Mexico turns to German, US companies to rescue 10 trapped miners

MEXICO CITY, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico will ask a German and a US company to help rescue 10 miners who have been trapped in a coal mine for nearly two weeks, officials said as families urged quicker action to save the trapped men. The Foreign Ministry did not immediately…

Portuguese wildfire envelops Madrid skyscrapers in smoke 400km away

MADRID, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Smoke from a huge wildfire in central Portugal enveloped skyscrapers known as the “Four Towers” in Madrid 400km away, and residents of the Spanish capital complained of a strong burning smell. The fire, which has ravaged Portugal’s Serra da Estrela national park, started on Aug…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Britons held by rebels in Ukraine plead not guilty

Andrew Hill (left) and Dylan Healy  KYIV, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three British men accused of being mercenaries fighting with Ukrainian forces against Russia have pleaded not guilty in a Russian proxy court. John Harding, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill appeared with a Croatian and Swede in so-called Donetsk People’s…

Kenya: Disgruntled presidential candidates have until Monday to file petition

NAIROBI, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Parties seeking legal redress regarding the presidential results declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati have until Monday, Aug 23 to file petitions at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has set up the ceremonial hall at Milimani Law Court for this…

Kenya election result: William Ruto wins presidential poll

Ruto (r) called Chebukati, the head of the electoral commission, a “hero” NAIROBI, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election amid dramatic scenes. He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5% of the vote, according to the official results.…

Brazil presidential elections: Bolsonaro, Lula to launch official campaigns

BRASILIA, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The race for Brazil’s October elections officially opens Tuesday with dueling campaign events by incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva highlighting the South American giant’s deep divides. Front-runners Bolsonaro and Lula, who have in reality been on the campaign trail for…

Anglophone rebels kill soldier, police officer in Cameroon

 YAOUNDÉ, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rebels killed three people, including a soldier and a police officer, in Cameroon near a region wracked by a conflict between anglophone separatists and security forces, a regional governor said. The rebels attacked an army post in the village of Kengwo in the West Region…

Insurgent group claims to have killed four Wagner mercenaries in Mali

BAMAKO, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Al-Qaeda-affiliated group claimed to have killed four mercenaries from the Russian private security group Wagner in an ambush in central Mali, the SITE Intelligence monitoring group said. The Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) said it ambushed a group of Wagner soldiers as…

Armenian blast death toll rises to 16

YEREVAN, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from an explosion at a bustling market in the Armenian capital Yerevan rose to 16, Armenia’s emergency situations ministry said. Sunday’s blast at the Surmalu wholesale market also injured 60 people after it caused a fire and the collapse of a building.…

Greek police find 38 Syrian migrants on islet

ATHENS, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek police said they had found a 38-strong group of Syrian migrants reported stranded for several days on an islet in the Evros border river. NGOs and Greek media reported there was a dead child among the group, which police did not confirm. “Following new…