Argentine police arrest four suspects linked to the gang that killed an English tourist

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine authorities said they had identified suspects in the shooting death of a British tourist killed in an armed robbery attempt outside a luxury Buenos Aires hotel over the weekend. Police said they were still looking to arrest those suspected of the shooting, but…

Brazilian government dismisses as a “commercial game” results of COP25 climate talks in Madrid

BRASILIA/MADRID, Dec 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic, dismissed as a “commercial game” the result of the COP25 climate talks in Madrid. He particularly singled out rich European nations as the players. Brazil was meant to host this year’s global climate meeting but withdrew its…

Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly approves trial of four opposition lawmakers

CARACAS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s pro-government Constituent Assembly approved a trial for four opposition lawmakers accused of committing crimes including treason and conspiracy. The lawmakers’ parties have denied the charges and denounced the process as another step taken by President Nicolas Maduro’s government to dismantle the opposition-controlled national assembly,…

France promises to return looted Benin statues by 2021

Three Great Royal Statues of ancient Dahomey are displayed at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris PORTO-NOVO, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French culture minister says his government will return artworks taken from Benin during the colonial conquest of the region by 2021.Franck Riester was speaking on a visit to…

Gambians protest to push for fresh elections

Gambians are angry at President Adama Barrow’s turn-around on promise to call elections BANJUL, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of protesters in the Gambian capital Banjul have called for President Adama Barrow to keep his promise to quit after three years in office and step down next month. He came…

IMF resumes lending to DR Congo

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the release of about $368m to the Democratic Republic of Congo.It’s the IMF’s first resumption of lending to the country since 2012.The IMF had previously suspended a loan programme as the government failed to provide sufficient details about…

FAO chief calls for action to improve food security in Africa

A food security session at the annual World Youth Forum in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Egypt), Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) chief called for urgent action to tackle challenges facing food security in…

UN envoy says West Africa “shaken by unprecedented violence”

A young girl drinks water in the Bakassi IDP camp, in Maiduguri, Nigeria UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN envoy for West Africa and the vast Sahel region told the Security Council that in recent months, the region has been “shaken by unprecedented violence.” A “horrific attack against…

Update: British PM starts reshuffle of cabinet after election victory

LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started to re-assemble his front bench team Monday night as deadline of Brexit is approaching. Conservative Nicky Morgan, who decided not to seek re-election in last week’s general election, has been kept on by Johnson as a member of his…

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…