US: Red flag warning issued for Southern California due to wildfire threat

LOS ANGELES, Oct 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — A red flag warning was issued for some areas in Southern California due to extreme wildfire risk Thursday and Friday, said the National Weather Service. The red flag warning is going to be in effect from Wednesday night through Friday evening over most of…

Bolivian president warns of coup amid unrest after general election

Exterior of the Electoral Tribunal building in Santa Cruz, Bolivia which was set alight by demonstrators LA PAZ, Oct 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivian President Evo Morales warned that a right-wing coup was in progress with foreign backing as protesters contested the results of Sunday’s general elections. “I am denouncing to…

Irish PM supports Tusk’s proposal for Brexit extension

DUBLIN, Oct 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar expressed his support for the proposal made by the European Council’s President Donald Tusk to grant a Brexit extension requested by Britain, according to a government statement. “The Taoiseach (prime minister in English) confirmed his support for President Tusk’s proposal…

‘Dreams’, not desperation, driving African migrants to Europe – UN study

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A new UN study has found that a lack of opportunity is the main motivation for many African migrants trying to reach Europe. “Scaling Fences” gathers the accounts of men and women who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, which some in Europe…

Mali: Pres Keita on the ropes as jihadist revolt mounts

BAMAKO, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has few strong cards left to play as he seeks to roll back a jihadist insurgency and mounting public discontent.Thousands of civilians and soldiers have died since armed Islamists began their revolt in northern Mali in 2012 — a campaign…

Starvation kills 55 elephants in Zimbabwe’s biggest park

55 elephants have starved to death in the past two months in Zimbabwe HARARE, Oct 24 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — At least 55 elephants have starved to death in the past two months in Zimbabwe’s biggest national park as a serious drought forces animals to stray into nearby communities in search of…

Ethiopia, Russia sign agreement on nuclear energy

SOCHI (Russia), Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and Ethiopia have signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.The two countries signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi.The document creates a legal basis for cooperation in…

Tunisia’s new president sworn in after surprise election win

TUNIS, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s new President Kais Saied took the oath of office on Wednesday after his surprise election victory over champions of the political establishment.Saied, a conservative academic with no previous political experience who won the overwhelming support of younger voters in an Oct 13 runoff, was…

Uganda to charge 16 arrested for ‘gay sex’

Uganda’s strong opposition to gay rights have often sparked protests around the world KAMPALA, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Uganda say 16 people will be charged with having “unnatural sex”, a reference to same-sex relations.Police spokesman Fred Enanga said medical examinations proved that the 16 had been having “unnatural…

Tanzania’s top court scraps girl marriages

The court said girls could not marry before 18 – the age for boys DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s highest court has annulled a law that allows families to marry off girls as young as 15 years. The Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a ruling of a…