Brazil records worst day for Amazon fires in 15 years

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon hit a nearly 15-year high this week, according to official figures that provided the latest warning on the advancing destruction of the world’s biggest rainforest. Satellite monitoring detected 3,358 fires on Monday, Aug 22,…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Outgoing UN rights chief urges Pres Putin to stop Ukraine war

Outgoing United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet  GENEVA, Aug 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a departing plea to President Vladimir Putin, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet urged him to stop Russia’s attack on Ukraine and its “unimaginably terrifying” impact on civilians. Bachelet, who steps down at the end…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian-held nuclear plant cut from Ukraine grid as Pres Putin orders troop boost

    KYIV, Aug  26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under occupation by Moscow’s troops was disconnected from the national power supply on Thursday, the state energy operator said, as President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to swell the ranks of Russia’s military.  The Zaporizhzhia plant — Europe’s largest nuclear facility — has…

French Pres Macron arrives in Algeria on visit aimed at fixing ties

ALGIERS, Aug 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Algeria on Thursday for a three-day visit aimed at mending ties with the former French colony, which this year marked 60 years of independence. Macron landed at 3.30pm local time at Houari Boumediene Airport, where he was received by his Algerian…

Patients with monkeypox die in Cuba, Mexico

HAVANA, Aug 25 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Cuba and Mexico have joined the list of countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Spain, where people with monkeypox have died, it was reported. Worldwide, there have been 41,664 cases and 12 deaths. The Italian tourist who had survived a cardiac arrest in Cuba and…

Update: UN, East African countries call for immediate cessation of hostilities in northern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” over the resumption of hostilities in Ethiopia. His remarks came hours after both the Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels confirmed a humanitarian truce had been broken following military escalation. The Ethiopian army and…

Canada on track to exceed lofty 2022 immigration target; 430,000 more people to be granted permanent residency

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser VANCOUVER (Canada), Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada is on track to exceed its immigration goal of granting permanent residency to more than 430,000 people in 2022, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said. Fraser, speaking to reporters in Vancouver, also announced a plan…

Forest fires in Russia consume over 100,000 hectares in past 3 days

A view of the wildfires in the Minusinsky district of Krasnoyarsk Krai in Siberia. VLADIVOSTOK, Aug 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — Forest fires in Russia continued to spread and have consumed nearly 110,000 hectares of land up to Thursday, TASS news agency reported. The report said that a total of 126 forest…

South Africans in nationwide strike in protest against cost of living

The unions said around 5,000 people took part in rallies across the country  PRETORIA, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — People across South Africa are taking part in a nationwide strike in protest against the rising cost of living. Singing songs from the country’s liberation struggle, thousands marched towards the president’s office,…

Botswana suspends movement of cloven hoof animals over suspected foot and mouth disease

GABORONE, Aug 25 (NNN-XINHUA) — Botswana has suspended the movement of cloven hoof animals in the country over suspected foot and mouth disease cases, the country’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security said. “Farmers and stakeholders are informed that a movement standstill for all cloven hoof animals (cattle, sheep,…