British PM Johnson loses fresh parliamentary vote as tensions rise

LONDON, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered yet another setback after MPs rejected a request to briefly suspend business for his party’s conference, highlighting the hostility he faces in parliament just weeks before Brexit. In his seventh successive defeat in parliament, MPs voted to reject his call…

All agreements off if Israel annexes territory, Palestinian Pres Abbas warns at UN

President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech during the UN General Assembly UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told the United Nations he would terminate all signed agreements with Israel if it moved forward with plans announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex a…

US to slash refugee resettlement programme by 40%

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Trump administration plans to dramatically lower the ceiling of a decades-old refugee resettlement programme to 18,000 people from its current level of 30,000, the State Department said. “This refugee admissions proposal reaffirms America’s enduring commitment to assist the world’s displaced people, while fulfilling our first…

Show ‘evidence’ Iran attacked Saudi oil facility: Pres Rouhani

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani challenged the US and others to provide evidence to back up their accusations that Tehran carried out this month’s attack on a Saudi oil facility. “Those who make the allegations must provide the needed proof. What is your evidence?” he…

DR Congo: Vaccination campaign for world’s largest measles outbreak

KINSHASA, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 800,000 children are to be targeted for vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after a measles outbreak killed more than 3,500 people this year.The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Congolese government aim to carry out the emergency programme across the…

US museum returns looted Egyptian gold coffin

The gold coffin was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York NEW YORK, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A gilded coffin looted by art thieves in the wake of the Arab Spring and unwittingly purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has been returned to…

Many feared dead in Chad gold mine collapse: Minister

N’DJAMENA, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of people are feared dead after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Chad, officials have said. Defence Minister Mahamat Abali Salah said that the mine caved in early on Tuesday at Kouri Bougoudi, a zone beset by illegal mining near the Libyan border. There…

Zimbabwe: Mugabe to be buried in hometown following family request – government

HARARE, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The body of Robert Mugabe will be buried in his home region of Zvimba, Zimbabwean officials have said.The former Zimbabwean leader died this month, aged 95, and a state funeral was held in the country’s capital Harare.His family had asked for him to be buried…

Sudan closes borders with Libya, Central African Republic

KHARTOUM, Sept 27 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Sudan’s transitional government ordered the immediate closure of the nation’s borders with Libya and Central African Republic, citing security and economic “dangers”. A statement on Thursday by the Sovereign Transitional Council said vehicles had been illegally crossing the borders with the two nations, which have…

Crackdown widens after call for new protests in Egypt

Protesters in central Cairo CAIRO, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 1,900 people have been detained since protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi began in Cairo and other Egyptian cities last week, the head of a rights monitoring group said. Gamal Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights…