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…

Guinea-Bissau poll: ECOWAS has standby army to prevent a coup

BISSAU, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) warned it had a standby military force poised to “re-establish order” in the event of a coup in Guinea Bissau.The warning came as the West African states rejected claims of ballot fraud in Sunday’s election despite claims…

US recalls ambassador after South Sudan fails to form unity government

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has recalled its ambassador to South Sudan following the failure of President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar to form a joint government as agreed in a peace deal.The State Department said Thomas Hushek would return to help the US re-evaluate its…

Libya conflict: US officials meet east-based Gen Haftar

Gen Haftar WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US State Department has confirmed that senior officials met the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar to discuss steps towards a ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict there.Gen Haftar – whose power base is in eastern Libya – launched an attack on…

13 French troops killed in helicopter crash in Mali

PARIS, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirteen French soldiers were killed when two helicopters collided during an operation against jihadists in Mali, the French president’s office said.The accident happened on Monday evening, according to a statement from the presidential palace.French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “deep sadness” over the incident.In 2013,…

Huge student protest against government in Algeria

ALGIERS, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algerian students have taken to the streets of the capital, Algiers, ahead of next month’s presidential election, in a continuation of protests that began last February.About 1,000 demonstrators marched from Martyrs’ Square chanting for a free and democratic Algeria.They are angry that all five candidates…

Ruling party wins 99% of seats in Tanzania’s local elections, boycotted by opposition

President John Magufuli DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s ruling party won more than 99 percent of seats in local elections boycotted by the opposition, according to official figures.The vote on Sunday was for 16,000 seats for street and village leaders, positions that are highly influential in Tanzanian…

Zambia hero pilot lands plane damaged in hailstorm

The plane was struck by lightning during the flight LUSAKA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A pilot in Zambia performed a heroic feat on Monday when he managed to safely land a Dash 8-300 plane, with 41 passengers on board, after it was hit by a hailstorm and possibly lightning.The incident…

Nigeria ‘witchcraft conference’ forced to change name after protests

ABUJA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protests by religious groups have forced an academic conference being held to discuss witchcraft to change the topic of discussion to “dimensions of human behaviour”. The two-day gathering is being organised by the University of Nigeria in Nsukka in the eastern state of Enugu, a…

Death toll in Albania quake rises to 13: defence ministry

TIRANA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirteen people have died in Tuesday’spowerful earthquake in Albania, the defence ministry said in its latestupdate. “The death toll is 13,” a statement said, without elaborating. The 6.4 magnitude quake is the strongest to strike the Balkan state in decades and was followed by multiple…