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…

Russia: Three arrests after dam break in Siberia

Images released by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry show heavy localized flooding MOSCOW, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three officials at a gold mine in Siberia where 15 people died after a dam collapsed were arrested on Sunday, the Russian authorities said. “The head of the gold mining company Sissim and…

Police free nearly 150 from so-called Islamic school in northern Nigeria, 4th such operation

ABUJA, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police said they had freed nearly 150 students from a purported school in northern Nigeria that claimed it was teaching the Koran but had instead subjected them to abuse. It was the fourth such operation in a month and brings the total released from religious…

UK will leave EU this month, ministers insist despite Parliament setback

LONDON, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ministers insist the UK will leave the EU by Oct 31, despite a letter sent to Brussels asking for a delay.Boris Johnson sent the letter – unsigned – after a major setback in the Commons to his Brexit strategy.But the request was accompanied by a…

DRC bus skids off highway, bursts into flames leaving 30 dead: Red Cross

KINSHASA, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 30 people died early on Sunday when a packed bus came off the road on a highway west of the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kinshasa, and burst into flames, according to the Red Cross. “The current toll is 30…

Cameroon: Floods leave thousands homeless

YAOUNDE, Oct 19 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Heavy rains and floods this week have left at least 100,000 people homeless on both sides of the border between northern Cameroon and Chad.  It’s the worst flooding in the area since 2012. the military is working to evacuate those stranded by floodwaters in Kaikai.…

Mozambique’s Frelimo appears headed for big election win

MAPUTO, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Unofficial results in Mozambique’s elections point to sweeping victories for the ruling Frelimo party and President Filipe Nyusi. Mozambique’s electoral commission has not released any official results yet, but the Sala da Paz consortium of Mozambican civil society organizations said it projects that Nyusi won…

Argentina’s opposition confirms and displays a unified front in a massive rally

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 19 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — With less than ten days for the Argentine presidential election, the catch-all Peronist movement that has dominated the country’s political scene for decades managed a family picture with all groupings united in support of the presidential ticket headed by Alberto Fernandez and ex-president Cristina…

Alliance re-elected in Gibraltar with lower support

GIBRALTAR, Oct 19 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and Liberal Party alliance, led by Fabian Picardo, has been elected for a third term of office. Their support has dropped to 53% of the vote, with the rest split between the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) and the new…