UNHCR says over 80,000 Somalis flee to Kenya amid severe drought

NAIROBI, Dec 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said more than 80,000 people have arrived in northeast Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps due to ongoing insecurity and severe drought. The UNHCR said the majority of the refugees arrived over the past two years. “More support is needed not…

Argentine VP Kirchner sentenced to 6 years in jail for corruption

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been sentenced to six years in jail for corruption and a lifetime ban from holding public office. An Argentine court on Tuesday convicted her of “fraudulent administration” over irregular public works contracts awarded during her two-term…

CARICOM-Cuba Summit calls to strengthen unity of Caribbean Nations

BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), Dec 7 (NNN-ACN) — The 8th Caricom-Cuba Summit adopted the Declaration of Bridgetown expressing the joint willingness of Caribbean nations to further strengthen their relationship and the commitment to search for creative solutions in the benefit of their peoples, said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.On his Twitter account, https://bit.ly/3Fwg5IR the…

US judge dismisses suit against Saudi prince in Khashoggi murder

WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US judge dismissed Tuesday a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his alleged role in the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.    Washington federal judge John Bates accepted a US government’s stance that Prince Mohammed, who was designated prime…

US violence: Alleged gay club attacker charged with hate crimes and murder

A memorial for the victims of the shooting in Colorado Springs, where five were killed COLORADO SPRING, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The alleged attacker in the Club Q gay nightclub shooting that killed five people has been charged with hate crimes, murder, and assault.The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, appeared in…

Belgian auction house apologizes after backlash for trying to sell African skulls

Vanderkindere canceled the auction of three African skulls BRUSSELS, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An auction house in Belgium has rendered an apology after it received backlash for trying to sell three skulls of Africans who were killed when the Democratic Republic of Congo was a colony. Vanderkindere auction house also…

Somali troops seize strategic town from Al-Shabaab militants

Somali National Armytroops during an anti-Shabaab operation MOGADISHU, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somali forces seized a strategic town in the central regions of the country from Al-Shabaab, registering another milestone against the militants.The Somali National Army (SNA), together with local vigilantes popularly known as Mo’awisley, captured Adan Yabaal town, about…

DR Congo conflict: 53 armed groups pledge to stop war

Some members of the M23 rebel group NAIROBI, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifty-three armed groups from the Democratic Republic of Congo that met in Kenya for the third East African Community-led Nairobi Peace Process have agreed to lay down their arms as Kinshasa finds ways to address their grievances, amongst…

US piles pressure on Rwanda over M23 rebels in DR Congo conflict

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has revisited the controversial accusation of Rwanda’s role in supporting the M23 rebels in neighbouring eastern DR Congo, asking Kigali to stop supporting the armed group now blamed for renewed fighting.In a phone call with President Paul…

Tanzania scraps independence celebration, diverts funds to kids

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 7 (NNN-GNA) — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has cancelled Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Friday and directed that the budget instead be used to build dormitories for children with special needs.The 61st Independence Day event was to cost $445,000, money…