News in Brief -2024-08-08

August 08, 2024 00:00:00

21 killed in Nigeria hardship protests

LAGOS, Aug 07: Amnesty International has accused Nigerian security forces of killing at least 21 protesters during a week of economic hardship rallies, the national head of the rights group told AFP on Wednesday. Police have clamped down on protests after thousands of people joined rallies against government policies and the high cost of living last week. Protests have since dwindled significantly. AFP correspondents have seen security forces shooting rifles above crowds of demonstrators and firing tear gas to break up rallies. Security forces have denied responsibility for deaths during the protests, and police in Kano have not responded to AFP's requests for comment. Raising an earlier toll of 13, Amnesty's Nigeria director Isa Sanusi said the group had verified seven further killings in Kano and one in Azare, in northeastern Bauchi state. — AFP

Five killed in Nepal chopper crash

KATHMANDU, Aug 07: A helicopter crashed in central Nepal on Wednesday, killing all five people aboard including the pilot and four Chinese passengers. Nepal has a woeful track record on aviation safety and the Himalayan republic has seen a spate of deadly light plane and helicopter crashes over the decades. The Air Dynasty chopper was heading to Syabrubesi, a starting point for many trekking routes popular with tourists, from the capital Kathmandu. — AFP

Hotel collapse kills one, traps 8 in Germany

BERLIN, Aug 07: Part of a hotel in western Germany collapsed late on Tuesday, killing one person and burying eight others, with rescuers trying to pull them from the rubble on Wednesday, authorities said. A floor in the hotel in Kroev, a town some 110 kilometres (68 miles) west of Frankfurt, collapsed for unknown reasons around 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, police said in a statement. Of the 14 people inside at the time, five managed to get out. Of the eight who were trapped "some were seriously injured", with firefighters having established contact with some of them, police said. —AFP