US announces sanctions on Venezuela oil vessels, Cuba shippers

WASHINGTON, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Vice President Mike Pence announced sanctions on 34 vessels of Venezuela’s state oil company and two companies that ship crude to Cuba as Washington pushes to oust President Nicolas Maduro. “Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people,” Pence said in a speech at Rice University…

US Pres Trump flies to border to push tough line on Mexico

WASHINGTON, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump flew Friday to visit newly built fencing on the Mexican border, even as he retreated from a threat to shut the frontier over what he says is an out-of-control influx of migrants and drugs. Boarding the Marine One helicopter at the White…

UK: PM May’s Brexit talks with Labour stall, delay request fails to convince EU

LONDON, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s opposition Labour Party said that talks with the government on a last-ditch Brexit deal had made no progress, as EU leaders said Prime Minister Theresa May had not convinced them that they should let Britain delay its departure next week. May wrote to Brussels…

Brazil: Ex-pres Lula fights for freedom as he marks one year in jail

SAO PAULO, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Since entering prison a year ago,Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been spending hisdays working out in his cell and fighting to prove his innocence. The 73-year-old leftist icon, who has been sentenced to 25 years behindbars in two separate corruption…

Morocco appeal court upholds sentences against Hirak protesters

CASABLANCA, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of the Hirak protest movement which rocked Morocco in 2016 and 2017 had their sentences upheld by a court of appeal. In all, 42 activists who were serving prison terms of up to 20 years had their sentences confirmed by the court in…

US acknowledges civilian deaths in Somalia drone strike

WASHINGTON, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has admitted that a woman and child were killed by an American drone strike in Somalia last April.It marks the first time America has admitted to causing civilian casualties during its air campaign in Somalia.Only weeks ago, the US had denied claims by…

Malians protest against violence

The protest was against ethnic and jihadist violence BAMAKO, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of people have staged a protest in the Malian capital, Bamako, against rising ethnic and jihadist violence.The protest was called by Muslim leaders, groups representing ethnic Fulani herders and opposition parties.Last month more than…

Fossil of ancient four-legged whale found in Peru

Artist’s interpretation of Peregocetus pacificus, a four-legged whale from the middle Eocene period. LIMA, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The fossil of a 43-million-year-old whale with four legs, webbed feet and hooves has been discovered in Peru. Palaeontologists believe the marine mammal’s four-metre-long body was adapted to swim and walk on land.…

France hosts wary G7 in shadow of US snub, Brexit and yellow vests

DINARD (France), April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France offered a wary welcome to foreign ministers from the Group of Seven for a meeting overshadowed by a snub from Pres Donald Trump’s U.S. administration, a meltdown in Britain over Brexit and months of anti-government protests at home. Protesters spray-painted slogans attacking President…

Algeria protesters return to the streets as spy boss reported sacked

ALGIERS, April 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protesters waving banners and calling for radical change marched through Algiers for a seventh successive Friday as Algeria’s spy chief was reported fired in a further sign of high-level turmoil following the resignation of the country’s veteran president. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital…