Kenya and Somalia restore ties amid sea border row

President Abdullahi (L) met with President Kenyatta in Nairobi for the first time since March NAIROBI, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya and Somalia have agreed to normalise diplomatic relations despite an ongoing maritime boundary case at the International Court of Justice.The rapprochement will start with restoration of the issuance of…

Education takes lion’s share of Zimbabwe’s 2020 budget, health comes second

HARARE, Nov 16 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has allocated the second biggest chunk of his 2020 budget to health proposing a $6.5 billion vote to the struggling sector.This comes at a time the country’s health sector is crippled following the downing of tools by doctors and nurses…

Australia, others ask for Brexit trade compensation

GENEVA, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Countries including Australia have asked for trade compensation from the UK and the EU over Brexit disruption.Fifteen countries, including the US, India and New Zealand, have been setting out Brexit concerns at a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Geneva.Australian officials said their beef and…

Malians rally to support army as 20 bodies found in village

Malians rally to support army as 20 bodies found in village The Malian army is currently struggling to quell jihadist activities in the country BAMAKO, Nov 16 (NNN-GNA) — Thousands of people took to the streets of Mali’s capital Bamako on Friday to support the West African country’s army, which…

Heavy snow leaves one dead, 300,000 homes without power in France

PARIS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heavy snowfall across a large swath ofsoutheast France has left one person dead and cut power to some 300,000homes, with icy conditions snarling train and road traffic Friday. A 63-year-old man was killed Thursday evening in the Isere departmentafter a snow-laden tree fell on him…

Italy: St Mark’s closed as Venice faces more floods

VENICE, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flood-hit Venice braced for anotherexceptional high tide, with the mayor ordering St Mark’s square closedafter Italy declared a state of emergency for the UNESCO city. Luigi Brugnaro ordered the iconic square closed ahead of the latest seasurge of around 1.6 metres (over five feet) mid-morning…

After Swede killer’s pardon, Sri Lanka frees 267 more prisoners

Sajith Premadasa, campaigning for this weekend’s presidential election, said he would try to overturn the pardon given to the killer of a Swedish teen COLOMBO, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 250 Sri Lankan convicts aged over 65 have been given amnesty just days after the president sparked outrage by pardoning…

Catalan ex-minister Ponsati arrested in Scotland

Former Catalan minister Clara Ponsati, accompanied by her lawyer Aamer Anwar, leave court after she received bail after an extradition hearing EDINBURGH, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Catalan minister wanted in Spain for rebellion has vowed to fight against extradition after being arrested in Scotland where she is working…

Taliban still holding Western hostages: Spokesman

A photo combination shows kidnapped Australian Timothy Weeks (top), and American Kevin King. KABUL, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Taliban spokesman said the insurgents were still holding two Western hostages, as officials stayed tight-lipped over the outcome of an apparent prisoner swap announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this…

In swipe at US, BRICS hit out at protectionism

(From right) Presidents of Brasil – Jair Bolsonaro, Russia – Vladimir Putin, China – Xi Jinping, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa pose for a family photo as they arrive for the BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil.    BRASILIA, Nov 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five of the biggest…