Venezuela recovers billions in blocked resources after signing agreement with opposition

MEXICO CITY, Nov 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Venezuelan government and a sector of the opposition, the Unitary Platform coalition, reached a second partial agreement here for releasing blocked resources after a standoff that lasted over a year, the head of the government’s delegation said. The two sides, with an aim…

Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador registers new activity with gas emissions, ash fall

QUITO, Nov 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — Gas and water vapor emissions, a low level of ash and an increase in seismic activity were recorded on Sunday at the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador, according to the Ecuadoran Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School. From 5:40 a.m. local time (10:40 GMT), surveillance…

Al-Shabaab militants attack Somalia hotel, casualties unknown

MOGADISHU, Nov 28 (NNN-XINHUA/AGENCIES) — Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on the heavily fortified Villa Rosa Hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Sunday, police said. Casualties remained unknown. A huge bomb exploded at the busy hotel, which is frequently used by government officials, local police and witnesses said. “The forces…

Fourteen dead, dozens injured in Cameroon landslide after funeral held in ‘very dangerous spot’

The landslide hit the Damas neighbourhood of Yaounde during a funeral ceremony. YAOUNDE, Nov 28 (NNN-XINHUA/AGENCIES) — A landslide killed at least 14 people during a funeral in Cameroon’s capital on Sunday, the region’s governor said. Dozens of others were missing as rescue crews dug through the rubble with flashlights. Rescue…

Feature: Africa urges climate actions rather than broken promises, double standard

KAMPALA, Nov 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — Many African participants walked into the UN climate conference held earlier this month in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh with much optimism, but came out with unmet expectations. The two-week gathering, also known as the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties…

Cuban and Qatar Health Ministers hold talks on bilateral cooperation

 DOHA, Nov 28 (NNN-ACN) — Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal met in Qatar with his counterpart Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari on ways to boost cooperation between the two countries.The two officials toured a hospital recently opened in Qatar, according to the Cuban embassy in that country, which stressed the…

Municipal Assembly elections in Cuba proceed normally

HAVANA, Nov 28 (NNN-TELESUR) — The electoral day in Cuba to elect the Municipal Assemblies is going on normally with minor incidents, while the voting registers an important affluence almost three hours after the beginning of the local elections. As of 07H00 local time, the polling stations opened for Cubans…

Russia to ban women from being surrogates for foreigners

Paid surrogacy is legal in Russia MOSCOW, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia will soon adopt a law barring foreigners from contracting Russian women to be surrogate mothers for them.Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, made the announcement on Sunday, the nation’s Mother’s Day.Paid surrogacy is…

Africa: Region abandons pro-GMO arena as Kenya awaits first seed import

Anti-GMO activists demonstrating in Nairobi, Kenya NAIROBI, Nov 28 (NNN-GNA) — Kenya stands alone in the region as far as the importation and growing of genetically modified organisms (GMO) are concerned.Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi have all said they are not open to GMOs, and the wider East African Community concurs.On…

Uganda extends quarantine in Ebola epicentre for 21 days

Red Cross workers don PPE prior to burying a three-year-old boy suspected of dying from Ebola KAMPALA, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has extended a quarantine placed on two districts that are the epicenter of the country’s Ebola outbreak by 21 days, adding that his government’s response…