‘Serious’ rights violations during Chile protests: Human Rights Watch

SANTIAGO, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile’s national police committed“serious human rights violations” as weeks of violent demonstrations across the South American country claimed 25 lives, Human Rights Watch said in a report calling for reform of the force. HRW said the police, known as Carabineros, “committed serious human rights violations,…

Colombian unions, students set more protests in honour of dead teenager

People gather around placards, candles and flowers to honour Dilan Cruz, a teenage demonstrator who died after being injured by a tear gas canister BOGOTA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian unions and student groups will hold another demonstration on Wednesday in honour of a teenage demonstrator who died after being…

Zimbabwe senior doctors stop work as public hospital strike spreads

HARARE, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senior doctors at Zimbabwe’s public hospitals went on strike on Tuesday to protest against the dismissal of junior colleagues who have boycotted work over pay for nearly three months, deepening a crisis in the country’s health sector. Zimbabwe is experiencing its worst economic crisis in…

Argentina’s president-elect rejects remaining IMF money

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina’s president-elect Alberto Fernandez said he would renounce the remaining $11 billion tranche of the country’s International Monetary Fund loan as soon as he takes office next month. Outgoing resident Mauricio Macri agreed a massive $57 billion loan loan package last year, but the…

Bolivia appoints first ambassador to US in 11 years: Official

LA PAZ, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia appointed its first ambassador to the United States in 11 years, officials said, as the interim government resets the country’s foreign policy after the departure of Evo Morales. Walter Oscar Serrate Cuellar has been given the key posting, the foreign ministry announced on…

Nov 27 elections: Namibia’s ruling party faces unexpectedly challenging vote

WINDHOEK, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibia’s registered 1.3 million voters go to the polls Wednesday in a general election that promises to be far removed from the overwhelming victories enjoyed by former liberation movement SWAPO since independence in the resource-rich southern African country in 1990. Foreign interests abound in this…

Update: Rescuers continue search after deadly tremor; death toll rises to 20

Firefighters extracted this injured man from the rubble in Thumane  TIRANA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescuers are searching the rubble of buildings in Albania, where a strong earthquake killed 20 people and injured 600 on Tuesday. The 6.4 magnitude tremor struck 34km north-west of the capital, Tirana, as people slept in their…

South Africa to create extra space for nuclear waste

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Radioactive waste storage facilities at South Africa’s nuclear power station Koeberg will fill up next year, the power utility Eskom said, adding it has begun creating extra space. South Africa is the only country on the continent with a civilian nuclear industry, and its two…

Amnesty says Brazil must combat illegal Amazon cattle ranching

BRASILIA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Amnesty International called on Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro to halt illegal cattle farms it said was fuelling the destruction of the Amazon. The organization and a group of indigenous people from the Amazon delivered a petition that had gathered 160,000 signatures to Bolsonaro’s offices. “Illegal…

US to designate Mexican cartels as ‘terror’ groups: Pres Trump

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. The move comes after Trump called for a “war” on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from…