No breakthrough in Brexit talks as Johnson dodges reporters

EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson LUXEMBOURG, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to convince EU leaders he has a serious plan for a Brexit deal, then ducked out of a planned news conference under a chorus of abuse from protesters. Before…

Trump authorizes release of oil from US reserves after Saudi attack

Smoke billows from the fire at an Aramco facility in Abaqiq, Saudi Arabia WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump announced that he has authorized the release of oil from US strategic reserves after drone attacks cut Saudi Arabia’s crude production by half. “Based on the attack on Saudi…

Six Cameroon soldiers killed in Boko Haram attack: authorities

Cameroon’s chief of defense staff General Rene Claude Meka YAOUNDE, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six Cameroonian soldiers werekilled in an attack by Boko Haram militants in the far north of the country, authorities said. Nine other soldiers were injured in the Friday attack carried out ona military post at Soueram…

Colombia plane crash kills seven

BOGOTA, Sept 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven people were killed andanother three injured when a small plane crashed in southwestern Colombia on Sunday. “Nine people were on board the plane. Seven died, while two are seriouslyinjured,” Juan Carlos Ganan, the commander of firefighters in the area, said. The third…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro’s recovery period extended for a further four days

SAO PAULO, Sept 14 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will need four days more than planned to recover from abdominal surgery, his spokesman said on Thursday. “The president of the republic’s team of doctors has decided to keep him away from the exercise of his duties… four additional days,…

Maduro will not attend UN General Assembly but will deliver 12m signatures denouncing US sanctions

CARACAS, Sept 14 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he will not travel to New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly later this month, but that two of his envoys would attend to denounce U.S. sanctions on the OPEC nation. Maduro said Executive Vice…

South Africa’s deputy mines minister dies in car accident – Pres Ramapahosa

Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Bavelile Hlongwa  PRETORIA, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Bavelile Hlongwa has died in a car accident, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday. Hlongwa, 38, who was appointed in May, died on Friday in an accident that also claimed…

3.9 mln people in Mali need humanitarian help: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — A surge in inter-communal violence is worsening humanitarian conditions in Mali and 3.8 million people there need humanitarian assistance, spokesman for United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said. The number of people needing humanitarian assistance has increased by 22 percent since the beginning of…

Taliban delegation visits Russia after Trump says talks ‘dead’

MOSCOW, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Taliban representatives have held discussions with Russian officials in Moscow, just days after US President Donald Trump declared months-long peace talks between Washington and the group “dead”. Taliban’s Qatar-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen confirmed the meeting in the Russian capital on Friday, saying the group’s delegation…

Five confirmed cholera deaths in Sudan since August 28

KHARTOUM, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — There have been five confirmed deaths from cholera in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since Aug 28, the health ministry said in a statement.The ministry reported 67 cases of cholera since that date, with 18 of them still receiving treatment in isolation rooms, it added in…