Nigeria border closure aimed at curbing weapons, drugs: Minister

Nigerian security stand guard near the Nigerian-Benin border WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s decision to close its borders is aimed at preventing weapons and drugs from entering the country and not just to stop food smuggling, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed said. In August, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the…

Brazil building collapse death toll reaches nine: official

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from an apartment building collapse in northeast Brazil reached nine after the body of the last missing person was found in the rubble. Seven people were pulled alive from the debris of the seven-storyresidential building in an upscale neighborhood of…

Landslide Green gains tip Swiss parliament to the left

Green politicians celebrate victory in elections to the Swiss parliament GENEVA, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Green parties have made historic gains at the expense of those to the right and the left in elections to the Swiss parliament. Final results show the left-wing Green Party winning 13% of the vote for…

Thousands protest against Haiti’s president

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people demonstrated in Port-au-Prince, demanding that Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise step down. “Jovenel is incapable and incompetent, he must pack his bags because Haitimust live,” said one of the protesters, Jean Ronald. “It is not normal to live in such an unequal country,”…

Bolivia: Pres Morales narrowly wins first round in presidential election, faces run-off

LA PAZ, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Evo Morales, seeking a controversialfourth term, led Bolivia’s presidential election race Sunday but faces ahistoric second round run-off against opposition rival Carlos Mesa, partialresults announced by electoral authorities showed. Morales had 45 percent of the vote to Mesa’s 38 percent, the SupremeElectoral Tribunal announced,…

Update: Chile extends state of emergency as unrest death toll hits seven

SANTIAGO, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five people died Sunday when a garment factory was torched by looters near Chile’s capital Santiago, bringing the death toll in a wave of unrest to seven as authorities expanded a state of emergency. Police and the military fired tear gas and used water cannon…

Opposition losers Renamo calls for Mozambique elections to be cancelled

MAPUTO, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mozambique’s main opposition party has called for Tuesday’s elections to be cancelled, citing violence and fraud. Renamo accused the ruling party, Frelimo, of violating the August peace deal between the two sides. A European Union observer mission said the elections were marred by an uneven…

Five killed in twin attacks on Burkina Faso government forces

The army said the security forces successfully fought off assailants before the arrival of reinforcements. OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four soldiers and a police officer were killed and 11 more injured in twin attacks in the north of Burkina Faso, the army said in a statement.“Military units in Bahn…

Chilean president reverses public transport fare hike that sparked protests

SANTIAGO, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chilean president Sebastian Pinera announced he would reverse public transport fare hikes which had caused widespread protests in the country.Pinera said in a national address broadcast from the presidential palace in Santiago that he had listened “with humility” to “the voice of my compatriots” and…

Niger floods force 23,000 from their homes

NIAMEY, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floods in southeast Niger have forced 23,000 people to flee their homes since early October, officials said, threatening a new humanitarian crisis in a region already wracked by Boko Haram violence.Heavy rains have caused the Komadougou Yobe river that flows through the semi-desert Diffa region…