World leaders at Jerusalem conference condemn rising anti-Semitism

World leaders voiced alarm at resurgent anti-Semitism JERUSALEM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World leaders voiced alarm at resurgent anti-Semitism on Thursday as they gathered at Israel’s national Holocaust Memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Vice…

New Lebanon government looking for $5 billion in loans

Ghazi Wazni, Lebanon’s new Finance Minister BEIRUT, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lebanon’s new Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said he is looking for up to $5 billion in soft loans to purchase wheat, medicine and fuel.The former defense minister said the loans are among his top priorities since taking over the…

Libya reopens Tripoli’s Mitiga airport

Mitiga airport TRIPOLI, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s internationally recognised government said on Thursday that it had reopened Mitiga, Tripoli’s only functioning airport, following almost a day of closure after rockets were fired towards it. Mitiga, just east of central Tripoli, has repeatedly come under attack in recent months, forcing…

Malian army says six soldiers killed, several wounded in overnight attack

BAMAKO, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six soldiers were killed and several were wounded in an overnight attack in central Mali, the army said Thursday, in fresh violence in the war-torn West African state.The troops came under fire late Wednesday from “unidentified armed men” in Dioungani, an area in central Mali’s…

Somalia ranked world’s most corrupt nation

Somalia BERLIN, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia is still ranked the world’s most corrupt country, according to the just released 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).The index is published annually by Transparency International (TI) and assesses the perceived levels of public sector corruption in 180 countries.According to TI, the country’s poor…

Africa’s richest woman Isabel dos Santos scandal: Banker found dead in Lisbon

Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos LISBON/LUANDA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A banker implicated in the embezzlement and money-laundering case against Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos, has been found dead in Lisbon. Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha managed the account of oil firm Sonangol, formerly chaired by Dos Santos, at…

Tanzania: President Magufuli sacks minister over $453m contract

John Magufuli,Tanzania’s president DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s president has sacked his home affairs minister for allegedly mismanaging a $453m fire department contract.President John Magufuli said the home affairs ministry, under Kangi Lugola, had signed a contract with a Romanian company without notifying the finance ministry or…

Tanzanian court jails 8 fishermen for 3 years over illegal fishing

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 24 (NNN-XINHUA) — A Tanzanian court on Thursday jailed eight fishermen for three years each after it had convicted them of involvement in illegal fishing in a national park northwest of the country. The convicted fishermen will each serve the jail terms after they failed to…

Second Chinese city placed on lockdown over virus: official

BEIJING, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A second central Chinese city is beingput on lockdown to help control the spread of a virus epidemic that broke out in neighbouring Wuhan, authorities said. The train station in Huanggang, which has a population of 7.5 million andis 70 kilometres from Wuhan, will be…

Brexit: Queen gives assent for Britain to leave EU

LONDON, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Queen Elizabeth II gave her formal assent Thursday for Britain to end its decades-long involvement in the European Union and seek a more independent but uncertain future at the end of the month. With the head of state’s ceremonial approval of the withdrawal legislation, Britain…