Sahel: Czech Republic to deploy anti-terrorism troops

PRAGUE, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Czech Republic’s defence ministry plan to deploy troops to the African continent was on Monday approved by the government. The service members will join Operation Barkhane, France’s largest overseas military mission. It has been working to root out Islamic militants roaming the Sahel region. The…

Ivory Coast tests suspected Coronavirus case – the first for Africa

An unnamed Ivorian woman who travelled from China is being tested for the coronavirus ABIDJAN, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast became the first African country to test a suspected Coronavirus case, when a female student arrived at an airport in the capital with suspicious symptoms. ‘‘The 34-year-old student traveled…

Argentina’s economy minister scheduled to meet IMF officials

Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman NEW YORK, Jan 28 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman will meet with International Monetary Fund officials in New York, an IMF spokesman said, as the government continues talks with its biggest creditor ahead of a massive debt restructuring. Guzman will meet Tuesday with…

Guatemalan president offers El Salvador the chance to build a port in Guatemalan waters

Presidents of El Salvador (r) and Guatemala (L) meet SAN SALVADOR, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei offered his Salvadoran counterpart, Nayib Bukele, the opportunity to build and operate a port in Guatemalan waters in the Atlantic Ocean to promote commerce. Giammattei, who took office in January, said…

US Pres Trump discusses Syria, Libya with Turkey’s Pres Erdogan – White House

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump discussed developments in Syria and Libya in a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, a White House spokesman said on Twitter. “The two leaders discussed the need to eliminate foreign interference and maintain the ceasefire in Libya. The…

More than 5,000 migrants returned to Honduras by air and land

TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 28 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The number of migrants returned to Honduras by various means from Mexico and Guatemala this year exceeds 5,000, the National Institute of Migration reported. The coordinator of the delegations, Victor Vega, explained that every day up to four airplanes of the Federal Police of…

Russian operators stop selling tours to China over coronavirus

MOSCOW, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian tour operators have stopped selling package holidays to China due to the coronavirus outbreak there and are only bringing Russian tourists home, Dmitry Gorin, vice president of the Association of Russian Tour Operators, said.  The move was taken at the recommendation of Rosturizm, Russia’s…

WHO corrects China virus global risk level

GENEVA, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization, which has sometimes been criticised for its handling of past disease outbreaks, admitted an error in its risk assessment of China’s deadly virus. The Geneva-based UN agency said in a situation report that the risk was “very high in China, high…

US Pres Trump offers China ‘any help’ needed as Wuhan virus toll exceeds 100

A man puts a protective mask in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump offered China “any help that is necessary” to control a coronavirus outbreak in the central city of Wuhan that has killed more than…

Brexit fuels calls for second Scottish independence vote

EDINBURGH, Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s departure from the European Union has revived the debate for an independent Scotland, which was thought to have been settled in a landmark referendum nearly six years ago. Scots voted by a majority of 55 percent to remain part of the United Kingdom in…