Iraq: Baghdad seals off Green Zone after protests – government source

BAGHDAD, Oct 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iraqi authorities sealed off the central Green Zone just four months after its celebrated opening, a government source said in response to widespread protests in the capital. Security forces and military vehicles have been deployed around the area, which hosts government offices and embassies, “until…

Four dead, seven still missing from sunken ship in Atlantic

FORT-DE-FRANCE BAY (Martinique), Oct 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The bodies of three crew members have been recovered from the Atlantic after a supply vessel operated by a French oil services group sank in hurricane conditions, bringing the death toll to four, according to a Martinique government official. The Luxembourg-flagged Bourbon Rhode,…

‘Ocean Cleanup’ ship sweeps first Pacific plastic

ROTTERDAM (Netherlands), Oct 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A special ship designed to clean the oceans has harvested its first plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since setting sail from San Francisco last month, its Dutch inventor said. The project by The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit group, involves asupply ship…

Bangladesh: Floodwater maroons 78,000 people in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj

DHAKA, Oct 3 (NNN-BSS) — Nearly 78,000 people from 18,589 families havebeen marooned due to onrush of floodwater from upstream of the Padma river in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts. Most of the low-lying and char areas have been submerged by the floodwater, which engulfed houses and standing crops. The floodwater…

Ethiopia PM mobilises Oromo parties to cooperate in 2020 vote

Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed ADDIS ABABA, Oct 2 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed urged political parties in his home region to work together to serve the Oromo people. Abiy, who was representing his Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) at a meeting of political parties from the region, added…

Nigerian Pres Buhari heads to South Africa for state visit

ABUJA, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday depart for South Africa on a three day state visit, his office has announced.The visit follows an invitation by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after relations between Africa’s two biggest economies soured after a wave of xenophobic attacks…

Russian PM to visit Cuba to strengthen cooperation

HAVANA, Oct 2 (NNN-TELESUR) — Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is set to visit Cuba on Thursday and Friday to meet President Miguel Diaz-Canel and discuss cooperation between the two countries, his government announced. Medvedev and Diaz-Canel are expected to discuss a wide range of topics for cooperation in the…

Brazil death toll in Brazil dam collapse rises to 250: new findings

BRASILIA, Oct 2 (NNN-TELESUR) — The death toll in a catastrophic dam collapse that took place in southeastern Brazil in January rose to 250 on Monday after rescue teams announced they had found the remains of another victim. Brazilian authorities are still searching for 20 missing people related to the…

Cuba: UN General Assembly continues to voice condemnation of US blockade

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — More than 40 countries condemned the United States blockade against Cuban and expressed their solidarity with the Caribbean island during the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to the Cuban Mission to the UN, 43 States from…

Nicaragua is a safe and authentic tourist destination: Tourism Minister

PARIS, Oct 2 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Nicaraguan Minister of Tourism Anasha Campbell assured at the IFTM Top Resa travel and tourism trade fair in this capital that her country represents a safe and authentic destination, marked by the hospitality of its inhabitants. “We participate in this fair to promote a…