Tunisian president appoints ambassador to US

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied TUNIS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed Hanene Tajouri Bessassi as ambassador to the United States, weeks after he dismissed her predecessor without explanation. Saied has removed numerous officials from their posts since July 25, when he sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed…

Algerians blame French Pres Macron ‘electioneering’ for latest crisis

Media reported that French president Emmanuel Macron had told descendents of Algeria’s war of indpendence that the North African country was ruled by a “political military system” that had “totally re-written” its history ALGIERS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As ties with France deteriorate, many in Algeria blame electioneering by President…

Venezuela to reopen border with Colombia after years-long closure

CARACAS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela will reopen its border with Colombia on Tuesday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a state television address on Monday, after a nearly three-year closure due to political tensions. Venezuela closed the border in February 2019 as the Venezuelan opposition, backed by Bogota…

Disgraced ex-Peru president Fujimori undergoes heart operation

  LIMA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Disgraced former Peru president Alberto Fujimori underwent heart surgery Monday after his health deteriorated, said his daughter Keiko Fujimori, who is also his political heir.   “My father has undergone an operation, he has had a catheterization and a stent has been placed,” she…

France reserved as US Sec of State Blinken visits to patch up ties

  PARIS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold potentially delicate talks in Paris on Tuesday to patch up ties with France, which is still angry over the cancellation of a submarine contract.   President Emmanuel Macron was furious last month when Australia scrapped a…

Covid-19: Ireland’s daily cases fall below 1,000 for first time since mid-July

DUBLIN, Oct 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ireland’s daily count of COVID-19 cases stood at 892 on Monday, falling below 1,000 for the first time since mid-July, according to the Irish Department of Health. Daily cases in the country had remained above 1,000 for 79 consecutive days since it jumped to 1,170…

Veld fires in Namibia burn farms, kill animals

 Farmers try to extinguish fires on the R49 between Mahikeng and Zeerust WINDHOEK, Oct 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Namibia has recorded 27 veld fires countrywide in the last 14 days, causing massive destruction to properties, an environment official said. Veld fires, which have burned 59 farms covering 143,000 hectares of land…

Offshore drilling urged to stop after mass oil spill off California

LOS ANGELES, Oct 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — A group of US House representatives and senators from the state of California on Monday called for the end to offshore drilling, two days after a major oil spill incident near Orange County left fish dead, birds mired in petroleum and wetlands contaminated. Nanette…

Soldiers are delivering fuel in Britain as ‘challenging’ shortages persist

The fuel shortage has persisted for more than a week LONDON, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The army started supplying service stations in the United Kingdom on Monday in an effort to end more than a week of shortages that have forced pumps to close and left motorists without fuel.Tanker drivers…

Romanian billionaire dies when his private plane crashes near Milan

ROME, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One of Romania’s richest men, billionaire business executive Dan Petrescu, was killed along with his wife, son and several others when a plane he was piloting crashed in the outskirts of Milan just minutes after takeoff. Petrescu, 68, was a flight enthusiast whose wealth exceeded…