Portuguese president dissolved parliament; general election on Jan 30, 2022

LISBON, Nov 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced decisions to dissolve the parliament and hold new general elections on Jan 30, 2022. The president made the statement in his nationally televised speech, in a bid to solve the political crisis after the 2022 State Budget of…

Tanzania has never withdrawn from African Court – VP Mpango

Tanzania’s Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Government of Tanzania refuted widely circulated claims that it had withdrawn from the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights. Speaking at the Fifth African Judicial Dialogue, a conference that brought together legal and judicial stakeholders…

US: New York Mayor-elect Adams says he will take his first three paychecks in bitcoin

NEW YORK, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York Mayor-elect Eric Adams said he would take his first three paychecks in bitcoin and signaled his intention to make his city the “center of the cryptocurrency industry” after he takes office in January. “In New York we always go big, so I’m…

US offers reward of up to US$10 million for information on DarkSide cybercrime group

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of State announced a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any individual holding a key leadership position in cybercrime group DarkSide. In addition, the State Department also said it was offering a reward of…

Post-Brexit fishing row: France and Britain defuse row with ‘positive’ talks

French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune (right) shakes hands with British Brexit minister David Frost during their meeting in Paris PARIS, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France and Britain moved to defuse their dispute over fishing, with sanctions off the table for now but all options still possible should talks fail,…

UN official says Sudan deal under discussion, needed in ‘days not weeks’

Protesters march against the Sudanese military’s recent seizure of power and ousting of the civilian government, in the streets of the capital Khartoum KHARTOUM, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN special envoy for Sudan said talks had yielded the outline of a potential deal on a return to power-sharing, including restoration…

Calls for ceasefire in Ethiopia grow amid deepening conflict

A general view of the skyline of Addis Ababa ADDIS ABABA, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — African and Western nations called for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia after Tigrayan forces from the country’s north said they made advances towards the capital this week. The US special envoy for the Horn of Africa,…

Sweden moves closer to getting first woman prime minister

Sweden’s Minister of Finance Magdalena Andersson STOCKHOLM, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson moved a step closer to becoming Sweden’s first woman prime minister when the ruling Social Democrat party elected her as its leader in place of Stefan Lofven. Lofven, the current prime minister, wants to step…

US calls on China to not limit journalists’ freedom at 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States urged China not to restrict access and movement for journalists reporting on next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China this week said it was concerned about a lack of transparency from organisers of the games, which begin in…

Mexico shooting: Two suspected gang members killed in beach shooting near Cancun resort

Tourists in the Cancun resort area of Mexico were forced to take cover after a shootout between two rival gangs MEXICO CITY, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two suspected drug gang members were shot dead in a beachfront clash between rival groups near the Mexican resort of Cancun, authorities said, a…