U.S ANNOUNCES VISA CURBS FOR SOME FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICA. (PHOTO).

Image
 U.S announces visa curbs for some foreign nationals in South Africa Secretary of State Marco Rubio ‌said on Tuesday the U.S. government was announcing a new visa restriction ​policy targeting some foreign nationals ​in South Africa. The policy targets "foreign ⁠nationals who are responsible for, ​or complicit in, the enactment or ​implementation of laws or policies that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or ​the incitement of imminent violence ​against members of minority ethnic or racial ‌groups ⁠in South Africa," Rubio said in a statement. "The South African government has not adequately addressed the ​previously laid ​out ⁠concerns," Rubio said, Reuters reported. Relations between Washington and Pretoria have ​soured since the start of ​Donald ⁠Trump's second term, with the U.S. president criticizing the country ⁠for ​its policies aimed at ​addressing racial inequality.

CONGO AUDIT FINDS POLLUTION LINKED TO FRENCH-BRITISH OIL FIRM'S OPERATIONS, MINISTRY SAYS. (PHOTO).


 Congo audit finds pollution linked to French-British oil firm's operations, ministry says


A government audit into the operations of French-British oil company Perenco in Democratic Republic of Congo found it responsible for polluting the environment with potentially harmful effects ‌on the local population, according to preliminary findings shared with Reuters on Wednesday.


The hydrocarbons ministry said it found pollution attributable to oil activities carried ​out by Perenco's onshore and offshore units in the ​Muanda area, along the country's narrow Atlantic coastline.


The ministry ⁠shared the findings in response to an emailed request for ​comment on a Human Rights Watch report published on Monday that ​said Perenco's operations exposed nearby communities to health risks.


The audit found negative impacts on soil and air quality, notably from gas flaring near inhabited areas, ​the ministry said, without giving details of the pollutants or ​their potential effects.


The ministry said groundwater samples are being analysed to determine ‌the ⁠extent of any contamination and assess risks to local communities.


Perenco told Reuters on Tuesday that allegations of air, water and soil pollution were not supported by technical evidence that could be independently ​verified.


The company said ​it was ⁠still awaiting the findings of the government audit and that any definitive conclusions before its publication ​were premature.


The audit was launched in 2024 and ​is ⁠being carried out by an international consultancy supported by a government task force. No date yet has been given for its conclusion.


The ⁠ministry ​said it would seek to establish responsibility ​for any pollution and, where appropriate, seek environmental remediation and penalties under Congolese ​law.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

MUSICIAN HARRY-SONG,REVEALS THE FACE OF THE FEMALE FAN WHO IS THREATENING TO KILL HIM.{PHOTOS}.

THE NEW OONI OF ILE-IFE,WILL NOT EAT THE HEART OF THE LATE OONI-PALACE CHIEFS.