Brazil: Eight Matisse engravings stolen from library in Sao Paulo

BRASILIA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight engravings by the French artist Henri Matisse were stolen from a library in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city’s government said. News reports said two armed men stole the works from the Mario de Andrade Library and also took five works by the Brazilian painter…

Update: Nigerian presidency confirms military intervention in Benin

ABUJA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s military intervened on Sunday in neighbouring Benin after a group of soldiers announced a coup bid on state television, the Nigerian president’s office confirmed. Responding to two requests from Benin’s government, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu “ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the…

Romanians vote in partial local elections as Bucharest chooses new mayor

BUCHAREST, Dec 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Romanians went to the polls on Sunday in partial local elections, with the capital Bucharest chosing a new mayor. The mayoral post in the city has been vacant since May, when then-mayor Nicusor Dan was elected president. Nearly 1.8 million eligible voters are expected to…

Mexico: Car bomb outside police station in Michoacan kills at least 3, injured 6

MEXICO CITY, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least three people have been killed and six injured in a car explosion outside a police station in Mexico’s western state of Michoacan, according to local and federal security officials.The blast on Saturday took place at a central avenue in Coahuayana, the attorney…

Sudan facing ‘massive’ humanitarian aid crisis as war rages, WFP warns

Sudanese families displaced from el-Fasher reach out as aid workers distribute food supplies KHARTOUM, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan faces a “massive” humanitarian aid crisis, with millions of starving people being denied access to vital food supplies as fighting rages in the war-torn country, the World Food Programme (WFP) has…

South Africa: BMA gears up for bumper festive season

PRETORIA, Dec 8 (NNN-SANEWS) — Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato says South Africa is facing one of its busiest travel periods in recent years, with traveller movements increasing sharply and enforcement operations yielding thousands of interceptions. Briefing the media on festive season law enforcement plans for 2025/26,…

Uganda battles malaria deaths amid low vaccination rate

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja holds a baby at the launch of the malaria vaccination exercisePrime Minister Robinah Nabbanja holds a baby at the launch of the malaria vaccination exercise KAMPALA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s ambitious malaria eradication efforts are facing setbacks as a low turnout for the newly introduced…

France: Water leak in the Louvre damages hundreds of “Egyptology journals” works, museum says

The Louvre; Egyptian books in Paris PARIS, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A water leak in late November damaged several hundred works in the Louvre’s Egyptian department, the Paris museum said on Sunday, weeks after a brazen jewel theft raised concerns over its infrastructure. “Between 300 and 400 works” were affected by the…

UK police arrest man after Heathrow Airport car park ‘pepper spray’ incident leaves 21 injured

LONDON, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Kingdom armed police arrested a man for suspected assault after 21 people needed medical treatment following an incident involving “a form of pepper spray” at a Heathrow Airport car park. London’s Metropolitan Police said the incident at Terminal 3’s multi-storey car park was sparked…

Nigerian government secures release of 100 kidnapped schoolchildren

ABUJA, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s government has secured the release of 100 schoolchildren who were abducted last month in Niger state in one of the country’s worst mass kidnappings to date, local broadcaster Channels Television reported. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said 303 children and 12 school staff were…