Senegal delays auction of late president Léopold Sédar Senghor’s military medals and jewellery in France; intends to buy them directly

Léopold Sédar Senghor retired to northern France with his wife  DAKAR, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An auction in France of items belonging to the first Senegalese president has been delayed, as the government in Dakar negotiates to buy them directly. Léopold Sédar Senghor’s possessions – including military medals and jewellery…

DP World in Tanzania: The UAE firm taking over Africa’s ports

DODOMA (Tanzania), Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A multimillion-dollar deal signed between Emirati maritime giant DP World and Tanzania looks set to further entrench the dominance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Africa’s freight industry. Reports of the $250m deal first emerged in July, sparking criticism by the opposition that…

Iceland: PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir join thousands of women on strike over gender pay gap

 REYKJAVIK, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of women in Iceland, including Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, will refuse to work on Tuesday. The “kvennafri”, or women’s day off, has been called in protest at the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. Fields in which women are the majority of…

Peru confirms foreigners can regularize immigration status until Nov 10

LIMA, Oct 24 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola confirmed that the deadline for foreigners to regularize their immigration status in Peru will be Friday, Nov 10. “The deadline will end on November 10. We are in a position to ensure that the extraordinary deadline will end on the date…

Latin American leaders make appeal to US on migration

 MEXICO CITY, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Latin American leaders holding a summit called on the United States to change the way it deals with the flood of illegal migration heading to its border. For Washington, this is a red hot issue with political fallout on the scale of the wars…

A strayed Swedish ferry runs aground and spills diesel; passengers evacuated

STOCKHOLM, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A ferry ran aground in southern Sweden, spilling diesel over several kilometres, but the vessel’s 75 passengers were taken to safety, officials said. The Marco Polo TT-Line ferry got stuck south of Karlshamn early on Sunday, according to the coastguard. The ferry “leaked diesel fuel…

Colombian president to visit China this week: foreign ministry

BEIJING, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro will visit China this week, Beijing’s foreign ministry said Monday, seeking to strengthen ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Petro’s visit comes at the invitation of President Xi Jinping and will take place from Tuesday to Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson…

More than 1,400 African migrants reach Spain’s Canaries

 MADRID, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,400 African migrants have reached Spain’s Canary Islands this weekend, with one vessel bringing a single-boat record of 321 people, authorities said. A total of 1,457 migrants had reached the Spanish islands off the western African coast between Friday night and Sunday morning,…

Two dead, residents trapped as Storm Babet batters Scotland

EDINBURGH (Scotland), Oct 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people died and families were trapped in flooded homes in Scotland on Friday as Storm Babet moved east after pounding Ireland. The UK’s Met Office issued a rare red severe weather warning for parts of eastern Scotland with “exceptional rainfall” of up to…

Four women killed in Kenya stampede over mistaken tear gas fear

NAIROBI, Oct 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four women died in a stampede in western Kenya Friday after a crowd panicked when people mistook the effect of tea spilt on a fire for tear gas, police said. The incident in the town of Kericho happened outside a stadium where President William Ruto…