US rolls out new Iran sanctions after airstrikes

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin jointly announced a new raft of economic sanctions against several senior Iranian officials and major companies. The financial penalties came as a response to Iranian airstrikes against US bases in Iraq, which were in…

Congo ethnic killings may amount to crimes against humanity – UN

A Congolese victim of ethnic violence rests inside a ward at the General Hospital in Bunia UNITED NATIONS, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Killings, rapes and other barbaric violence committed by an ethnic armed group in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo against a rival group may amount to crimes against humanity…

Tunisian parliament rejects proposed government

TUNIS, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Tunisian parliament voted 134 to 72 against Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli’s proposed government. Jemli’s failure to win the confidence vote means the North African country must restart a complex coalition-building process. Jemli, an independent candidate, was nominated by the Islamist Ennahdha party, which came…

Zimbabwe public workers reject govt offer to double pay

HARARE, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zimbabwe’s public sector workers rejected a government offer to nearly double salaries for the lowest paid employees because it was not enough to cushion them against soaring prices, their union said.The southern African nation’s economy is experiencing its worst crisis in a decade while poor…

Mozambique to extradite suspected Pakistani drug baron to US

Mozambique flag MAPUTO, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mozambique has agreed to extradite a Pakistani citizen and suspected drug baron to the United States.Tanveer Ahmed, also known as “Galby”, will be tried at a district court in south Texas and if found guilty of drug trafficking could face a sentence of…

Niger sets new offensive against militants after 25 soldiers killed

NIAMEY, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Niger will launch a new military offensive against militants after their latest attack on an army base killed at least 25 soldiers, the defense minister said. Thursday’s attack near the Malian border followed a raid by Daesh insurgents on another military outpost last month that…

US army officials visit Kenyan base hit by al-Shabaab

US troops NAIROBI, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senior officials from the US military’s Africa Command have visited a military base in Kenya that was raided by militant group al-Shabaab on Sunday. The military base, Camp Simba, is in the popular coastal region of Lamu and is used by Kenyan and…

South Africa’s finance minister calls for cannabis to be legalised

PRETORIA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has called for cannabis to be legalised in order to collect more tax revenue. He made the announcement on Twitter that he will put the idea to cabinet. He also tweeted a series of pictures showing it already growing.…

Libya: East-based rebels impose ‘no-fly zone’ over Tripoli, reject Jan 12 ceasefire

TRIPOLI, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A no fly zone embargo has been imposed over the Libyan capital Tripoli’s airspace, a spokesman for the east-based Libyan National Army announced in a televised speech.Ahmed al-Mosmari, said the current no-fly zone would be expanded to include the city’s Mitiga airport, which has operated…

Liberia sends ‘hazardous waste’ back to Greece

Plastic waste MONROVIA, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberian authorities say they are returning to Greece four shipping containers stuffed with tonnes of hazardous polyethylene waste bags that had been smuggled into Liberia “under the pretext of being recyclable materials”.Anti-smuggling officers raised the alarm at the port of Monrovia when containers…