Saudi Arabia oil attacks: US to send ‘defensive’ troops to Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has announced plans to send forces to Saudi Arabia in the wake of attacks against the country’s oil infrastructure. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters the deployment would be “defensive in nature”. Total troop numbers have not yet been decided. Yemen’s Iran-backed…

Nigerian elected president of United Nations General Assembly

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (c) UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Every year in September, all 193 members of the United Nations meet at the General Assembly at the organisation’s headquarters in New York.The General Assembly is one of the six main organs of the UN, where several international issues covered by…

UN: At least 28 displaced people killed in northern Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo KINSHASA, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 28 people have been killed in a northeastern province of Democratic Republic of Congo in the past two days, the UN stabilizing mission in the country (MONUSCO) said. A series of attacks in northeastern Congo has targeted civilians,…

Oil theft cost Nigeria $1.35 bln, group urges legal task force: govt committee reports

ABUJA, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria lost $1.35 billion to oil theft in the first six months of this year and needs a legal task force with special courts to tackle it, a government committee said. The committee, set up to investigate theft from the miles of pipelines that snake…

EU backs Romania’s corruption fighter as new Chief Prosecutor

 BRUSSELS/BUCHAREST, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Laura Codruta Kovesi, Romania’s former anti-corruption chief, looks set to become the EU’s top prosecutor, despite opposition from her own government. Kovesi gained the backing of most member states to head the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The European Council, which has previously backed Kovesi’s appointment to…

Burkina Faso: Ambush leaves at least 5 soldiers dead, bridge blown up

OUAGADOUGOU, Sept 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least five soldiers were killed in an ambush in northwestern Burkina Faso near the border with Mali. “A military patrol was attacked Thursday night in an ambush byarmed individuals near Toeni,” in Sourou province, a security source said. One other soldier was injured. The…

US ordered two members of Cuba’s UN mission to leave on ‘security grounds’

WASHINGTON, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two members of Cuba’s UN mission have been ordered to leave the United States over an alleged threat to US national security, triggering a sharp denial from Havana. “We take any & all attempts against the National Security of the U.S. seriously,” US State Department spokeswoman…

Brazil judge orders Vale to compensate families over dam burst

BRASILIA, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Brazilian state judge ordered mining giant Vale to pay nearly US$3 million to the families of three victims of a tailings dam collapse that killed hundreds of people. The ruling by Judge Rodrigo Heleno Chaves was the first successful individual claim against Vale over…

Libyan Coast Guard picks up nearly 500 migrants in region surrounding Tripoli

TRIPOLI, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s Coast Guard said it had picked up 493 migrants on six inflatable boats in six operations in a week in areas northeast and northwest of Tripoli, the capital. The migrants, including 28 women and five children, are from sub-Saharan, Arab and Asian countries. They…

DR Congo: 12 dead in attacks on refugee camps – officials

BUNIA (DR Congo), Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 12 civilians have been killed in renewed violence targeting refugee camps in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said. Three separate attacks in troubled Ituri province overnight Wednesday also left three people wounded and four missing, Abel Alingi, an administrator…