South Africa wildfires: Fire crews battle to contain wildfires east of Cape Town

CAPE TOWN (South Africa), Jan 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Wildfires burning in Franschhoek, east of Cape Town, flared up on Tuesday, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the blaze once again. Local reports say fierce winds of up to 50 km an hour have exacerbated the situation in an area laden…

South Sudan: President Kiir fires interior minister, wife of detained VP Machar

JUBA, Jan 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The president of South Sudan has dismissed his interior minister, the wife of a detained opposition leader with whom he was running a unity government following a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. President Salva Kiir on Monday evening removed Interior Minister Angelina…

Uruguay to send 40 firefighters to Chile as Biobío and Ñuble wildfires leave at least 20 dead

MONTEVIDEO, Jan 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguay will deploy a contingent of around 40 firefighters to Chile to help battle the wildfires ravaging the country’s south-central regions—particularly Biobío and Ñuble—where Chilean authorities have reported at least 20 deaths and thousands of people affected. Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi confirmed the deployment after Chile…

UN report declares global state of ‘water bankruptcy’

A dried up lake in Malaysia brought about by prolonged drought PARIS, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world is entering an era of “global water bankruptcy” with rivers, lakes and aquifers depleting faster than nature can replenish them, a United Nations research institute said. It argues that decades of overuse,…

South Africa: Pres Ramaphosa calls for joint sitting of Parliament to deliver SONA 2026

PRETORIA, Jan 21 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces to deliver the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, Feb 12. “The President has called the joint sitting in accordance with Section 84(2)(d) of…

US seizes another tanker in the Caribbean

The motor vessel Sagitta in the Caribbean WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States announced that its forces seized another tanker in the Caribbean, the seventh ship apprehended since President Donald Trump announced a blockade to prevent sanctioned vessels going to or from Venezuela. The US military’s Southern Command…

Djibouti hosts International Forum on Adaptation to Climate Change

DJIBOUTI, Jan 21 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The First International Forum on Adaptation to Climate Change (ICAF 2026) continues on Tuesday in Djibouti, marking a decisive step in the fight against climate change in East Africa. Sponsored by Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, the January 19-21 event brings together scientists, political…

Tunisia: 4 killed as heaviest rainfall since 1950 causes flooding

TUNIS, Jan 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least four people have been killed in Tunisia as the heaviest rainfall since 1950 caused flooding in the country, the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) reported. The fatalities occurred between Monday evening and Tuesday in the city of Moknine in the eastern coastal province…

Libya: Heavy dust storm causes death, flight cancellations

TRIPOLI, Jan 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — A heavy dust storm swept across eastern Libya on Tuesday, killing one person, halting flights, and prompting school closures, authorities reported. Medical sources from the Libyan Red Crescent said a young man was killed in central Benghazi after strong winds caused the ceiling of his…

International tourist arrivals rise 4 pct in 2025: UN Tourism

MADRID, Jan 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — International tourist arrivals grew by 4 percent in 2025, with an estimated 1.52 billion people making global trips in 2025 — about 60 million more than in 2024, the Madrid-based UN Tourism reported. Europe, the world’s largest destination region, welcomed 793 million international tourists in…