Lithuanian port caught in Belarus crossfire

KLAIPEDA (Lithuania), Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A vital maritime trade hub for landlocked Belarus, the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda now faces economic fallout from the Baltic state’s hard line against President Alexander Lukashenko. The embattled Belarusian leader has threatened to re-route import and export cargo through Russian ports after Lithuania…

Covid-19: Global death toll passes one million

PARIS, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The global death toll from the new coronavirus, which emerged less than a year ago in China and has swept across the world, passed one million on Sunday. The pandemic has ravaged the global economy, inflamed geopolitical tensions and upended lives, from Indian slums and…

Switzerland firmly reject end to free movement with EU

Opponents of the proposal argued it would damage relations with the EU and hurt trade BERN, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to end an accord with the EU allowing the free movement of people. With all referendum votes counted, nearly 62% said they wanted to…

Mass arrests and tear gas in Belarus on seventh weekend of protests

For the seventh straight weekend Minsk saw a mass protest MINSK, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belarus police carried out mass arrests as tens of thousands of people again gathered for protests calling on Pres Alexander Lukashenko to step down. More than 50 people were detained on Sunday, rights groups said.Video…

Sudan rejects linking removal from US terrorism list with Israel ties

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok KHARTOUM, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan does not want to link its removal from a US terrorism list that is hindering access to foreign funding for the country’s economy with a normalisation of relations with Israel, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said. Sources said this week…

Militants kill 18 in north-eastern Nigeria

The soldiers’ funerals took place on Saturday ABUJA, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian military says 18 people have been left dead after an ambush on a government convoy in the north-east of the country. It said four soldiers, 10 police officers and four civilians were killed in the attack…

Ethiopia tells UN ‘no intention’ of using dam to harm Egypt, Sudan

Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia PM ADDIS ABABA, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, told the United Nations that his country has “no intention” of harming Sudan and Egypt with a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile that has caused a bitter water dispute between the three countries.…

Sudanese rebels, State to ink final peace deal on Oct 3

A Sudanese man gestures the peace sign during the singing of the Sudan peace deal JUBA (South Sudan), Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Key Sudanese parties are set to sign the final peace deal in Juba early next month to cement an initial agreement inked in August, the mediation team said..…

Libya: 22 migrants rescued by fishing boats; three dead, 13 missing

The International Organization for Migration said another 13 people were unaccounted for TRIPOLI, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The bodies of three migrants have been recovered after a vessel sank off the coast of western Libya. The International Organization for Migration said another 13 people were unaccounted for. Twenty-two survivors were…

South African defence minister’s pay docked over use of air force plane by politicians

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of misusing state resources PRETORIA, Sept 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s president has docked three months of the defence minister’s pay after she allowed governing party officials to fly on an air force plane to Zimbabwe with her on Sept 9.Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of misusing…