Sierra Leone prez signs law abolishing death penalty

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio FREETOWN, July 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sierra Leone president, Julius Maada Bio, has signed a law permanently abolishing the death penalty in the West African country.Parliament had earlier unanimously voted to get rid of the measure which had been on the books for decades.In place of…

South Sudan names woman to head parliament

Jemma Nunu Kumba, Next speaker of parliament for sudan JUBA, July 25 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Jemma Nunu Kumba, the incumbent secretary-general of the ruling party, will become the first woman to preside over the parliament of South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, which gained its independence ten years ago. She will…

Pygmies among eight killed in army offensive on DR Congo gorilla park

BUKAVU (DR Congo), July 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Pygmies and six militiamen were killed in a DR Congo army offensive to dislodge them from a national park which houses the world’s largest gorilla species, officials said. Friday’s operation in the Kahozi-Biega park, the only place in the world where the Grauer’s…

New Congress in Peru takes office for the 2021-2026 term

LIMA, July 24 (NNN-TELESUR) — The new Congress of Peru, elected for the period 2021-2026, took office Friday at the gates of the inauguration of the new President of the country and in the midst of struggles for the integration of the board of directors of the legislative body. Friday’s…

Pres Bolsonaro announces cabinet reshuffle and casts doubts on his running for a second term as Brazil’s president next year

BRASILIA, July 24 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro announced he was evaluating a cabinet reshuffle and also expressed doubts about running for a new term in office in October 2022. “We are working on a small ministerial change, which must take place next Monday to be precise, to continue…

German floods death toll hits 180, with 150 still missing

Members of the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief THW cleaning a destroyed bridge in Bad Neuenahr BERLIN, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The latest death toll from floods that hit western Germany this month stands at 180, with about 150 still missing, authorities said. With more rain forecast this weekend,…

Ugandan athlete returns home after fleeing Olympic camp

KAMPALA, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Ugandan weightlifter who went missing in Japan last week after his dreams of taking part in the Tokyo Olympics were dashed, returned home on Friday. Julius Ssekitoleko, 20, was tracked down in Japan on Tuesday, several days after he fled from an Olympic training…

Dignitaries rush to cover as protests flare at Haiti president’s funeral

CAP-HAITIEN (Haiti), July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US delegation and other dignitaries were hurried to vehicles as reports emerged of shots fired and crowd control gas used on protesters outside the funeral of late Haitian president Jovenel Moise on Friday. “The presidential delegation is safe and accounted for in light of…

France says boatload of 42 migrants rescued in English Channel

Dinghies used by migrants to try to cross the channel PARIS, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French authorities said they had rescued a boatload of 42 migrants in the English channel after their boat got into difficulty. The emergency services were alerted by the migrants, and a rescue vessel picked them…

Sierra Leone parliament votes to abolish death penalty

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio FREETOWN, July 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sierra Leone’s parliament voted unanimously on Friday to repeal the death penalty more than two decades after the West African country carried out its last execution. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to soon sign the bill into law,…