Cameroon’s ruling party retains absolute majority after contentious election

President Paul Biya YAOUNDE, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Paul Biya’s party has retained an absolute majority in Cameroon’s parliament, the constitutional council announced after the controversial Feb 9 vote.His Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) won 139 out of 167 declared seats on “moderate” turnout of almost 46 percent, said…

Nigeria: Coronavirus patient attempts to escape from isolation centre

LAGOS, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The 44-year-old Italian who tested positive for coronavirus in Nigeria on Thursday attempted to escape from the isolation centre he was placed in. The isolation facility is located at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, Lagos but health workers there say the facility isn’t in good condition.…

Togo’s Faure gets AU nod despite protests

President Faure Gnassingbe (right) shakes hand with people queuing to vote in Kara LOME, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Togo’s constitutional court is expected to verify the results of the country’s elections which gave the incumbent a fourth term, even as his opponents claim fraud.Faure Gnassingbe, son of long-term ruler Gnassingbe…

US postpones ASEAN regional summit due to coronavirus: US official

WASHINGTON, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has delayed aregional ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in March due to fears of the coronavirus, a senior administration official said. “As the international community works together to defeat the novelcoronavirus, the United States, in consultation with ASEAN…

US, Taliban sign historic deal on Afghanistan’s future

DOHA, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States signed a landmark deal with the Taliban on Saturday, laying out a timetable for a full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 14 months as it seeks an exit from its longest-ever war. The agreement is expected to lead to a dialogue between…

New outbreak of African swine fever kills 3,000 pigs in Indonesia

A pig farm in Denpasar, Bali JAKARTA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indonesia is tightening curbs on the transport of pigs and pork products after nearly 3,000 animals died in a new outbreak of African swine fever in an eastern province bordering East Timor, the agriculture ministry said. In a statement,…

Chinese scientist sentenced to prison in US for technology theft

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Chinese scientist was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing next-generation battery technology from the American petroleum company where he worked. Tan Hongjin, 36, a Chinese national and permanent legal resident of the United States, was arrested in December 2018 and pleaded guilty…

Mexico says cruise ship can dock amid coronavirus fears

MEXICO CITY, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A cruise ship from the Miami-based cruise line MSC Cruises has docked at Cozumel, Mexico after being denied entry to Cayman Islands and Jamaica amid fears of COVID-19. MSC Cruises said in a statement that MSC Meraviglia is “currently waiting for local health officials to board the ship…

Update: Anxious Italy looks to play down coronavirus risk as deaths rise to 17, cases to 650

Waiters stand by an empty restaurant in Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, which would normally be full of tourists ROME, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s government, desperate to stave off a likely recession, played down on Thursday (Feb 27) he gravity of an outbreak of coronavirus, the worst yet seen in Europe,…

Three Syrian soldiers wounded by Israeli fire near Golan: state media

DAMASCUS, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least three Syrian soldiers werewounded by Israeli helicopter fire near the annexed Golan Heights lateThursday, the official SANA agency reported. “Israeli helicopters launched missiles above the occupied Golan Heights,hitting (Syrian) army positions at Kahtaniyeh, Al-Horiyyat and the liberatedtown of Quneitra, leaving three wounded among…