Spain electoral board disqualifies Catalan president from office

Catalan regional president, Quim Torra MADRID, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s electoral board ordered that Catalan separatist president Quim Torra be disqualified from being a member of Catalonia’s regional parliament, meaning he would lose his presidential post. The electoral board decision comes after Catalonia’s High Court of Justice last month…

UN condemns military escalation in, around Libyan capital

TRIPOLI, Jan 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations (UN) senior officials condemned the recent military escalation in and around Libyan capital Tripoli, which has been witnessing a violent war between the east-based army and the UN-backed government. “I am horrified by these senseless indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and civilian infrastructure…

Two giant pandas born in Belgium win “Panda Cub of the Year” Gold Award

BRUSSELS, Jan 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bao Di and Bao Mei, the two giant pandas born last year in the Belgian zoo of Pairi Daiza, won the “Panda Cub of the Year” Gold Award on Friday. The ceremony of 2019 Giant Panda Global Awards was held in Pairi Daiza. It was…

Libya’s east-based army declares mobilization against Turkish military interference in Libya

TRIPOLI, Jan 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — The commander of the east-based Libyan rebel army on Friday declared military mobilization against Turkey’s plan to send troops to Libya to support the UN-backed government. General Khalifa Haftar declared the mobilization in a televised speech, saying the ongoing fighting will intensify, and the battle…

Flights suspended in Libya’s capital due to rocket fire, says official

TRIPOLI, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flights were suspended until further notice at the only functioning airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli due to rockets falling nearby, an airport official said. The Friday closure of Mitiga Airport comes a day after Turkey’s parliament voted to allow a troop deployment to Libya, deepening…

Spain coalition talks: Sanchez wins Catalan support to form government

Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez  MADRID, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Spain’s interim Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been backed by Catalonia’s largest separatist party to form a coalition government. Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) MPs are to abstain in a confidence vote next week, paving the way for a new term for…

Lake Chad attack: ‘Dozens of fishermen’ killed near Cameroon border

YAOUNDE, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) –Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed at least 50 people on an island on Lake Chad, bordering Cameroon and Chad. The militants, disguised as traders, attacked fishermen, local mayor Ali Ramat said, quoting a survivor. The attack happened on Dec 22, but news from the remote…

Paris Villejuif stabbings: Attacker ‘had psychiatric condition’

PARIS, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) —One person was killed and two were injured in a knife attack near Paris, with the attacker shot dead by police. A man, 22, stabbed passers-by in a park in Villejuif, about 8km south of the French capital, on Friday. He was later identified by prosecutors as Nathan…

Bolivia to hold presidential vote May 3: electoral tribunal

LA PAZ, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivians will choose a new president May3, more than six months after a disputed election sparked violent streetprotests and the resignation of Evo Morales. Interim leader Jeanine Anez has been overseeing a caretaker governmentsince then, after Morales fled the country for Mexico. The new…

Canada’s conservatives to pick new leader in June

MONTREAL, Jan 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada’s Conservative party announced that it will choose a new leader on June 27 following Andrew Scheer’s surprise resignation. “We have an obligation as the opposition party to be ready as quick as wecan and this quickness puts us in that position,” party official Dan…