South Africa: Marikana mining clashes must never repeat itself

Marikana Massacre Aug 16, 2012 PRETORIA, Aug 17 (NNN-SANEWS) — The Marikana tragedy in which 44 people lost their lives must never repeat itself, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Bavelile Hlongwa, said. “The message of the department is that as a caring government we are with the people…

South Africa,Tanzania strengthen ties through economic cooperation

President Ramaphosa and his Tanzanian counterpart President Magufuli DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 17 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for South Africa and Tanzania to build on their rich history and deepen these ties through economic cooperation and development. “We need to work together to bring investment into this region,…

US: Judges rule migrant children must get soap and bedding, reject govt appeal

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Detained migrant children must be given soap, dry clothes and clean bedding, US federal judges, dismissing an appeal by the Trump administration.The ruling by three judges at San Francisco’s federal appeals court follows reports of severe overcrowding and disease-ridden cells at US detention centers.A…

Greenland: US Pres Trump warned that island cannot be bought from Denmark

COPENHAGEN/WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greenland has said it is “not for sale” following reports that US President Donald Trump has spoken about buying the world’s biggest island.The president is said to have discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, during dinners and meetings with advisers.But Greenland’s…

Nigeria: Shiite leader returns after ‘rejecting’ India medicals

ABUJA, Aug 17 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Shiite sect in Nigeria has flown back into the country after rejecting medical attention in India. The 66-year-old is head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, a group that has been banned by authorities in the country. An IMN…

Sudan opposition picks economist as first post-Bashir Prime Minister

KHARTOUM, Aug 17 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Sudan’s main opposition alliance will nominate economist Abdalla Hamdok to serve as prime minister in the country’s transitional government, sources said. Sudan’s sovereign council, which will be sworn in on Monday, will appoint the prime minister based on the nomination from the opposition alliance, the…

Displaced by DR Congo violence, survivors’ testimonies highlight brutality of armed militia: UN

GENEVA, Aug 17 (NNN-UNNS) — Two months since hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians warned that armed militia continue to make their safe return impossible.  Briefing journalists in Geneva, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Spokesperson Babar Baloch, said that staff…

Children’s lives in Mediterranean Sea must take priority over politics, says UNICEF

Two teenage brothers from Gambia who travelled across the Mediterranean Sea without their parents walk along a beach in Italy GENEVA, Aug 17 (NNN-UNNS) — The fate of 130 children on board two rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea should not be put at risk by political point-scoring, the UN…

Humanitarian assistance to be scaled-up for millions of Venezuelans in need: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 17 (NNN-UNNS) –The United Nations humanitarian wing launched a new Response Plan (HRP), that aims to help around 2.6 million people in Venezuela through to the end of the year, almost half of whom are youth. Noting that the plan “only represents a limited number of all people in…

Seamen kidnapped off Cameroon’s coast – IMB

YAOUNDE, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine Chinese and eight Ukrainian seamen were abducted Thursday when two merchant vessels came under attack in Cameroonian waters in the Gulf of Guinea, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. Noel Choong, who heads the Malaysian-based watchdog agency, said the 17 seamen were seized from…