Russia loses bid to block new Syria chemical weapons probe

THE HAGUE, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bid by Russia to block funding for a new team that will identify culprits behind toxic attacks in Syria failed with member states at the global chemical watchdog overwhelmingly approving a new budget. Moscow and its allies were trying to block next year’s…

Backlash in Mexico at US Pres Trump plan to list cartels as ‘terror’ groups

MEXICO CITY, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Pres Donald Trump’s plan to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations has ignited a raging debate in Mexico on whether the groups’ horrific violence should be considered terrorism. Mexicans broadly agree on one thing, though: They don’t want the American president’s help.…

Revised data shows deforestation in Brazil Amazon at decade high

BRASÍLIA, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil released revised statistics showing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest surpassed 10,000 sq km in the year to July 2019, the highest in more than a decade. The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said last week that satellite data showed 9,762 sq km were…

Benin asks EU to replace ambassador accused of ‘subversive’ activities

COTONOU, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Benin called on the European Union (EU) to send a new ambassador to the West African country as the incumbent one was ordered to leave for his involvement in “subversive” activities, Benin’s government spokesman Alain Orounla said here Thursday. “Our country wishes to maintain the…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro congratulates Uruguayan president-elect

BRASILIA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday congratulated Uruguay’s president-elect Luis Lacalle Pou over phone on his victory in the election, the foreign ministry said in a statement. “President Bolsonaro wished success to President Lacalle Pou in carrying out the mandate granted by the Uruguayans and…

Brazil’s infant mortality down 91.6 pct since 1940

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil’s infant mortality fell to 12.4 deaths per every 1,000 live births in 2018, the country’s statistics agency IBGE said. The figures represent a 91.6 percent decrease from 1940, when infant mortality in Brazil stood at 146.6 deaths per every 1,000 live births.…

Cuba works to boost renewable energy by 2030

HAVANA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cuba hopes to generate a quarter of its energy needs from renewable sources over the next decade, an industry official said on Thursday. The government’s Renewable Energy Development Program aims to raise clean energy output from today’s 4 percent to 24 percent by 2030, said…

43 refugees evacuated from Libya to Niger

TRIPOLI, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that 43 refugees have been evacuated from Libya to Niger. “43 refugees safely landed in Niger in the latest UNHCR humanitarian evacuation from Libya and will be resettled to Switzerland in a later stage,”…

Turkey to deport 11 French IS suspects: minister

ANKARA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Turkey will deport 11 French national Daesh suspects to their home country next month, said Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. “This week we will carry out repatriations (of Daesh suspects) to Belgium and Ireland on Friday and Saturday. Also, we will send 11 French national…

200 Houthi prisoners freed by Saudi-led coalition arrive in Yemen’s capital

Freed Houthi prisoners ride a bus as they arrive at the airport in Sanaa SANAA, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — A total of 200 Houthi prisoners who had been freed by the Saudi-led coalition arrived on Thursday in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. The freed prisoners were transported from Saudi Arabia by planes…