Anti-government protests resume in Iraq after bloodshed

BAGHDAD, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Anti-government rallies have renewed across Iraq, the second phase of protests that turned deadly earlier this month and which could balloon after the endorsement of populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Iraq was rocked by demonstrations in early October, first denouncingcorruption and unemployment before evolving into calls…

Zimbabweans to hold anti-sanctions march as economy tanks

HARARE, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of Zimbabweans are expected to take part in a protest march Friday to call for an end to sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union, which the government blames for the country’s economic problems. The authorities have declared Friday a public holiday…

Drought-hit Zimbabwe ‘sells young elephants overseas’

HARARE, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe has flown up to 30 young elephants to a different country, believed to be China.The sale has been criticised by animal welfare groups, who say that the animals may be traumatised.But Zimbabwe’s National Parks service argues that it needs to earn hard currency to…

UN re-opens Nigerian office after bombing

The UN office in Nigeria was closed down in 2011 after a car bomb attack ABUJA, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN has reopened its office in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, more than eight years after it was destroyed in a suicide attack by the Islamist group Boko Haram.At least…

Update: China says no confirmation yet on UK truck victims’ nationality

BEIJING, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British police have yet to confirm that the 39 people found dead in a truck near London were Chinese nationals, the Chinese foreign ministry said Friday. A Chinese consular official travelled to Essex on Thursday, a day after emergency workers discovered the bodies inside the refrigerated container of…

Evacuations as wildfire roars through California wine country

A home is engulfed in flames as wind and embers rip through an area near Geyserville GEYSERVILLE (California, US), Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fast-moving wildfire roared through California wine country Thursday, prompting evacuations and destroying structures as authorities warned of the imminent danger of more fires across much of the…

Storm-hit areas in Japan brace for heavy rains, 60,000 advised to evacuate

A man walks with his son near flooded houses, in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, in Yanagawamachi district TOKYO, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A wide swath of eastern Japan hit by flooding and landslides from Typhoon Hagibis two weeks ago braced for more heavy rains on Friday, with evacuation advisories…

Egypt, Ethiopia leaders discuss controversial Nile dam

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam SOCHI (Russia), Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia and Egypt’s leaders met on the sidelines of Russia’s Africa summit to discuss a contentious dam project on the River Nile, a diplomat said. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi “delivered a message” to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on…

Brazil says it will no longer require visas from Chinese, Indian citizens

BRASILIA, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said the South American nation will drop its requirement that visiting Chinese and Indian tourists or businesspeople obtain visas. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, came to power at the beginning of the year and has made it a policy to reduce visa…

UK PM Johnson offers Dec 12 election to break Brexit impasse

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson LONDON, Oct 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered parliament more time to scrutinise his Brexit deal if it agrees to hold a snap general election on Dec 12. The premier suspended debates on his EU divorce deal after MPs on Tuesday refused to…