More than 700 people have been sentenced to prison over riots in France late last month, the country’s justice minister said Wednesday while lauding the fast-track trials that have alarmed some defence lawyers.

No fewer than fifteen people have died following the explosion of an electricity transformer on the banks of the Alaknanda river, Uttarakhand state, India.

Arresting Vladimir Putin would amount to a declaration of war on Russia, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote in court papers released on Tuesday as the country wrangles over hosting the Russian leader.

Russia launched missile and drone strikes on southern and eastern Ukraine overnight that destroyed infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Sierra Leone has banned the movement of livestock and meat imports from neighbouring Liberia after 36 cows died near the border, the government said, adding that it was stepping up surveillance for possible anthrax.