Tunisia condemns eight to death for presidential guard attack

TUNIS, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Tunisian court sentenced eight people to death in a trial for a 2015 attack on a presidential guard bus that killed 12. The Nov 24, 2015 suicide bombing in the capital Tunis claimed by the Daesh killed a dozen presidential guards and wounded 20…

Trump allies draw up plan to limit damage from impeachment trial

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — U.S. President Donald Trump and his Republican allies plan to launch a massive effort to limit damage to his chances of re-election as the Senate trial to determine whether to remove him from office gets under way in earnest next week. After an internal White…

Somali army kills 16 al-Shabaab militants in southern region

MOGADISHU, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somali security forces killed 16 al-Shabaab militants and injured 20 others in intense clashes in the southern Middle Shabelle region on Friday night, a military officer confirmed. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud, commander of unit 27 of the Somali National Army (SNA), told reporters that the militants…

UN calls for release of kidnapped Libyan parliament member

TRIPOLI, Jan 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for the release of Siham Sergewa, a member of the Libyan House of Representatives, or the parliament. Sergewa was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen and taken to an unknown location six months ago in the eastern city…

Car bomb hits Turkish contractors, police in town outside Somali capital: police

Paramedics at the Madina hospital assist an unidentified man injured in an explosion in Afgoye MOGADISHU, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A car bomb targeting a group of Turkish contractors exploded on Saturday in Afgoye, northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu, police said. There was no immediate word on any fatalities.…

Libya oil exports blocked, raising stakes for Berlin peace summit

TRIPOLI/BERLIN, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forces loyal to Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar blocked oil exports from the war-ravaged country’s main ports Saturday, raising the stakes on the eve of an international summit aimed at bringing peace to the North African nation. The move to cripple the country’s main income…

Mexico considering a lottery to get rid of the “extravagant” presidential jet: US$ 30 a ticket

MEXICO CITY, Jan 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Mexico is considering a lottery to get rid of the nation’s presidential jet, after a year of failed attempts to sell the aircraft. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said this week that Mexico is flying back the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has been stored…

South Sudan talks fail to end impasse over state boundaries

JUBA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The latest round of peace talks between South Sudan’s two rival leaders has failed to strike a deal on the vital issue of internal boundaries, mediators said. Critics have accused President Salva Kiir of reorganising state boundaries to shore up his power and the issue…

Central Chile on alert for forest fires

SANTIAGO, Jan 18 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — At least three communes in central Bio Bio region are now on red alert due to forest fires that have already destroyed five homes and more than 600 hectares. The fires, started on Thursday, have affected the Cabrero, Nacimiento and Santa Juana communes, where…

Thousands of Irish teachers to strike on eve of election

DUBLIN, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Some 19,000 Irish teachers will go on strike on Feb 4, potentially shutting schools just days before a national election in a bid to seek commitments to end a two-tier pay scale in the sector. In a Feb 8 contest that pre-campaign polls suggest is too tight…