Heatwave, strong winds fan Australia bushfire threat – new emergency warnings issued

SYDNEY, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– High temperatures and strong winds were expected to fan massive bushfires blazing across southeastern Australia on Friday, as authorities issued new emergency warnings after several days of cooler conditions brought some reprieve to affected communities. Thousands of firefighters were preparing for the worst with temperatures…

Colombia destroys record amount of coca leaf plantations

BOGOTA, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia broke its record in 2019 for manually destroying illegal coca leaf plantations, the primary ingredient in cocaine, President Ivan Duque said. The South American country is the largest producer of cocaine in the world, and much of it is destined for the US market.…

Update: US to join Iran crash probe – NTSB

NEW YORK, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US National Transportation Safety Board said it will join the probe into the Ukrainian Boeing airliner which went down in Iran. In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the agency said it had “received formal notification” from Iran of the crash which…

New Syria aid vote sets up clash between Russia, West at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on extending cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, according to diplomats, with Russia pushing for aid reduction and setting up a showdown with the West. The authorization for the aid, which enters the country without the…

US Sec of State Pompeo to meet Japan, South Korea on North Korea tensions

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet top officials from Japan and South Korea, officials said Thursday, weeks after North Korea defiantly threatened a new weapon. The State Department said that Pompeo would meet senior counterparts from the two US allies during a Jan…

US House votes to limit Pres Trump war powers against Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a rebuke to President Donald Trump, the US House voted Thursday to restrict his future military action against Iran, as lawmakers sought to claw back congressional war powers from the White House. The non-binding resolution was introduced by Democrats after Trump’s order to kill…

Zimbabwe: Striking junior doctors bury hatchet, resume work

HARARE, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Junior doctors have ended their more than hundred days industrial action and have resumed their duties at all public hospitals, Parirenyatwa Hospital Public Relations Officer Linos Dhire said.Dhire said the junior doctors were already conducting their duties, a position that was confirmed by the Zimbabwe…

River Nile dam: Talks fail to solve water dispute

Construction the Grand Renaissance Dam start in 2011 ADDIS ABABA, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A major meeting on the future of Africa’s biggest hydroelectric dam – currently being built on the River Nile – has ended without agreement in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.This is the fourth meeting in the latest…

Food insecurity in Haiti expected to rise this year, says UN Humanitarian Agency

Humanitarians are seeking US$252 million to support more than two million people in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of Haitians who do not have sufficient food to eat is expected to surpass four million this year, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, says.OCHA reports that deteriorating economic…

Italy contributes US$ 610,000 to help drought hit Zambia

UN World Food Program LUSAKA, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a €500,000 contribution from the Italian Government to provide food to people affected by the drought in Zambia. Drought and prolonged dry spells have left 2.3 million people severely food insecure and…