Comedian is center stage as Ukraine holds presidential vote

KIEV, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The top three contenders in Ukraine’s presidential elections cast their vote on Sunday in a first round which a comedian – who happens to play a fictional president in a popular TV series – is tipped to win. Political newcomer Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 41, who is…

Mozambique says cholera cases up to 271 in cyclone-hit city

MAPUTO, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cholera cases among cyclone survivors in Mozambique have jumped to 271, authorities said, a figure that nearly doubled from the previous day. The Portuguese news agency Lusa cited national health director Ussein Isse, who declared the outbreak of the acute diarrheal disease on Wednesday with…

U.N. head wants democratic transition in Algeria

ALGIERS, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he welcomed efforts towards a peaceful and democratic transition in Algeria, where weeks of protests have pushed for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to end his 20-year rule. Addressing an Arab League summit in Tunis, Guterres said any steps should be…

Egypt president raises minimum wage, now 2000 Egyptian pounds from 1,200 pounds

CAIRO, April 1 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has raised the country’s minimum wage to 2,000 Egyptian pounds a month from 1,200 pounds, he said at an event on Saturday celebrating women. Sisi said the raise would apply to all Egyptian workers and added that pensions would rise…

DR Congo: Pres Tshisekedi allows senators to take office, ending feud with predecessor’s camp

KINSHASA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has lifted a ban on the installation of new senators, walking back a decision that had put him at odds with his predecessor Joseph Kabila, whose allies won an overwhelming majority of seats. Tshisekedi blocked the newly elected…

Dismay after US Pres Trump moves to cut aid to Central America

 WASHINGTON, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) —US opposition politicians and aid agencies have questioned a decision by President Donald Trump to cut off aid to three Central American states. Trump ordered the suspension of aid payments to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to push their governments to stop migration into the US. Critics say…

Migrant ship hijacking: Three African teenagers charged in Malta

Some of the migrants did not want to return to Libya  VALLETTA, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three teenage African migrants have been charged in Malta after “hijacking” an oil tanker, which is considered a terrorist activity under Maltese law. One has been named as Abdalla Bari, 19, from Guinea. Two others, 15 and…

Afghanistan: VP Dostum survives second assassination attempt

Last year Gen Dostum escaped an attempt on his life  KABUL, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Afghan Vice-President Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum has escaped unharmed after an attack that killed one of his bodyguards in the north of the country. Officials say the attackers ambushed Dostum’s convoy in Balkh Province. The Taliban said they…

US: 2 pilots killed in marine helicopter crash in Arizona

LOS ANGELES, April 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — Two Marine corps pilots were killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Arizona, according to a statement of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station. The crash occurred in the vicinity of Yuma, Arizona Saturday night, the statement said. Both pilots were conducting a routine training mission. The cause of…

Germany: 3 die in Russian plane crash near Frankfurt

FRANKFURT, April 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — Three people were killed when a Russian six-seat plane crashed near the German city of Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon, local media reported. The plane came down near Egelsbach, 22 kilometers south of Frankfurt, and then caught fire, according to a police spokesman. German air traffic control said the plane had…