French city approves Muslim swimsuit in controversial change

Members of the pro-burkini association Alliance Citoyenne watch on a TV screen as members of the Municipal Council vote to allow the wearing of the burkini in the city’s swimming pools, in Grenoble GRENOBLE (France), May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French city of Grenoble authorised the wearing of the so-called…

Pres Biden’s visit to racist massacre site will highlight US extremism

 WASHINGTON, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — When President Joe Biden visits the site of a racist massacre in upstate New York on Tuesday, he’ll confront not only the shocking deaths of 10 Black people but warn against an ideology that“tears at the soul” of the country he promised to unite. On…

Spain, Morocco reopen land borders after two-year closure

FNIDEQ (Morocco), May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco and Spain have reopened the land borders between the north African country and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, two years after they were shut due to Covid restrictions and a major diplomatic row. The enclaves on the Mediterranean coast in northern…

US announces easing visa, family remittance restrictions for Cuba

WASHINGTON, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it is easing restrictions imposed during former president Donald Trump’s administration on travel to Cuba and on the sending of family remittances between the United States and the communist island. “The Cuban people are confronting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and our…

UN voices concern over clashes in Libya’s Tripoli

TRIPOLI, May 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed concern about clashes that took place west of Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday between armed groups. “The UNSMIL expresses its serious concern about armed clashes on May 15 that involved indiscriminate fire and the alleged use…

Tunisian interior minister’s wife injured in explosion at home

Tunisian Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine TUNIS, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An explosion rocked the house of Tunisian Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine on Monday, causing slight burns to the minister’s wife, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Preliminary investigations indicated that the explosion was caused by a natural gas leak,…

Coup attempt “supported by a Western state” foiled in Mali: gov’t spokesperson

BAMAKO, May 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — A coup attempted by “a small group of anti-progressive Malian officers and non-commissioned officers” on the night of May 11 to 12 in Mali was foiled, Mali’s government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said in a statement. “The militia were supported by a Western state,” said…

Horn of Africa drought affects 18 mln people: UN

Somali women and children stand outside temporary tents in the Dagahaley refugee camp near the Kenya-Somalia border. UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The northeast Africa drought affects more than 18 million people across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, including at least 16.7 million severely food insecure, a UN Spokesman said.…

Colombia’s ELN guerrillas declare unilateral ceasefire for presidential elections

BOGOTA, May 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) announced that they will observe a unilateral ceasefire from May 25 to June 3 for the presidential elections to be held on May 29. “We declare a unilateral ceasefire … so that those who wish to vote can do so…

Mexican president hopes to reach agreement with US on Summit of the Americas

MEXICO CITY, May 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that he hopes to reach an agreement with the United States to hold the upcoming Summit of the Americas without the exclusion of any regional country. “We have to unite,” he stressed. “Of course we have differences,…