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…

At least 11 dead as storms sweep through US south

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Severe storms sweeping the southern US killed at least 11 people, authorities said, as tornadoes and high winds upturned cars, destroyed homes and left tens of thousands without power. The storms hit parts of the south on Friday and moved eastand north on Sunday, according…

Colombia eradicated 100,000 hectares of coca in 2019, Pres Duque reports

BOGOTA, Jan 11 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Colombia, a top source of coca, the base ingredient in cocaine, eradicated more than 100,000 hectares of the crop last year, President Ivan Duque said. The Andean country has come under repeated pressure from the United States, an important destination for cocaine shipments, to reduce…

Chileans condemn OAS secretary general’s visit

SANTIAGO, Jan 11 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The Communist Youth of Chile (JJCC) described OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro as an accomplice to serious human rights violations in Chile. The youth branch of the Communist Party of Chile (PC) argued that Almagro defended President Sebastian Piñera’s actions against the widepread popular…

US: Pelosi signals Trump impeachment charges may go to Senate next week

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Democratic-led US House of Representatives will send formal impeachment charges against President Donald Trump to the Senate as early as next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House, has been engaged in a three-week cat-and-mouse game…

‘Phase Two’ China trade deal may come after US election: Pres Trump

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Negotiations for the second phase of a pending US-China trade deal will begin promptly but the outcome may wait until after this year’s elections, President Donald Trump said. Trump’s remarks come days before Beijing’s trade envoy is due in Washington to sign a “phase one”…