GREECE
Suit seeks to nullify deal on Macedonia
ATHENS — Opponents of an agreement that calls for neighboring Macedonia to change its name to “North Macedonia” and for Greece to end its objections to the country joining NATO have filed a lawsuit seeking to have the deal declared unconstitutional.
A group of organizations said Thursday that it has appealed to Greece’s supreme court to nullify the “nightmare” agreement.
The group argues that the preliminary agreement negotiated by the two countries’ prime ministers should have been ratified by Greece’s parliament before it was signed by their foreign ministers.
It also maintains the deal could lead to changes to Greece’s northern borders, causes “irreparable damage to the Greek nation” and should have been preceded by a referendum.
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MEXICO
New storm in Pacific expected to stay there
MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Emilia formed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico, though forecasters said Thursday that it was expected to stay far out to sea and pose no threat to land.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm’s maximum sustained winds had risen to 45 mph by midafternoon.
Its center was about 605 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and was moving to the west-northwest at 13 mph.
The center said Emilia could strengthen a bit more over the next 24 hours but was likely to keep moving in the same general direction farther out into the Pacific before beginning to weaken during the weekend.
LIBYA
Strongman: Extremists
rooted out from city
BENGHAZI — The leader of the self-styled national army in the east says forces have seized the eastern city of Derna from extremist groups.
Strongman Khalifa Hifter made the announcement in a televised address late Thursday, saying: “We proudly announce the liberation of the city of Derna.”
In May, Hifter announced the launch of a military operation aimed at “liberating” Derna from extremist groups, led by the Derna Protection Forces, an alliance of Islamists and anti-Hiftar fighters. Derna has been under the control of extremists for years.
Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed a longtime ruler.
The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.
NIGERIA
9 killed as oil truck crashes and burns
LAGOS — Officials say nine people are dead after an oil-carrying tanker truck crashed and burst into flames on a bridge in Lagos.
The Lagos state emergency management agency says in a statement that one of the dead was a child. Another four people were injured in the accident Thursday evening, and 54 vehicles were burned.
It is not immediately clear what caused the crash.
Lagos is Africa’s largest city, with a population of more than 21 million people. Nigeria is one of Africa’s top oil producers.
The Associated Press
