Portugal becomes fastest aging country in EU: Study

LISBON, Aug 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portugal currently registers 182 elderly (aged 65 and above) for every 100 young people (aged up to 14), becoming the fastest aging country in the European Union (EU), according to a study published by the Contemporary Portugal Database Pordata. In the past three decades, the…

Uganda: Pres Museveni asks MPs to support mergers of govt agencies, will save the government billions of shillings

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni KAMPALA, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has rallied National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament to support the merging and rationalisation of government agencies, saying this will save the government billions of shillings.According to a statement from State House, Museveni met the NRM…

Ethiopian Airlines suspends pilots who ‘slept’ on duty, overshooting runway

Ethiopian is Africa’s biggest and most profitable airline ADDIS ABABA, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Airlines has officially reacted to a report that two pilots slept on the job overshooting the Addis Ababa runway and losing contact with air control at a point.“The concerned crew have been removed from operation…

Sudan offers more oil blocks to Russian company

MOSCOW/KHARTOUM, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan has offered more oil blocks to Russia’s Zarubezhneft oil company, at the end of a three-day visit of a high-level government delegation to Moscow. The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation and expand trade in several other sectors. On Wednesday, Sudanese-Russian technical talks…

Portugal wildfires: State of alert begins amid third heatwave

 LISBON, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mobile phones in Portugal have been sent a text warning of the extreme risk of wildfires as the country braces for its third heatwave of the summer. The country has entered a state of alert, with temperatures expected to reach 38C (100.4F) and strong winds…

DR Congo: Environmental campaigners face post-auction ‘threats’ for their anti-fuel opposition

KINSHASA, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Environmental campaigners in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday said they had faced threats due to their opposition to last month’s auction of 30 oil and gas blocks. In a statement, eight environmental groups, including Greenpeace, the Rainforest Foundation and the Network for the…

Evacuation orders lifted as Spain wildfire stabilised

 MADRID, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters managed to stabilise Sunday a wildfire that has ravaged vast swathes of land in eastern Spain, allowing officials to lift all remaining evacuation orders. The blaze, which started on Monday (Aug 15) near Bejis in the eastern Valencia region, has destroyed over 20,000 hectares…

Afro-colonial festival highlights Panama’s tourist attractions

Afro-colonial festival highlights Panama’s tourist attractions PORTOBELO (Panama), Aug 22 (NNN-EFE) — Afro-colonial culture, its colorful costumes and traditions stood out at the 5th Congo Pollera Festival held in Portobelo, in the province of ColOn, highlighting the tourist attraction of this town in the Panamanian Caribbean. The event, which highlights…

UN urges long-term support of victims in Somalia amid increased attacks

MOGADISHU, Aug 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations senior envoy in Somalia called for lasting support for the victims in Somalia amid a surge in attacks by al-Shabaab militants across the country. James Swan, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, urged that the victims and their families be provided…

Covid-19: US first lady ends isolation after testing negative

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US First Lady Jill Biden ended isolation on Sunday after testing negative for COVID-19. A spokesperson said in a statement that she had received “negative results from two consecutive COVID-19 tests” after a five-day isolation. “After isolating for five days and receiving negative results from…