Update: Brexit court ruling prompts calls to reverse parliament suspension

EDINBURGH, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British premier Boris Johnson faced calls Thursday to reverse his suspension of parliament after a Scottish court ruled it illegal. The government has appealed the Scottish court ruling, with thecase set to be heard in the Supreme Court next Tuesday, and parliament willfor now stay…

German state proposes smoking ban in vehicles with children

BERLIN, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lawmakers in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia proposed a new bill on Wednesday that would criminalize smoking in cars with children or pregnant women. The state parliament initially called for this new law in March, with all parties supporting the movement except for the…

Kenyans sue UK over colonial ‘land grab’

Some of the land was leased to multinationals to grow tea GENEVA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenyan and British lawyers have submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of Kenyans who were forced from their land during the British colonial era.They say they suffered horrific human…

Muhammadu Buhari validly elected as Nigeria’s president as tribunal dismisses Atiku petition

Atiku (left) and Buhari (right) were allies in the All Progressives Congress until 2017 ABUJA, Sept 12 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The presidential election petition tribunal, PEPT, in Nigeria has dismissed the poll petition filed by main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Atiku who contested the last polls on the ticket of the…

Killings, torture still going on in Venezuela – UN rights chief

GENEVA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations human rights chief said that extrajudicial killings appeared to be continuing in Venezuela and the Special Action Forces (FAES) presumed to be responsible had received support from the highest levels of government. Michelle Bachelet told the U.N. Human Rights Council that alongside…

Uganda: Pres Museveni calls for eye-for-an-eye-style sentences after nephew murdered

KAMPALA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said he wants courts to hand out eye-for-an-eye-style sentences for all murder convicts, to help stem soaring violent crime that claimed the life of his nephew last week. From killings to violent robberies and kidnappings for ransom, crime has been…

South Sudan parties agree to form interim govt by Nov 12

JUBA, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have agreed to form a transitional government by the middle of November, the country’s information minister said. The two men signed a pact a year ago to end a civil war that has killed hundreds…

Cameroon leader says govt will organise talks to solve separatist crisis

YAOUNDE, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroon’s President Paul Biya announced in a rare public address the organisation of a national dialogue to solve a separatist crisis in the country’s English-speaking regions. Biya said the talks, lead by the prime minister and starting from the end of this month, would bring…

Sudan: Prime Minister Hamdok to join peace talks in Juba with rebels

KHARTOUM, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Sudan prime minister Abdalla Hamdok will head to South Sudan for peace talks between the ruling sovereign council and rebel leaders, the information minister said. Faisal Saleh told reporters after the cabinet’s first meeting that Hamdok, in his first foreign visit, would join five…

Update: Pres Trump plans ban on sale of flavoured e-cigarettes as death allegedly related to vaping rises

 WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) —US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will ban flavoured e-cigarettes, after a spate of vaping-related deaths. Trump told reporters vaping was a “new problem”, especially for children. US Health Secretary Alex Azar said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would finalise a plan to…