Several killed after al-Sadr followers storm protest camp in Iraq

A Najaf resident said that by nightfall the protest camp was completely emptied of demonstrators. BAGHDAD, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least five people have been killed and dozens of others wounded in clashes between anti-government protesters and supporters of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr in southern Iraq.The violence broke out…

US Pres Trump confirms killing of AQAP chief in Yemen

Qassim al-Rimi, leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump confirmed that the US had killed the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula — days after the jihadist group claimed responsibility for a mass shooting at a US naval base. The…

Doctor who alerted world about coronavirus dies of it as China’s death toll surpasses 630

Li Wenliang contracted the virus while working at Wuhan Central Hospital BEIJING, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Chinese doctor, among the first to raise the alert about China’s new coronavirus, himself died from the pathogen on Friday, emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed at least 630…

Equatorial Guinea donates $2m to China to help combat coronavirus

President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and Xi Jinping of China MALABO, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Equatorial Guinea has announced a solidarity contribution of $2 million to China over the rampaging coronavirus outbreak.The decision was reached after a cabinet meeting this week. It was chaired by President…

Coronavirus: Charities donate $113m to help Africa battle disease

LONDON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK based The Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation are committing millions of dollars to help African countries battle the novel coronavirus, if and when it should come to the continent.In a statement, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it will commit up…

Kenya warns against US, China rivalry in Africa

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said that African nations should be free to cooperate with both the United States and China, warning that foreign powers were exacerbating the continent’s divisions.Kenyatta was speaking on a visit to Washington, where speculation has built that…

Zimbabwe: 2 illegal gold miners killed, 20 trapped after shaft collapses

HARARE, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two gold miners died and 20 others trapped underground in Zimbabwe after a shaft collapsed on Wednesday night, the state-run Herald newspaper reports.They were working illegally at the Globe and Phoenix gold mine in the central town of Kwekwe, around 200km west of the capital,…

Celebrating economic recovery: South Sudan to launch first oil, gas bidding round in March

A worker walks by an oil well at the Toma South oil field, South Sudan JUBA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister said Juba is prepared to host its first oil and gas bidding round next month as a means to accelerate economic recovery. Daniel Awow Chuang, South…

US: Pres Trump calls Democratic opponents ‘vicious’ after impeachment acquittal

WASHINGTON, Feb 6, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump lashed out at rival Democrats Thursday in a lengthy speech revelling in his impeachment acquittal and raging at the investigations that have overshadowed his administration. He said his opponents were “vicious and mean” and that he had been “through hell”…

Russia blocks UN draft resolution on Libya over ‘mercenary’

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia blocked a UN draft resolution on Libya due to inclusion of the word “mercenary” in the text, diplomats said, casting doubt that a Security Council vote will occur by week’s end. “There are a few sections in the resolution that are of concern,”…