11 elephants die in Zimbabwe’s protected forest

HARARE, Aug 30 (NNN-XINHUA) — Eleven elephants were found dead in Pandamasue Forest in the western part of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) said. ZIMPARKS spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the authority was conducting investigations to determine the cause of death of the elephants, in a…

Hope and expectation as Tour de France starts in virus shadow

NICE (France), Aug 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Tour de France rolls out from the French Riviera on Saturday, two months later than planned and under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic which could still shatter hopes of the world’s greatest bike race making it to the Paris finish line in…

Covid-19: Brazil court removes Rio governor over corruption

Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s High Court of Justice removed Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel from office Friday, as police raided his official residence in a probe into accusations he stole emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The raids…

Irish haulier pleads guilty over Vietnamese truck deaths in UK

39 Vietnamese nationals were found in the back of a refrigerated truck near London last year LONDON, Aug 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 40-year-old Irish haulier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found dead in the back of a refrigerated truck near London last year. Ronan Hughes…

Covid-19: Berlin braces for ‘anti-corona’ demonstration

BERLIN, Aug 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of coronavirus sceptics are set to descend on Berlin on Saturday for a mass protest against pandemicrestrictions that was allowed to go ahead after a bitter legal battle. Police said they will turn out in force and strictly monitor compliancewith mask-wearing and social distancing,…

Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia fail to agree on draft deal on Nile dam

The Blue Nile River flows near the site of the planned Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia KHARTOUM, Aug 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia Friday concluded a new round of talks without reaching consensus on a draft deal to be presented to the African Union (AU) regarding…

Update: Nigeria launches investigation into helicopter crash that killed 2

ABUJA, Aug 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Nigerian authorities said they have launched an investigation into a helicopter crash which claimed two lives on Friday in Lagos, the economic hub. The ill-fated Bell Helicopter 206B3 operated by Quorum Aviation was coming from Nigeria’s oil hub, Port Harcourt, to the southwestern state when…

Covid-19: Four at Republican GOP convention in city of Charlotte test positive for coronavirus

Four people involved with the Republican National Convention tested positive for covid-19 WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two attendees of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Charlotte in the U.S. state of North Carolina, as well as two individuals supporting the event, have tested positive for coronavirus, Mecklenburg County has…

Mali coup: West Africa leaders call for 12-month transition

Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan (l), led the Ecowas mission to Mali BAMAKO, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s West African neighbours have once again agreed that the country should immediately return to civilian rule. The decision comes after last week’s military coup overthrowing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. In a virtual…

Nigeria: Helicopter crashes into Lagos building, kills two

Two persons died as result of the crash while one person survived. LAGOS, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents living in the Opebi area of Ikeja, Lagos were thrown into panic after a helicopter reportedly crashed into a building. The incident is reported to have occurred around 12pm. According to the…