World Bank says donors approve release of US$280 million for Afghanistan

An Afghan woman begs for alms in Kabul, Afghanistan WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International donors agreed to release US$280 million in aid to Afghanistan, the World Bank said, after repeated warnings that more than half the population face “acute” food shortages this winter. The fund from the Afghanistan Reconstruction…

Lassina Zerbo named Burkina Faso’s new prime minister

OUAGADOUGOU, Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kabore picked Lassina Zerbo as the country’s new prime minister on Friday, according to a decree issued on Friday evening. “Mr. Lassina Zerbo is named Prime Minister,” according to the decree signed by President Kabore. Zerbo was executive secretary…

Lithuanian FM resigns over Belaruskali sanctions debacle

VILNIUS, Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis submitted Friday his resignation amid the controversy of Belaruskali products being transported via Lithuania despite the US sanctions against Belarus’ fertilizer manufacturer. The Belarusian state-owned company is one of the biggest potash producers in the world, and it exports most…

Death toll rises to 55 in Mexico truck trailer crash

MEXICO CITY, Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of Central American migrants killed in Thursday’s tragic truck trailer accident in south Mexico’s Chiapas state rose to 55, Governor Rutilio Escandon said. More than 150 undocumented migrants were crammed into the trailer when it overturned around 3:30 p.m. local time on…

Britain’s high court grants Julian Assange’s extradition to US

LONDON, Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges, the Royal Courts of Justice ruled here Friday as the body overturned a lower court ruling earlier this year. Assange, 50, is wanted in the United States on allegations of…

Covid-19: Germany approves vaccine mandate for medical staff

BERLIN, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s lower house of parliament passed a draft law Friday requiring healthcare workers and soldiers to get inoculated against Covid-19, a first step toward possible mandatory jabs forall adults.   A large majority of Bundestag MPs voted for the measure requiring staff at hospitals, doctors’…

Benin opposition leader goes on trial on terrorism charges which carries 20-year jail sentence

  PORTO-NOVO, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Benin opposition leader went on trial on terrorism charges on Friday, nine months after she was arrested just before President Patrice Talon’s re-election in April.    Reckya Madougou, one of the opposition leaders banned from running in the election, was arrested in March…

Russia says NATO’s Ukraine, Georgia invite should be ‘officially’ scrapped

 MOSCOW, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said NATO should formally scrap a 2008 decision to open its door to Georgia and Ukraine, insisting that giving Moscow guarantees on halting the bloc’s eastward expansion was in the West’s “fundamental” interests.    The foreign ministry also demanded that NATO stop conducting military…

EU countries agree to take in 40,000 Afghan refugees

European Commissioner Ylva Johansson Published On 9 Dec 20219 Dec 2021 BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of 15 European Union member states have agreed to take in 40,000 Afghans for resettlement, Commissioner Ylva Johansson said after meeting interior ministers of those countries. Germany will accept the bulk of…

Namibia: 14 die in bus-car crash

WINDHOEK, Dec 10 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — NAMIBIA has been left reeling after 14 people perished in a crash that took place on the road to Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa region early on Friday morning. According to a police incident report, a minibus and a sedan were involved in a collision and…