Ethiopian police nab U.S. national over smuggling of cocaine

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Ethiopian government has arrested a U.S. national suspected of smuggling 5.2-kg of cocaine in transit from Sao Paulo, Brazil to India via Ethiopia. The reported cocaine was seized at the East African country’s main international hub at the Bole International Airport in the…

Ferry crew find 25 stowaways in UK-bound refrigerated container

The ferry, which had been en route to Felixstowe in the UK, had to return to the port of Vlaardigen ROTTERDAM, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dutch authorities have found 25 stowaways in a refrigerated container on a ferry bound for the UK from the Netherlands. They were found at around 7 pm,…

US slaps travel ban on Kenya’s ex-attorney general

Amos Wako WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US State Department has barred Kenya’s former attorney general Amos Wako from entering the US due to his “involvement in significant corruption”. Wako’s wife and son have also been barred. “Today’s action sends a strong signal that the United States is a…

Germany hosts African leaders for business summit

President Paul Kagame, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Cyril Ramaphosa BERLIN, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of 12 African countries met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday for discussions on boosting business investment in Africa. They took part in the Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference, an…

Nigerian scammer ‘pulls off $1m heist’ from prison: Officials

Convicted internet fraudster Hope Olusegun Aroke LAGOS, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A convicted internet fraudster has been placed under investigation in Nigeria for allegedly masterminding a “mega scam” from a maximum-security prison worth at least $1m.Anti-corruption officials said Hope Olusegun Aroke used a “network of accomplices” for the fraud.He was…

Armed group ‘launch attack on Burundi from Rwanda

There have been tense relations between the neighbours since Burundi’s political crisis in 2015 BUJUMBURA/KIGALI, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burundi’s military says an armed group from Rwanda attacked its army position in the north-west of the country.Maj Emmanuel Gahongano, the army’s director of information, said the attack in Cibitoke province,…

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon highest since 2008: official

BRASILIA, Nov 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil surged to nearly 10,000 square kilometers in the year to July 2019 — the highest in more than a decade, officials said. The 29.5 percent increase from the previous 12-month period comes after fires ravaged swathes of…

Nicaraguan police accuse anti-government protesters of planning terrorist attacks

MANAGUA, Nov 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nicaraguan police accused 16 anti-government protesters of planning to carry out terrorist attacks in the Central American country, which has been rocked by more than a year and a half of deadly protests against the government. Victoriano Ruiz, a police official, said authorities had seized…

WHO to tackle worldwide outbreak of dengue

A worker uses fogging machine during fumigation operation to eradicate the mosquito menace GENEVA, Nov 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dengue is now endemic in 128 countries and is the biggest threat to world health. With Pakistan and Laos among the most affected, the international community must take drastic action to stop…

Venezuela denounces to UNESCO socio-cultural impact of US blockade

PARIS, Nov 19 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Venezuela denounced at the UNESCO General Conference the impact of the US-imposed financial blockade on the country’s socio-cultural life and its relations with the UN specialized organization. Addressing the general debate of the forum that entered its second week, Minister for Indigenous Peoples Aloha…