Colombian soldiers killed in ambush by drugs gang

A map showing the flow of heroin from Colombia to the US. BOGOTA, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four soldiers have been killed and two more injured in an ambush near the town of Caucasia in northern Colombia.A powerful criminal gang known as the Gulf Clan is believed to have been…

Germany set to ban glyphosate from end of 2023

BERLIN, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Use of glyphosate will be banned in Germany from the end of 2023, after a phased effort to reduce its application by farmers.The ban, agreed by the Cabinet on Wednesday, is part of an insect conservation program from Environment Minister Svenja Schulze.It includes a “systematic…

Heroin worth $148 million seized in UK’s biggest ever bust

The haul follows a 398 kilogram seizure at the port of Felixstowe in August. LONDON, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK authorities seized almost 1.3 tons of heroin with a street value of £120 million ($148 million) from a container ship, in the nation’s largest ever bust involving the drug. Officers…

UK lawmakers block PM Johnson’s call for snap election

An anti-Brexit protester with a composite Union and EU flag outside the Houses of Parliament in central London LONDON, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British parliament voted on Wednesday to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking Britain out of the European Union without a deal on Oct. 31, but rejected…

Rwanda hit by mass mayoral resignations

Social media has dubbed the resignations “Tour of Rwanda”, due to how widespread it is becoming KIGALI, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four mayors and six deputy mayors – all elected officials – have resigned in Rwanda in the last 24 hours. Following their resignation, Interior Minister Anastase Shyaka tweeted: “They…

Republic of Congo gets $65m funding to protect earth’s lung, Congo Basin

Congo Basin PARIS, Sept 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Republic of Congo is joining an international program that will grant the country 60 million euros ($65.6 million) to better protect the rainforest and fight climate change.The country’s president, Denis Sassou N’Guesso, will formally sign up for the Central African Forest Initiative during…

Mali: More than a dozen killed after explosion hits passenger bus

BAMAKO, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 14 people have been killed when an explosion hit a bus carrying passengers in Mali’s Mopti region, according to the security minister.Salif Traore said 24 people were also wounded in Tuesday’s blast, with seven being “in a critical state”.He did not provide further…

Burkina Faso: Coup leader’s wife sentenced to 30 years in absentia

The 2015 coup, led by Gen Diendéré, failed after a week OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The wife of a former Burkina Faso general who led a short-lived coup in 2015 has been sentenced in absentia to 30 years in jail by a military tribunal. Fatoumata Diendéré’s sentence exceeds the…

Nearly 300 arrested in South Africa over xenophobic attacks: Pres Ramaphosa

Looters take a vending machine from a shop during the unrest CAPE TOWN, Sept 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told officials and business leaders that he was committed to quelling attacks on foreigners that have threatened to cast a cloud over an economic forum aimed at boosting…

Two die fighting fires in Bolivian Amazon, says president

LA PAZ, Sept 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least two people have been killed trying to stamp out fires raging in Bolivia’s Amazon rainforest, President Evo Morales said. The fires, which have been burning for a month, have destroyed about one million hectares of forest and pastureland, he told reporters at…