Troops kill Mali mayor by accident

BAMAKO, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Mali have said soldiers accidentally killed the mayor of a north-eastern town at a checkpoint.Hamid Ahmed Ag Mohamed – the mayor of Andéraboukane – was being driven to an airstrip to board a UN flight when he was shot dead.A military statement…

President Ramaphosa’s 10 principles for the mining industry

CAPE TOWN, Feb 6 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa says mining companies should invest in development where they mine and in their employees in order to make a meaningful contribution to the areas in which they operate.  He said companies should invest in the health and safety of their workers,…

Thailand makes Siamese fighting fish national aquatic animal

BANGKOK, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tiny, testy and eye-catching with a colourful fin plumage, the Siamese fighting fish has been named Thailand’s national aquatic animal. Known in the West as a betta fish, the underwater brawler is popular in home aquariums for its iridescent body and many-hued tail. The government…

Sri Lanka ready for landmark hanging of drug convicts: Minister

COLOMBO, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sri Lanka is ready to execute five drug convicts and end its 42-year capital punishment moratorium once President Maithripala Sirisena signs the death warrants and a hangman is appointed, officials said. Sirisena announced last year a tougher line on spiralling narcotics-related crime including executions for…

FIFA, Qatar announce joint venture to deliver 2022 World Cup

ZURICH, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global soccer body FIFA says it has set up a joint venture with Qatar to deliver the 2022 World Cup which will be held in the Gulf state. FIFA said in a statement that it would hold 51 percent of the shares, and the Qatar…

Saudis launch office to keep up corruption fight after crackdown

RIYADH, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia has launched a new office to monitor state spending, saying it would help keep up the fight against corruption after the closing of a 15-month crackdown, state news agency SPA reported. The financial reporting office would be part of the state’s General Auditing…

Dutch former anti-Islam MP says he’s become a Muslim

THE HAGUE, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Dutch former far-right MP and right-hand man of anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders has set tongues wagging in the Netherlands after revealing he has converted to Islam, news reports said. For years Joram van Klaveren fought a relentless campaign in the Lower House against…

Audit of burst Brazil dam found issues with drainage, monitoring: Report

BELO HORIZONTE (Brazil), Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A report commissioned by Brazilian miner Vale SA last year to look into the stability of the tailings dam that ruptured Jan 25 certified it as sound but raised concerns over its drainage and monitoring systems, newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported. The report…

Thailand blames Australia for arrest of refugee Bahraini footballer

BANGKOK, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand defended on Wednesday its arrest of a Bahraini footballer with refugee status in Australia, saying officials only detained him because Australian authorities sent an Interpol “red notice” after he boarded a plane to Bangkok. Hakeem Al Araibi’s case has drawn international criticism as a…

UK rescuers launch bid to recover body from Sala’s plane

LONDON, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British crash investigators launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in the Channel. “We are attempting to recover the body. If we are successful, we will consider the feasibility of recovering the aircraft wreckage,” an Air…