At least 40 people are missing after a boat sank off the coast of Tunisia

Tunisian National Guard rescues migrants in the Mediterranean, off the coast of the Tunisian city of Sfax, TUNIS, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Tunisian National Guard reported at least 40 illegal migrants were missing after their boat sank off the southeastern coast of the country. According to the above force,…

Update: Mauritius mopping up after storm Belal wreaks havoc

PORT LOUIS, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mauritius was assessing the damage wrought by tropical storm Belal as it rolled away from the Indian Ocean island nation, allowing international flights to resume. Belal has claimed the life of one person in the remote tourist paradise, left thousands without power, flooded buildings…

Sudan freezes ties with east African bloc: foreign ministry

AL-JAZIRA STATE (Sudan), Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s army-aligned government on Tuesday suspended ties with the east African bloc IGAD, accusing it of “violating” the country’s sovereignty by inviting a rival paramilitary chief to a summit. Nine months after war broke out between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid…

DR Congo starts joint military operations with SADC mission against rebels

GOMA (DR Congo), Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — The military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday announced in Goma, the capital of the eastern province of North Kivu, the start of joint military operations with military elements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc,…

Respiratory infections surge in Europe: WHO

COPENHAGEN, Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — A leading World Health Organization (WHO) official on Tuesday called for vigilance in the face of rising cases of respiratory diseases in Europe. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, noted a surge in influenza infections and hospitalizations at a press conference…

Tanzania lifts ban on Kenyan flights to its commercial hub

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Tanzanian aviation authorities on Tuesday lifted a ban on Kenya Airways flights to the country’s commercial hub of Dar es Salaam effective from Jan. 22 after Kenya had heeded its demands. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has withdrawn its decision of Jan.…

Ecuador reports over 1,500 arrests since declaration of “internal armed conflict”

QUITO, Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Ecuador’s security forces have arrested 1,534 people since President Daniel Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” on Jan. 8, the Presidency reported. Of that total, 158 individuals are accused of “terrorism,” said the Presidency in an updated report posted on its social media…

Venezuela working to raise workers’ earnings despite US sanctions, says VP

CARACAS, Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Venezuela’s government is striving to raise workers’ earnings despite the economic stranglehold of U.S. sanctions, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Tuesday. One of the most important announcements President Nicolas Maduro made at the National Assembly (Parliament) on Monday was an increase in earnings, Rodriguez…

Worst cholera outbreak in years hits eastern, southern Africa: UN

A healthcare worker tends to a new patient at a temporary cholera treatment center in a Lilongwe hospital UNITED NATIONS, Jan 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping 13 countries in eastern and southern Africa battle one of the worst cholera outbreaks in years, a UN spokesman…

USCG returns six irregular Cuban migrants

 HAVANA, Jan 17 (NNN-ACN) — The US Coast Guard Service returned six irregular Cuban migrants who attempted an illegal departure by sea last Friday and were later intercepted.Five men and a woman were brought back to Cuba through the Orozco harbor in Artemisa province, the Cuban Interior Ministry reported on…