US mulls two-year limit for many African student visas

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Proposed new US immigration measures could leave many African students in the country having to reapply for visas in the middle of their degree courses. A plan issued by the Department for Homeland Security (DHS), that is now up for discussion, outlines changes to student…

Sudan begins cleaning up after devastating floods

124 people died and 54 were injured in the floods KHARTOUM, Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 830,000 people have been affected by the devastating floods in Sudan, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said, even though flood waters have been receding in recent days. Most of the damage is found…

Mali coup: Bah Ndaw sworn in as civilian leader

Bah Ndaw, seen here in white, was sworn in at a ceremony in the capital, Bamoko BAMAKO, Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s new president has been sworn into office, five weeks after the overthrow of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. Former Defence Minister Bah Ndaw, 70, was picked by the coup leader,…

Ten migrants drown trying to reach Mayotte

Rescuers picked up survivors perched on coral reefs MAMOUDZOU (Mayotte), Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten migrants from the Comoros, including a seven-year-old child, have drowned while trying to make their way to the island of Mayotte – a French territory in the Indian Ocean.Police said their bodies were found washed…

Russia dismisses US threats on Iran cooperation, to resume trade after UN embargo ends Oct

MOSCOW, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Russia dismissed the threat of US sanctions and attempts to isolate Iran, saying it intended to trade with Tehran once a UN arms embargo expires next month. The embargo on conventional arms shipments to Iran is set to expire on Oct 18 after the United…

Seoul says North’s Kim apologises over ‘defector’ shooting: Yonhap

SEOUL, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un apologised over the killing of a South Korean in its waters, Seoul’s presidential office said Friday according to the Yonhap news agency. Kim called the incident a “disgraceful affair” and apologised “for disappointing President Moon and South Koreans”, it…

Update: 65 Taliban insurgents killed in eastern Afghanistan

KHOST (Afghanistan), Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Afghan security forces have killed 65 Taliban militants during an intense battle in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Thursday, as fighting rages between the two sides despite ongoing peace talks. The latest bloodshed came late Wednesday after the Taliban stormed a military headquarters building in…

Police shooting: FBI probes killing of white boy on family’s drive, shot 13 times

KANSAS CITY, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The FBI is to investigate the fatal police shooting of a teenage boy as he reversed a vehicle out his family’s garage in the US state of Kansas. A police officer fired 13 shots, killing John Albers, 17, on Jan 20, 2018 in a Kansas City suburb. Police…

Covid-19: Health chief hails Africa’s fight against pandemic

African governments urged people to wear masks from the beginning of the outbreak  BRAZZAVILLE, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has praised African states for managing to curb the spread of coronavirus. Africa has seen about 1.4 million cases and 34,000 deaths…

Covid-19: Israel tightens second lockdown to avoid ‘abyss’

Israel has one of the world’s highest rates of infection relative to population size JERUSALEM, Sept 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Israel is set to tighten its second nationwide coronavirus lockdown, with the prime minister warning that the country is at “the edge of the abyss”. The new measures, which parliament must approve, would see…