UN Council to meet Friday on Syria’s Idlib

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN SecurityCouncil will meet behind closed doors on Friday to discuss an uptick inviolence in the embattled Syrian opposition stronghold of Idlib. The meeting — which will begin at 10 (1500 GMT) — comes at therequest of Britain and France, with the backing…

US Pres Trump ordered killing of Iran Guards commander: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who died in Baghdad “in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad,” the Pentagon said. “General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack Americandiplomats and service members in Iraq…

Iraqi force says ‘US strike’ killed top Iran, Iraq commanders at Baghdad airport

BAGHDAD, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike on Baghdad’s international airport on Friday, Iraq’s powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force has said, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran. The Hashed’s deputy chief was also killed in the attack,…

UN agency pinpoints African nations as world’s worst 2020 hunger spots

GENEVA, Jan 3 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Zimbabwe, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central Sahel region dominate the demand for food aid as the world enters 2020, says the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). In an analysis published on New Year’s Day, the WFP says millions of…

Nigerian troops kill several Boko Haram fighters, rescue 165 hostages in Borno

File photo ABUJA, Jan 3 (NNN-NAN) — The Nigerian Army said that its troops have killed several Boko Haram/Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno State.The troops also rescued 165 women and children from the terrorists’ den in the state.The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu…

Nigeria: Pres Buhari pledges to leave office in 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, Jan 3 (NNN-NAN) — President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his intention not to contest the 2023 presidential elections but determined to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several…

Climate change has brought parts of Zambia to the brink of famine

LUSAKA, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zambia is wrestling with a devastating drought caused, according to experts, by a dramatic shift in weather patterns. Temperatures in parts of Southern Africa are expected to rise by twice the global average as a result of climate change, and the UN is calling for…

Malawi: Albinos get personal security alarms

LILONGWE, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi is distributing personal security alarms to people with albinism, a condition that causes whitening of the skin from lack of pigmentation. Malawi authorities hope the alarms will protect albinos from attacks by people who believe their body parts have magical powers. But the alarms…

Somalia: Mogadishu residents hold protest against Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Residents of Mogadishu have organised a protest march against the terror group Al-shabaab.The move follows last week’s bombing in which 90 people were killed while 100 others left with serious injuries.Police heightened security around Mogadishu to ward off any possible attack on the demonstrators.The demonstration…

Algeria frees prominent war veteran, government critics

Before his arrest, Bouregaa took part in the demonstrations that have rocked Algeria since last Feb. ALGIERS, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria has released several prominent anti-government protest figures from detention, including well-known independence war veteran Lakhdar Bouregaa, according to one of his lawyers.Bouregaa was freed on Thursday from Algiers…