Top 10 best international airports in Africa in 2023

LONDON, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa is emerging as a preferred global destination for travellers, driven by a thriving tourism and business sector. The continent’s aviation landscape is now a formidable force, fostering crucial connections between Africa and the global community. Recently, London-based Skytrax, a renowned international airline assessment organization,…

Somalia to hold emergency meeting on Ethiopia’s Red Sea port deal with breakaway Somaliland

MOGADISHU, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia’s cabinet will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss a pact Ethiopia signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland, allowing the former to use the Red Sea port of Berbera, the Somali state news agency said.Landlocked Ethiopia relies on neighboring Djibouti for most of its…

Russia detains thousands of migrants in New Year’s Eve raids, many facing deportation

MOSCOW, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s police have detained thousands of migrants across the country in New Year’s Eve raids with scores of them facing deportation, Russian media reported on Monday. About 3,000 migrants were detained in Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg during checks “to prevent crime,” Russia’s RIA…

UN chief commends peacekeeping mission in Mali as it ends

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 2 (NNN-XINHUA) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep appreciation for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali as it completed its withdrawal from the country. The UN chief underscored the pivotal role the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) played in bolstering the peace…

Colombia: Pres Petro signs free college education decree

BOGOTA, Jan 2 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — After mistakenly claiming that Argentina had expelled some 20,000 Colombian university students, President Gustavo Petro upped the ante and decreed that such studies would henceforth be free in his country. “I have signed the decree of free public higher education in Colombia,” he posted on X.…

Covid-19: Alert issued in Paraguay amid growing number of cases

ASUNCION, Jan 2 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Paraguayan health authorities have issued an alert amid an increase in the number of Covid-19 and influenza cases that are pushing the national sanitary network to its limits, it was reported in Asunción. According to the Health Surveillance report, there has been a sustained increase…

Brazil gun violence: Police exchanged gunfire with a group of criminals, at least 7 people died

At least 7 suspects killed in a shooting in Parolin district in Curitiba, capital of Parana state, Brazil BRASILIA, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 7 suspects were killed in a shooting between police and suspected members of a criminal gang in southern Brazil. Local media reported from the military…

Guyana assumes temporary presidency of CARICOM

GEORGETOWN, Jan 2 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Guyana assumed on Monday the rotating presidency of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to promote regional development and prosperity during its six-month term. In a message on the occasion, Guyana’s President and current leader of the bloc, Irfaan Ali, mentioned his commitment to work on…

Ethiopia officially becomes a BRICS member

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 2 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Ethiopia’s membership in the BRICS Group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) together with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran officially took effect on Monday. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the acceptance of the new members of that bloc during…

Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed Channel to UK last year, a 36 percent reduction of 2022’s arrival: Government

LONDON, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel from mainland Europe to Britain in small boats in 2023, an annual drop of more than a third, according to government figures released on Monday. But the unauthorised arrival of 29,437 people on the southeast English coast is still…