Ethiopia aims to cut sugar tax ahead of privatization plan

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia plans to cut an excise tax on sugar to 20% from 33%, according to a draft law in parliament, proposing the move ahead of plans to privatize the sugar industry as part of a government drive to open up the economy. A trader…

First Ebola relapse recorded in DR Congo outbreak, WHO says

A Congolese health worker administers ebola vaccination to a resident at a centre in Goma, DR Congo GENEVA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Health officials in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have documented the first relapse in the current Ebola epidemic, the World Health Organization said. The Ebola outbreak in…

Eskom crisis: Arrests over $50m South Africa power station ‘fraud’

 PRETORIA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two former managers at Eskom, South Africa’s ailing power firm, have been arrested for alleged corruption and fraud worth 745m rand. Prosecutors said an investigation had revealed “gross manipulation” of contracts related to the construction of two new large power stations. Two business directors and seven…

South Africa: Initiation schools suspended after circumcision deaths

The rituals associated with the passage into manhood are highly secretive  PRETORIA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The South African authorities have suspended several initiation schools where boys have died in recent weeks taking part in circumcision ceremonies. The country’s religious and cultural commission said the schools in different areas of the Eastern…

US: Pres Trump to give annual address to Congress amid impeachment drama

 WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The top Democrat in the US Congress, Nancy Pelosi, has written to President Donald Trump inviting him to give his State of the Union speech on Feb 4 amid the partisan impeachment battle. The annual speech would come during or soon after his trial in the Senate,…

French regulator fines Google €150m over search engine adverts

PARIS, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s competition authority fined Google €150 million for anti-competitive behaviour and for having unclear advertising on the Google Ads page.The fine comes as France and other European countries maintain high levels of scrutiny on major U.S. tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon,…

Brexit: MPs back Johnson’s bill

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson LONDON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — MPs have backed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan for the UK to leave the EU on Jan 31.They voted 358 to 234 in favour of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which now goes on to further scrutiny in the House of…

Germany: Cabinet approves ban on gay, transgender ‘conversion therapy’

BERLIN, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The German Cabinet approved a bill to ban the advertising or offering of “conversion therapy” to transgender and gay people. Germany moved one step closer to banning “conversion therapy” targeting transgender and gay people after its Cabinet approved a draft bill on Wednesday morning.The bill…

Nigeria: Ex-attorney general held by financial crimes agency over $1.3 billion oil deal

ABUJA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s former attorney general was detained by the country’s financial crimes agency upon his return home on Thursday, the commission said in a statement, as part of an investigation into one of the oil industry’s biggest suspected corruption scandals.Mohammed Adoke was arrested by Interpol in…

Update: Fresh clashes in India as death toll hits nine

NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fresh clashes between Indian police and demonstrators erupted on Friday after more than a week of deadly unrest triggered by a citizenship law seen as anti-Muslim. Three protesters were shot dead on Thursday, taking the death toll to nine in the wave of anger…