Colombia negotiates purchase of 16 French fighter jets

PARIS, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia is considering buying 16 Rafale fighter jets from French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, the South American country’s presidency said, as it seeks to replace its Israeli Kfir planes. The South American country has “pre-selected the French government’s offer for the sale of 16 Rafales”, after…

South Africa: Pres Ramaphosa vows to unite ANC, tackle graft after re-election

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 22 (NNN-NEWVISION) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to unite the deeply-fissured African National Congress (ANC) and root out graft after the ruling party re-elected him as leader despite anger over a growing scandal. Ending a five-day conference where the ANC’s rifts were on stark display, Ramaphosa…

German, Dutch seize 250 tonnes of illegal heavy fireworks

THE HAGUE, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police seized some 250 tonnes of illegal heavy fireworks after raiding a bunker near the Dutch-German border, Europol said, with the illicit pyrotechnics destined for annual New Year’s celebrations in the Netherlands. The raid about 20 kilometres from the eastern Dutch city of Enschede…

Chinese community donates food to drought-affected households in Kenya

NAIROBI, Dec 22 (NNN-NEWVISION) — The Chinese community in Kenya donated foodstuffs to drought-affected households at a ceremony held in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The foodstuffs, including maize flour, wheat flour, beans, green grams, salt, and cooking oil, are destined for the southeastern Kenyan county of Makueni, which is reeling from…

Gambian government says has foiled coup attempt

BANJUL, Dec 22 (NNN-NEWVISION) — The Gambia’s government on Wednesday said it had thwarted a coup attempt the previous day and arrested four soldiers. “The situation is under total control,” it added. There was no immediate confirmation of the purported plot from other sources. Scattered witness accounts reported soldier movements around…

Venezuela: Opposition majority calls for the termination of Juan Guaidó’s “interim government”

CARACAS, Dec 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — An opposition majority called for the cessation of functions of the “interim government” of Juan Guaidó in Venezuela by considering that, after four years of his self-proclamation, the mechanism was weakened without achieving the objectives of political change set out. This represents a change for…

Brazil planning to become world’s largest cotton exporter, ahead of US

BRASILIA, Dec 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazil could become the world’s largest cotton exporter in 2023, because of an increase in the planted area helping it to surpass the United States, which could reduce sowing by 30% to make way for competing crops such as corn, soy, and wheat. Brazilian cotton…

Suspect in murder of Paraguayan prosecutor in Colombia captured in Venezuela

CARACAS, Dec 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Venezuelan authorities captured in Caracas a sixth suspect in the murder of Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor Marcelo Pecci in May, when he was spending his honeymoon on a beach in the Colombian Caribbean, Colombian police reported on Wednesday. His crime has been linked to several judiciary…

Wicked winter storm threatens US holiday travel chaos

Crews deice a Southwest Airlines plane before takeoff in Omaha, Nebraska WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A “once-in-a-generation” winter storm was threatening to wreak havoc with holiday travel plans for millions of Americans. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the storm would produce “a multitude of weather hazards,” including…

UN agency reiterates support for Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 22 (NNN-ENA) — The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) declared that it will prolong, increase and diversify the actions carried out to support the comprehensive sustainable growth of Ethiopia.     The resident representative of the UNDP in Ethiopia, Turhan Saleh, said that the specialized advice, the exchange of…