Somalia crisis deepens as president withdraws PM’s powers

Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble MOGADISHU, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has suspended Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble’s power to hire and fire officials, the latest development in a destabilizing feud that has plunged the country into a fresh crisis.The dispute between the two leaders…

Burundi seeks to revamp the Bujumbura port

The port has never been modernized since its construction in 1950 BUJUMBURA, Sept 17 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Burundi last week launched a modernization project to the port of Bujumbura in a bid to boost efficiency to its operations. The project will be financed and implemented by Japan and is estimated to…

Covid-19: Togolese rush to get vaccine as covid pass launches

A long queue was seen outside a clinic in Doumassesse OME, Sept 17 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Togo moto-taxi driver Kossigan Fandji was twice barred from entering his local town hall to try to access his documents because he failed to present a COVID-19 vaccine card.Fandji joined the rush of Togolese getting the jab…

ECOWAS slaps Guinea junta with travel, financial assets sanctions

ECOWAS leaders in a group photo after the Accra summit of Sept 16 ACCRA (Ghana), Sept 17 (NNN-GNA) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions, including a freeze in financial assets and travel bans, on the military junta in Guinea.The bloc has also given the military…

SpaceX’s tourist crew ‘healthy, happy and resting’

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — SpaceX’s all-civilian Inspiration4 crew are “healthy, happy and resting comfortably,” the company said in its first update since the pioneering mission blasted off from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday night. The four American space tourists “travelled 5.5 times around Earth, completed their first round of scientific research, and…

Covid-19: Italy readies law to make health pass mandatory for all workers

ROME, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Italian government approved on Thursday some of the strictest anti-COVID measures in the world, making it obligatory for all workers either to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from infection. Italy become the first country in Europe to make it…

Mexican president urges US Pres Biden to end Cuba sanctions

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (L) and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City MEXICO CITY, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday appealed to US President Joe Biden to end sanctions against Cuba, warning the measures risked fomenting unrest. Lopez Obrador made the plea…

Dutch foreign minister resigns over Afghan crisis

Outgoing Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag THE HAGUE, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag resigned on Thursday after parliament formally condemned her handling of the Afghanistan evacuation crisis. Lawmakers approved a motion criticising the government for failing to evacuate some Afghans, and for missing signs of an imminent…

Australia nuclear sub deal will help peace in Indo-Pacific: UK PM

 LONDON, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to play down Chinese fears that a deal to provide Australia  with nuclear-powered US submarines threatened regional stability.    Johnson told parliament the move, part of a new defence alliance between  Britain, Australia and the United States, was “not…

Libya’s NOC says Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil terminals blockades have ended

The oil port of Es Sider, Libya TRIPOLI, Sept 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s National Oil Corp (NOC) on Thursday said that a blockade of the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil terminals had ended and that export operations had returned to normal. Protesters at those two ports and another, Hariga, had…