Former FARC guerrilla member killed in Colombia

BOGOTA, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Colombian authorities on Sunday confirmed the killing of another member of the disarmed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group. Ender Elias Ravelo was assassinated over the weekend in the Santander district of Tibu, a town in Norte de Santander department, said Jesus Manuel…

Libya’s east-based army allows 3 more days for Misurata fighters to withdraw

TRIPOLI, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The east-based Libyan army said that it has allowed three more days for fighters from Misurata city fighting for the UN-backed government to withdraw from Tripoli and Sirte. The east-based army on Friday gave three days for the forces of the rival UN-backed government from…

Croatian presidential election to go to runoff in January

ZAGREB, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Former Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic won the first round of presidential election on Sunday, and will compete with incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in a runoff two weeks later. According to the State Electoral Commission, with over 99.8 percent of the votes counted as of…

Five arrested for attack on mosques in Ethiopia’s Amhara region

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five people suspected of burning down four mosques in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have been arrested, a regional spokesman said, as rising inter-communal and ethnic violence threatens political reforms initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. “Five people who are suspected of leading and organising the…

US Pres Trump invites UK’s Prime Minister Johnson to White House in new year: British media

LONDON/WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year, British media reported. Trump’s invitation was made after the British prime minister’s election win this month, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. Britain wants…

Cameroon separatists dismiss ‘Anglophone special status’, insist on independence

YAOUNDE, Dec 23 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Armed separatist movements in Cameroon have dismissed the approval of a spacial status to Anglophone regions by the country’s parliament, insisting that only independence would satisfy them. Parliament on Friday granted special status to the North West and South West English-speaking regions to try to…

Mali conflict: Pres Macron says 33 ‘terrorists’ killed by French troops

ABIDJAN, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French forces have killed 33 militants in an operation in Mali, according to President Emmanuel Macron. Macron made the announcement on a visit to Ivory Coast, where he reiterated France’s commitment to fighting jihadists in the region. It comes weeks after 13 French troops died in…

Darfur conflict: Sudan launches investigation into crimes

Ex-ruler Bashir already faces a range of other charges KHARTOUM, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Sudan has launched an investigation into crimes committed in the Darfur region under former President Omar al-Bashir, the state prosecutor says. A trial could take place outside the country, Tagelsir al-Heber said. Ten years ago the International Criminal Court…

US woman charged for running over teen ‘because she was Mexican’

Nicole Marie Poole Franklin IOWA (US), Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US woman has been charged with attempted murder after telling police in Iowa that she deliberately drove into a girl because she appeared “Mexican”. The victim, who is 14, sustained “numerous injuries” in the incident. Police say she was struck while walking…

Netherlands climate change: Court orders bigger cuts in emissions

The Dutch government has struggled to cut carbon emissions since 1990.  THE HAGUE, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The highest court in the Netherlands has upheld a ruling requiring the government to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% of 1990 levels by the end of next year. The case was brought…