French Pres Macron’s West Africa visit: Ivory Coast, Niger lined up (Dec 20 – 22)

Emmanuel Macron PARIS, Dec 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — French President Emmanuel Macron is set to undertake a two-nation tour of West Africa, the presidency disclosed on Tuesday. He is expected to visit Ivory Coast before proceeding to Niger.His visit to Niamey has been described as a short one on Dec 22,…

UK and US call for more action to end Sahel conflict

The leaders of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK and the US have told the UN Security Council that West African governments were not doing enough to end escalating violence in the Sahel. Despite the presence of thousands of regional and…

Nigerian church set ablaze over missing child

The child allegedly went missing from the church last month ABUJA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters have set ablaze a church in Akure city, south-west Nigeria, following unconfirmed rumours that the body of a missing one-year-old child had been found buried by the altar.Witnesses said two of the protesters were…

Nearly 700,000 displaced by east DR Congo violence: MSF

GOMA (DR Congo), Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 700,000 people have been displaced by violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said, pointing to “worrying” cases ofmalnutrition and sexual violence. In a press release, it said more than 687,500 displaced people were nowliving in camps or…

Mexico the origin of Hong Kong’s largest meth seizure in a decade

File photo used for sample purpose only. HONG KONG, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hong Kong customs announced its largest seizure of methamphetamine in a decade on Tuesday – 110kg of Ice with an estimated street value of HK$77 million (US$10 million) that originated in Mexico. The seizure points towards the growing presence of meth…

British warship HMS Scott joins the search for the missing Chilean C130 Hercules

PUNTA ARENAS (Chile), Dec 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Royal Navy vessel HMS Scott arrived to provide support to the Chilean military in their response to the loss of a C130 military plane that went missing earlier in the week in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. British Forces’ South Atlantic Islands, based…

Argentine police arrest four suspects linked to the gang that killed an English tourist

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine authorities said they had identified suspects in the shooting death of a British tourist killed in an armed robbery attempt outside a luxury Buenos Aires hotel over the weekend. Police said they were still looking to arrest those suspected of the shooting, but…

Brazilian government dismisses as a “commercial game” results of COP25 climate talks in Madrid

BRASILIA/MADRID, Dec 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic, dismissed as a “commercial game” the result of the COP25 climate talks in Madrid. He particularly singled out rich European nations as the players. Brazil was meant to host this year’s global climate meeting but withdrew its…

Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly approves trial of four opposition lawmakers

CARACAS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s pro-government Constituent Assembly approved a trial for four opposition lawmakers accused of committing crimes including treason and conspiracy. The lawmakers’ parties have denied the charges and denounced the process as another step taken by President Nicolas Maduro’s government to dismantle the opposition-controlled national assembly,…

France promises to return looted Benin statues by 2021

Three Great Royal Statues of ancient Dahomey are displayed at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris PORTO-NOVO, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French culture minister says his government will return artworks taken from Benin during the colonial conquest of the region by 2021.Franck Riester was speaking on a visit to…