Ethiopia gold exports surge after crackdown on smuggling

Official gold shipments in July and August totaled 700 kilograms ADDIS ABABA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian gold exports surged after the central bank offered higher prices for the metal in a bid to curb smuggling and as part of wider efforts to spur investment in mining. Ethiopia’s gold industry…

8 migrants dead, 12 missing after forced off boat by traffickers near Djibouti coast: IOM

  DJIBOUTI, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight migrants died and 12 were missing after smugglers forced them off a boat near Djibouti, a spokeswoman for the International Organisation of Migration said. The migrants were all believed to be Ethiopians returning to the Horn of Africa after failing to reach Saudi…

Covid-19: Restaurants to stay open, but Paris goes on maximum virus alert

PARIS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Paris restaurants will be allowed to stay open — but under tightened restrictions — when the city is placed on maximum coronavirus alert in the face of alarming Covid-19 infection numbers, the prime minister’s office announced. However bars and cafes in Paris and its environs…

Covid-19: Venezuela’s Pres Maduro says son to join virus vaccine trial

CARACAS, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his son will join trials of Sputnik V, the coronavirus vaccine which was met with caution when Russia announced it was the world’s first to be approved. An initial batch of the vaccine arrived in Venezuela on Friday, the government…

Covid-19: New York mayor announces shutdown plan for nine neighborhoods

NEW YORK, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he planned to put nine neighborhoods back under tight shutdowns as Covid-19 cases rise in the city, which had largely controlled the pandemic after a catastrophic outbreak. “Today, unfortunately, is not a day for celebration,” de Blasio…

Covid-19: Global cases surpass 35 mln – Johns Hopkins University

NEW YORK, Oct 5 (NNN-XINHUA) — Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 35 million on Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. The global case count reached 35,008,447 with a total of 1,034,818 deaths worldwide as of 3:23 p.m. local time (1923 GMT), the…

US presidential elections: At 7.9%, US jobless rate spells trouble for Pres Trump

The US unemployment rate fell to 7.9% in September, from 8.4% in August WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US unemployment rate fell to 7.9% in September, from 8.4% in August, a big drop that in normal times would be welcome news for a presidential incumbent seeking reelection in just…

Two killed in Kenya’s political clash between supporters of Pres Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto

President Kenyatta (R) and his deputy Ruto (L) have fallen out NAIROBI, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people have been killed and several injured in clashes between supporters of Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and those backing his deputy, William Ruto.Rival supporters pelted each other with stones and burnt tyres as…

Sudan, rebel alliance sign peace deal

Rebels leaders gesture after the signing of the peace agreement JUBA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s transitional authorities and a rebel alliance signed a peace deal agreed in August that aims to put an end to the country’s decades-long civil wars, in a televised ceremony in Juba. “The next biggest…

Ethiopian Airlines limits South African offer to pilots, planes

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Airlines Group is willing to provide planes, pilots and maintenance services to beleaguered rival South African Airways as part of a joint venture with that country’s government. Africa’s biggest airline is offering operational assistance, Ethiopian Chief Executive Officer Tewolde GebreMariam said in an…