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…

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria ceasefire

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Syria’s war-torn Idlib province after other members warned the conflict could become the century’s worst humanitarian crisis. During negotiations on the draft, Russia pressed unsuccessfully to include an…

UK: Supreme Court to rule next week on parliament suspension

LONDON, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s Supreme Court announced it will rule next week on whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully in shutting down parliament in the final weeks before Brexit. Following three days of intense arguments as the Brexit battle switched to the highest court in the land,…

Nabil Karoui: Tunisia candidate to stay in jail

TUNIS, Sept 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A presidential candidate in Tunisia who reached the final stage of the election is set to remain in custody after failing to win an appeal to be freed.Nabil Karoui, 56, was detained last month on charges of money laundering and tax fraud, which he denies.The…