US imposes sanctions on teenage son of Syrian leader Assad

WASHINGTON, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States slapped sanctions on the son of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, extending efforts to block funds for the war-torn country’s regime. Hafez al-Assad, 18, named after his grandfather, will not be allowed to travel or maintain assets in the United States, the State…

Gunmen kill 14 villagers in communal violence in central Nigeria: police

LAGOS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen killed 14 villagers in central Nigeria’s Kogi state on Wednesday, police said, blaming the attack on communal violence. The night-time attack on Agbudu village in Koton-Karfe area also left six people seriously injured, said state police commissioner Ede Ayuba in a statement. “I was…

US Pres Trump dismisses report of Russian ‘bounties’ on US soldiers

WASHINGTON, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump dismissed reports that Russia has been paying the Taliban bounties to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan and said he’d not raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin. “I have never discussed it with him,” he said in an interview. Trump talked by…

Covid-19: Brazil’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 90,000

BRASILIA, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil registered record daily numbers of infections and deaths from the new coronavirus Wednesday, sending its overall death toll surging past 90,000 people. Despite the record figures, the government issued a decree reopening the country to foreign visitors arriving by plane, ending a four-month travel…

UK names new MI6 spy chief, enter diplomat (and spy) Richard Moore

Richard Moore, the new head of MI6 LONDON, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain named diplomat Richard Moore as the new chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6. Moore, director general of political affairs at the Foreign Office who previously served as a director in…

French unrest: Police use ‘legitimate violence’ – New Interior Minister

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin PARIS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s recently installed interior minister dismissed the term “police violence” and told lawmakers the police exercise “legitimate violence”.“When I hear the term ‘police violence’, personally I choke,” said Gérard Darmanin, whose predecessor lost his job three weeks ago after becoming…

Covid-18: French health minister says observing social distancing ‘vital’ to avoid new lockdown

French Health Minister Olivier Veran PARIS, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s health minister urged the country not to drop its guard against COVID-19, saying it faced a long battle and that observing social distancing rules was vital to avoiding a new national lockdown. France reported 14 new deaths from the novel…

US unrest: New York City police accused of ‘kidnapping’ protester

Ms Stone cheered by protesters as she left the police station NEW YORK, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The arrest of a protester by New York City Police (NYPD) has led to outrage from officials and accusations of “kidnapping” by witnesses. Footage of the dramatic arrest shows mostly plain-clothed men grabbing…

Covid-19: US man opens fire on mother, son for failing to observe social distancing

Shooting suspect Douglas Marks  MIAMI, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man has been arrested for shooting at a mother and son in a Miami Beach hotel lobby after becoming upset over their lack of social distancing.Douglas Marks, 47, confronted the woman and her son in the lobby of the Crystal…

Covid-19: Scare forces Ugandan Pres Museveni to take coronavirus test; on ‘ginger treatment’ for losing voice

President Yoweri Museveni gestures after he was nominated as National Resistance Movement party 2021 KAMPALA, July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is on a “ginger treatment” after losing his voice and having a coronavirus scare that saw him seek medical intervention. The 75-year-old leader revealed this in his…