Chinese vice premier arrives in Washington for 11th round of China-U.S. trade consultations

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He WASHINGTON, May 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington on Thursday for the 11th round of high-level economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side. Liu told reporters upon his arrival that he came to Washington with sincerity, saying that under…

Update: Almost 60% of votes counted in South Africa

PRETORIA, May 10 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) had finalised results from 13,731 of the 22,924 voting stations (59.89%), totaling 8.9 million votes at 6.30pm on Thursday. “Results from a further 2,577 voting stations had been captured and were awaiting audit and finalization,” the IEC said in a…

French Pres Macron meets with Libyan UN-backed leader Fayez Al-Sarraj in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron and Fayez al-Serraj PARIS, May 10 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — French President Emmanuel Macron met U.N.-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj at a time Serraj’s administration is unhappy about Paris’s perceived support for eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. Relations between the two leaders have soured since strongman Khalifa Haftar…

Uganda launches second round of competitive bidding for oil blocks

KAMPALA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda has launched a second round of competitive bidding for five oil exploration blocks in the west of the country, where it has already discovered commercial crude reserves, the Energy Ministry said.In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ministry said a total of…

Montenegro jails ‘Russian coup plot’ leaders

PODGORICA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Montenegro has handed five-year jail terms to two pro-Russian opposition politicians for trying to topple the government in October 2016.The court also found 12 others guilty, including two Russians – alleged GRU secret agents – tried in absentia.Prosecutors said the plotters had…

Pregnancy-related deaths on the rise among black community in the US

ATLANTA, May 10 (NNN-XINHUA) — Pregnancy-related deaths are on the rise in the United States, especially among black women, according to a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).Between the year 2011 and 2015, more than 3,400 women died from pregnancy-related complications in the United States —…

Nigerian court begins hearing challenge to Pres Buhari’s election victory

ABUJA, May 10 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — A panel of five judges in Nigeria began hearing a legal challenge by opposition parties to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in February elections. President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, said four petitions had been lodged by opposition parties against the results…

AU urges political parties in Sudan to reach deal, transfer power to civilian gov’t

ADDIS ABABA, May 10 (NNN-XINHUA) — The African Union (AU) has urged the political parties in Sudan to reach a comprehensive deal to begin a transitional period under civilian government. Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan on Wednesday received the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson’s Special Envoy…

Saudi Arabia releases 1,400 Ethiopian prisoners

The released prisoners ADDIS ABABA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has disclosed that it has secured the release of 1,400 Ethiopian nationals who were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. In a press statement, MoFA said the 1,400 Ethiopians were released from Saudi prisons after discussions…

South Sudan says plane that killed 19 last year was not cleared to fly

JUBA, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan said the ill-fated Antonov plane that crashed killing 19 people on board on Sept 9, 2018 in the Yirol area of central Eastern Lakes region did not get flight clearance. Jalling Deloro Yengkeji, director general of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA),…