UN supports Zambia’s response to cholera outbreak

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 (NNN-XINHUA) — The UN team in Zambia is supporting the government’s response to the cholera outbreak along with ongoing severe floods that have displaced over 170,000 people in 22 districts of Zambia, said a UN spokesman. The disaster challenges the access to basic services, like schools…

French continue to protest against pension reform

PARIS, Feb 12 (NNN-XINHUA) — The French Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that about 963,000 people across the country protested against the proposed pension reform, up from the 757,000 recorded on Feb 7. As for the CGT, France’s largest union, the number of Saturday’s general mobilization topped 2.5 million,…

Ethiopian Airlines adds two Chinese cities to its cargo destinations

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 12 (NNN-XINHUA) — Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s national flag carrier, announced that it has added the southern Chinese cities of Xiamen and Shenzhen to its cargo destinations. In a press statement issued late Friday, the airline said it has already started two weekly freighter flights connecting Xiamen with…

Canada women’s football team call off strike after legal threat

OTTAWA, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Canada women’s football team called off their strike to protest against inequality and lack of funding on Saturday, saying in a statement that the national federation had threatened legal action. The strike had been launched on Friday, with players aiming to press for changes…

Massive forest fire in Eastern Cuba under control

HOLGUIN (Cuba), Feb 12 (NNN-ACN) — Authorities in this eastern Cuban province confirmed that a massive forest fire that burnt for 14 days inflicting severe damage in the mountainous area of Prado, Municipality of Mayari, was brought under control.The fire, detected on Jan 26, was caused by the impact of…

US Coast Guard returns 21 irregular Cuban migrants

HAVANA, Feb 12 (NNN-ACN) — The US Coast Guard Service returned 21 irregular Cuban migrants to the island through the Orozco harbor, in western Artemisa province.The group of persons included 17 men and four women who had previously attempted an illegal departure by sea, according to the Cuban Interior Ministry.This…

Kenyatta backs complete regional force deployment into DR Congo

Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta BUJUMBURA (Burundi), Feb 12 (NNN-GNA) — Former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta asked countries in the East African Community to fully deploy troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo.Speaking for the first time after the EAC’s extra-ordinary Summit in Bujumbura, Kenyatta, the EAC facilitator of the…

Ethiopia cuts off social media access as church split tensions escalate

The suspension is a result of tensions within Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christian church ADDIS ABABA, Feb 12 (NNN-GNA) — Widespread tensions caused by a rift within Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christian church have resulted in the suspension of access to social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook, and Telegram.The church, which recently denounced a…

Togo’s government denies misappropriation claims in Covid-19 fund scandal

President of the Republic of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe Eyadema LOME, Feb 12 (NNN-GNA) — The Togolese government has dismissed allegations of malfeasance in the management of the fund intended to fight the coronavirus epidemic, saying that spending is “compliant, regular and sincere”.Significant irregularities have been pinpointed in an audit…

South Africa: President Ramaphosa tees off for charity

PRETORIA, Feb 12 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa teed off at the Presidential Golf Challenge (PGC) in a bid to drum up financial and technical support for the Adopt-A-School Foundation. Addressing the media ahead of the tee off, Ramaphosa explained that traditionally, the PGC is held every year…