US Pres Trump says to host Mideast deal signing in three weeks

WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates will sign their historic peace accord in the White House in around three weeks, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday. Trump, speaking at press conference hours after the deal was announced,praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin…

New Zealand scrambles to contain coronavirus resurgence as it heads towards election

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern WELLINGTON, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand was scrambling to trace the source of its first coronavirus outbreak in more than three months, reporting 13 new community infections on Thursday, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had sought to eradicate the virus with a hard lockdown. The…

Chinese national killed at Zijin mining camp in Congo, company says

Mining is common in mineral rich areas of DR Congo KINSHASA, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Chinese national was killed during an attack on a mining camp run by Zijin Mining Group Co in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, a report on the company’s website said. The employee was shot at…

S.Africa’s mines minister drops challenge to court ruling on black ownership threshold

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s mines minister has withdrawn an appeal of a court ruling that held that mining companies did not have to maintain at least 26% black ownership in perpetuity, the Minerals Council industry body said. South Africa’s mining sector, which is the world’s biggest producer…

Mali protests resume as thousands call for president to resign

Protesters in the so-called June 5 Movement have repeatedly called for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to resign BAMAKO, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people took to the streets of Mali’s rainy capital Bamako renewing calls for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to step down despite international mediation efforts to resolve…

Kenya elephant numbers more than double in 1980-2018 – tourism minister

Elephants grazing at the Amboseli National Park, Kenya NAIROBI, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya’s elephant numbers more than doubled between 1989 and 2018, thanks to increased anti-poaching efforts, the tourism minister said. Kenya had just 16,000 elephants in 1989, and this rose to more than 34,000 in 2018, Najib Balala…

Cameroon cancels logging plan that threatened rare apes

YAOUNDE, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroon has backtracked on a decision to allow industrial logging in one of the region’s least exploited rainforests, home to rare gorillas, tool-wielding chimpanzees and giant frogs. The latest government decree overturns one signed in July that would have permitted timber extraction across 68,385 hectares,…

Sudan boosts security in port city after 32 die in tribal clashes

KHARTOUM, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan has beefed up security in Red Sea state and imposed a curfew in its main sea gateway of Port Sudan after 32 people died in recent tribal clashes, the country’s interior ministry said. Sudan is one year into a three-year transition after the overthrow…

Beirut explosion: WHO warns dozens of health facilities ‘non-functional’

Residents of Beirut have been helping to clear up at the city’s hospitals BEIRUT, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The damage caused by last week’s deadly explosion in Beirut continues to hamper healthcare in the Lebanese capital. The World Health Organization (WHO) assessed 55 healthcare facilities in the city and found…

Beirut explosion: City holds vigil to mourn blast victims

 BEIRUT, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — People in Beirut have attended a vigil for the more than 200 victims of the huge explosion that devastated the Lebanese capital a week ago. A crowd stood in silence near the ruins of the city’s port as a Muslim call to prayer was broadcast…