China urges US to ‘make efforts’ on North Korea

BEIJING, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the United States to make efforts to resolve the North Koreannuclear issue, warning that applying “maximum pressure” would never work. Wang also repeated Beijing’s suggestion that the United Nations SecurityCouncil should consider discussions on easing sanctions against the…

Paris, four other French cities ban use of pesticides

PARIS, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Paris and four other French cities on Thursday banned the use of synthetic pesticides within their boundaries as an anti-chemicals movement that began in the countryside gains momentum. Lille in the north, Nantes in the west, Grenoble in the southeast and the central city of…

50 killed in train derailment in southeast DR Congo

LUBUMBASHI (DR Congo), Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifty people were killed early Thursday when a train derailed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi, said in a tweet. “Another disaster! Derailing at 3am in Tanganyika (province) nearMayibaridi. Provisional toll: 50 dead and several injured,”…

Afghanistan: Taliban sends warning to US Pres Trump in bitter exchange

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the chief negotiator and co-founder of the Taliban (second left) KABUL, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The war of words between the Taliban and President Donald Trump escalated Thursday as the Afghan insurgents warned that the US leader had failed to grasp “what type of nation he…

Namibia: Over 30,000 drought-related cattle deaths recorded in seven months

Parched earth in a drought WINDOEK, Sept 12 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — As fodder and pasture continue to decline and the dry season soldiers on, over 30,000 drought-related cattle deaths were recorded in Namibia between October 2018 and April 2019 – the normal rainfall season. Rains were delayed and erratic, resulting in…

Update: Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to be buried in his village early next week – Family

HARARE, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe will be buried early next week in his village and not at a national monument for liberation heroes, his family said. The family of Mugabe, who died in Singapore last week, and Zimbabwe’s government have been at odds over whether…

Germany aims to host Libya conference to stabilise oil producer

The U.N. Envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame TRIPOLI, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany aims to host a conference about Libya this year in conjunction with the United Nations to try to stabilise the oil producing country, where rival factions have been fighting over the capital, Germany’s ambassador to Libya said.…

Colombia’s armed forces on alert over Venezuela military exercises

BOGOTA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Colombian military is on alert in response to Venezuelan armed forces exercises along the two nations’ border that Colombia considers an open threat, a senior military commander said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered a series of military drills that began on Tuesday in response…

El Salvador sends hundreds of police to border to thwart migrants

SAN SALVADOR, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — El Salvador’s government will deploy at least 800 police to its borders with Honduras and Guatemala in a bid to thwart U.S.-bound migrants, officials said. A government statement said the deployment is set to begin on Thursday at La Hachadura, a border crossing with…

Refugee population in Uganda sees 48% rise: UNHCR

KAMPALA, Sept 12 (NNN-NEW VISION) — The asylum seeker and refugee population in Uganda has increased by about 48%, a report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has revealed, indicating an increase in asylum seekers from Burundi, DR Congo and South Sudan. According to Yonna Tukundane, the…