Benin asks EU to replace ambassador accused of ‘subversive’ activities

COTONOU, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Benin called on the European Union (EU) to send a new ambassador to the West African country as the incumbent one was ordered to leave for his involvement in “subversive” activities, Benin’s government spokesman Alain Orounla said here Thursday. “Our country wishes to maintain the…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro congratulates Uruguayan president-elect

BRASILIA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday congratulated Uruguay’s president-elect Luis Lacalle Pou over phone on his victory in the election, the foreign ministry said in a statement. “President Bolsonaro wished success to President Lacalle Pou in carrying out the mandate granted by the Uruguayans and…

Brazil’s infant mortality down 91.6 pct since 1940

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil’s infant mortality fell to 12.4 deaths per every 1,000 live births in 2018, the country’s statistics agency IBGE said. The figures represent a 91.6 percent decrease from 1940, when infant mortality in Brazil stood at 146.6 deaths per every 1,000 live births.…

Cuba works to boost renewable energy by 2030

HAVANA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cuba hopes to generate a quarter of its energy needs from renewable sources over the next decade, an industry official said on Thursday. The government’s Renewable Energy Development Program aims to raise clean energy output from today’s 4 percent to 24 percent by 2030, said…

43 refugees evacuated from Libya to Niger

TRIPOLI, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that 43 refugees have been evacuated from Libya to Niger. “43 refugees safely landed in Niger in the latest UNHCR humanitarian evacuation from Libya and will be resettled to Switzerland in a later stage,”…

Turkey to deport 11 French IS suspects: minister

ANKARA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Turkey will deport 11 French national Daesh suspects to their home country next month, said Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. “This week we will carry out repatriations (of Daesh suspects) to Belgium and Ireland on Friday and Saturday. Also, we will send 11 French national…

200 Houthi prisoners freed by Saudi-led coalition arrive in Yemen’s capital

Freed Houthi prisoners ride a bus as they arrive at the airport in Sanaa SANAA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 200 Houthi prisoners who had been freed by the Saudi-led coalition arrived on Thursday in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. The freed prisoners were transported from Saudi Arabia by planes…

US Pres Trump visits troops in Afghanistan, says Taliban talks back on

BAGRAM (Afghanistan), Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump said the US had resumed talks with Taliban insurgents as he made asurprise trip to Afghanistan to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday withtroops. On a brief visit to Bagram Airfield outside the capital Kabul, Trump servedturkey dinner to soldiers, posed for photographs…

Update: Iraq crackdown kills nearly 40 after Iran mission torched

BAGHDAD, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iraq’s protest-hit cities saw oneof their bloodiest days yet on Thursday as a government crackdown killednearly 40 demonstrators following the dramatic torching of an Iranianconsulate. The country’s capital and south have been rocked by the worst street unrestsince the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam…

Turkey and Libya sign deal on maritime zones in the Mediterranean

ISTANBUL, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized government have signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea as well as a deal on expanded security and military cooperation, the Turkish government said. There were no immediate details on the maritime accord, which could further complicate…