Spain’s top court bans Catalonia leader from office

Quim Torra was elected in May 2018 and is a staunch separatist MADRID, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s top court has upheld a decision to ban Catalonia’s separatist leader Quim Torra from holding public office. The case stems from Torra’s refusal to take down a pro-independence symbol from a government…

Covid-19: Kenya pubs to reopen Tuesday but schools to stay shut

Alcohol consumption weakens the immune system, health experts say NAIROBI, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCES) — Pubs in Kenya reopen on Tuesday, six months after they were shut to curb the spread of coronavirus. Trading hours, however, have been restricted – they have to close at 22:00 local time. The announcement was…

‘Explosives-strapped donkey’ used by Daesh to ambush Nigerian governor who survived attack

The military has been battling to end the insurgency ABUJA, Sept 29 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — In a highly unusual tactic, militants suspected to be linked to the Daesh group used a donkey strapped with explosives to ambush the convoy of the governor of Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state. The ambush came after…

Togo Prime Minister and government resign

Komi Selom Klassou has served as Togo’s prime minister since 2015 LOME, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togolese Prime Minister Komi Selom Klassou and his government have resigned, in an expected political reshuffle delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The move was anticipated since President Faure Gnassingbe was re-elected in February for…

Somalia’s parliament endorses delegate voting system

The Lower House of Somalia’s Parliament in a session in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s parliament approved the electoral model reached last week by President Mohamed Farmaajo and leaders from the five federal states, paving the way for an indirect election. Some 255 MPs from both Houses of…

Covid-19: Zimbabwe teachers strike as new term re-open after six months

Members of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) HARARE, Sept 29 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Children in Zimbabwe have returned to the classroom for the first time in six months since the Coronavirus outbreak. But teachers are nowhere to be seen as two unions went on strike on Monday in a dispute over…

Illegal money flows from Africa near $90 billion – U.N. study says

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa is losing nearly $89 billion a year in illicit financial flows such as tax evasion and theft, amounting to more than it receives in development aid, a U.N. study showed. The estimate, in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 248-page…

Ethnic violence: Ethiopia regional officials sacked; five districts placed under military control

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is under pressure to quell the violence ADDIS ABABA, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 40 regional government officials in Ethiopia’s western state of Benishangul-Gumuz have been sacked following a wave of ethnic-related violence, the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) has said.Ten of the officials are now…

EU warns against outside interference in Karabakh

BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union warned regional powers not to interfere in fighting in Nagorny Karabakh, and condemned a “serious escalation” that threatens regional stability. Foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said Brussels cannot confirm reports of outside forces joining the conflict, but added: “No external interference in…

EU-UK trade talks resume under Brexit bill cloud

BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Negotiators for the EU and Britain are hoping for a breakthrough in trade talks this week, despite feuding over a controversial UK bill that threatens to scupper a post-Brexit deal. Scores of officials will assemble in Brussels from Monday in efforts to forge a compromise…