APRNEWS - Government assures situation under control, four soldiers picked

The Gabonese government spokesperson confirmed to Reuters and French channel, RFI, that the attempted coup had been brought under control.

APRNEWS - The competing claims followed a disorderly election day on Sunday in which many Congolese were unable to vote due to an Ebola outbreak, conflict and logistical problems.

The vote is meant to choose a successor to outgoing President Joseph Kabila after 18 years in power and could lead to the vast central African country’s first ever democratic transition.

APRNEWS - A French court has ruled that a former militant suspected of war crimes will be transferred to the international war crimes court in The Hague.

Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona, a “senior leader” of the Central African Republic’s Anti-Balaka militia was arrested in France in the middle of December.

APRNEWS - Patrons of private health facilities in Ivory Coast are to pay fee more for consultation beginning January 1, 2019.

General medical consultation will increase by 25% while specialized medical consultation will go up by 16%.

APRNEWS - Andry Rajoelina has been declared the winner of a runoff presidential election, according to full provisional results released on Thursday by the electoral commission.

The High Constitutional Court has nine days from Thursday to decide whether to confirm the provisional results. Rajoelina’s rival Marc Ravalomanana on Sunday alleged fraud.

APRNEWS - A congested festive fixture list can often prove decisive in determining the destination of the Premier League title, but an action-packed Boxing Day also marked the halfway point of the league season with Liverpool surging into a six-point lead at the top.

APRNEWS - Brazilian right-back Rafinha has hinted that he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, telling SporTV that he is "at the end of the cycle" with the German champions.

The 33-year-old, who has played four times for his country, wants to return to Brazil.

APRNEWS - President Donald Trump's lightning Christmas visit with US troops in Iraq has triggered questions and criticism in a country deeply divided over Washington's influence since the 2003 US invasion.

APRNEWS - The Israeli army said Friday it has blown up a cross-border tunnel dug by Hezbollah from Lebanon, the first of four it has uncovered -- and pledged to destroy -- in recent weeks.

"A cross-border attack tunnel dug from the Shiite village of Ramyeh into Israel was detonated" in an operation on Thursday night, the army said in a statement.

APRNEWS - Sudan deployed troops in the capital Khartoum and other cities on Friday, witnesses said, after eight demonstrators were killed in clashes with riot police during protests over increased bread prices.

A government decision to raise the price of a loaf of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) has sparked protests across the country.