Russia ready for further dialogue if US is willing: Pres Putin

MOSCOW, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Kremlin was guarded about future dialogue with Washington on Thursday, a day after the first face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Joe Biden. The two leaders met in Geneva on Wednesday to ease soaring tensions between Moscow and Washington, with…

South Africa: 20 bodies found at vacant gold mine

The scene where bodies were found in the vicinity of Orkney JOHANNESBURG, June 17 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Bodies of suspected illegal miners were this week found wrapped in white plastic bags at two locations in Orkney, a gold mining town in South Africa. An autopsy is yet to be carried out…

Botswana diamond could be world’s third largest

Debswana says the diamond is 73mm long, 52mm wide and 27mm thick GABORONE, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A diamond believed to be the third largest ever found has been put on display in Botswana. The stone – weighing 1,098 carats – was shown to President Mokgweetsi Masisi, two weeks after…

Somalia: Attack kills 10 at Mogadishu Army training camp

This woman outside a hospital in Mogadishu heard that her son was among the victims MOGADISHU, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A suicide bomber has killed at least 10 people at an army training camp in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Many of the injured have been taken to hospital. The attacker was waiting…

Covid-19: South Africa infections hit five-month high

PRETORIA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s Covid-19 infections jumped by 13,246 on Wednesday, the highest daily total in five months, government said. The figure is almost double the weekly average for the past seven days, and compares to 8,436 cases recorded the previous day. “These concerning figures represent the…

Update: Biden, Putin hail positive talks, but US warns on cyberwar

GENEVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin sought to cool tensions in the combustible US-Russian relationship at their first summit in Geneva on Wednesday, with the US president saying his Kremlin counterpart doesn’t want a new Cold War. The two leaders emerged cautiously positive after more than…

Brexit: French minister warns UK over Northern Ireland

BRATISLAVA, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s Europe minister warned Britain against abandoning an EU agreement on post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland, warning it would create a “huge problem” and France was “ready” to respond. “The UK is playing with the deal, not fully implementing it,” European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune…

Covid-19: Cruise passengers return to Mexico’s Caribbean coast

SAN MIGUEL DE COZUMEL (Mexico), June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first cruise ship in more than a year docked at Cozumel island on Mexico’s Caribbean coast on Wednesday, greeted by mariachi music and a banner reading: “Welcome back.” The Adventure of the Seas arrived from the Bahamas with around 1,000…

Mexico City metro crash probe blames structural flaws

MEXICO CITY, June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An investigation into the Mexico City metro disaster revealed Wednesday a series of construction flaws in the overpass that collapsed, killing 26 people and prompting angry demands for justice. The initial report by Norwegian engineering company DNV said that a structural failure had caused…

Texas OKs public gun-carrying without permit

AUSTIN (Texas, US), June 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Wednesday a bill that allows Texans to carry firearms in public without a permit, the latest in a series of measures expanding gun rights in conservative US states. The law, which was passed in the Republican-dominated state…