India recovers 13 bodies after monsoon dam breach

MUMBAI, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirteen bodies have been recovered inwestern India after the heaviest monsoon rains in a decade breached a dam and caused mayhem in Mumbai, authorities said. Eleven people were still missing after the dam in Ratnagiri, around 275kilometres south of Mumbai, burst on Wednesday and swamped…

Algeria interim leader makes new call for dialogue

ALGIERS, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria’s interim president AbdelkaderBensalah has called for a national dialogue to prepare for delayedpresidential elections, vowing that the state and the military would remainneutral in the process. In a speech on Wednesday he did not set a timetable for when the talkswould be launched. But…

Mexico frees 25 mass kidnapping victims in Cancun

MEXICO CITY, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican authorities said they freed 25 people Wednesday who were kidnapped from a call center in the resort city of Cancun in a suspected dispute between two partners who own the business. “Twenty-five people who were abducted were rescued in good health,” the police…

Honduras: 26 dead as fishing boat sinks during lobster season – official

TEGUCIGALPA, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 26 people died when their fishing boat sank off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, the country’s military said. Armed forces spokesman Jose Meza said that 47 people however survived when the vessel sank off the remote coastal Mosquitia region on Wednesday. Meza said…

Libya: Deadly air strike on migrant centre sparks outrage

TRIPOLI, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Outrage and calls for an independent probe mounted as 44 migrants were killed in an air strike on a detention centre in Libya that the UN said could constitute a war crime. UN chief Antonio Guterres denounced the “horrendous” attack and demanded an independent investigation,…

Sudan generals, protesters in landmark agreement on new governing body

KHARTOUM, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s ruling generals and protestleaders reached an agreement on the disputed issue of a new governing body Friday, in a breakthrough power sharing accord aimed at ending the country’s months-long political crisis. The landmark agreement came after two days of talks following the collapse of…

Indonesia: Jakarta residents sue government over air pollution

JAKARTA, July 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents of Indonesia’s capital on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the government over the toxic levels of air pollution that regularly blanket the city. Jakarta has been shrouded in hazardous smog for much of the past month, with air quality readings recording high concentrations of…

Ethiopia appoints top rights advocate as head of human rights body

ADDIS ABABA, July 3 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Daniel Bekele, a renowned human rights advocate has been appointed as head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a state-run body responsible for principally ensuring respect for rights and fundamental freedoms. The parliament, House of Peoples Representatives (HoPR), on Tuesday approved his appointment…

Algeria’s speaker of parliament resigns

ALGIERS, July 3 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Algeria’s parliamentary president Mouad Bouchareb has resigned on Tuesday. This comes after a prolonged demand for his removal by protesters who believe he is a stumbling block to their demands. In recent days, pressure from politicians mounted against Bouchareb to step down as well. Three…

Venezuela: Pres Maduro promotes dialogue with opposition after Guaido dismisses talks

CARACAS, July 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was committed to talks with the opposition to resolve a political crisis, hours after opposition leader Juan Guaido said there would “never” be a good time to negotiate with a “dictatorship.” Guaido and Maduro had both sent representatives to…