Jittery Kenya votes in close-fought parliamentary election race

NAIROBI, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Millions of Kenyans go to the polls Tuesday, with East Africa’s powerhouse on edge as two political heavyweights battle it out in a fiercely contested race for the presidency. Kenyans are praying for a peaceful transition of power after almost a decade under President Uhuru…

Third fuel tank collapses as helicopters battle Cuban blaze

MATANZAS (Cuba), Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Helicopters scrambled to contain a days-old blaze that felled a third tank at a fuel depot in Cuba, as the search continued for 16 missing firefighters. According to an official update, the confirmed toll from the fire was one 60-year-old fireman dead, with 24…

Zambia arrests 3 foreigners over heroin trafficking

LUSAKA, Aug 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Zambia’s national narcotics agency, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), on Monday said it has arrested three foreigners suspected to have trafficked heroin in Lusaka, the country’s capital. The suspects are two female Malawians and one Nigerian man who were arrested at the Kenneth Kaunda International…

OCHA aim to feed 16 mln people in drought-stricken Ethiopia: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Ethiopia are targeting more than 16 million people for drought aid while more than 1.7 million people face flooding, a UN spokesman said. The worst drought in 40 years brought worsening levels of…

Ecuador’s monkeypox cases rise to 10, with one death

QUITO, Aug 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ecuador confirmed three new cases of monkeypox, raising the country’s total number of cases to 10, including one fatality, the Public Health Ministry said. “One person died on Monday as a result of his pre-existing ailments,” the ministry said in a release. The three new…

Australian firm set for Sh92 billion graphite project in Tanzania

Lindian Resources chairman, Asimwe Kabunga DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Australian firm Lindian Resources is focusing on raising $40 million (about Sh92 billion) for the first stage of its Bunyu graphite project in Mtwara Region.This is after the company signed an agreement to acquire the globally significant…

South Sudan President Salva Kiir fires his Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny

The fired South Sudanese Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny JUBA, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardiit fired his press secretary a day after he sent home the Finance minister and Central Bank governor.President Kiir sacked Ateny Wek Ateny, who served in his office for the last…

Chad’s military government signs peace agreement with rebel groups

Chad’s transitional military authorities and rebels at Sheraton Hotel in Doha DOHA (Qatar), Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad’s transitional government signed a peace deal with rebel groups on Monday in Doha, according to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.However, the main rebel group Front for Change and Concord (FACT) did…

EU lays down ‘final’ text to resurrect Iran nuclear deal

VIENNA, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Union said it put forward a “final” text to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as four days of indirect talks between US and Iranian officials wrapped up in Vienna. “What can be negotiated has been negotiated, and it’s now in a final text.…

Heatwaves: Drought forces water use rethink in Spain

Spain relies on an extensive network of dams to supply water to its towns and farms MADRID, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Faced with a historic drought and threatened by desertification, Spain is rethinking how it spends its water resources, which are used mainly to irrigate crops. “We must be extremely…