Greece closes customs post on land border with Turkey to stem migrant influx

A boat with refugees and migrants arrives at Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece, Feb 29 ATHENS, March 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — Greek authorities suspended the operation of the customs post on the land border with Turkey on Friday, as groups of refugees and migrants were gathering on…

AU hands over cache of captured weapons to Somalia government

MOGADISHU, March 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said it has handed over a large cache of captured weapons of war from al-Shabaab terrorists to the Somali government. Francisco Madeira, head of AMISOM, said the weapons, which included rocket-propelled grenade launchers, general-purpose machine guns and assault…

US: White House accuses media of stoking virus fears to take down Pres Trump

WASHINGTON, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The acting White House chief of staff says US media is stoking a coronavirus panic because they hope it will take down President Donald Trump. “The reason they are paying so much attention to it today is that they think this is going to bring down the president,”…

Gunmen kill 10 officers in northern Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen killed 10 police officers in northeastern Burkina Faso on Saturday, the latest attack in a country battling jihadist attacks. Another three officers were wounded in the attack at Sebba, the main townin Yagha province, a police statement said. An earlier statement had put the…

German President Steinmeier’s visit boosts Sudan bid against isolation

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok KHARTOUM, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Khartoum this week has become the latest marketing tool for the transitional government to help Sudan out of international isolation.Steinmeier became the first German President to visit Khartoum since…

Covid-19: Iceland confirms first case

REYKJAVIK, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Icelandic man in his forties is in isolation at Landspítali hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. This was brought to light by an announcement from the Directorate of Health. This marks the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Iceland. The man is…

UN: DR Congo signs ‘peace’ deal with armed group in east

Endless armed conflicts in DR Congo have displaced thousands of people KINSHASA, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Congolese government has signed a deal with an armed group to restore peace and security in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after decades of violence, UN officials said. The agreement was signed…

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…