Germany agrees plan to phase out coal power by 2038

A lignite power plant near Halle in eastern Germany  BERLIN, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The German government and regional leaders have agreed on a plan to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2038, involving compensation of about €40bn. The end date for burning brown coal (lignite) – the dirtiest type of coal –…

Angola: Isabel Dos Santos, Africa’s richest woman eyes presidency

Isabel dos Santos is one of the wealthiest women in the world  LUANDA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, who is embroiled in a huge financial scandal, has suggested that she may seek to become the country’s president. Her father José Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years.…

US: Clinton prosecutor Ken Starr to defend Pres Trump in impeachment

Ken Starr, Pam Bondi and Alan Dershowitz have joined the president’s defence team  WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) —US President Donald Trump’s defence team in his Senate trial will include special prosecutors from President Bill Clinton’s impeachment. He will be represented by Ken Starr and Robert Ray, who investigated Clinton, and Alan…

Update: Ukraine audiotape row – President rejects PM’s offer to quit

President Zelensky (left) said Honcharuk must tackle a number of key issues to keep his job  KIEV, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected a resignation offer by Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk over a leaked audiotape scandal. “I decided to give you a chance,” Zelensky told the…

Brazil’s culture minister fired after echoing Goebbels

The minister said his speech was a “rhetorical coincidence” BRASILIA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s culture minister has been sacked after using parts of a speech by Nazi Germany’s propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels in a video, sparking outrage. In the clip posted on the ministry’s Twitter page, Roberto Alvim detailed…

Seven people found dead after suspected exorcism in Panama

Paramedics evacuate one of the 15 people who were rescued PANAMA CITY, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The bodies of seven people have been found in a mass grave in an indigenous area of Panama where members of a religious sect were believed to be performing exorcisms, officials say. The victims…

Italy court rules migrant ship captain’s arrest not warranted

ROME, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s highest court on Friday agreed that Carola Rackete, the German captain of a migrant rescue ship, should not have been arrested for forcibly docking in Sicily.“This is an important verdict for all sea rescue activists!” Rackete said on Twitter.“No one should be prosecuted for…

Kenya cuts oil export target to 400,000 barrels per year

A truck loaded with crude oil en route to Mombasa from the oilfields in South Lokichar NAIROBI, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya has cut its crude oil export projections to 400,000 barrels per year between 2021 and 2023 in what signals a depressing assessment in the international market.That forecast is…

United States wants withdrawal of all foreign troops from Libya

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States, which is scheduled to participate in this weekend’s Libya peace conference in Germany is expected to call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the war-ravaged nation and a resumption of the UN-backed peace process.The US State Department said Secretary of…

Cheetah smuggling out of Ethiopia ‘fuelled by exotic pets demand’ by Arabs

Cheetahs are trafficked from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf states ADDIS ABABA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A growing demand for exotic pets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is fuelling the smuggling of cheetahs in Ethiopia, a top Ethiopian wildlife official said.Every month, at least four cheetahs were…