Norway to take 600 Libya evacuees from Rwanda camp

FILE PHOTO: An illegal African migrant prays at a detention camp in Tripoli, Libya KIGALI/OSLO, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Norway this year will take in 600 people evacuated to Rwanda from Libyan detention centers, the Nordic country said as it sought to discourage the smuggling of refugees across the Mediterranean…

Niger: 63 ‘terrorists’, 25 others killed in army base attack – defence ministry

NIAMEY, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heavily armed assailants stormed a military base in Niger on Thursday killing 25 people and leading to fierce clashes that killed 63 “terrorists”, the defence ministry said, in an area where dozens died in a previous attack. The raid near to the volatile frontier with…

US Pres Trump seeks support in Iran crisis but Europe skeptical

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With tensions soaring after he ordered the killing of a top Iranian general, US President Donald Trump publicly urged all other powers to abandon a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran. Within hours, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of Trump’s closest international allies, was on…

British lawmakers finally approve historic Brexit deal

LONDON, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s parliament finally approved Brexit on Thursday, allowing it to become the first country to leave the European Union later this month, ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and splintered society. The House of Commons erupted in cheers after MPs ratified Prime Minister…

Libya Conflict: Turkey And Russia Call For Ceasefire

ISTANBUL, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have called for a ceasefire to end the conflict in Libya. The two leaders are seen to back rival sides in a conflict dragging in an increasing number of states. After talks in Istanbul, Erdogan and Putin…

Heatwave, strong winds fan Australia bushfire threat – new emergency warnings issued

SYDNEY, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– High temperatures and strong winds were expected to fan massive bushfires blazing across southeastern Australia on Friday, as authorities issued new emergency warnings after several days of cooler conditions brought some reprieve to affected communities. Thousands of firefighters were preparing for the worst with temperatures…

Colombia destroys record amount of coca leaf plantations

BOGOTA, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia broke its record in 2019 for manually destroying illegal coca leaf plantations, the primary ingredient in cocaine, President Ivan Duque said. The South American country is the largest producer of cocaine in the world, and much of it is destined for the US market.…

Update: US to join Iran crash probe – NTSB

NEW YORK, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US National Transportation Safety Board said it will join the probe into the Ukrainian Boeing airliner which went down in Iran. In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the agency said it had “received formal notification” from Iran of the crash which…

New Syria aid vote sets up clash between Russia, West at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on extending cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, according to diplomats, with Russia pushing for aid reduction and setting up a showdown with the West. The authorization for the aid, which enters the country without the…

US Sec of State Pompeo to meet Japan, South Korea on North Korea tensions

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet top officials from Japan and South Korea, officials said Thursday, weeks after North Korea defiantly threatened a new weapon. The State Department said that Pompeo would meet senior counterparts from the two US allies during a Jan…