Update: Judge rejects first bid to block UK parliament suspension

LONDON, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Opponents of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to suspend parliament in the final weeks before Brexit lost the first of several legal bids to stop him on Friday. Scottish judge Raymond Doherty rejected the request for a temporary injunction pending a full hearing in the case…

Fires not the only threat facing Amazon: Environmental experts

LIMA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Raging wildfires have drawn the world’s attention to the Amazon but immolation is just one of the dangers facing the world’s largest rain forest, environmental experts across the region say. The Amazon, covering 5.5 million square kilometers over nine countries, faces ever more serious threats…

Guinea-Bissau incumbent president Vaz to seek re-election, as independent candidate

President Jose Mario Vaz  BISSAU, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinea-Bissau president José Mario Vaz, said he would be seeking re-election in November.“I will be a candidate in the November 24 elections,” Vaz said in front of thousands of supporters in Bissau, capital of the tiny West African country.Excluded from the…

Eritrea ‘joins coalition to protect elephants’

African elephant GENEVA, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eritrea has joined the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), the conservation coalition that wants to end the trade in ivory says. Eritrea had “one of Africa’s most northerly and isolated elephant populations”, the EPI said in a tweet. The announcement was made in Geneva…

Nigeria deploys helicopters to combat rising insecurity

ABUJA, Aug 31 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The Nigerian police force announced that helicopters had been deployed to help deal with a rising spate of insecurity across the country.Arrangements have been made for all geographical zones of the country according to an order from the police chief, M. A. Adamu. He also…

UN keeps sanctions on persons blocking peace in Mali

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 31 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to extend its sanctions regime in Mali targeting those who delay implementation of a 2015 peace agreement.The French-sponsored resolution extends the sanctions regime until Aug 31, 2020, and the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring their…

Brexit: PM Johnson faces mounting legal, political, diplomatic challenges

LONDON, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan was facing mounting legal, political and diplomatic challenges as Ireland accused Britain of being unreasonable and former British leader John Major sought to stop the suspension of parliament. The ultimate outcome of Britain’s tortuous three-year Brexit crisis remains unclear…

US: Man who stole $50 to be freed after 36 years in jail

Alvin Kennard ALABAMA (US), Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Alabama judge has ordered that a man who robbed a bakery of $50.75 be released from his life sentence.Alvin Kennard, 58, was handed the harsh sentence under strict rules introduced in the 1970s to deter repeat offenders.The ruling provoked an emotional…

US blacklists Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya: Treasury

WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Friday sanctioned an Iranian oil tanker previously held for weeks by Gibraltar and released despite Washington’s efforts to keep it detained. The US Department of Treasury said the vessel, previously known as the Grace 1, is “blocked property” under an anti-terrorist…

Caribbean: Bahamas battens down for Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian churning closer to the Bahamas ST. JOHN’S (Antigua and Barbuda), Aug 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents in the Bahamas rushed to prepare as “extremely dangerous” Hurricane Dorian barreled toward the island chain Friday, with government offices on lockdown and thousands told to evacuate their homes. Currently a Category 4…