South Africa gun violence: Justice Department confirms fatal shooting at Booysens Court

GAUTENG (South Africa), Jan 22 (NNN-SANEWS) — The Justice and Constitutional Development department has confirmed a fatal shooting incident at the Booysens Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng on Tuesday. The incident claimed the lives of at least two people while three others were left injured. The incident is the latest in…

Railway safety questioned as Spain reels from twin train disasters

BARCELONA (Spain), Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s railway system was under scrutiny after a commuter service crashed near Barcelona, days after at least 43 people were killed in a collision between two high-speed trains. A train driver died and 37 people were injured – several seriously – in the latest incident late…

UK upper house approves social media ban for under-16s

LONDON, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s upper house of parliament voted Wednesday in favour of banning under-16s from using social media, raising pressure on the government to match a similar ban passed in Australia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday he was not ruling out any options and pledged action…

Sudan war blocks 8 million schoolchildren for nearly 500 days: NG

PORT SUDAN (Sudan), Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Almost three years of war in Sudan have left more than eight million children out of education for nearly 500 days, the NGO Save the Children said Thursday, highlighting one of the world’s longest school closures. “More than eight million children — nearly…

Tanzania embarks on large-scale production of pharmaceutical, medical equipment

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 21 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE Tanzanian government has begun implementing its agenda to establish and strengthen pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing industries in the country, to ensure large-scale production by local manufacturers, a move expected to boost the health sector and the national economy at large. The announcement…

South Africa wildfires: Fire crews battle to contain wildfires east of Cape Town

CAPE TOWN (South Africa), Jan 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Wildfires burning in Franschhoek, east of Cape Town, flared up on Tuesday, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the blaze once again. Local reports say fierce winds of up to 50 km an hour have exacerbated the situation in an area laden…

South Sudan: President Kiir fires interior minister, wife of detained VP Machar

JUBA, Jan 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The president of South Sudan has dismissed his interior minister, the wife of a detained opposition leader with whom he was running a unity government following a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. President Salva Kiir on Monday evening removed Interior Minister Angelina…

Uruguay to send 40 firefighters to Chile as Biobío and Ñuble wildfires leave at least 20 dead

MONTEVIDEO, Jan 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Uruguay will deploy a contingent of around 40 firefighters to Chile to help battle the wildfires ravaging the country’s south-central regions—particularly Biobío and Ñuble—where Chilean authorities have reported at least 20 deaths and thousands of people affected. Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi confirmed the deployment after Chile…

UN report declares global state of ‘water bankruptcy’

A dried up lake in Malaysia brought about by prolonged drought PARIS, Jan 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world is entering an era of “global water bankruptcy” with rivers, lakes and aquifers depleting faster than nature can replenish them, a United Nations research institute said. It argues that decades of overuse,…

South Africa: Pres Ramaphosa calls for joint sitting of Parliament to deliver SONA 2026

PRETORIA, Jan 21 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces to deliver the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, Feb 12. “The President has called the joint sitting in accordance with Section 84(2)(d) of…