Zambia’s new leader vows ‘zero tolerance’ on corruption

Newly elected Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema LUSAKA, Sept 12 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Zambia’s new President Hakainde Hichilema vowed to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and show “zero tolerance” for graft, in his first speech to parliament.Hichilema, elected last month in a landslide, said the government would devise a mechanism to recover state assets…

Covid-19: Sinovac opens global pediatric vaccine trial in South Africa

A healthcare worker administers a SINOVAC Covid-19 vaccine on a minor PRETORIA, Sept 12 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — South Africa launched the main phase of a global COVID-19 vaccine study on children and teenagers led by Chinese maker Sinovac Biotech, with the first two participants jabbed in Pretoria.The study is testing the efficacy of…

Covid-19: Anti vaccine protesters clash with police in Greece

Organisers claimed 400,000 took part in the demonstration Covid-19: Anti vaccine protesters clash with police in GreeceATHENS, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greek police fired tear gas and water canon on Saturday to break up a demonstration of thousands of people protesting against mandatory coronavirus vaccinations. Authorities said protesters hurled flares…

Spain: Thousands of Catalans rally for independence in Barcelona

Organisers claimed 400,000 took part in the demonstration BARCELONA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of Catalans chanted, sang and waved flags as they marched through Barcelona on Saturday, calling for the region’s independence from Spain. The march, organised by the grassroots Assemblea Nacional Catalana [ANC], was the first since Spain’s…

Anger as Spanish wildfire, believed started deliberately, blazes for fourth day

Wildfire on Sierra Bermeja mountain ESTEPONA (Spain), Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A wildfire raging close to a popular Costa del Sol resort was still active on Saturday, and locals spoke of their anger about the blaze, which is believed to have been started deliberately. Andalucia’s regional forest fire agency said conditions had…

Twenty years after 9/11, one of the last US Marines killed in Afghanistan comes home

LAWRENCE (Massachusetts, US), Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Marine Sergeant Johanny Rosario returned to her hometown in Massachusetts in a casket on Saturday, one of the last American service members killed in Afghanistan during a war set in motion exactly two decades ago by the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. Several hundred…

The Taliban are lying, France will not have any relationship with them, foreign minister says

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian PARIS, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Taliban are lying and France will not have any relationship with its newly-formed government, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said late on Saturday before heading for talks in Qatar on Sunday to discuss future evacuations from Afghanistan. “They…

World leaders remember 9/11 victims and survivors

  PARIS, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World leaders sent messages of solidarity Saturday on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, saying the attackers had failed to destroy Western values.    Here are a few reactions:    BRITAIN: “We can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they (the jihadists)…

Covid-19: Denmark becomes only European country with no coronavirus curbs

Denmark introduced Covid passports in March 2021 COPENHAGEN, Sept 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Denmark has become the only European country with no coronavirus-related restrictions in place, as vaccine rates have reached more than 70 percent of the population.The return to normality has been gradual, but as of Friday, the digital pass…

Nigerian troops arrest high-profile Boko Haram member

The army also arrested traders selling urea fertilizers to the terrorists ABUJA, Sept 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian army on Friday said a high-profile member of the Boko Haram terrorist group was arrested during a raid.The soldiers raided a market where terrorists buy materials to manufacture improvised explosive devices and…