Brazil: At least 57 dead in prison riot

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 57 inmates were killed during a prison riot in northern Brazil on Monday as rival gang factions fought each other, an official said. Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country’s severely…

Chilean congress will have tighter oversight of copper funding of armed forces

SANTIAGO, July 29 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean lawmakers passed a measure this week abolishing an antiquated, decades-old law under which state-run Codelco, the world’s largest copper miner, helped foot the bill for the country’s military. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance the Chilean armed forces, and beefs up congressional…

Argentina expecting record harvest of wheat in a supply short market

BUENOS AIRES, July 29 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine wheat farmers are preparing for a record harvest, even as global rivals see crop yield prospects cut amid floods in the United States, searing heat in Europe and drought in Australia. The grain bounty in the world’s No. 6 wheat exporter will boost…

U.S. air strike kills suspected Daesh coordinator in Somalia

MOGADISHU, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A U.S. air strike killed a facilitator for Daesh-aligned militia in northern Somalia, a statement from the American military’s Africa Command said. There were no further details given about Saturday’s hit in the northern Golis mountain region. Somalia’s main Islamic insurgency, al Shabaab, has sworn…

Britain rejects idea of tanker swap with Iran

LONDON, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain on Monday rejected the idea that it could release a Iranian tanker in exchange for a British-flagged vessel seized by the Islamic Republic in the Gulf. Tensions have spiked between Iran and Britain since after Iranian commandos seized a British-flagged tanker earlier this month.…

Update: Russian opposition leader Navalny in satisfactory condition – hospital

MOSCOW, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was hospitalised over the weekend after suffering an acute allergic reaction, is in a satisfactory condition, a hospital representative said on Monday. Navalny, 43, was rushed to hospital on Sunday from jail where he is serving a 30-day sentence…

At least 3 dead, 1 injured in shooting in southern France

PARIS, July 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least three people were killed and one was injured in a shooting in southern France on Sunday evening, local media reported. The incident occurred near a gas station in Ollioules commune of the Var department. The victims were described as two men and a…

UN warns against escalation of fighting in Tripoli

TRIPOLI, July 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame warned against escalation of fighting here in the Libyan capital, which is witnessing a deadly armed conflict between the east-based rebel army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli. Salame made his remarks during a meeting with the rebel…

Sudan talks on remaining power transfer issues resume Tuesday

KHARTOUM, July 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Talks to resolve remaining issues between Sudanese protesters and ruling generals are set to resume Tuesday, a mediator and protest leader said, as scores demonstrated in Khartoum to demand an impartial probe into a deadly June raid on a sit-in.The two sides have already signed…

South Africa, Japan collaborate to address plastic pollution

PRETORIA, July 29 (NNN-SANEWS) — Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina has welcomed the R25 million Japan-South Africa collaboration project that is aimed at combating plastic pollution. The three-year project which was launched in Pretoria, aims to support the South African plastic industry to transition from conventional plastics to…