Haiti’s serious crime unit to investigate foreigners arrested with guns

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The serious crime unit of Haiti’s national police is investigating several foreign nationals, including Americans, who were arrested in possession of semi-automatic weapons, Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant said. The group, which included five U.S. citizens, was arrested while driving in two vehicles on Sunday in…

Death toll from northwest Nigeria attack doubles to 130

ABUJA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from an attack last week by gunmen in northwestern Nigeria has doubled to more than 130, the Kaduna state governor said, adding it appeared to have been a deliberate plan to “wipe out certain communities.” Governor Nasir el-Rufai did not elaborate on…

Cuba denies its military in Venezuela, charges U.S. readies intervention

HAVANA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba denied it has security forces in Venezuela and charged the statements were part of an orchestrated campaign of lies paving the way for military intervention in the South American country. U.S. President Donald Trump and members of the administration have charged that Cuba’s security…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro suffers first defeat in Congress

BRASILIA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s lower chamber handed right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro his first defeat in Congress on Tuesday, the day before his government presents its most important legislative proposal to rein in a gaping budget deficit and spur growth. The house voted overwhelmingly to suspend an executive order…

Loan of $100 million from Taiwan gives lifeline to Nicaragua’s Ortega

MANAGUA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nicaragua’s congress has accepted a $100 million loan offered by Taiwan, giving a line of support to President Daniel Ortega’s government, which has become increasingly isolated after a brutal crackdown on protesters last year. Lawmakers approved the 20-year loan a day after U.S. President Donald…

Kenya set to host French President Macron next month

French Ambassador to Kenya Aline Menager pays courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi. NAIROBI, Feb 20 (NNN-KBC) — French President Emmanuel Macron will make a two-day State visit to Kenya mid next month. French Ambassador Aline Kuster-Menager confirmed that the French President will visit the country…

Kenya: Tullow Oil to invest over Ksh 300B in exploration activities

NAIROBI, Feb 20 (NNN-KBC) — Tullow Oil plans to invest over Ksh 300 billion in exploration activities and construction of an 800-kilometer crude oil pipeline. The investment to be staggered in a three-year period will see the company spend Ksh 200 billion to sink 36 wells and Ksh 100 billion…

Dialogue only viable way to resolve Burundi political crisis: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN envoy for Burundi said Tuesday that dialogue remains the only viable option for resolving the political crisis in Burundi and for holding peaceful elections in 2020. Michel Kafando, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Burundi, briefed the Security Council on the recent…

Water from Lesotho to benefit Botswana through 600-km pipeline

GABORONE, Feb 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa will share the cost of the construction of a 600-km water pipeline that will run from Lesotho through South Africa to Botswana. This was revealed by Rapule Pule, a water resource specialist from the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), in Francistown,…

Somalia and Kenya in khat row

MOGADISHU/NAIROBI, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several Somali traders have stopped importing khat from Kenya following a diplomatic row between the two countries, in a show of solidarity with their government.They say they will instead focus on trading with Ethiopia.At the weekend, Kenya recalled its ambassador to Mogadishu and ordered Somalia’s…