Europe’s bike industry hits bumps as cycling craze cools

STUTTGART (Germany), Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At a bicycle trade fair in Stuttgart, steep discounts on brand-new models hint at the turmoil roiling the industry now that a pandemic-fuelled cycling craze has faded. Price cuts of 20 to 30 percent were not unheard of at this month’s event in the…

Fears over economy grow as German rail begins longest strike

BERLIN, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German train drivers began on Wednesday their longest-ever strike, piling on travel misery for thousands of passengers in an escalating industrial dispute that economic experts warn could cost the economy up to a billion euros ($1.1 billion). Transport Minister Volker Wissing has slammed as “destructive”…

Six dead in commuter plane crash in Canada’s far north

OTTAWA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six people died when a small commuter plane carrying workers to a Rio Tinto mine in Canada’s icy far north crashed Tuesday shortly after taking off.    The Australian mining giant said a plane bound for its Diavik mine and “carrying a number of our people”…

Tanzania floods: Roads unpassable in Dar es Salaam main city

People are trying to repair the damage caused by the floods DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Houses have collapsed and roads and bridges been destroyed after heavy rains pounded Tanzania’s coastal city of Dar es Salaam for two days.A woman was swept away in the floods, while a…

Uganda in talks with UAE investment firm over planned $4 billion oil refinery

Uganda is seeking funding to have its oil refinery up and running in 2027 KAMPALA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda is negotiating with an investment company led by a member of Dubai’s royal family to develop a planned $4 billion refinery for some of its crude oil, its energy minister…

Zambia mine: Chinese nationals among 7 miners trapped in flooded shaft

The miners are said to have been on night shift when they got trapped LUSAKA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven miners, including two Chinese nationals, have been trapped in a flooded mine in Zambia’s Copperbelt province since Monday.They were among staff working at the Chinese-owned Macrolink copper mine in Ndola…

EU sanctions six entities involved in Sudan war

Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan BRUSSELS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Council on Monday adopted sanctions against six entities involved in the war in Sudan, where the regular army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting since last April.The Council said in a statement the…

South Africa: Electricity system performance ‘exceeding expectations – Minister Ramokgopa

PRETORIA, Jan 24 (NNN-SANEWS) — The health of South Africa’s electricity system is continuing to show improvement, despite the continued implementation of load shedding. This is according to the Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was briefing the media on the implementation of the Energy Action…

Liberia’s new President Joseph Boakai fails to end inauguration speech due to suspected heat exhaustion

MONROVIA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberia’s new President Joseph Boakai failed to reach the end of his speech and had to be helped away from the podium during his swearing-in ceremony. Boakai, 79, had been speaking for around 30 minutes at his inauguration ceremony when it became clear that he was…

French protests: Female farmer killed as car hits protesters

PARIS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A female farmer in her thirties was killed and her husband and teenage daughter were badly hurt when a car crashed into a roadblock during a nationwide protest by French farmers. Farmers have cut off key roads for days in the south-west, one of the France’s…