Maltese FM urges for compromise to de-escalate tension in East Med

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) meets with Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo in Athens ATHENS, Sept 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Malta’s Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo called for dialogue and compromise to de-escalate tension in the Eastern Mediterranean lately, during a visit to Athens. The other option of a military confrontation…

At least 11 dead in massacres in Colombia

BOGOTA, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 11 people were killed in three separate group killings in Colombia, police said, one of the deadliest days since FARC guerrillas signed a peace accord with the government in 2016. The massacres — homicides of three or more people in the same event…

EU: 1 in 8 deaths in Europe linked to pollution – report

COPENHAGEN, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In the EU, 13 percent of deaths are linked to pollution, said a new report published on Tuesday by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which stressed the current pandemic put environmental health factors in the spotlight. Europeans are constantly exposed to environmental risks like air…

Nigeria: Boko Haram kill 10 civilians in northeast

KANO, Nigeria, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boko Haram insurgents killed 10 civilians in attacks on three villages in restive northeast Nigeria, local security officials said. Babakura Kolo, the leader of a government-backed anti-insurgent militia, said the insurgents had carried out the assaults on Sunday. Kolo said they raided the village…

Russia, Saudi Arabia discuss joint vaccine production: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Salman discussed the possible joint production of a Russian coronavirus vaccine, the Kremlin said. In early August, Russia said it had developed the world’s first vaccine against the virus and claimed that more than a billion doses had…

Update: California fires burn record 2 million acres

NORTH FORK (California, US), Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Wildfires in California have torched a record more than two million acres, the state fire department said, as an uncontrolled blaze forced many residents to flee their homes. The record was hit as the wildfire season still has roughly two months to…

Venezuela: Opposition leader Guaido urges military to back poll boycott

CARACAS, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido called on the armed forces to back a boycott of December’s contested legislative polls and help escalate international pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. In an address on social media, Guaido urged the military high command to join a “unity pact”…

Brexit: UK urges ‘more realism’ in crunch EU trade talks

LONDON, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain demanded “more realism” from the European Union ahead of crucial post-Brexit trade talks, but the mood was soured by reports that London was looking to rewrite an agreement the two sides had already signed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chief negotiator, David Frost, said “we…

China ‘eyes four African nations for military bases’, says US Dept of Defence

The four African governments are yet to respond to the report WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China is considering setting up military bases in four African countries, according to a report by the US Department of Defense.Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania and Angola were mentioned among a dozen other countries where China…

South Africa seeks law change to curb violence against women

South Africa has recently witnessed several horrific cases of reported femicides PRETORIA, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s government has introduced three Bills in Parliament to curb gender-based violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa has termed them as the “most far-reaching legislative overhaul in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide”. The…