Spain’s Socialists and Podemos reach preliminary coalition deal

MADRID, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s Socialists and far-left Unidas Podemos party agreed on the basis of a coalition government on Tuesday, just two days after a parliamentary election delivered a highly fragmented parliament. The election – the country’s fourth in four years – left Spain’s parliament even more divided…

eSwatini next to suspend South African animal imports after foot and mouth outbreak

Cows at a beef farm outside Heidelberg, south-east of Johannesburg  MBABANE, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — eSwatini has suspended animal imports from neighboring South Africa for a second time this year following another outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the mountain kingdom’s agricultural ministry said. In January, eSwatini, formerly Swaziland, joined…

No end in sight to Chile unrest as massive strike, more protests planned

SANTIAGO, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — State workers in Chile promised to launch a massive, nationwide walk-off early on Tuesday, a sign protesters were not yet satisfied following the government’s decision to rewrite the country’s heavily critiqued dictatorship-era constitution. The new round of rallies and strikes over inequality and social injustices…

UN says G5 Sahel force needs more support in anti-militant fight

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visiting the G5 Sahel Joint Force Headquarters in Mopti, Mali UNITED NATIONS, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The five-nation G5 military task force in the Sahel faces persistent training and equipment shortfalls at a time of spiralling violence in the war against armed Islamist groups in the…

PM Johnson sends 100 troops to help UK flood victims

LONDON, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the army would deploy 100 troops in northern England to deal with widespread flooding, after facing criticism from his election rivals over the government’s response. Conservative leader Johnson, campaigning to remain in Downing Street after next month’s general election, made…

Italy hit by heavy rains, flooding in Venice

ROME, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on Tuesday, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. The heavy rainfall closed schools in several southern cities including Taranto, Brindisi, and Matera, as well as the Sicilian cities of Pozzallo and Noto, according to the national weather…

Sahel gold boom boosting jihadist coffers: ICG

DAKAR, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sahel gold mines are providing a new source of funding for jihadists and other armed groups and attracting recruits for them in a region where state power is weak, according to a new International Crisis Group (ICG) report published Wednesday. In Mali, Burkina Faso and…

WHO prequalifies first Ebola vaccine

GENEVA, Nov 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had prequalified an Ebola vaccine for the first time, hailing a “critical step” towards its licensing, access and roll-out in countries most at risk of outbreaks. “This is the fastest vaccine prequalification process ever conducted by WHO,” it…

South Africa parliament approves convention to establish world’s largest radio telescope

An artist’s impression of the South African core element of the SKA CAPE TOWN, Nov 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — South Africa’s National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday approved a convention to establish the world’s largest radio telescope observatory. During its plenary sitting, the NA, or the lower house of parliament, gave the…

Update: Bolivia calls for session to address President Morales’ resignation

LA PAZ, Nov 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivian Senate’s Second Vice President Jeanine Anez called here on Tuesday for an extraordinary session of the Legislative Assembly at 16:00 local time (2000 GMT) to address the resignation of President Evo Morales. Opposition legislators as well as those from the ruling party have…