Ecuador gun violence: Six killed in popular whale-watching destination Puerto Lopez

QUITO, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Multiple gunmen killed six people on Sunday, including a two-year-old girl, after shooting up a beachside boardwalk in southwestern Ecuador, police said. Three others were wounded in the attack in popular whale-watching destination Puerto Lopez, after men in a van and on two motorcycles opened…

Mexico: 13 killed, 98 injured in train derailment in southern Oaxaca state

MEXICO CITY, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A train carrying 250 people derailed partially on Sunday in Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 98, officials said. The train’s locomotive left the tracks during a trip in southern Oaxaca state, said the Mexican navy, which operates this particular rail line. The navy…

Panama to sanction tankers intercepted by US

PANAMA CITY, Dec 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The Government of Panama will take disciplinary action against several oil tankers registered under its flag targeted by the United States for alleged irregularities, Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha announced. These vessels “failed to respect Panamanian maritime legislation,” he explained. The initiative was launched by…

Tanzania: TPDC kicks off second phase of oil exploration project

ARUSHA, Dec 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has officially launched the second phase of the Eyasi–Wembere oil and gas exploration project at Endeshi Village in Karatu District, Arusha Region. This phase involves the acquisition of 2D seismic data around Lake Eyasi, with a total of 914 kilometres…

Tanzania eyes 124tri/- investment

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA is targeting to attract at least 50 billion US dollars (about 123.5tri/-) in investment capital and create eight million jobs by 2030 as the government rolls out a new investment drive aligned with Vision 2050, with strong emphasis on youth empowerment, industrialisation and…

Brazil: Supreme Court orders house arrest for ex-pres Bolsonaro accomplices in coup plot

Former director-general of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police, Silvinei Vasques (L), being placed into a police patrol vehicle after being detained and arrested at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion BRASÍLIA, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s Supreme Court on Saturday ordered house arrest for 10 officials in the government of…

Chilean firms partner to form giant company to exploit lithium

SANTIAGO, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile’s state-owned Codelco, the world’s leading copper producer, and private miner SQM, which features Chinese capital, announced Saturday the creation of a giant company to exploit lithium, a lightweight metal used in batteries for electric vehicles. The South American country is the world’s second-largest producer…

Guinea security forces ‘neutralise’ armed group in gunfight a day before presidential voting

CONAKRY, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinean security forces neutralised an armed group in the capital they said had “subversive intentions threatening national security”, according to an official statement on Saturday, a day before the country holds elections. The west African country’s presidential election is set to take place on Sunday…

Ivory Coast parliamentary elections draw low turnout

ABIDJAN, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Voting ended Saturday in Ivory Coast’s parliamentary elections, a vote marked by poor turn-out following a boycott call by opposition parties. The election comes two months after 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara won a presidential ballot that extended his 14-year rule. In the Yopougon and Plateau districts…

Niger junta calls ‘general mobilisation’ against jihadists

NIAMEY, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Niger’s military rulers have approved a general mobilisation and the requisition of people and goods to fight a long-running jihadist insurgency, according to a government statement. Since toppling democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a July 2023 coup, the military junta in Niger has been…