South Africa: New swine fever outbreak confirmed in Gauteng

GAUTENG (South Africa), Jan 28 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has confirmed a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) on a farm in Gauteng.  The department said the farm has been put under quarantine and the Provincial Veterinary Services instituted forward and…

Foreign Minister Pandor thanks EU for supporting South Africa’s developmental agenda

PRETORIA, Jan 28 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa says it appreciates the European Union’s (EU) continued support of the development cooperation aligned to the National Development Plan (NDP) and the backing it received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the creation of the local mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.  “This support and…

Peru unrest: Congress declares Bolivian ex-President Evo Morales persona non grata for interference in Peru’s internal affairs

LIMA, Jan 28 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru’s Congress approved a motion to declare Bolivian ex-President Evo Morales persona non grata, as it deemed that he makes statements and comments reflecting interference in Peru’s domestic affairs. The initiative received 74 votes in favor, 40 against, and 4 abstentions. Moreover, it was approved after a lengthy…

Peru unrest: Pres Boluarte says once Congress approves date, she will call elections

CALLAO (Peru), Jan 28 (NNN-ANDINA) — Pres Dina Boluarte urged Congress to approve an early date for general elections so that the Executive Branch can call for this new electoral process. She asked that Parliament members agree on whether this process will take place this year or in 2024. “Let the elections…

Canadian woman pleads guilty to sending ex-US pres Donald Trump ricin poison

 WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Canadian woman has pleaded guilty to biological weapons charges after sending former President Donald Trump a letter laced with deadly ricin poison. The envelope was intercepted in September 2020 before ever being delivered to the White House. The FBI found the fingerprints of Pascale…

Spain letter bombs: Elderly man arrested over high-profile attacks

MADRID, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spanish police have arrested a 74-year-old man on suspicion of sending letter bombs to high-profile targets, including the country’s prime minister. The man was reportedly taken into custody in the north of Spain and is due to appear in court later this week. In total six…

HRW urges probe over Cameroon journalist’s death

LIBREVILLE, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Human Rights Watch called on Cameroon to launch an independent inquiry into the killing of a popular radio journalist who had spoken out against graft. Martinez Zogo, 50, who regularly attacked financial sleaze and cronyism in the central African nation, was abducted on Jan 17…

US military kills senior Daesh figure in Somalia raid

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US military raid in Somalia ordered by President Joe Biden killed a key regional leader of the Daesh group, Bilal al-Sudani, senior US officials said. Sudani and 10 other Daesh fighters were killed during a gunfight after US troops descended on a mountainous cave…

Toll from bombing in central Nigeria rises to 40: government

LAFIA (Nigeria), Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a bomb blast that struck a group of herders in central Nigeria has risen to 40 from 27, the local government said. “We now have approximately 40 people that were killed” by the explosion on Wednesday in Rukubi, a village…

Azerbaijan evacuates Tehran embassy, blames Iran for attack which killed embassy’s head of security

Police stand guard in front of the Azerbaijan embassy in Tehran BAKU, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Azerbaijan on Friday said it was evacuating staff from its embassy in Tehran, blaming Iran for a “terrorist” attack in which the head of security was killed and two guards wounded. Tehran’s police chief…