Venezuela reports collapse in oil supply, tightening global market: OPEC

LONDON, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela told OPEC that the country’s oil output sank to a new long-term low last month due to U.S. sanctions and blackouts, deepening the impact of a global production curb and further tightening supplies. Supply cuts by OPEC and partners led by Russia, plus involuntary…

Libya: Thousands flee Tripoli as battle rages on outskirts

TRIPOLI, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rebel eastern forces and troops loyal to the internationally-recognised Tripoli government fought on the outskirts of Libya’s capital on Wednesday as thousands of residents fled from the battle. The Libyan National Army (LNA) forces of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar held positions in the suburbs about…

US Pres Trump urges inquiry into ‘attempted coup’ against him

WASHINGTON, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump says he has spoken to the US attorney general about tracing the origins of the inquiry that cleared him of colluding with Russia. Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as “an attempted coup”. Attorney General William Barr meanwhile…

Algeria: Presidential election sets for July 4 after protests

A protester holds up a poster calling for Bensalah to step down  ALGIERS, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria will hold presidential elections on July 4, interim leader Abdelkader Bensalah announced. It comes after a wave of protests led long-term President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, to resign last week. The temporary appointment of…

US says Iran tied to Al-Qaeda, declines to say if war legal

WASHINGTON, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of ties to Al-Qaeda and declined to say whether the Trump administration had legal authority to invade the country. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Pompeo hedged on whether the authorization of force by the US…

US asks UN to recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s leader

UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Vice President Mike Pence asked the United Nations to recognize Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, telling the Security Council: “Nicolas Maduro must go.” Washington will present a draft resolution to the Security Council aimed at recognizing Guaido and appointing his…

German police raid Islamic organisations over suspected Hamas support

BERLIN, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German police on Wednesday raided offices belonging to Islamic organisations suspected of financing the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is on the European Union’s terrorism blacklist, the interior ministry said. The ministry said the main targets of the raids were WorldWide Resistance-Help and Ansaar International…

Venezuela ‘ready for aid’, says Pres Maduro after Red Cross meeting

CARACAS, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the country was ready to receive international aid following a meeting in Caracas with the global Red Cross chief. “We confirm our readiness to establish cooperation mechanisms for international assistance and support,” Maduro wrote on Twitter. The president, who denies…

Mexico: Distributors to blame for higher gasoline prices – Pres Obrador

MEXICO CITY, April 10 (NNN-EFE) — The Mexican government blamed higher profit margins at fuel distributors for the increase in the price of gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), but it said taxes would not be raised. “The conclusion is that (the government) is keeping (its commitment) to not raising…

South Africa sends extra donations to cyclone-hit Mozambique, Malawi

PRETORIA, April 10 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) —South African security forces and health services on Tuesday sent material relief to its neighbours hit by the devastating cyclone that ravaged parts of southern Africa in March 2019. The donations were specifically to Mozambique and Malawi with the relief mission consisting of the army, police and department of…