Brazil opens pipeline to allow Bolivian company to sell gas

BRASILIA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Brazilian government authorized Bolivian oil and gas company YPFB to use the Gasbol pipeline to sell gas to other companies in Brazil beyond state-run oil firm Petrobras, according to a publication in the official gazette. Brazil’s Energy Ministry gave the green light to a…

France protests: PM offers pension compromise in bid to end strike

Thousands marched through Paris to protest against the pension reforms.  PARIS, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has offered a concession to unions in a bid to end nationwide strikes against proposed pension reforms. In a letter, Philippe said he was willing to withdraw a proposal which would raise the…

Update: Libyan rivals to sign ceasefire deal in Moscow

MOSCOW, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Both sides in Libya’s conflict areexpected Monday in Moscow to sign an agreement on the terms of a ceasefire which went into effect over the weekend, ending nine months of fighting after weeks of international diplomacy. The oil-rich North African country has been wracked by…

Brexit: EU ‘won’t be rushed’ on trade deal, says Ireland’s deputy PM Coveney

Simon Coveney BRUSSELS, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU “will not be rushed” on a trade deal with the UK after Brexit, according to Ireland’s deputy PM Simon Coveney. Boris Johnson says a deal can be agreed by the end of 2020 and has included a pledge in his Brexit…

Ethiopia’s ethnic clashes: 21 abducted students released leaving six others still in captivity

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 13 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — At least 21 students have been released from captivity after being abducted in early December while six others remain in captivity.Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told state television that 13 female students and eight males had “been released in a peaceful manner” but that six…

72 more migrants, including pregnant women, rescued off Libyan coast

TRIPOLI, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Another 72 African migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya by the Spanish Rescue Group, Open Arms. The migrants included 15 pregnant women, children and babies. The charity said the migrants were from Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Mali and Guinea. Open Arms said, those…

Gambia warns exiled ex-pres Yahya Jammeh not to seek return

Yahya Jammeh ruled The Gambia for 22 years BANJUL, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Gambia has warned its ousted leader Yahya Jammeh not to try to return home from his exile in Equatorial Guinea. Jammeh’s safety couldn’t be guaranteed if he did return without permission, a government spokesman said. A…

Five killed by militants in northeast Nigeria

KANO (Nigeria), Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Militants linked with the Daesh group killed five members of a militia in an offensive in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state. Fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) — travelling inpickup trucks fitted with machine guns — attacked Gajiram town, 80kilometres from the state…

Outsider Robert Abela elected to become Malta PM

VALLETTA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Outsider Robert Abela was electedleader of the Labour Party on Sunday, becoming Malta’s new premier afterPrime Minister Joseph Muscat’s downfall over the murder of an investigative journalist. Abela, son of a former Maltese president, is seen as representingcontinuity and in the election run-up did not…

Both sides in Libya conflict accept ceasefire

TRIPOLI, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Both sides in Libya’s conflict agreed to a ceasefire that started early Sunday following weeks of international diplomacy and calls for a truce by power-brokers Russia and Turkey. The oil-rich North African country has been wracked by bloody turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising killed long-time…