UN chief urges funding for Sahel states

KINSHASA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations chief Antonio Guterres suggested the UN help fund the fight against jihadism in the Sahel, warning “we are not winning the war against terrorism” in the frail region. “I am in favour of funding by the United Nations, with obligatory contributions for the…

African World Cup qualifiers to be live-streamed worldwide

ZURICH, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa’s lesser-known soccer teams will enjoy worldwide exposure in the next week after FIFA announced that their opening World Cup qualifying matches would be live-streamed on its website and on Youtube. World soccer’s ruling body said it had invested in the production of the broadcasting…

Zambia call off home friendly over South Africa xenophobic riots

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has called off the country’s friendly soccer international against South Africa in Lusaka on Saturday after riots in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria left at least five people dead. South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed…

‘No deal’ Brexit would cost at least US$16 billion in UK exports losses: UN

GENEVA, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Leaving the European Union without a trade deal would cost Britain at least US$16 billion in lost exports, and would probably cost far more after indirect effects are taken into account, a report by the UN trade agency UNCTAD said. “UNCTAD’s research indicates that a no-deal Brexit…

US Pres Trump hardens tone on China as trade war rattles economy

WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Amid fresh signs his trade wars are rattling the US economy, President Donald Trump sent stern warnings to China, urging the Pacific power not to drag its feet in trade negotiations. After a month of escalations in the year-long battle with Beijing, Trump sent a…

Venezuela: Pres Maduro warns of Colombia attack, orders military exercises

President Nicolas Maduro  CARACAS, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the armed forces to be on alert for a potential attack by Colombia’s government and announced military exercises on the border amid the rearmament of a group of former guerrilla commanders. Former FARC guerillas on Thursday announced a…

Femicide: France gets tough on domestic violence as number of women killed grows

PARIS, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French government announced plans to create 1,000 new places in shelters for the victims of domestic violence as outrage grows over the number of women killed by a current or former partner. France is one of the European countries with the highest number of…

Update1: Hurricane Dorian heads toward Florida after bashing Bahamas

MIAMI (Florida, US), Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hurricane Dorian churned along the southeastern coast of the United States as the storm’s death toll in the Bahamas rose to seven. Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis termed Dorian “one of the greatest national crises in our country’s history,” announcing the updated toll…

Update: Election bid looms as British MPs defeat Johnson on Brexit

LONDON, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised the prospect of a snap election after he suffered a major parliamentary defeat over his Brexit strategy that could delay Britain’s exit from the European Union. Just six weeks after taking office, the Conservative leader was hit by a huge rebellion…

South African police arrest dozens after riots in Johannesburg

Protestors loot stores, burn rubber tyres and block road junctions in the Johannesburg district. Photo courtesy of Moneyweb. JOHANNESBURG, Sept 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police arrested dozens of people in South Africa’s commercial capital Johannesburg after rioters looted shops, burned tyres and blocked road junctions – the second outbreak of urban…