UN: Violence, COVID-19 contribute to rising humanitarian needs in Sahel

Two displaced women sit at a camp in Awaradi, Niger UNITED NATIONS, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — A surge in armed violence, coupled with the economic and social fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, are contributing to worsening conditions for children in the Central Sahel, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on…

Cameroon: 11 hostages freed by troops in restive Anglophone region

YAOUNDE, Oct 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cameroonian troops have rescued 11 kidnapped victims during a mopping-up operation in Southwest, one of the two troubled English-speaking regions of the country, the army said. The operation took place Friday afternoon in Lebialem, a division of the region where armed separatists are known to…

Oct 28 elections: Zanzibar presidential candidate barred from campaigning – 2nd opposition candidate facing restriction

Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT Wazalendo party ZANZIBAR, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Zanzibar Electoral Commission has barred an opposition presidential candidate from campaigning for the next five days.Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT Wazalendo party becomes the second opposition candidate in the country to be restricted from campaigning…

Zambia: Copper firm ordered to halt operations after waste spill causes flooding, polluting river

The spillage occurred on Thursday after an embankment at the dam collapsed LUSAKA, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia’s environmental authority halted operations at a copper-processing plant after a waste dam at the facility burst, flooding a stream that flows into a major river and destroying crops and fish.The plant operators, Rongxin…

Angola: Pres Lourenco reaffirms fight against corruption, says country loses US$23b

Pres João Lourenço LUANDA, Oct 17 (NNN-ANGOP) — Pres João Lourenço renewed his commitment to the fight against corruption, stressing that this evil has already damaged the Angolan State by at least US $24 billion. “We say at least because as the investigations around some ongoing processes and their likely…

Polish dairy products arrive in China by train – first-ever between the two countries

Polish state-owned logistics company given the green light to transport food by railway to China WUHAN (China), Oct 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — The first-ever train transporting a cargo of dairy products from Poland to China has arrived at its final destination. Train X8016 brought more than 1,100 tonnes of liquid pure milk and instant milk powder to…

Cyber attack: British Airways hit with UK data watchdog’s biggest-ever fine

LONDON, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s data protection watchdog said it has fined British Airways 20 million pounds – its biggest such penalty to date – for failing to protect data that left more than 400,000 of its customers’ details the subject of a 2018 cyber attack. The Information Commissioner’s…

Covid-19: Over half EU countries ‘red’ on new virus travel map – agency

STOCKHOLM, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than half of countries in the EU, plus the UK, were labelled red in a new map issued by the bloc’s disease control agency aimed at guiding decisions on travel restrictions. The map was issued after EU member states decided on Tuesday to coordinate…

‘Crystal clear’ Brexit deal with EU needed: ECB chief

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said that the high stakes for the post-Brexit economy make it likely Britain and the European Union eventually will reach a deal on the breakup. “When we do the calculation of how badly the UK on the one hand,…

Covid-19: New US jobless claims rise sharply to 898,000 last week

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New applications for US jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week to 898,000, the Labor Department said. The 53,000 increase from the prior week was the sharpest rise in seasonally adjusted initial claims since the week of Aug 15, as the United States attempts to recover…