Canada: PM Trudeau names first female finance minister

OTTAWA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeautapped Chrystia Freeland to be Canada’s first female finance minister onTuesday as an ethics scandal that clipped her predecessor’s wingsreverberates through the government. Freeland received a standing ovation after being sworn in at a smallceremony in Ottawa. Guests socially distanced, wore face…

Update1: Mali president announces resignation after military coup

BAMAKO, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation with immediate effect in the early hours ofWednesday morning, a day after rebel soldiers launched a coup. In an address on state television, the 75-year-old also said that both thegovernment and Mali’s national assembly would be dissolved.…

Covid-19: India misses target for food handouts to unregistered migrants

Millions of people fled the cities in India NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Less than a third of India’s 80 million unregistered migrant workers who were hit by the country’s lengthy coronavirus lockdown received government food aid, official figures show. In May, India announced a food aid programme for…

US presidential election: States to sue Trump administration over postal changes amid voting fears

Donald Trump, US president WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A lawsuit led by Washington state will argue that the Postal Service, headed by a Trump ally, implemented the changes illegally and without following procedures required by federal law. “We will ask the court to block these destructive new policies and…

UN tribunal convicts main defendant in Hariri assassination case; 3 others acquitted

UN tribunal convict BEIRUT, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A UN-backed tribunal on Tuesday convicted a Hezbollah member of conspiracy to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing that set the stage for years of confrontation between Lebanon’s rival political forces.There was insufficient evidence against three other…

Brexit: UK hopeful of EU trade deal next month

Negotiations over a free trade agreement between the UK and EU began in early March LONDON, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK still believes it can agree a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU next month, according to Downing Street. The PM’s spokesman said UK negotiators would “continue to plug…

US files charges against Ugandan child adoption ring

The Ugandan children were presented in US courts as orphans WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government has filed fraud and money laundering charges against those behind an adoption scheme that placed Ugandan children who were not orphans with US families.Two Americans, Margaret Cole and Debra Parris, and a…

Covid-19: Nigeria to reopen for international flights

Nigeria announce Aug 29 as date for airports to commence foreign travels ABUJA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian government has announced that it will reopen the country’s airspace for international passenger flights from Aug 29. Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika tweeted that the flights’ resumption will begin with the country’s…

Ethiopia: PM drops defence minister in reshuffle

Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia PM ADDIS ABABA, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reshuffled his cabinet dropping a former close ally, Defence Minister Lemma Megersa.Lemma was recently suspended from the ruling party’s executive committee for “failing to discharge his duties”.Takele Uma, the mayor of the capital, Addis…

Mauritius arrests captain of Japanese ship that caused oil spill

A general view shows the rescue mission at the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio PORT LOUIS, Aug 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mauritius has arrested the captain of a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground off its coast, causing a devastating oil spill in one of the world’s most pristine maritime environments,…