Military junta orders UN boss to leave Niger within 72 hours

NIAMEY, Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Niger’s military rulers have demanded that the head of the United Nations’ diplomatic mission in the country leave within 72 hours.A statement from the West African nation’s foreign ministry accused the UN of using “underhanded manoeuvres”, instigated by France, to stop Niger fully participating in…

Liberians await election results as George Weah and Joseph Boakai vie for presidency

MONROVIA, Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Votes are being counted in Liberia after Tuesday’s election with President George Weah seeking a second term. Local and regional election observers said that polling was peaceful, despite clashes between rival political camps in the final days of the campaign. Voter turnout was reported to be…

Namibia, South Africa to explore business opportunities

WINDHOEK, Oct 12 (NNN-SANEWS) — Namibia and South Africa’s business executives will be exploring opportunities to increase trade and investment flows between the two countries at the Namibia-South African Business Forum and Exhibition on Friday. The Business Forum and Exhibition, which will be held at the Windhoek Country Club, will…

South Africa population grows from 51.7 million to 62 million

e PRETORIA, Oct 12 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s population has increased from 51.7 million in 2011 to more than 62 million in 2022, which is a growth rate of 1.8% in the intercensal period. This is according to Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke, who handed over South Africa’s Census 2022 national results…

Peru’s President begins official trip to Germany, Italy, and Vatican

LIMA, Oct 12 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian Pres Dina Boluarte has begun an official trip to Germany, Italy, and the Vatican from Oct 11 to 15. Within this framework, the Head of State will meet with high-ranking political and religious authorities in order to strengthen bilateral relations with these nations. Boluarte departed…

Finland gas pipe likely damaged by ‘mechanical force’: Police

HELSINKI, Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Finnish authorities said the leak leading to the shutdown of a natural gas pipeline from Estonia to Finland appeared to have been caused by “mechanical” force and not a blast. The authorities declined to speculate on the specific nature of the force but said previously…

Ugandan MPs reject birth control for 15-year-old girls

KAMPALA, Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ugandan lawmakers have rejected a government proposal to allow 15-year-old girls to access birth control pills to reduce high levels of pregnancy. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa called the idea “devilish”, saying it would “formalise [the] defilement” of girls. A senior health ministry official said the “stigma”…

Extremely dangerous’ Hurricane Lidia hits Mexico’s Pacific coast

PUERTO VALLARTA (Mexico), Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hurricane Lidia made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, threatening to bring flooding and mudslides, forecasters said. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said earlier that civil protection personnel were on alert and around 6,000 members of the…

Spain: A mother and her three children dead as fire guts building, father and another child among injured – press reports

VIGO (Spain), Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three children and an adult died when a fire ripped through a building in the northwestern port city of Vigo early on Wednesday, officials said, just 10 days after another blaze claimed 13 lives at a nightclub in southern Spain. The fire broke out…

11 UN staff, 30 pupils at UN schools, killed in Gaza: spokesman

UNITED NATIONS, Oct  12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 11 UN staff and personnel, as well as 30 students at UN schools, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants launched their attack on Israel, a spokesman said. “11 UNRWA staff and personnel have been killed since Saturday,” spokesman…