US slaps sanctions on two South Sudan ministers over peace delay

US slaps sanctions on two S.Sudan ministers over peace delay WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on two sitting ministers in South Sudan, accusing them of obstructing the young country’s peace efforts despite promises to form a unity government.The order against Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk…

India says 20 crew kidnapped from tanker off West Africa

An oil tanker NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India’s foreign ministry said that 20 of its nationals had been kidnapped from an oil tanker in West African waters, where piracy has been on the rise.“Our Mission in Abuja has taken up the matter with the Nigerian authorities, as also…

Uruguay: Football fan shot dead during club’s victory celebrations

Nacional won the Uruguayan 2019 football championship Sunday by defeating Penarol 1-0 MONTEVIDEO, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 24-year-old football fan was shot dead in Montevideo while celebrating Nacional’s victory in the Uruguayan championship, local media reported. Nacional won the Uruguayan 2019 football championship Sunday by defeating Penarol 1-0. Citing…

US reassures Mexico on USMCA labor inspectors

Canadian Vice-Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (L), US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (R) and Mexican negotiator Jesus Seade (C) WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US reassured Mexico that it will not station labor inspectors in the country under a new continental trade deal, after the Mexican president accused Washington of…

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…