UN-backed Libyan government condemns east-based army’s attack on headquarters

TRIPOLI, Nov 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libya’s Interior Ministry of the UN-backed government on Thursday condemned the east-based army for attacking its headquarters in the capital Tripoli. “The perimeter of the Ministry headquarters in Tripoli was brutally attacked by air force of Haftar’s forces (east-based army) Thursday afternoon,” the ministry said…

UN Security Council renews mandate of Darfur peacekeeping mission

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) for a year, till Oct 31, 2020. Resolution 2495, which won the unanimous support of the 15 members of the Security Council, calls…

US imposes sanctions on Iran’s construction sector

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it has imposed sanctions on Iran’s construction sector and the transfer of four materials related to the country’s nuclear or military programs. The State Department said in a statement that Iran’s construction sector was blacklisted as it is “controlled…

Spain offers to host UN Climate Change Conference

MADRID, Nov 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Spain has offered to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25) in Madrid following the decision from Chile to step down as host for the event due to the ongoing street protests in the South American country. The acting Spanish government of Pedro…

US: New explosive wildfire burns into neighborhoods in Southern California

Firefighters work to put out a wildfire in Fullerton, California LOS ANGELES, Nov 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — An explosive wildfire broke out in San Bernardino in U.S. state of California early Thursday morning, burning into neighborhoods and forcing hundreds of residents to flee. The wind-driven 200-acre (about 809,371 square meters) hillside…

Nigeria lifts suspension of two aid groups in northeast: minister

Humanitarian affairs minister Sadiya Umar Farouq MAIDUGURI (Nigeria), Nov 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria has temporarily lifted a suspension of the operations of two aid groups, Mercy Corps and Action Against Hunger, in the country’s northeast, the minister of humanitarian affairs said. The army forced both groups to close some of…

WHO, Congo eye tighter rules for Ebola care over immunity concerns

KINSHASA, Nov 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization and Congolese authorities are proposing changes to how some Ebola patients are cared for, new guidelines show, after a patient’s death challenged the accepted medical theory that survivors are immune to reinfection. There are many unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of…

Floods kill 29, displaces thousands in Kenya: UN agency

NAIROBI, Nov 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 29 people have been killed and more than 100,000 others affected since October as raging floods cause havoc in many parts of Kenya, an UN agency said. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the heavy rains which started in…

Morocco: Death sentence confirmed against four men in backpacker murders

Defendants who are on trial for the killing of Scandinavian tourists Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland RABAT, Nov 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Moroccan appeals court upheld death sentences against three Moroccan men for murdering two Scandinavian women in the Atlas mountains last December. A fourth man was also handed…

Venezuela: 1st International Indigenous Congress kicks off

Representatives from 16 countries arrived in the state of Bolivar to participate in the First International Meeting of Native Peoples CARACAS, Nov 1 (NNN-TELESUR) — The 1st International Congress of Native Peoples in Venezuela has ended Thursday, as part of the strategic actions that were outlined during the 25th Forum of Sao Paolo last month. One of the focus will…