Arctic circle oil spill: Russian prosecutors order checks at permafrost sites

The leaked diesel oil drifted some 12km from the site of the accident  MOSCOW, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Russian prosecutors have ordered checks at “particularly dangerous installations” built on permafrost after a huge oil spill in the Arctic. An emergency was declared after 20,000 tonnes of diesel leaked into a river when a…

Covid-19: Rome protest turns briefly violent

A plain-clothed police officer confronts a demonstrator at the Rome protest  ROME, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A rally by Italian extremists and hardcore football fans over the government’s response to coronavirus has turned briefly violent. The clashes in the centre of the capital, Rome, started after a fight between demonstrators, reports say.…

Covid-19: South Africa’s epicenter seeking thousands health workers amid surge in cases

President Cyril Ramaphosa CAPE TOWN, June 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Western Cape province, South Africa’s epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, said that it is advertising for 5,272 health workers amid a spike in confirmed cases. The province must address its medical staff shortage before the pandemic reaches its peak, Western Cape Premier Allan Winde said…

Nigeria: Gunmen kill 21 in fresh northwest attacks

KANO (Nigeria), June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed gangs have killed 21people in the latest bloody assaults on villages in restive northwestNigeria, police said. Assailants trying to steal cattle shot dead 15 people in clasheswith local residents in six remote communities of Zamfara state onTuesday, regional police spokesman Mohammed Shehu said.…

Mali: French forces kill leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

PARIS, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French forces have killed the leaderof Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdel, innorthern Mali, France’s defence minister said. Droukdel was killed on Thursday near the Algerian border, where thegroup has bases from which it has carried out attacks and abductionsof Westerners in the…

Twenty-six killed in an attack on Fulani village in central Mali, latest violence to hit the West African nation

BAMAKO, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Twenty-six people were killed in anattack on a village in central Mali, officials said, in thelatest violence to hit the West African nation. Friday’s attack targeted a Fulani village named Binedama in thevolatile Mopti region, said Aly Barry, an official from TabitalPulaaku, a Fulani association…

UN extends mandate to inspect Libya-bound ships for arms

UNITED NATIONS, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council unanimously extended for a year a resolution authorizing the inspection of ships suspected of breaking a 2011 arms embargo on Libya. The renewal had already been unanimously decided upon last year by the 15 members of the Security Council, but…

1,300 civilians killed in DR Congo in past eight months: UN

GENEVA, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 1,300 civilians have been killed in conflicts across DR Congo in the past eight months, the UN said, warning that some incidents may amount to “crimes against humanity”. “I am appalled by the increase in brutal attacks on innocent civilians by armed groups, and…

US: Pres Trump sparks controversy saying ‘great day’ for George Floyd

WASHINGTON, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump sparked controversy Friday, calling it a “great day” for George Floyd, the man whose death in custody last week unleashed nationwide protests over police brutality against African Americans. “We all saw what happened last week. We can’t let that happen,” Trump said…

US shares UN embargo bid on Iran with Russia

UNITED NATIONS, June 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it had shared a draft UN resolution with rival Russia that aims to extend an arms embargo on Iran that expires in October. Moscow has already voiced opposition to prolonging the ban on conventional arms sales to Tehran, with Russian…