Ethiopia to go on filling Nile mega-dam despite impasse: Minister

The Nile Dam Project ADDIS ABABA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia said it would not be deterred from impounding water at its Nile mega-dam, despite a persistent impasse with downstream countries worried about their water supply.The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of tension in the Nile River…

Protests erupt in Benin as Pres Talon seeks reelection

Protests broke out in Benin in another day of tensions COTONOU, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protests broke out in Benin as opposition demonstrators burned property of pro-government deputies and blockaded roads, days before President Patrice Talon faces an election.Tensions have erupted in several towns around the West African country since…

ICC-acquitted ex-president Gbagbo ‘free to return’ to Ivory Coast, says President Ouattara

Gbagbo was Ivory Coast’s president from 2000 to 2010 ABIDJAN, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara said his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo and his youth leader Charles Ble Goude are “free to return to Ivory Coast when they want” after they were definitively acquitted of crimes against humanity.Ouattara’s…

Mozambique: Militant fighters ‘driven out’ of Palma, says Pres Nyusi

Two women walking around tent structures in a temporary settlement center in Palma MAPUTO, April 8 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi said that jihadists have been “chased” out of the city of Palma, two weeks after armed groups launched a bloody attack on the northern port city.“The terrorists have…

Dutch cargo ship transporting smaller vessels adrift off Norway, crew airlifted

A search and rescue team hoists a crew member from Dutch cargo ship Eemslift Hendrika during an evacuation in stormy weather OSLO, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Dutch cargo ship was adrift in the Norwegian Sea after all of its crew members were airlifted, with some having to jump into…

Talks to save Iran nuclear deal get off to good start

VIENNA, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran, Russia and the United States reacted positively Tuesday to the opening exchanges in a first day of talks in Vienna aimed at rescuing an international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme. US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of…

US wants to ‘discuss’ Beijing Olympics boycott calls

WASHINGTON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it would discuss calls to boycott the Beijing Olympics with its allies after growing pressure to shun the Winter Games on human rights grounds. “It is something that we certainly wish to discuss,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said when asked…

Covid-19: Spain plans to fully vaccinate 53 per cent of population by late July

A police officer receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Madrid MADRID, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain is accelerating its COVID-19 vaccination rollout and will have fully inoculated 25 million people by late July, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, also confirming the end-August target of giving 70…

Death toll from clashes in Sudan’s West Darfur climbs to 56: UN

Protesters attend a rally calling for a stop to killing in Darfur KHARTOUM, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from days of tribal clashes in Sudan’s West Darfur has risen to 56, with 132 wounded, the United Nations and a local doctors committee said. The bloodshed is the latest…

US shooting: 2-year-old boy, 7 adults wounded in latest Chicago shootings

Chicago police work the scene of a shooting early Tuesday in Chicago CHICAGO, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 2-year-old boy was shot in the head Tuesday morning while riding in a car on Chicago’s famed Lake Shore Drive just hours after seven people were shot and wounded in a fight…