At least 24 die in Morocco underground factory flood: media

News footage from the site, broadcast on Moroccan television, showed emergency services carrying corpses out on stretchers under the eyes of clearly traumatised residents RABAT, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 24 people died after heavy rain caused a flood in an illegal underground textile workshop in a private house…

Chadian president’s sixth term bid triggers protests

Chadian president Idris Deby Itno N’DJAMENA, Feb 7 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Chad’s President Idriss Deby Itno has been in power for 30 years, he may now stay for even longer after Chad’s ruling party on Saturday endorsed him for a sixth term in upcoming April 11 elections.It was made possible after…

Thousands protest in Tunisia despite police blockade

TUNIS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of protesters backed by Tunisia’s powerful labour union gathered in central Tunis in the country’s biggest demonstration for years, defying a police lockdown that blocked roads in a large area of the capital.The Saturday rally was held to mark the anniversary of the 2013…

Wildfire in Argentinean Patagonia approaches residential area

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — Argentina’s authorities warned that a wildfire that started in a forest of the Patagonia region two weeks ago is approaching a residential area despite firefighters’ efforts to quell it. “Over 180 rescuers are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but the high temperatures, winds,…

Covid-19: Venezuela ready to send second shipment of oxygen to Brazil

CARACAS, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said that his country is ready to send a second shipment of oxygen to Brazil to ease the health emergency caused by COVID-19 in the Roraima and the Amazon states. Workers at Venezuela’s Orinoco Steel Mill (Sidor), which has a powerful…

UN welcomes US intent to revoke Houthi terrorist designation

Houthi supporters rally against the United States’ designation of Houthis as terrorist organisation, in Sanaa, Jan 25, 2021 UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations welcomed the announcement of US intention to revoke the designation of the Houthi movement in Yemen as a terrorist organization. The revocation will…

Covid-19: Probe finds $17m of funds in South Africa siphoned off through corruption

President Cyril Ramaphosa PRETORIA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African special investigators said that around $17m in coronavirus funds was siphoned off last year through corruption, fraud, and inflated prices for protective gear supplied to government hospitals and departments.Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a probe following revelations that government…

Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala thanks AU, ECOWAS for WTO bid support

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will become the first African to lead WTO ABUJA, Feb (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed gratitude to all allies who supported her bid to lead the WTO.The former Nigerian finance minister is in line to become the…

Lockdown by nature: Dutch told to stay home as blizzards blast in, first in 9 years

A cyclist makes his way over a snow covered bridge in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam March 2, 2005 AMSTERDAM, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Netherlands was set to enter an even stricter lockdown as forecasts of heavy snow and strong winds on Sunday triggered the country’s first nationwide weather…

Covid-19: Malawi’s health services under pressure as cases spike

LILONGWE, Feb 7 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — A makeshift hospital in Malawi has opened as hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of coronavirus patients.In Malawi’s second-largest city, Blantyre health workers are under pressure and having to work in tents.“Our available resources, especially in terms of oxygen, are insufficient. We have to ask…