Tunisian president calls for solid cooperation between UN, African Union

TUNIS, Oct 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian President Kais Saied called for solid cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and various regional organizations, particularly the African Union (AU), according to a statement released by the presidency. “Developing such cooperation is a strategic priority and an effective tool to deal with key…

Pope to visit Canada after indigenous school scandal

Pope Francis THE VATICAN, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pope Francis will visit Canada as the Catholic Church seeks to rebuild bridges with the indigenous community following a horrifying scandal of abuse at Church-run residential schools, the Vatican said.“The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the Holy Father to make…

US sanctions two Lebanese businessmen, a lawmaker for corruption

WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States Treasury has imposed sanctions on two top Lebanese contractors and a lawmaker close to the Hezbollah movement over alleged large-scale corruption that undermined the rule of law in Lebanon.Businessmen Jihad al-Arab and Dany Khoury, close to former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri…

Ethiopia air raid on Tigray kills six, including children

Residents sift through rubble from a destroyed building at the scene of an air raid in Mekelle, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia ADDIS ABABA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s military has carried out an air raid on the capital of the war-torn Tigray region that a hospital official…

Post-Brexit crisis: UK calls in French envoy over ‘threats’ as fishing dispute deepens

The British trawler Cornelis Gert Jan in port in Le Havre after being detained by French authorities PARIS, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Britain summoned the French ambassador to explain “threats” made over post-Brexit fishing rights, hours after France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex offered to open talks to resolve the increasingly…

Mexico to give visa to children, pregnant women in migrant caravan

MEXICO CITY, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico said it would give humanitarian visas to children and pregnant women in a migrant caravan moving north from southern Mexico, adopting a softer approach to the task of containing migrant flows than at times taken recently. Lasting a year, the visas grant migrants…

Cuba approves laws granting greater rights as criticism of protesters’ arrests heats up

HAVANA, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba’s National Assembly approved a raft of laws broadening citizens’ legal rights even as the country comes under fire at home and abroad for a crackdown on protests earlier this year. The changes stem from the 2019 constitution, which required reforms to modernise Cuba’s judicial…

Sudan coup: US Pres Biden lashes junta, deaths climb in anti-coup protests

KHARTOUM/WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and United Nations dialled up the pressure on Sudan’s new military junta as confrontations between soldiers and anti-coup protesters took the death toll to at least 11. After the 15-member UN Security Council called for the restoration of Sudan’s civilian-led government – toppled…

US senators propose adding boycott of China’s Winter Olympics to defence Bill

WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bipartisan group of US senators on Thursday (Oct 28) proposed an amendment to an annual defense policy bill that would impose a diplomatic boycott of China’s Winter Olympics – less than 100 days away – amid accusations of rights abuses by Beijing. The amendment, led by Republican Senator…

Sudan coup: World Bank suspends aid after military takeover

Demonstrations against the coup are continuing  KHARTOUM, Oct 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank has suspended its aid to Sudan, after the military there staged a coup against the civilian government. Political leaders were arrested on Monday, sparking nationwide protests and international condemnation. The African Union (AU) has also suspended…