Sudan to send troops to West Darfur to tackle local tribal conflict

KHARTOUM, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Sudan decided to send troops to West Darfur State to contain the eruption of tribal clashes in the state, Sudan’s Sovereign Council said in a statement. Sudan’s Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers held a joint meeting at the presidential palace on Monday to…

US: Federal charges filed against NY stabbing suspect

NEW YORK, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — US federal prosecutors filed hate crime charges against a man accused of Saturday’s stabbing of five people at a rabbi’s home in upstate New York. Grafton Thomas, a 37-year-old man from Greenwood Lake of the state of New York, was charged with five counts…

Wildfire season affects 16,100 hectares of land in Chile

A DC-10 Air Tanker firefighting plane drops water to prevent a wildfire from spreading to homes SANTIAGO, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile has reported that 16,100 hectares of land are being affected by this year’s wildfire season, which began at the end of November with the arrival of higher temperatures,…

Bolivia declares Mexican, Spanish diplomats persona non grata

LA PAZ, DeC 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s interim government said it was expelling top Mexican and Spanish diplomats amid an escalating dispute over allegations wanted former Bolivian officials sought to leave refuge at the Mexican embassy with Spanish help and flee the country.  Bolivian caretaker President Jeanine Anez said Mexican ambassador, the Spanish charge d’affaires and…

Uganda plans to borrow nearly $2 bln to fund 2020/21 budget: Finance Ministry

Uganda shillings. KAMPALA, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda said it plans to borrow 6.9 trillion shillings ($1.89 billion) from external lenders in the 2020/2021 (July-June) fiscal year to partly finance its budget, which could come under pressure as veteran leader Yoweri Museveni seeks re-election.A finance ministry budget paper showed the…

DR Congo: Rebels ‘hack civilians to death’ in attack

KINSHASA, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 23 people were killed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in what officials described as an attack by rebel fighters. Police and local officials said that the overnight raid on Apetina-Sana in the restive eastern region of Beni was carried out…

Guinea-Bissau presidential election run-off: Embalo claims victory, Pereira urges caution

Official results for the Guinea-Bissau election are expected on Jan 1 BISSAU, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Guinea-Bissau presidential candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira urged the nation to await official results after his opponent Umaro Cissoko Embalo said he was on course for victory. Both candidates are former prime ministers. “There is…

Sudan hands death penalty to 27 for torturing, killing protester

People celebrate first anniversary of the uprising that toppled long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir KHARTOUM, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Sudan sentenced 27 members of the country’s security forces to death for torturing and killing a detained protester during the uprising against Sudan’s longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir earlier this…

Morales and MAS leadership meet for elections in Bolivia

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 30 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Deposed president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, meets in the Argentian capital with leaders of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party to define details for the next electoral campaign in the Andean nation. Morales, in Argentina as a political refugee, exchange with MAS leaders…

French govt offers concessions to striking dancers of Paris Opera

PARIS, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — With France gripped by strike action crippling the transport system in a dispute over pensions reform, news emerged of the latest government concessions – to striking ballet dancers at the Paris Opera. News of the offer added to a series of concessions made to striking workers in…