Lisa Franchetti becomes first woman to lead US Navy

Admiral Lisa Franchetti WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Senate has voted to approve Admiral Lisa Franchetti to lead the US Navy. As Chief of Naval Operations she becomes the first woman to join the elite group of senior military officers who make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Her nomination…

US Secretary of State Blinken reiterates President Biden’s commitment to extend AGOA

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 4 (NNN-SANEWS) — United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated President Joe Biden’s commitment to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond 2025 when it expires.  “President Biden fully supports the reauthorisation of AGOA. But we don’t just want to extend AGOA – we…

Africa has products for the global market: South African minister

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 4 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says what African producers seek is increased access to markets. Speaking on the sidelines of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum held in Johannesburg on Friday, the Minister explained that producers on the African continent…

Storm Ciaran: Fifteen dead as storm batters Western Europe

ROME, Nov 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from Storm Ciaran rose to at least 15 across Western Europe, as heavy downpours and record winds brought chaos to land, sea and air travel. At least six people died in Tuscany, Italian authorities announced, declaring a state of emergency as weather specialists reported record…

Storm Ciaran: Three killed as yacht capsizes off Portugal

LISBON, Nov 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three people died when a sailing boat capsized on Friday and ran aground on a beach in central Portugal, where the coast has seen heavy swells caused by Storm Ciaran, naval authorities said.    The Danish-flagged pleasure boat capsized around a kilometre off one of…

6,000 of 13,000 peacekeepers in Mali withdrawn: UN

United Nations forces patrol the streets of Timbuktu, Mali UNITED NATIONS, Nov 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Some 6,000 of the 13,000 UN peacekeepers in Mali have been withdrawn in a casualty-scarred operation, a UN spokesman said. The mission, known as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, has been…

AGOA an opportunity to elevate labour standards and social justice issues

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 3 (NNN-SANEWS) — The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum creates a significant opportunity to elevate issues associated with labour standards and social justice. This is according to Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi who delivered opening remarks at the Organised Labour and Civil Society AGOA Forum…

Germany is willing to invest in Nigerian gas and minerals: German Chancellor

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ABUJA, Nov 3 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country was willing to invest in gas and critical minerals in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, as he started a two-nation visit to sub-Saharan Africa.This is the third visit to the region by Scholz in two years and comes…

Drug gangs violence: Brazil deploys Armed Forces to control airports and other key sites

BRASILIA, Nov 3 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the militarization of South America’s largest country’s main ports and airports amid growing violence among drug gangs and vigilante militias, it was reported. Lula announced that the Armed Forces were to be deployed to reinforce security at…

Cargo volume at Lake Victoria ports rises

MWANZA (Tanzania), Nov 3 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — CARGO handled at Lake Victoria ports rose to 79,000 tonnes in the first quarter of this fiscal year, which is above the target of 77,000 tonnes, thanks to increased business operations among East African member states. This was said by Lake Victoria Ports’ Operation…