Poland scolds EU over delayed accession talks with Albania, North Macedonia

POZNAN (Poland), July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Polish President Andrzej Duda scolded the European Union for delaying accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, days after the EU’s current eastern European members lost out in a carve-up of its top jobs. “The European Union shouldn’t treat countries this way when they…

Bulgaria reports new case of African swine fever

SOFIA, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bulgaria has confirmed a new case of African swine fever among backyard pigs in the village of Novachene near the town of Pleven in the north of the country, the national food safety agency said. Bulgaria already reported two cases of African swine fever among…

Nigeria to seize US$40 million of jewellery, gold iPhone from ex-minister

ABUJA, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Nigerian court has ordered the imminent seizure of US$40 million worth of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone belonging to former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, the country’s anti-graft agency said. The items, including hundreds of bangles, rings, earrings, necklaces and watches, were found at…

Venezuela frees judge, journalist, 20 students: UN

GENEVA/CARACAS, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela has freed 22 prisoners including the emblematic cases of judge Maria Afiuni and journalist Braulio Jatar, a senior UN official said. Twenty students were also among those freed on Thursday, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and her office. The…

Malta heads off crisis with Italy migrant swap

ROME, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malta heads off the latest standoff between a charity rescue ship in the Mediterranean and Italy’s far-right interior minister by sending a ship to take the migrants to shore. A sailboat belonging to Italian charity Mediterranea on Thursday rescued 54 people including pregnant women and children…

Russia: Pres Putin bestows top state honors on sailors killed in submarine fire

MOSCOW, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin bestowed top state honors on 14 sailors killed in a fire on a secret nuclear submarine in recognition of what the Russian military has called their outstanding bravery. The sailors were killed on Monday when a fire broke out while their…

Germany working at top speed to get Iran barter scheme running: spokesman

BERLIN, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany is working hard to reach the point where the first transactions can be carried out under a special trade channel being set up to enable trade between Iran and European exporters, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Spokesman Rainer Breul said European industry had…

Guinea-Bissau names gender-par cabinet after Ethiopia, South Africa

BISSAU, July 6 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The gender-parity cabinet has reached West Africa with the new government in Guinea-Bissau boasting as many men as there are women. The new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Aristides Gomes has 16 ministries – eight of which will be headed by women. There…

US demands El Chapo forfeit $12.7 billion in drug money

NEW YORK, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US prosecutors said they wereseeking $12.7 billion from convicted Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, based on a conservative estimate of revenues from his cartel’s drug sales in the United States. According to a motion filed by US Attorney Richard Donoghue, authoritiesare “entitled…

Pres Trump promises to reduce US drug prices to world’s lowest

WASHINGTON, July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said his administration is working on an executive order to reduce US drug prices to match the lowest in the world. “We’re working on a favored nations law where we pay whatever the lowest nation’s price is,” Trump told reporters from…