Security Council renews partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Security Council on Friday renewed for another year the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, and added a ban on chemicals used for making improvised explosive devices. The 15-member council voted 12-0 in favor of Resolution 2498 that enabled the…

Feature: “Wonder City” Havana celebrates 500th anniversary

by Raul Menchaca HAVANA, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — As Cuba’s capital celebrates its 500th anniversary of its founding on Nov 16, 1519, residents and visitors alike reflect on what makes Havana unique. “It has a captivating beauty in what can be seen and what cannot,” said Havana historian Eusebio Leal.…

Bolivia withdraws from ALBA, recalls most of its ambassadors

LA PAZ, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivia’s interim government on Friday announced its withdrawal from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a regional integration bloc founded by Cuba and Venezuela that gathers 10 members. It also revoked the status of most of its ambassadors, who had…

Armed men storm opposition Guaido party headquarters in Venezuela

CARACAS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed men stormed the party headquarters of Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido on Friday, one day ahead of a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, Guaido and witnesses said. Dressed in black and carrying pistols and rifles, the hooded men forcedtheir way into the offices of…

Teen gunman in US school shooting dies as police hunt motive

LOS ANGELES, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The teenager who gunned downclassmates at a California high school before shooting himself died Friday,leaving detectives baffled over the motive of a Boy Scout with no obviousalarm bells in his background. Nathaniel Berhow died in a hospital one day after shooting himself in thehead…

UN renews Central Africa peacekeeping mission

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council extended the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the violence-plagued Central African Republic for another year on Friday.The decision comes two months after four UN personnel died when a Russian-made helicopter crashed during an operation against the 3R militia, one of…

Bolivia: Ousted Pres Morales can return, but would face inquiry – interim president

LA PAZ, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s interim President Jeanine Anez said that ousted former President Evo Morales is free to return, but would have to respond to allegations of electoral fraud and would not be immune from investigation. Anez said she was in talks with lawmakers from Morales’ party…

Hit by drought and power cuts, Zimbabwe steps up battery storage

BULAWAYO, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As worsening drought slashes the country’s hydropower production, creating lengthy power cuts, Zimbabwe’s industries are beginning to turn to solar panels and battery storage systems to keep business humming. Distributed Power Africa (DPA), a subsidiary of mobile phone provider Econet Global, has over the last…

Sudan looks to pyramids to attract tourism – and hard currency

The Royal Cemeteries of Meroe Pyramids in Begrawiya at River Nile State MEROE (Sudan), Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portuguese architect Tania Monteiro and her husband are almost alone as they tour Sudan’s pyramids, a world-class attraction long neglected by the world. “People are really, really nice, always very welcoming,” Monteiro…

Spy Swap: Five freed in Russia-Lithuania-Norway exchange

Frode Berg, sentenced to 14 years in prison, had admitted working with Norwegian intelligence MOSCOW, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Russia has taken part in a carefully co-ordinated spy swap with Norway and Lithuania, in a deal that required the Lithuanians to change their laws. It took place at Lithuania’s southern border with…