Chile wildfires rage for third day, entire towns wiped out

Residents of the Gabriela Mistral neighbourhood clear debris from their burnt homes after a wildfire in Lirquen, Chile LIRQUEN (Chile), Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Wildfires that have killed 20 people in southern Chile and wiped out entire towns raged for a third day on Monday, fanned by warm temperatures and…

South Africa: President mourns deaths in Cape flats violence and scholar transport crash

PRETORIA, Jan 20 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the loss of life resulting from violent incidents on the Cape Flats over the weekend and in a tragic collision involving a scholar transport vehicle, near Vanderbijlpark, on Monday morning.  At least 26 people were killed…

Death toll from rainfall-induced incidents in Zimbabwe reaches 78

HARARE, Jan 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 78 people have been killed and 61 others injured as a result of incessant rains across Zimbabwe since the start of the rainy season in October, the country’s Department of Civil Protection (DCP) said. In its latest situation report, the DCP said the…

Czech gun violence: Gunman kills one, wounds six others including town mayor in town hall before killing self

Members of the police secure the area following the shooting PRAGUE, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A shooting at a Czech town hall left one person dead and at least six others, including three police officers, wounded on Monday, authorities said, adding that the gunman had also killed himself.Police said they…

South Africa declares national disaster over floods and rains that have killed 30 people

People walk through floodwaters in Nkomazi PRETORIA, Jan 20 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — South Africa has declared a national disaster over torrential rains and floods that have killed at least 30 people in the country’s north, damaged thousands of homes and washed away roads and bridges.The declaration was made by the head…

DR Congo: Army returns to strategic east Congo town after rebel withdrawal

Congolese civilians walk after returning to their homes following displacement during clashes UVIRA (DR Congo), Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Congolese soldiers and combatants from a pro-government militia have re-entered the eastern town of Uvira, residents said on Monday, just over a month after it fell to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in…

Nigeria kidnappings: Dozens abducted in church attacks; church leader says more than 160 seized

KADUNA (Nigeria), Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed bandits abducted dozens of worshippers from two churches in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, police said on Monday, while a senior church leader put the number of those missing at more than 160.Kaduna state police said gunmen armed with “sophisticated weapons” attacked an ECWA church…

Central African Republic court validates Pres Touadera’s re-election

President of the CAR Faustin-Archange Touadera casts his votes BANJUI, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Court on Monday validated President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s victory in a disputed Dec 28 presidential election that handed him a third term.Even before provisional results were announced on Jan 5, Touadera’s opponents…

US gun violence: Indiana judge and wife injured in shooting at their home

LAFAYETTE (Indiana, US), Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Indiana judge and his wife were injured in a shooting at their home over the weekend, with a search underway for the suspected gunman, officials said. Tippecanoe County Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, were shot in their home on…

US gun violence: Man killed, 3 bystanders hurt in shooting at iconic New Orleans restaurant

Police work the scene of a shooting in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS, Jan 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man was killed, and three bystanders were wounded, in a shooting in the foyer of an iconic New Orleans restaurant, authorities said, and the gunman remains at large. The shooting occurred just after…