuel Macron, French President PARIS, Feb 21 (NNN-GNA) — The war between Russia and Ukraine can only be ended through negotiations, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.“I want Russia’s defeat in Ukraine and I want Ukraine to be able to defend its position, but I am convinced that the end…

Burundi in campaign to woo back refugees in Tanzania

Burundian refugees who fled political violence in their home country to Tanzania GITEGA, Feb 21 (NNN-GNA) — The Burundian government has started campaigns to lure refugees living in Tanzania to return home in a bid to convince the international community that the country is safer.Most of the refugees who have…

Burkina Faso: 51 troops killed in ambush

OUAGADOUGOU, Feb 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 51 soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists in northern Burkina Faso, the army said, adding that 160 of the assailants died during counter-attacks. The ambush took place on Friday in Oudalan province near the restive frontier with Mali and Burkina Faso.…

South Africa: IEC to mount online voter registration campaign for 2024 elections

PRETORIA, Feb 21 (NNN-SANEWS) — The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is to mount a national campaign to enable and assist South Africans to register online to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. The IEC says the campaign, themed “Your Vote Is Your Voice”, will feature on…

South Africa: Eastern Cape floods cause R4.5 billion road, bridge infrastructure damage

PRETORIA, Feb 21 (NNN-SANEWS) — It will cost the Eastern Cape provincial government an estimated R4.5 billion to fix and replace road and bridge infrastructure damaged by the floods that battered the province last week. This was confirmed by Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Zolile Williams…