School’s out for migrants on Greek islands, UN warns

ATHENS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — School’s out for all but one percent of some 12,000 migrant children stuck in limbo in desperate conditions at refugee camps on Greek islands, the UN said Monday. “Out of 12,000 children on the islands, only one percent go to formal public school,” said UN…

US Pres Trump says watching North Korea ‘closely’ as talks deadline nears

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said he’d be “disappointed” if North Korea had something “in the works” as a year-end ultimatum from Pyongyang about the fate of their nuclear talks approaches. The nuclear-armed North has issued increasingly strident declarations in recent weeks, even promising an ominous…

Russia, China make UN proposal to ease N.Korea sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and China on Monday proposed easing sanctions against nuclear-armed North Korea, on condition the regime commits to Security Council resolutions on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The proposal, in a draft resolution which surprised several diplomatic missions, came the same day Washington’s top…

South Africa still far away from true reconciliation: Pres Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa  CAPE TOWN, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — South Africa still has much further to go before achieving true reconciliation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said as the country marked Reconciliation Day on Monday. “The South Africa of today still suffers from the effects of centuries of discrimination, dispossession and unequal…

Libya: Eastern-based army’s airstrikes destroys military equipment of UN-backed government in Misurata

TRIPOLI, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — The eastern-based army of Libya on Monday announced launching airstrikes on location in Misurata city, some 200 km east of the capital Tripoli, and destroying military equipment belonging to the UN-backed government forces. The airstrikes destroyed locations used to store Turkish-made military equipment and military…

Militants kill 22 in eastern Congo despite claims of security progress

GOMA (DR Congo), Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected militiamen killed at least 22 people overnight in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as the rebels kept up attacks on civilians despite government claims to have them on the defensive. Richard Kivanzanga, the deputy administrator of Beni territory, said he…

Top tech firms sued over DR Congo cobalt mining deaths

Artisanal mining is common in DR Congo as people do it as a means to make a living  COLUMBIA (Ohio, US), Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Apple, Google, Tesla and Microsoft are among firms named in a lawsuit seeking damages over deaths and injuries of child miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.…

Turkish drone fuels tension over Cyprus gas claims

The Bayraktar TB2 armed drone is now at Gecitkale airbase in Famagusta  NICOSIA, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Turkish military drone has arrived at a base in Turkish-backed northern Cyprus to help controversial gas exploration projects near the island. A Turkish military official said the drone would escort its drilling…

Egyptian Pres Sisi says Cairo preparing meeting between South Sudan’s warring leaders

Pres Kiir and Pres Sisi SHARM EL SHEIKH (EGYPT), Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said that his country has been arranging a meeting that brings together South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar to discuss forming a government of forces affiliated with both sides. Sisi made the remarks during…

China and Europe are partners not rivals, says Chinese FM

BRUSSELS, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — China and Europe are partners, not rivals, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a speech here. “In recent years, we have heard an argument suggesting that China has become a rival of Europe in the economic field and should be subjected…