DR Congo: Pres Tshisekedi says Ebola outbreak should be over this year

WHO health workers vaccinating members of the pygmy community in Beni  BERLIN, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An outbreak of Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo should be eradicated by the end of 2019, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said. The epidemic in Congo was declared in August 2018 and has…

France to host Putin, Zelensky on Dec 9 in bid to end Ukraine conflict

There have been increased contacts between Kiev and Moscow since Volodymyr Zelensky became Ukrainian president in May PARIS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet his Ukranian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Dec 9 for their first face-to-face encounter, seeking to end the half-decade conflict in Ukraine,…

Chileans to vote on new constitution in response to protests

A protester in Santiago holds a sign calling for a ‘constitutional assembly for more democracy’ SANTIAGO, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile said on Friday (Nov 15) it will hold a referendum to replace the country’s dictatorship-era constitution – a key demand of protesters after nearly a month of violent civil…

Habib Jemli assigned to form Tunisian gov’t

Tunisian President Kais Saied (Left) shakes hands with Habib Jemli during their meeting in Tunis TUNIS, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — President Kais Saied officially approved Habib Jemli on Friday to form the new government, according to a statement by the Tunisian presidency. Jemli was the candidate of Tunisia’s Islamist party…

Security Council renews partial lifting of arms embargo on Somalia

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN Security Council on Friday renewed for another year the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, and added a ban on chemicals used for making improvised explosive devices. The 15-member council voted 12-0 in favor of Resolution 2498 that enabled the…

Feature: “Wonder City” Havana celebrates 500th anniversary

by Raul Menchaca HAVANA, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — As Cuba’s capital celebrates its 500th anniversary of its founding on Nov 16, 1519, residents and visitors alike reflect on what makes Havana unique. “It has a captivating beauty in what can be seen and what cannot,” said Havana historian Eusebio Leal.…

Bolivia withdraws from ALBA, recalls most of its ambassadors

LA PAZ, Nov 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivia’s interim government on Friday announced its withdrawal from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a regional integration bloc founded by Cuba and Venezuela that gathers 10 members. It also revoked the status of most of its ambassadors, who had…

Armed men storm opposition Guaido party headquarters in Venezuela

CARACAS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed men stormed the party headquarters of Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido on Friday, one day ahead of a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, Guaido and witnesses said. Dressed in black and carrying pistols and rifles, the hooded men forcedtheir way into the offices of…

Teen gunman in US school shooting dies as police hunt motive

LOS ANGELES, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The teenager who gunned downclassmates at a California high school before shooting himself died Friday,leaving detectives baffled over the motive of a Boy Scout with no obviousalarm bells in his background. Nathaniel Berhow died in a hospital one day after shooting himself in thehead…

UN renews Central Africa peacekeeping mission

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council extended the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the violence-plagued Central African Republic for another year on Friday.The decision comes two months after four UN personnel died when a Russian-made helicopter crashed during an operation against the 3R militia, one of…