Incoming EU chief calls for ‘new pact’ on migration

ROME, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The incoming head of the European Commission called for a “new pact” on migration during a trip to Italy, which insists Europe must take a fairer share of asylum seekers. “I want to propose a new pact for migration and asylum because I think we…

Brazil’s space research chief says sacked over Pres Bolsonaro deforestation spat

BRASILIA, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  The head of Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research said he was going to be sacked following a row with President Jair Bolsonaro over deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Ricardo Galvao had accused Bolsonaro of “cowardice” for publicly questioning satellite data produced by the INPE…

Benin court bans presidential rival from elections

COTONOU, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A court in Benin on Friday handed a top opposition politician a suspended six-month jail term over campaign breaches and banned him from standing for elections for five years, in the latest case targeting rivals of President Patrice Talon. Former prime minister Lionel Zinsou, who…

Poland’s president wants parliamentary election on Oct 13

WARSAW, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said he prefers Oct 13 for the next parliamentary election which the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is expected to win again thanks to generous social programmes and strong economic growth. Under Polish law, the election has to be between Oct…

Pilot of firefighting plane dies in France

PARIS, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The pilot of a firefighting plane died Friday when his aircraft crashed while trying to put out a blaze that has been raging in southern France for four days, the local authorities said. The accident happened at around 5:20pm and an investigation was immediately launched, according…

Venezuela government and opposition continue talks in Barbados, says mediator Norway

OSLO, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition are continuing talks in Barbados to try to find ways to resolve the Latin American country’s political crisis, the Foreign Ministry of mediator Norway said. Friday’s statement, the first in three weeks, came a day…

Colombian cocaine crops reduce but still world’s largest: UN

BOGOTA, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Illegal coca plantations in Colombia reduced slightly in 2018 but the country remains the world’s biggest producer of the primary ingredient in cocaine production, the United Nations said. The area of land used for cultivating coca leaf dropped from 171,000 hectares in 2017 to 169,000…

US announces new sanctions against Russia over Skripal affair: State dept

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A new round of sanctions were imposed on Moscow Saturday by the United States over the 2018 poisoning of former double-agent Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom. Russian spies have been blamed for the poisoning of Skripal and hisdaughter in the English city of Salisbury…

US Federal Judge blocks Pres Trump asylum restriction: reports

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A judge on Friday blocked a move by US President Donald Trump’s administration to stop migrants from claiming asylum unless they had entered the country at an official border crossing, news outlets reported. The policy, enacted by Trump last year, is among a host of…

US offers Russia help with Siberian wildfires: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Aug 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — U.S. President Donald Trump offered his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin help in putting out vast wildfires that are raging in Siberia, the Kremlin said. The Kremlin said the two leaders had spoken by phone at Washington’s initiative, hours after Putin ordered the Russian army to…