Uganda’s child soldier turned rebel commander sentenced to 25 years

Dominic Ongwen was abducted as a child and groomed by Ugandan rebels THE HAGUE, May 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday sentenced Dominic Ongwen, a former commander of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), to 25 years of imprisonment for war crimes and crimes…

Top US general says no attack against US forces in Afghanistan since drawdown started

The Pentagon has said the US is ready to respond to attacks as it withdraws troops 4 May 2021 WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Afghan Taliban had not launched any attack against US and coalition forces since the drawdown began, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley…

UNICEF, Libya sign deal to extend cooperation on water sanitation

TRIPOLI, May 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said it signed an agreement with the Libyan Ministry of Water Resources to extend their collaboration in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project. Hailing its cooperation with the Libyan ministry as “outstanding,” the UN agency said in a…

Nuclear deal possible if Iran makes “political decision”: US official

The latest meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission was held in Vienna, Austria WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — A senior State Department official said that the United States and Iran could achieve a mutual return to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal in the coming…

Covid-19: Cyprus relaxes restrictions, introduces coronapass

Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou NICOSIA, May 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cyprus is to reopen most businesses next week after a two-week lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the government said. The government also announced in a statement that a so-called “coronapass” will be introduced to enable people…

South Africa: ANC in power struggle over corruption allegations

Ace Magashule, ANC secretary-general PRETORIA, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The secretary-general of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has refused to comply with his suspension after being charged with corruption. The dispute illustrates a power struggle within the governing party. Ace Magashule denies the charges and said that he, as head of the ANC,…

US birth rate falls 4% to its lowest point ever

 WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The American birth rate fell for the sixth consecutive year in 2020, with the lowest number of babies born since 1979, according to a new report. Some 3.6 million babies were born in the US in 2020 – marking a 4% decline from the year before, found the…

Safe Sweden faces up to wave of women’s killings

One of the killings took place in Flemingsberg, a suburb of the capital Stockholm  STOCKHOLM, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Six women have been killed in just five weeks in Sweden, reigniting debates about domestic violence in a country usually praised for its gender equality. The deaths span three regions and three generations, but…

Brexit: UK sends Navy ships to Jersey as French fishing row escalates

LONDON, May 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent two Navy patrol vessels to Jersey over concerns that French fishermen could blockade its main port in an escalating post-Brexit row. France warned Tuesday it was weighing its response after the UK imposed rules governing access for French fishing boats…

Russian fighter intercepts US reconnaissance plane over Chukchi Sea

A US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft. MOSCOW, May 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — A Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepted a US reconnaissance plane above the Chukchi Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. Russian radars detected an air target approaching Russian borders over the Chukchi Sea, and a MiG-31 of…