Uganda on high alert as locusts approach common border with Kenya

KAMPALA, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the country is on high alert as locusts draw close to the common border with Kenya. All nine ministries have been instructed to work together to collectively heighten the country’s preparedness to prevent or handle the invasion, said Rugunda…

Tunisia, India sign deal to set up ICT center

TUNIS, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisia and India on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to set up an information and communications technology (ICT) innovation center. The MoU was signed by acting Tunisian Foreign Minister Sabri Bachtobji and visiting Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed various aspects…

Nearly 7,000 people have fled Niger region hit by Daesh attack: UNHCR

NIAMEY, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nearly 7,000 people have fled the region in western Niger where militant fighters killed 89 soldiers in a devastating attack earlier this month, the UN refugee agency said. But insecurity in the region is making it difficult for the UNHCR to bring them the help…

Cameroon: Over 20 abducted school children rescued in troubled Anglophone region

YAOUNDE, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroonian troops rescued 24 school children held hostage by armed separatists in the country’s restive English-speaking region of Meme division, an official said. The children were kidnapped early Tuesday from their school in the southwestern city of Kumba and “taken to the forest where the…

UK parliament ratifies Brexit divorce law

LONDON, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After years of acrimonious debate,British lawmakers on Wednesday finally approved the terms of their country’s historic departure from the European Union — due in just nine days time. MPs in the lower House of Commons had already backed the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which ratifies…

Pres Trump sought to cheat to win re-election, Democrats charge at impeachment trial

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Democrats accused PresidentDonald Trump at his historic Senate impeachment trial of seeking to “cheat”to ensure re-election in November, as they began laying out their detailedcase for removing him from office. Adam Schiff, head of the House of Representatives’ prosecution team, tookto the Senate floor to…

Anti-abortion Trump to become first US president to attend March for Life

Attendees at 2019 Celebrate Life rally gather at the state Capitol  WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pres Donald Trump said he plans to attend the March for Life rally this week and become the first president ever to address in-person America’s biggest gathering of anti-abortion activists.“See you on Friday… Big…

Libya: Rockets target airport ahead of regional peace talks

TRIPOLI, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rocket fire targeted the Libyan capital’s sole functioning airport on Wednesday, dealing another setback to peace efforts a day before regional foreign ministers meet in Algeria to discuss the crisis.Tripoli’s Mitiga airport was forced to suspend all flights for several hours after it was targeted…

Nigeria quarantines 292 people after Lassa fever deaths

Good hygiene to discourage rodents from entering homes is recommended to prevent Lassa outbreaks ABUJA, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in northern Nigeria’s Kano state have confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever.Four people have died from the outbreak, including two medical staff who performed surgery on an infected patient.Health commissioner…

Boko Haram beheads Christian leader in Nigeria

ABUJA, Jan 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of a Christian leader in northern Nigeria.Reverend Lawan Andimi was abducted by gunmen believed to be Islamist militants in early January.In a statement, the Nigerian president described the killing of Reverend Andimi as deliberately provocative.He also revealed that…