December 15, 2018 (JUBA) - The SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar called on South Sudanese to start the reconciliation process in the country saying it is the first step towards building a democratic and prosperous nation. Machar renewed his call for national reconciliation in a statement issued on the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of Juba massacre on December 15, 2013, where thousands of civilians were killed in Juba following clashes between military elements supporting President Salva (...) - News / National Dialogue and Reconciliation In South Sudan, South Sudan

Cruise Iceland have been nominated for the international cruise awards for destination of the year 2019.

While rejecting the claim that the Supreme Court decision on dissolving parliament had prevented the election being held, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna said yesterday the Supreme Court verdict had without doubt enshrined the franchise of the people.

Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement a short while ago that he resigned from the position of Prime Minister to make way for the President to form a new government. 

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said on Thursday the EC would seek a ruling from the Supreme Court on the measures on the measures to be taken to conduct the provincial council elections in 2020.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said yesterday they had requested President Maithripala Sirisena not to appoint Rajitha Senaratne as the Heath Minster.

This week, The Irrawaddy hears the youths’ perspective of the democratic transition and disappointments, they say, it has so far churned up. The post Youth Activists Speak Up on Lost Idols and Freedom of Expression appeared first on The Irrawaddy.

A special court on Saturday extended further custody of Christian Michel, alleged middleman charge-sheeted and arrested in the graft-tainted AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, by four more days. Michel was produced before special judge Arvind Kumar. The CBI told the judge he needs to be confronted with various documents in the case.

Newly elected Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has mocked the idea that Jared Kushner might become Donald Trump's new chief of staff, calling it rather convenient since he's the president's son-in-law. Read Full Article at RT.com

Johnson & Johnson knew “for decades” that their talcum baby powder contained asbestos and worked to conceal it from federal regulators and the public, an investigation by Reuters has found. Read Full Article at RT.com

Trump has appointed Mick Mulvaney, Office of Management and Budget director, to temporarily replace John Kelly as his chief of staff. Mulvaney is a longtime friend of the financial sector and a self-described “right-wing nutjob.” Read Full Article at RT.com

Fraud investigators have exposed the Clinton Foundation’s alleged misdeeds in a Congressional hearing, describing it as a de facto “foreign agent” devoted not to charity but to “advancing the personal interests of its principals.” Read Full Article at RT.com

A Texas federal judge has struck down the Affordable Care Act, ruling it can not be classed as a tax without a penalty for those who don’t buy health insurance. Without that penalty, he wrote, “Obamacare” is unconstitutional. Read Full Article at RT.com

[Monitor] Kampala -President Museveni and his Burundian counterpart Pierre Nkurunziza have, within a week, exchanged strongly-worded letters that reveal simmering division between East African Community (EAC) member states.

[AI London] The United Nations must carry out a thorough investigation into UN peacekeeping troops' response to a recent attack that killed as many as 100 civilians in a displaced persons camp in the Central African Republic, Amnesty International said today in a new report.

[Independent (Kampala)] Bangui -Rising violence in the Central African Republic threatens to spill across the border into neighbouring countries, creating further instability, a senior United Nations official warned on Thursday, urging continued and coordinated regional efforts to bolster peace and security.

Sarah Phelps, who has adapted Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders for the BBC, said the author’s background in pharmacy meant she wouldn’t have flinched from the realities of life.

Around 28 people wereinjured in the crash (pictured), which took place at around 6pm near Rua de São Domingos a Lapa in Lisbon.

A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died last week, about a day after she and her father were arrested for crossing the Mexican border illegally.

French security services are investigating if the Kremlin had a role in social media activity that has spread misinformation about the protest movement that has become the most serious threat to President Macron’s presidency.

The Trump administration is working furiously to avert a new Turkish military offensive against the U.S.’s Kurdish partners in Syria, hoping to forestall an assault that could endanger U.S. forces working in the country.

China is temporarily removing the punitive tariffs placed on U.S.-made cars and auto parts in a concession intended to smooth trade negotiations.

When British politicians launched Brexit negotiations after the country’s 2016 referendum, they were confident they could win a special deal by finding allies among the 27 remaining members of the bloc. That strategy misfired.

Malawi’s NGO Board has been receiving K250,000 as revised membership fees from local and international non-governmental organisations, defying a court injunction which restrains the board from implementing the new membership fees.    Dzimadzi (standing), Steve... The post Congoma AGM delegates tussle with NGO Board over membership fees: Reject chairperson’s report appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

Malawians living in Diaspora have lauded the government of President Peter Mutharika for fulfilling its 2014 elections manifesto pledge to change citizenship laws and allow Malawians to hold other citizenships other than Malawi.Malawi Parliament on... The post DPP UK wing adds its voice on dual nationality: Kamundi lauds Mutharika’s ‘visionary leadership’ appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

As the UTM Party  goes to its first-ever elective conference on Monday December 17 2018 in Lilonhwe , founding president of United Transformation Party (UTP), Newton Kambala and Michael Usi, leader of Wodyazake Alibe Mlandu network... The post Kaliati, Kambala, Usi vying for top UTM posts: Founders Masangwi, Msowoya, Makondi not contesting appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Grace Chiumia has dismissed a Facebook post purportedly informing people that her ministry in conjunction with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) intends to give free motorcycles to youths.... The post Minister Chiumia rejects Facebook posts over free motorcycles: ‘It’s fake news’ appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

The controversial Interest Rate Capping Bill, which was shot down by the government side of Parliament and was referred back to Parliamentary committee for more scrutiny, has stirred hot mixed reactions on social media in... The post Interest Rate Cap Bill stirs mixed reactions on social media appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi.

MANILA, Philippines---Abu Tratter has had a long road to the PBA but he picked up some valuable knowledge along the way. After becoming a UAAP champion with De La Salle University, Tratter then made his way into the international scene when he was chosen to be part of the Philippine national team pool that played in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifier. Tratter was part of the Gilas squad that went up against the Australian national team losing 84-68 in Melbourne back in February of 2018. And it was in this international tour of duty that Tratter learned from PBA stars like Juner Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood. "I think it allowed me to kind of pick up some ideas and thoughts...Keep on reading: Gilas experience gives Abu Tratter edge in PBA Draft

NEW YORK --- Peter Jackson has used digital wizardry to conjure J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and King Kong's 1930s New York, but he has now --- in perhaps his most acclaimed film --- employed all his technical powers to bring to life the Western Front of the first World War. Jackson's «They Shall Not Grow Old» is the 57-year-old filmmaker's first documentary. Commissioned by Britain's Imperial War Museum to coincide with the centenary of the Armistice, Jackson assembled the film from more than 100 hours of footage from the front and 600 hours of audio interviews conducted in the 1960s with surviving British soldiers. In the course of the five-year project, Jackson restored the...Keep on reading: With blockbuster effects, Peter Jackson brings WWI to life

MANILA, Philippines --- Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered on Saturday tighter police security for the traditional Simbang Gabi, or Misa de Gallo. The traditional nine-day dawn Masses starts on Dec. 16 and ends on Dec. 24, or Christmas Eve. Albayalde instructed all police regional directors to direct officers to enforce maximum police visibility around the churches nationwide. According to Albayalde, he would expect field commanders to do ground inspections in their areas to secure churchgoers. "This is an important Filipino tradition that we cannot afford to miss. We are prepared to address any security issue that can...Keep on reading: PNP chief orders tighter security for Simbang Gabi