Niger: ‘Up to 50’ civilians killed in gun attack as Nigeriens wait for presidential election results

NIAMEY, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen killed a significant number ofcivilians in Niger, authorities said, in the latest attack torock the landlocked Sahel nation’s troubled western Tillaberi region. “The attack took place around noon (1100 GMT) Saturday and there were deaths,” a senior regional official said, without giving an exact…

Bomb kills two French soldiers in Mali

PARIS, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two French soldiers were killed when theirvehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali, just days after three others died in similar fashion, the French presidencyannounced. President Emmanuel Macron “learnt with great sadness” of the deaths ofSergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in…

Russians and Ukrainian released in Libya arrive in Moscow

MOSCOW, Jan 4 (NNN-TASS) — Three Russians and a Ukrainian, whowere released in Libya, have arrived in Moscow’s Sheremetyevoairport, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber, Alexander Malkevich, said. According to him, those who arrived from Libya don’t have any documents,including passports. Earlier, Malkevich said a group of Russians and…

Brexit: Cross-Channel traffic smooth in France

Almost 200 lorries crossed into France and left the country for the UK after Britain formally left the EU customs union and single market CALAIS (France), Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Scores of heavy goods vehicles passed through the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France “without any problem”, its operator said,…

Covid-19: Ireland to replace British travel ban with stricter testing

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney DUBLIN, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ireland plans to end a ban on travel to the country from Britain on Jan 6 and replace it with stricter COVID-19 testing measures as it seeks to stop the spread of a highly infectious new variant of the virus, Foreign…

US: Search suspended for boat headed to Florida with 20 people on board

MIAMI, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Coast Guard suspended its search Friday for a boat with about 20 people on board that was three days overdue to arrive in Florida after leaving the Bahamas earlier this week. The Coast Guard and others searched more than 17,000 square miles for…

Kenya: Clinical officers agree to end strike after deal with the Ministry

NAIROBI, Jan 2 (NNN-KBC) — Clinical officers in Kenya have agreed to end their strike that has paralyzed the Country’s public health system for the last 26-day. This after the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers signed a return to work deal with the Ministry of Health. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe…

Ruling party candidate is projected winner of Niger presidential vote

Bazoum campaigned on promises of emphasizing security and education NIAMEY, Jan 2 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The presidential candidate of Niger’s ruling party looked set for a first-round win as his vote tally expanded on Friday.Provisional results showed Mohamed Bazoum as having garnered 1.4 million votes, only trailed by former president Mahamane…

Serbia launches Russian gas project portion

BELGRADE, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday opened a portion of a Russian gas project running through his country and hailed it as key for the security of its energy supply. The 403-kilometre(250-mile) long stretch — from Zajecar in eastern Serbia to Horgos on Hungary border…

Algerian president signs new constitution into law

ALGIERS, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria’s president signed the country’s new constitution into law, his office said, after the document was approved in a November referendum on record low turnout as its leader received treatment abroad for Covid-19. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who returned to Algeria this week after two months…