Russia hosts major summit as Kremlin scrambles for Africa

SOCHI (Russia), Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosts dozens of African leaders for the first Russia-Africa Summit, as Moscow seeks greater influence on a continent where the West and China have a firm foothold. The two-day event at the Black Sea resort of Sochi will see…

Catalan leader urges Spain to start talks on self-determination

BARCELONA, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Catalonia’s regional government leader called on Madrid to open talks on self-determination for the restive Spanish region after days of at-times violent protests over jail sentences for nine separatist leaders. “No one will ever bar this country from continuing to advance in line with what…

Liberia: Pres Weah appoints new deputy defence minister who publicly threatened to ‘kill’ protesters

MONROVIA, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberia’s President George Weah has appointed as deputy defence minister a man who had previously threatened to “kill” people who tried to loot his property during protests against the president.A few days before his appointment, Tarplah Z Davis went on Facebook and hit out at…

Xenophobic attack: African refugees plead with UNHCR for ‘way out of South Africa’

Refugees and asylum seekers protest in the city, saying they would rather leave South Africa than face xenophobia PRETORIA, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of African refugees who have camped outside the UNHCR offices in South Africa’s administrative capital of Pretoria, for the past three weeks, are pleading with…

Guinea court jails opposition leaders for organising protests

Police officers outside the court in Conakry CONAKRY, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Guinea has handed down jail terms to five opposition and civil society leaders for organising protests against a possible change to the constitution that could let President Alpha Conde seek a third term.Abdourahmane Sanoh, a…

Brexit: British Mps’ vote on deal ruled out by Speaker John Bercow

LONDON, Oct 23 (NN-AGENCIES) —The Commons Speaker has refused a government request to hold a “yes” or “no” vote on its Brexit deal. John Bercow said a motion on the deal had been brought before MPs on Saturday, and it would be “repetitive and disorderly” to debate it again. Saturday’s sitting saw MPs…

Herman Mashaba: Johannesburg’s black mayor resigns over DA race row

Herman Mashaba was mayor of Johannesburg for three years JOHANNESBURG, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —One of the most senior politicians in South Africa’s historically white main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has resigned his post and quit the party over how it handles race. Herman Mashaba was mayor of Johannesburg for three years. The election…

Norwegian police arrest gunman after ambulance rampage: reports

OSLO, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Norwegian police arrested an armed man who went on the rampage in Oslo on Tuesday in a stolen ambulance, running down pedestrians including a baby in a pram. “We have taken control of an ambulance that was stolen by an armed man,”Oslo police said on…

Trudeau’s Liberals win Canada vote, will form minority govt

OTTAWA, Oct 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s LiberalParty held onto power in a nail-biter of a Canadian general election onMonday, but as a weakened minority government. Television projections declared the Liberals winners or leading in 157 ofthe nation’s 338 electoral districts, versus 121 for his main rival AndrewScheer…

Sudan names commission to investigate killings at sit-in

KHARTOUM, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s prime minister named a commission to investigate a raid on a sit-in in June in which security forces killed dozens near the Defence Ministry in Khartoum, following repeated calls for justice from protest and civilian groups. The commission will have broad powers to summon…