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…

Gambians protest to push for fresh elections

Gambians are angry at President Adama Barrow’s turn-around on promise to call elections BANJUL, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of protesters in the Gambian capital Banjul have called for President Adama Barrow to keep his promise to quit after three years in office and step down next month. He came…

IMF resumes lending to DR Congo

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the release of about $368m to the Democratic Republic of Congo.It’s the IMF’s first resumption of lending to the country since 2012.The IMF had previously suspended a loan programme as the government failed to provide sufficient details about…

FAO chief calls for action to improve food security in Africa

A food security session at the annual World Youth Forum in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Egypt), Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) chief called for urgent action to tackle challenges facing food security in…

UN envoy says West Africa “shaken by unprecedented violence”

A young girl drinks water in the Bakassi IDP camp, in Maiduguri, Nigeria UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN envoy for West Africa and the vast Sahel region told the Security Council that in recent months, the region has been “shaken by unprecedented violence.” A “horrific attack against…

Update: British PM starts reshuffle of cabinet after election victory

LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started to re-assemble his front bench team Monday night as deadline of Brexit is approaching. Conservative Nicky Morgan, who decided not to seek re-election in last week’s general election, has been kept on by Johnson as a member of his…

US slaps sanctions on two South Sudan ministers over peace delay

US slaps sanctions on two S.Sudan ministers over peace delay WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on two sitting ministers in South Sudan, accusing them of obstructing the young country’s peace efforts despite promises to form a unity government.The order against Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk…

India says 20 crew kidnapped from tanker off West Africa

An oil tanker NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India’s foreign ministry said that 20 of its nationals had been kidnapped from an oil tanker in West African waters, where piracy has been on the rise.“Our Mission in Abuja has taken up the matter with the Nigerian authorities, as also…

Uruguay: Football fan shot dead during club’s victory celebrations

Nacional won the Uruguayan 2019 football championship Sunday by defeating Penarol 1-0 MONTEVIDEO, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 24-year-old football fan was shot dead in Montevideo while celebrating Nacional’s victory in the Uruguayan championship, local media reported. Nacional won the Uruguayan 2019 football championship Sunday by defeating Penarol 1-0. Citing…

US reassures Mexico on USMCA labor inspectors

Canadian Vice-Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (L), US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (R) and Mexican negotiator Jesus Seade (C) WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US reassured Mexico that it will not station labor inspectors in the country under a new continental trade deal, after the Mexican president accused Washington of…