Governor of Kenya’s capital arrested on corruption charges

NAIROBI, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenyan police arrested the Nairobi County governor, known for his chunky gold jewellery and impromptu raps, on Friday on corruption charges, a high profile move in the government’s much trumpeted anti-graft push.Chief public prosecutor Noordin Haji told a news conference the Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko…

Russia ‘preparing’ FM Lavrov visit to Washington next week

MOSCOW, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is preparing to visit Washington next week, a spokeswoman said, whichwould be the first time since a controversial 2017 meeting with US President Donald Trump. “The meeting is being prepared” for Dec 10, Russian foreign ministryspokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, without…

Five die in gas explosion in Slovakia

BRATISLAVA, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least five people died and dozens were injured in a gas explosion that rocked a high-rise apartment building in eastern Slovakia on Friday, rescue services said. “Five people died and we estimated the number of injured at 40,” Alena Krcova, a spokeswoman for the…

14 missing in deadly Ukraine fire: President

KIEV, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen people remain missing from a fire that claimed a student’s life in Ukraine’s southern port city of Odessa, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The fire broke out in a college building in central Odessa on Wednesday, killing a 16-year-old female student and injuring 27 others. The…

Australia: ‘Mega fire’ forms north of Sydney

Officials have issued fresh warnings for blazes around Sydney SYDNEY, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several Australian bushfires have combined to form a “mega fire” that is burning out of control across a swathe of land north of Sydney, authorities said Friday, warning they cannot contain the blaze. New South Wales Rural Fire…

US vaping-related deaths rise to 48, cases of illness to 2,291

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US health officials on Thursday reported one new case and one more death from a respiratory illness tied to vaping, taking the total death toll to 48. As of Dec 4, 2019, there were 2,291 cases of hospitalised cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro urges Mercosur to push on with reforms

BENTO GONCALVES (Brazil), Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro urged South America’s four-nation trade bloc Mercosur to push ahead with reforms “without accepting ideological setbacks,” in a swipe at Argentina’s incoming leftist government. Far-right Bolsonaro made the remarks at the start of a meeting with leaders from Argentina,…

In rare legal test, Myanmar faces genocide hearings at The Hague

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) THE HAGUE, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will head a team of lawyers to hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague next week to defend the country against accusations of genocide against the Rohingya Muslims.…

Iraq: 2 mortar rounds hit air base housing US troops

BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two mortar rounds hit an air base that houses U.S. troops in Iraq’s central province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said. The incident took place on Thursday evening when the two mortar rounds landed in Balad air base, some 80 km north of the…

Iranian top commander says Iran self-sufficient in producing military hardware

Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country. Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to…