Italy: No clear flight plan for Alitalia after rescue stalls

ROME, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Efforts to save loss-making Alitalia havereached an impasse after months of unsuccessful negotiations with potential buyers, leaving Italy’s government undecided on the next move. The struggling carrier, which has been under special administration since2017 and continues to burn through cash, is now at a standstill…

EU to be more ‘assertive’ says new chief Michel

Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk (right) and newly appointed European Council President Charles Michel Brussels, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe will become more “assertive” on the world stage, the new head of the European Council, Charles Michel, vowed as he took over from Donald Tusk. They staged a formal…

Fatal attacks on DR Congo clinics risk resurgence of Ebola epidemic

GOMA (DR Congo), Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International organizations warned of a potential resurgence of Ebola in Congo after deadly militia attacks on health centers forced aid groups to suspend operations and withdraw staff from the epidemic’s last strongholds. Mai Mai militia fighters killed four people and injured several others…

Sudan PM elected chairperson of regional body IGAD

Abdalla Hamdok ADDIS ABABA, Dec 1 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdock has been elected chairperson of the regional political bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD. IGAD Heads of State and government representatives met for the 13th Ordinary Summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa where Hamdock was…

Algerian protesters keep up pressure on authorities as vote nears

ALGIERS, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of Algerian protesters marched to demand that a presidential election next month be canceled until the old ruling guard step aside and the army quit politics. The marches, held in cities and towns across the country, marked the 41st consecutive weekly protest…

Zimbabwe doctors reject ‘return to work offer’

Striking doctors HARARE, Dec 1 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Zimbabwe state doctors who were fired for going on strike have rejected a government offer to return to work, their union said. The doctors went on strike on Sept 3 to protest against poor wages, in some cases less than US$100 a month.…

Libyan Navy rescues over 200 migrants

TRIPOLI, Dec 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Libyan Coast Guard rescued more than 200 migrants off the country’s western coast, the International Organization for Migration in Libya (IOM Libya) said. “Over 200 migrants were just returned to Libyan shore by the coast guard,” the IOM Libya tweeted earlier Saturday. “While our…

US: 9 dead, including 2 children, in South Dakota plane crash

CHAMBERLAIN (South Dakota, US), Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine people, including two children, were killed Saturday when a plane crashed in rough weather near Chamberlain, South Dakota, authorities said. A Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop passenger plane, had as many as 12 people on board when it crashed shortly after…

Namibia’s presidential elections: Pres Geingob secures second term with reduced majority

WINDHOEK, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibian president Hage Geingob on Saturday won the country’s presidential elections with a diminished majority of 56.3 percent, the worst performance of any ruling party candidate for nearly 30 years. Geingob was declared president of this week’s vote, retaining his positionand the ruling South West…

UK: Prime Minister Johnson vows to act as convicted terrorist named in London attack

LONDON, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowedto review Britain’s sentencing system after a convicted terroristreleased early from prison stabbed two people to death and wounded three in a London Bridge attack. Members of the public were hailed as heroes for preventing even greaterloss of life by tackling…