DR Congo Defends ‘Golden Parachute’ Decree

 KINSHASA, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Democratic Republic of Congo has defended the decrees that grant ministers lifetime salaries and other benefits. In a statement, the government said the payments “are not to enrich the officials”. The two decrees, which grant former ministers benefits worth at least $2,000…

Egypt: MPs To Vote On Extending Presidential Term Limits

 CAIRO, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —An Egyptian parliamentary committee has given initial approval to a proposal to amend the constitution in a way that would extend President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s time in office, state media say. Sisi is due to stand down in 2022, when his second four-year term ends. But a…

Australia Floods: Two Found Dead As Waters Grip Townsville

 TOWNSVILLE (Australia), Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Two men have died in floodwaters that have forced large-scale evacuations in the Australian city of Townsville. The pair’s bodies were found near a park on Tuesday, following what has been described as a “once in a century” flood in the northern Queensland city. Police did…

WHO Warns Against Repeated Attacks On Libyan Hospitals

 TRIPOLI, Feb 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) warned against repeated attacks on hospitals and medical workers in Libya. “The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of increasing attacks on health facilities and workers in both frequency and scale,” WHO said in a statement. The Organization documented 41 attacks against medical…

Chile Declares “State Of Catastrophe” In Fire-Ravaged Regions

SANTIAGO, Feb 6 (NNN-XINHUA) —Chile on Tuesday declared a “state of catastrophe” in three regions ravaged by forest fires that have killed two people and razed 9,500 hectares of land. Declaring catastrophe in parts of Biobio, La Araucania and Los Rios paves the way for the armed forces to take part in the efforts…

New migrant caravan reaches US-Mexico border

80 NUEVO LAREDO (Mexico), Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Around 1,700 migrantstraveling by caravan reached the US-Mexican border Tuesday, just as President Donald Trump prepared to give a major speech certain to include calls for his long-sought wall. The Central American migrants, mostly Hondurans, arrived in the city ofPiedras Negras, Coahuila,…

Fake bomb threats prompt mass evacuations in Moscow area

MOSCOW, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of school children, officeworkers and shoppers were evacuated from over 100 buildings in and around Moscow on Tuesday, reports said, in the latest wave of fake bomb threats to hit Russia. Last week, 55 buildings were evacuated in Russia’s second city SaintPetersburg and several…

Brexit: British PM May to meet EU leaders Thursday

BRUSSELS, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU president Jean-Claude Juncker willmeet Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday, an EU spokesman said, as Brussels and London wrangle over how to save the Brexit divorce deal. “While the commission’s position is clear, we are waiting to see what theprime minister has to…

France to have national day marking ‘Armenian genocide’

PARIS, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said France would make April 24 a “national day of commemoration of the Armenian genocide”. Speaking to the Armenian community at a dinner in Paris, Macron said:“France is, first and foremost, the country that knows how to look history…

US offers Niger operations centre to fight Boko Haram

NIAMEY, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States turned over acommunications and operations centre to the Niger army on Monday to help the African nation battle Boko Haram, a statement said. The planning and operations control centre, worth $16.5 million (14.4million euros), is designed to help Niger forces sychronise its…