UN chief urges Karabakh rivals to respect truce, condemns civilian deaths

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect a new ceasefire and condemned attacks on civilians in fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Guterres singled out one of the deadliest attacks on civilians so far, when a missile hit a residential…

US presidential election: Pres Trump and democrat rival Biden hit the trail in a charged election week

WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– President Donald Trump and rival Joe Biden hit the ground in the swing states that will decide the US election, as the campaign turns increasingly vicious 16 days before voting. Trump, scrambling to make up lost ground, is on a furious multi-state barnstorming tour, hopping…

Covid-19: Europe passes 250,000 deaths

PARIS, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 250,000 people have died from the new coronavirus across Europe. A total of 250,030 deaths have now been recorded out of 7,366,028 registered cases in Europe. The five worst-hit countries account for more than two thirds of the deaths. Britain has suffered 43,646…

US presidential election: Early voting records smashed amid enthusiasm wave

Pensioners queuing to vote in Indiana earlier this month  WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — State election officials across the US are reporting record numbers of voters casting their ballots ahead of election day on Nov 3. More than 22m Americans had voted early by Friday, either in person or by mail, according to…

Zimbabwe’s debt stifling its economy as experts warn against Chinese loans

Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe HARARE, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Experts are warning that Zimbabwe’s appetite for Chinese loans is pushing the country’s foreign debt to unsustainable levels. According to former finance minister Tendai Biti, who held the post between 2009 and 2013 when Zimbabwe made some steady progress towards…

Zambia’s debt crisis worsens as commercial creditors “refuse” to grant relief

Edgar Lungu, President of Zambia LUSAKA, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia’s debt situation seems to be deepening with some commercial creditors “refusing” to grant it some relief it has been seeking to ease the pressure, the country’s Parliament wass told. “Although we have obtained some relief under the debt service…

East Africa could become a major cannabis export hub

Kenya has had hushed debates for decades over whether to legalise marijuana KIGALI, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) –The East African Community could become a mass producer of medical cannabis for export to fast-growing markets in the West. This is after Rwanda on Oct 12 became the latest EAC partner state to…

Polls close in peaceful Guinea election after tense campaign

President Alpha Condé’s main rival is Cellou Dalein Diallo (R) CONAKRY, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guineans cast ballots for a president on Sunday, with the 82-year-old incumbent Alpha Condé facing his longtime rival Cellou Dalein Diallo for a third time. Guinea‘s election — the first in a string across West Africa…

About 10,000 refugees from Congo, Sudan need food aid in Yei: Official

Reports indicates that the refugees have not received any humanitarian assistance JUBA, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Local officials in Yei River County of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State say more than 10,000 refugees from Sudan and Congo need humanitarian aid in the county. Julius Taban, the assistant commissioner for refugee…

India: 8 killed, over 30 injured in bus-car crash in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least eight people were killedand over 30 others injured Saturday after a passenger bus overturned afterskidding off the road and collided with a car in the northern Indian state ofUttar Pradesh, police said. The accident took place at village Baari Bujhia of Pilibhit…