Venezuelans to march against US blockade

CARACAS, Aug 31 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Venezuelans will march in defense of national sovereignty and against the blockade imposed by the United States on the South American nation, according to Francisco Torrealba, vice president of the working class section of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). The popular mobilization…

Almost 600 children have died since DRC Ebola outbreak: UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Since the Ebola epidemic outbreak in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a year ago, almost 600 of around 850 children who have caught the virus have died, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. “The news that the total number…

Sudan: Red Sea State issues emergency order amid tribal clashes

KHARTOUM, Aug 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Acting Governor of eastern Sudan’s Red Sea State Hafez Al-Taj Al-Faki on Friday issued an emergency order banning gathering and carrying arms. “Gathering, trespassing public and private properties, terrorizing citizens and disturbing security and safety are prohibited,” the emergency order said. On Aug, 25, Sudan’s…

Botswana to hold general elections on Oct 23: election body

GABORONE, Aug 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has instructed that the country’s general elections will be held on Oct 23, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said. The announcement came after Masisi dissolved the parliament on Wednesday midnight. At least six political parties are expected to take part in…

Over 150 migrants break into Spanish North African enclave

an Roque 30 AUG 2019 – 14:37 BST Migrants jump the border fence into Ceuta.  CEUTA (Spain), Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 150 migrants crossed the border fence at Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta and briefly clashed with police on Friday, the biggest attempt to enter across the heavily…

Greece sees first mass arrival of migrant boats in three years

A view of the Moria camp for refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos ATHENS, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over a dozen migrant boats landed on Greece’s Lesbos island within minutes of each other on Thursday in the first such mass arrival from neighbouring Turkey in three years, officials…

Ukraine denies reports of prisoner swap with Russia

Sailors of Ukrainian naval ships, which were seized by Russia in November 2018, attend a court hearing in Moscow earlier this month. KIEV, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukraine on Friday (Aug 30) denied reports that a prisoner swap with Russia was underway, as announced earlier by some Russian media and…

Colombia: Troops kill nine FARC dissidents in raid – Pres Duque

 Military Police of Colombia BOGOTA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian troops killed nine FARC dissidents in a raid on Friday in what the president said was “a clear message” to their leaders who have formally rejected a 2016 peace agreement and announced a return to arms. President Ivan Duque said he had…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro to stop using France’s Bic pens amid spat over Amazon fires

BRASILIA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said he will stop using disposable pens made by France’s Bic to sign official documents, while a diplomatic spat continues over fires in the Amazon basin. “A pen (of the Brazilian brand) Compactor and no more Bic, will work,” Bolsonaro said, confirming…

5,000 bodies found in unmarked graves in Mexico since 2006

Police and forensic personnel stand by an unmarked grave in Guerrero state MEXICO CITY, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 5,000 bodies have been found in more than 3,000 unmarked graves since Mexico deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006, the government said in its first comprehensive report on…