Tunisian president says to dissolve parliament if gov’t loses vote of confidence

Elyes Fakhfakh leaves for a meeting with Kais Saied in Tunis TUNIS, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian President Kais Saied said that he will dissolve parliament if the government of Prime Minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh fails to obtain parliamentary confidence vote. Saied’s statements came after the Ennahdha Party officially announced it…

EU allocates 1 mln euro to fight against desert locust in East Africa

A swarm of desert locusts flying over a grazing land in Lemasulani village, Samburu county, Kenya BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (NNN-KUNA) — The European Union allocated an initial 1 million euro in emergency funding to support international efforts to tackle the desert locust outbreak currently wreaking havoc in eastern Africa. “The…

Somali forces foil attack on military bases by al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somali security forces killed several al-Shabaab militants who had attempted to raid military bases in the southern region on Tuesday night, a government official said. Government spokesman Ismael Mukhtar Omar said a group of militants conducted a pre-dawn vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack on Somali…

Brazil: State-owned Petrobras hits record profit in 2019

BRASILIA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian oil giant Petrobras said it made a record net profit last year, shaking off the lingering effects of a massive corruption scandal. The state-run company reported a net profit of 40.1 billion reals in 2019, up 55.7 percent from the year before. It was…

EU leaders to face off in ‘very tough’ budget summit

BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU leaders are to hold a Brussels summit Thursday to set a seven-year budget despite splits between some stingy rich nations, poorer ones wanting to preserve spending and others wanting to fund grand global ambitions. The money tussle, hard-fought at the best of times, is…

EU trade chief warns coronovirus may delay China trade accord

European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A planned European Union-China investment agreement looks unlikely to be struck by September as planned because of the coronavirus outbreak, European Union trade chief Phil Hogan said. The European Commission chief and other senior EU officials are set to…

Update: UN tries to salvage Libya talks after government announces pullout

GENEVA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations tried to salvage talks over a ceasefire for Libya after the government based in Tripoli said it was pulling out after a single day to protest against the shelling of the capital’s port.Talks began on Tuesday in Geneva between the internationally recognized…

Germany: Police hunt gunmen after deadly shooting in Hanau city

The motive for the shootings remain unclear HANAU (Germany), Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least eight people were killed in two shooting incidents late on Wednesday in the German city of Hanau, police said.Police special units are chasing an unknown number of perpetrators, who fled the scene of the attack…

US Judge finds government in contempt for deporting migrant minors

Migrants in a detention centre at McAllen, Texas WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A federal judge has found the United States government in contempt after authorities deported five young immigrants who were seeking to remain in the country under a programme for abused and neglected immigrant children.Judge Nathanael Cousins issued…

Panama police seize ‘homemade’ semi-submersible boat carrying five tons of drugs; four Colombians arrested

PANAMA CITY, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Panama seized five tons of drugs on Wednesday that were transported aboard a semi-submersible boat in the northwest of the country, the National Aeronaval Service said. The police also arrested four Colombians aboard the “homemade device,” according to the service, which gave…