Nigeria to create special courts to prosecute illegal miners

Dr Uchechukwu Ogah ABUJA, Nov 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Nigerian government on Friday said efforts are ongoing to create special courts where illegal miners in the country will be prosecuted. The courts will be established in each of the regions in the country to specially handle cases of illegal mining,…

Bolivia accuses ex-president Morales of ‘terrorism’

LA PAZ, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s caretaker government on Friday filed a complaint accusing Evo Morales of “sedition and terrorism” after the ex-president allegedly called on supporters to maintain blockades in the crisis-hit country. Interior Minister Arturo Murillo referred the case to federal prosecutorsin La Paz, which has been…

UN Security Council reaffirms ban on chemical weapons

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United NationsSecurity Council reaffirmed its opposition to chemical weapons on Friday inthe face of high-profile instances of their use worldwide. The 15-member body unanimously passed a declaration proposed by Britain expressing support for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling…

US judge orders Iran pay $180 mn to reporter over detention

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US court on Friday ordered thegovernment of Iran to pay nearly $180 million in damages to an Iranian-American journalist who was jailed by Tehran on espionage charges in 2014. A US District Court judge ordered the damages be paid to Jason Rezaian andhis family…

Mexico arrests judge accused by US of cartel ties

MEXICO CITY, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities arrested a Mexican judge on Friday accused by the United States of corruption and ties to the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, officials said. “Agents from the federal prosecutor’s office detained Judge Isidro AvelarGutierrez this afternoon in the city of Guadalajara. He is…

Colombia: Pres Duque promises social reforms as three dead in protests

BOGOTA, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian President Ivan Duque on Friday promised a “national conversation” on social policies, one day after massive demonstrations against his right-wing government left three dead and dozens wounded. “Starting next week, I will launch a national conversation to strengthenthe current social policy agenda, working in…

UN suspends ties after CAR charity head identified as Belgian paedophile

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN has suspended work with Catholic charity Caritas in the Central African Republic (CAR) after it emerged that its country director was a convicted paedophile. The UN’s humanitarian agency said there were “serious allegations of abuse against minors” in CAR by the charity’s former…

Serbia accuses Russia of spy plot after video leak

Vladimir Putin, left, and Alexandar Vucic BELGRADE Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Serbian president has said his country’s security services have uncovered spying by Russian agents. Aleksandar Vucic confirmed a Russian intelligence official had a meeting with a retired Serbian military officer during which money changed hands. A YouTube video of the December meeting…

US drone Lost Over Libya’s Tripoli

TRIPOLI, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Friday it has lost contact with a drone over the Libyan capital Tripoli. “An unarmed U.S. Africa Command remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was lost over Tripoli, Libya, Nov. 21,” AFRICOM said in a statement later Friday. “RPA operations are conducted in Libya to…

Middle Eastern men found in truck on Rosslare-bound ferry claim asylum in Ireland

WEXFORD (Ireland), Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen men found in the back of a truck on a Rosslare-bound ferry have claimed asylum in Ireland. The men, believed to be Kurds, applied for International Protection (IP) status in the State after the were discovered in the trailer of the lorry while it…