Algeria: Hundreds Of Thousands March For President Bouteflika’s Removal

 ALGIERS, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Algeria to demand the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Estimates say crowds in the capital, Algiers, reached a million. It is the sixth successive Friday of mass anti-government protests in the country. Algerian police fired tear…

Angola seeks new US$1.2 billion loan from World Bank

LUANDA, March 30 (NNN-ANGOP) — Angola is negotiating a new World Bank loan to the tune of US$1.2 billion, with an interest rate of 2,5 percent a year. MPLA party president, João Lourenço was addressing the opening of the 7th ordinary session of his party’s central committee, saying the loan…

117 illegal African immigrants rescued off western Libyan coast

TRIPOLI, March 30 (NNN-XINHUA) — Libyan authorities said they rescued 117 illegal immigrants off the coast of the western city of Al-Khoms, some 120 km east of the capital Tripoli. “Coast guards patrol rescued 117 immigrants of different African nationalities on a rubber boat,” the Libyan coast and seaport security said in a statement. The…

US: New York state prepares to ban plastic bags, second after California

171 NEW YORK, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After several failed attempts, New York state is poised to ban single-use plastic bags provided by stores, making it only the second US state, after California, to pass such a rule. With Democrats controlling both chambers of the state legislature, lawmakers have reached…

Guatemala in mourning after 18 die in hit-and-run

SOLOLA (Guatemala), March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A truck ploughed into a crowd of indigenous Guatemalans gathered on a highway, leaving 18 dead as it drove off without stopping and plunging the Central American country into an outpouring of grief. The government announced three days of mourning after the incident on…

Saudi Arabia temporarily releases three detained women activists

RIYADH, March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia on Thursday temporarily released three out of 11 women detained last year in a sweeping crackdown on activists, state media said. Blogger Eman al-Nafjan, retired lecturer Aziza al-Youssef and academic Rokaya al-Mohareb were freed after a second hearing on Wednesday in their high-profile…

Police fire tear gas at Sudan protesters defying ban

KHARTOUM, March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudanese police fired tear gas at protesters defying a nationwide state of emergency on Thursday, with demonstrations in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere, witnesses said. Protests and deadly clashes have rocked Sudan for more than three months, fuelled by accusations that the government has mismanaged…

Three dead in Comoros capital after opposition moves to unseat president

MORONI, March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: At least three people were killed on Thursday in a shootout in the Comoros capital involving renegade soldiers who had broken out of prison, the interior minister said, as a recent election result was challenged. The firefight near the main military base took place hours…

Google signs deal with Cuba to boost internet services

HAVANA, March 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US tech giant Google has signed a deal with Cuban operator ETECSA to explore ways of boosting internet service on the communist-run island. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in Havana aimed at speeding up connectivity to help bring communications on the island into…

Brazil says Russian troops should leave Venezuela if propping up Maduro

BRASILIA: The Russian troops sent to Venezuela should leave if their purpose is to maintain the country’s government in power, Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said. In an interview, Araujo said he hoped Russia would recognise that propping up President Nicolas Maduro would only deepen the collapse of Venezuela’s economy…