Sudan marks anniversary of uprising that ousted Bashir

KHARTOUM, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A year after demonstrations broke out in Sudan over soaring bread prices, celebrations are planned across the country on Thursday to mark the uprising that brought down veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir. In the central town of Atbara, the cradle of the revolt, hundreds of people…

British PM sets out plan for power

LONDON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out his plans for government on Thursday following a sweeping election win, focused on delivering Brexit and supporting the health service. Queen Elizabeth II will open parliament in a lavish ceremony where she will read out the Conservative…

Peru: Embattled opposition leader Fujimori to take political break ahead of new court hearing

LIMA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvian opposition leader Keiko Fujimori, released last month after more than a year in pre-trial custody, announced she would take a break from politics, before a new detention hearing in her corruption case. Fujimori, 44, is accused of accepting $1.2 million in illicit funding for…

US: Pres Trump impeached for abuse of power

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power in a historic vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up a Senate trial on removing him from office after three turbulent years. By a 230 to 197 vote in the Democratic-majority House, the…

Libya’s eastern army attacks UN-backed government forces in Sirte

TRIPOLI, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The east-based army of Libya on Tuesday announced launching airstrikes on positions of the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) forces in the city of Sirte, some 50 km east of the capital Tripoli. The airstrikes killed two of the UN-backed government forces and…

South Sudan’s Kiir and Machar say they will form government

JUBA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar have agreed to form a transitional unity government even if they fail to resolve all their differences before a new deadline, the two leaders said. Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal last year…

El Clássico: Catalan protests at football match in Spain

BARCELONA, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters have clashed with police outside a Barcelona and Real Madrid football match at Nou Camp in Spain. Thousands of fans inside the stadium held up banners urging the Spanish government to “sit and talk” with those demanding Catalan independence. The match had been postponed…

US House passes 1.4-trillion-USD spending plan ahead of government shutdown deadline

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The US House of Representatives has passed a 1.4-trillion-U.S.-dollar spending package that will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, as lawmakers in both chambers are rushing to avoid a government shutdown. The House approved the spending bill on Tuesday to keep the federal government open…

Rwanda evacuates 6,000 residents from areas threatened by heavy rains

KIGALI, Dec 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Rwandan government on said it has evacuated close to 6,000 residents from high-risk zones in different parts of the country threatened by heavy rains in the first three weeks of December. Some 4,000 of them are staying with their relatives, 1,500 living in government-rented houses while about 300 others…

UK: London street bans petrol, diesel cars

LONDON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from a street in central London in an innovative attempt to reduce pollution, local authorities said.Officials said Beech Street, which runs underneath the Brutalist designed Barbican Estate, would become Britain’s first “24-7 zero emission street”.During an 18-month trial…