Mozambique: Fear spreads in gas-rich province as jihadist attacks rise

MAPUTO, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Villagers are fleeing a gas-rich region in northern Mozambique as energy giants are pleading for more protection in the face of mounting attacks by a shadowy jihadist group.Security officials and local residents described a bushfire of fear spreading in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province, and…

Mexico arrests suspects in killing of 7-year-old girl

The coffin of seven-year-old Fatima Cecilia Aldrighett is seen during her funeral in Mexico City MEXICO CITY, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican law enforcement has arrested suspects in the killing of a seven-year-old girl whose murder rocked the capital with protests, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum wrote in a post…

UNHCR saddened by refugee deaths in stampede for aid in Niger

A Niger soldier stands guard at a camp in Diffa NIAMEY, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the reports of the deaths of at least 20 people, among them women and infants, during a stampede for food and cash in Niger’s Diffa region.…

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…