Update: UK’s Johnson to hold Brexit talks with Macron after Merkel offers glimmer of hope

BERLIN, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Paris on Thursday, a day after Berlin offered a glimmer of hope that an agreement could be reached to avoid a chaotic “no deal” Brexit. On the second leg of his first foreign visit since taking office, Johnson will…

Sec of State Pompeo praises ‘US ally’ Denmark after Pres Trump cancels visit

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has praised Denmark amid a public row over Greenland that saw President Donald Trump cancel a visit to the country.In a phone call with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, Pompeo “expressed appreciation for Denmark’s co-operation” as a US ally.Kofod…

South Africa: Court rules display of apartheid flag constitutes hate speech

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A South African court ruled that displaying the country’s apartheid-era flag in public constituted hate speech that discriminated against black people and violated equality laws. The case relates to a 2017 demonstration against attacks and killings of farmers where the so-called ‘Apartheid Flag” was displayed.…

Mali: Suspected militants kill five troops in ambush

BAMAKO, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected militants killed five Malian soldiers on Wednesday in an ambush in the West African country’s volatile centre, the army said, the latest in a string of attacks targeting local security forces in the Sahel region. The statement said the soldiers were travelling between the…

Sudan transition: Abdalla Hamdok appointed new prime minister

KHARTOUM, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Sudan has appointed a new prime minister as the country embarks on a three-year transition to civilian rule. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said achieving peace and solving the economic crisis were priorities. His appointment comes as Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan was sworn in as leader of the…

Brexit: Backstop alternative ‘possible within 30 days’ – German Chancellor Merkel

 BERLIN, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) —German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suggested an alternative to the Irish border backstop – a key Brexit sticking point – could be found within 30 days. Speaking at a news conference alongside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Berlin, she stressed it would be up to the…

Italy political crisis: Second day of talks after PM resigns

ROME, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s president will hold a second day oftalks aimed at solving the political crisis shaking the country on Thursdayafter the disintegration of the populist government. President Sergio Mattarella will meet the main parties, including the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and far-right League, after thebreakdown…

Russia to send ‘Fedor’ its first humanoid robot into space

MOSCOW, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia was set to launch on Thursday an unmanned rocket carrying a life-size humanoid robot that will spend 10 days learning to assist astronauts on the International Space Station. Named Fedor, for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research with identification number Skybot F850, the robot is…

Toll from Tanzania truck blast reaches 100

NAIROBI, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a fuel truckexplosion in Tanzania on Aug 10 hit 100 on Wednesday after several victimsperished from severe burns. Aminiel Aligaesha, a spokesman for the National Hospital in Dar es Salaam,told reporters “two people died on Tuesday during the day, and another…

US: Pentagon axes troubled $1 bn contract for missile defense

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it is terminating a troubled billion-dollar program to develop a ballistic missile interceptor, citing design problems. The Defense Department said it would seek bids for a new version of the weapons system called the Redesigned Kill Vehicle, or RKV. The…