UN considering drawdown of DR Congo mission

UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: The United Nations is considering a drawdown of its large peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo and charting a course towards an exit strategy, a senior UN peacekeeping official said. After presidential elections in December that ended Joseph Kabila’s rule and improved…

Papua New Guinea’s men-only parliament eyes seats for women

The APEC Haus conference facility in Port Moresby. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA. PORT MORESBY, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Papua New Guinea is considering making its currently all-male legislature more representative, by creating parliamentary seats reserved for women. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill introduced the proposal on International Women’s Day on Friday,…

Lawsuit against Germany over Namibian genocide is dismissed in New York

NEW YORK, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to require Germany to pay damages over genocide and property seizures by colonists in what is now Namibia more than a century ago. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan said Germany was immune from claims…

Zimbabwe says rapprochement with West still on despite U.S. sanctions

HARARE, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe said the extension of U.S. sanctions on its government was regrettable but Harare would keep talking to Washington and the European Union to remove the measures it says have stifled its economy. Sanctions were imposed under the rule of Robert Mugabe, who brought the…

Tunisians to vote for president on Nov 10

TUNIS, March 8 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Tunisia’s electoral commission announced that it will conduct parliamentary elections on Oct 6 and presidential polls on November 10. Under its 2014 constitution, Tunisia must hold legislative elections within two months of parliament’s mandate expiring — between October and early December. If a presidential candidate…

Algeria: Opposition parties call for delay in elections

ALGIERS, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Days after Abdelaziz Bouteflika officially submitted his nomination in the Algerian presidential polls, the opposition parties called for the postponement of the April 18 election. The opposition parties demanded the activation of Article 102, which would provide for the vacancy of the presidency and the…

Syria war: Daesh militants ‘caught trying to escape’ last enclave

Hundreds of civilians and suspected militants have been evacuated from Baghuz  BAGHOUZ, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 400 Daesh militants have been captured trying to escape the last piece of land the group holds in Syria, a US-backed militia says. A Syrian Democratic Forces commander said the militants were caught…

Pres Putin: Russia Foiled Work Of Almost 600 Spies

MOSCOW, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Vladimir Putin has accused foreign intelligence services of beefing up activities in Russia, announcing that hundreds of spies were stopped in 2018 alone. Without going into details, he said “129 staff members and 465 agents of foreign special services were foiled”. In his speech…

Nicaraguan Police Seize 150 Kg Of Cocaine

MANAGUA, March 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Nicaraguan police seized 150 kg of cocaine during an operation in the southern part of the country, the National Police’s press office said. The operation was carried out along the highway to the seaside resort of La Boquita in the municipality of Diriamba, the police said in a statement. The…

Peru opens military base to protect Amazon from deforestation

TAMBOPATA (Peru), March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Peru opened a military base in the Amazon in a bid to tackle illegal mining, the main culprit for deforestation in the world’s largest rainforest. “The government has taken the political decision to be present in this region to eradicate illegal mining,” said Defense…