US to resume federal executions after 16-year break

WASHINGTON, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government will resume its use of capital punishment after a 16-year hiatus and has set execution dates for five convicted murderers, Attorney General Bill Barr announced on Thursday. Acting on President Donald Trump’s call for tougher penalties on violentcrimes, Barr directed the Federal…

US Sec of State Pompeo says would ‘happily’ go to Tehran

WASHINGTON, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would “happily” go to Tehran to address tensions between the two countries over US sanctions on the Gulf nation. “I would welcome the chance to speak directly to the Iranian people…about what it is their leadership has…

Under siege, Somalia moves to reform its army, pay troops

MOGADISHU, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deployed in one of the world’s most dangerous conflicts, Somali soldiers risking their lives daily against Al-Shabaab insurgents were growing weary of being paid months late andshortchanged by their superiors. The government, under pressure from foreign backers, has started payingtroops directly, bypassing army commanders previously…

Egypt’s GDP growth seen slowing to 5.5% in current fiscal year

CAIRO, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s economic growth is expected to slow to 5.5% in the fiscal year that began this month, below the government’s target, and 5.8% the following year, as Cairo nears the end of an IMF-backed economic reform programme. The forecasts were similar to a survey of…

Europe Heatwave: Paris Latest To Break Record With 42.6C

PARIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Paris saw a record high temperature of 42.6C (108.7F) on Thursday, amid a heatwave that broke records across Western Europe. A red alert was issued in north France. Germany also set a new national temperature record of 41.5C, passing the figure set just a day before. The UK recorded a…

At least 5 injured in blast at Chilean police station

SANTIAGO, July 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least five police officers were injured by an explosion at the 54th Police Station in Huechuraba, in northeast Santiago, Chile’s police said. General Jorge Avila told the press that an artifact exploded inside the police headquarters. “Five officers were injured, including the commissioner,” he said. Two of the officers…

Terms of draft Brexit deal ‘unacceptable’: new British PM Boris Johnson

LONDON, July 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson onThursday called the terms of the current draft Brexit deal “unacceptable” and called on Brussels to rethink its refusal to renegotiate it. Johnson also said the government would set as a “top priority”preparations for exiting without an agreement if…

Afghanistan: At least 10 killed as three blasts rock Kabul

KABUL, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 10 people including several women and a child were killed and 41 others wounded by a series of blasts that rocked the Afghan capital Thursday ahead of the election season. The three blasts came amid a wider surge in violence in Kabul and…

Riyadh, allies say thwart new Yemen rebel drone attack

RIYADH, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi air defences intercepted a Yemeni rebel drone targeting a southwestern city on Thursday, a Riyadh-led military coalition said, as cross-border attacks by the rebels showed no let-up. The rebels’ top political leader, Mahdi al-Mashat, had said on Tuesday that they were ready to stop…

Tunisia: Pres Beji Caid Essebsi dies at 92 – presidency

TUNIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, theNorth African country’s first democratically elected leader, died Thursday at the age of 92, the presidency said. The veteran politician, the oldest head of state after Britain’s QueenElizabeth II, came to power in 2014, three years after the Arab Springuprising…