Huge Cyprus fire ‘under full control’: Forestry department

NICOSIA, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Cyprus Forestry Department said that a deadly fire, the island’s worst in decades, was now “under full control”.    The blaze, fanned by strong winds, broke out Saturday afternoon and swept through the southern foothills of the Troodos mountain range, leaving four Egyptian labourers…

Nigeria: Gunmen kidnap 140 school students, 25 escaped; 4th mass school kidnapping in Kaduna since December

 KADUNA (Nigeria), July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen have kidnapped 140 students from a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria, a school official said, the latest in a wave of mass abductions targeting school children and students. Heavily-armed criminal gangs often attack villages to loot, steal cattle and abduct for ransom in northwest…

21 migrants’ bodies retrieved off Tunisia: authorities

TUNIS, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Coastguards in Tunisia retrieved the bodies of 21 sub-Saharan migrants and rescued 50 after their boat sank off the port city of Sfax, authorities said on Monday. “Twenty-one bodies of migrants were recovered after their boat was shipwrecked on July 4, and 50 were rescued,”…

Chad’s new leader Mahamat Deby on a ‘friendship and working’ visit to France

N’DJAMENA, July 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Head of the military junta and president of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, left N’Djamena for a “friendship and working visit” to France, his office announced. The 37-year-old four-star general has been leading a Transitional Military Council (TMC) of 15 generals since the death of…

Portugal, Italy send humanitarian aid to Mozambique

MAPUTO, July 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Humanitarian aid from Portugal and Italy, begins to arrive in Mozambique to support the populations affected by the conflict in Cabo Delgado. The first of three planned flights landed on Saturday.   The latest chapter in this violent, three-year saga — an attack last month…

Cyprus: Nations send help to tackle worst wildfire in decades

The wildfire started on Saturday, and is quickly spreading  NICOSIA, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several nations have answered Cyprus’s appeal to help tackle a huge wildfire, described by officials as the worst in the country’s history. The UK, Greece, Italy and Israel are among those helping, including with firefighting aircraft.…

At least 8 employees kidnapped from medical centre in Nigeria

 KANO (Nigeria), July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight medical centre employees were kidnapped in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, police said, although local sources said more people had been taken. A large number of unidentified armed men attacked Kaduna state’s Saye Tuberculosis and Leprosy Health Centre at around 1500 GMT, after a…

Covid-19: Queen Elizabeth honours Britain’s health service for pandemic work

The award of the George Cross comes amid outcry from medical professionals over pay and working conditions in the NHS LONDON, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Queen Elizabeth has awarded Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) the George Cross: the highest civilian gallantry award: in recognition of 73 years of dedicated service,…

Chile: Indigenous Mapuche woman picked to lead architects of Chile’s new constitution

Constitutional assembly president Elisa Loncon speaks as assembly members gather for the first session to draft a new constitution SANTIAGO, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Delegates chose a woman from Chile’s majority indigenous Mapuche people to lead them in drafting the country’s new constitution – a dramatic turnaround for a group that…

Pope Francis doing well after intestinal surgery, Vatican says

The pope entered the hospital early on Sunday afternoon VATICAN CITY, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pope Francis is doing well following intestinal surgery, the Vatican said after the 84-year-old pontiff was hospitalised for the first time since his election in 2013. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the…