Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said.

Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine.&nbsp;

In addition to 12 fatalities, whose cause of death is unknown, 4,502 cases of diarrhoea and skin-related illness have been recorded, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said late Thursday.

"This catastrophe was caused by an Angolan mining company, which has acknowledged the facts," she said, reporting on the findings of an expert bilateral commission of inquiry.

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In July, Bazaiba linked the pollution to a "spill of toxic substances by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining".

Local officials also saw dead hippos in the Kasai, a major tributary to the Congo, the second longest African river after the Nile.

Four out of the five administrative territories in Kasai province have been affected by the disaster, totalling 968,000 people, the probe found.

The provincial authorities banned consumption of the river water, but it was too late to avoid some people falling sick.

The government said 40 tonnes (88,000 pounds) of medication to the area and the national water company is taking steps to increase supplies to those affected.

"Compensation should be paid to those who are victims, on the basis of the polluter-pays principle," the government said.

Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said. Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine.

Twelve people have died and thousands have fallen ill after a river in southern DR Congo was polluted by toxic waste from a diamond mine, the government said. Pollution of the Kasai River came to light in July, when local residents said its waters had turned red and dead fish were seen floating at the city of Tshikapa, near the Angolan-owned mine. In addition to 12 fatalities, whose cause of death is unknown, 4,502 cases of diarrhoea and skin-related illness have been recorded, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said late Thursday. "This catastrophe was caused by an Angolan mining company, which has acknowledged the facts," she said, reporting on the findings of an expert bilateral commission of inquiry. Also read | Women protest in Afghanistan's Herat over right to education, work In July, Bazaiba linked the pollution to a "spill of toxic substances by an Angolan factory specialising in industrial diamond mining". Local officials also saw dead hippos in the Kasai, a major tributary to the Congo, the second longest African river after the Nile. Four out of the five administrative territories in Kasai province have been affected by the disaster, totalling 968,000 people, the probe found. The provincial authorities banned consumption of the river water, but it was too late to avoid some people falling sick. The government said 40 tonnes (88,000 pounds) of medication to the area and the national water company is taking steps to increase supplies to those affected. "Compensation should be paid to those who are victims, on the basis of the polluter-pays principle," the government said.

12 dead after mining pollution in DR Congo river

Israel&nbsp;Sunday widened access to a third coronavirus&nbsp;vaccine&nbsp;jab to anyone aged&nbsp;12&nbsp;and&nbsp;up, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett insisting it was an effective way to contain an infection surge.

Moves by several nations to offer third jabs have faced criticism including from the World Health Organization, which insists poorer countries should gain wider access to&nbsp;vaccines&nbsp;before wealthy ones offer&nbsp;booster&nbsp;shots.

But with&nbsp;Israel, a country of 9.3 million, approaching daily infection tallies that regularly exceed 8,000 and serious&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;cases, Bennett has pressed ahead with the&nbsp;booster&nbsp;scheme.

"The third dose of the&nbsp;vaccine&nbsp;works," he said in a statement, announcing that it was now "available from age&nbsp;12&nbsp;and&nbsp;up".

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He said that with two million Israelis having received a third shot, the results are clear as "the increase in severe morbidity has begun to slow".

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said there was no doubt that a&nbsp;booster&nbsp;shot was "effective in preventing infection, and it significantly reduces the risk of serious and fatal illnesses".

Israel, which registered 7,000 new cases on Sunday, this week passed the one million cases threshold since the pandemic began.

The latest surge has largely been blamed on the highly transmissible Delta variant.

More than 6,950 people have died from the virus in&nbsp;Israel.

Israel Sunday widened access to a third coronavirus vaccine jab to anyone aged 12 and up, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett insisting it was an effective way to contain an infection surge.

Israel Sunday widened access to a third coronavirus vaccine jab to anyone aged 12 and up, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett insisting it was an effective way to contain an infection surge. Moves by several nations to offer third jabs have faced criticism including from the World Health Organization, which insists poorer countries should gain wider access to vaccines before wealthy ones offer booster shots. But with Israel, a country of 9.3 million, approaching daily infection tallies that regularly exceed 8,000 and serious Covid cases, Bennett has pressed ahead with the booster scheme. "The third dose of the vaccine works," he said in a statement, announcing that it was now "available from age 12 and up". Also read | Attacks on LGBTQ+ community across UK sparks fear He said that with two million Israelis having received a third shot, the results are clear as "the increase in severe morbidity has begun to slow". Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said there was no doubt that a booster shot was "effective in preventing infection, and it significantly reduces the risk of serious and fatal illnesses". Israel, which registered 7,000 new cases on Sunday, this week passed the one million cases threshold since the pandemic began. The latest surge has largely been blamed on the highly transmissible Delta variant. More than 6,950 people have died from the virus in Israel.

Israel offers COVID-19 vaccine booster to ages 12 and up

China today said that Hong Kong can accede to India's request to arrest fugitive Indian diamond merchant Nirav Modi based on local laws and mutual judicial assistance agreements.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told parliament last week that "the ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Republic of China."

Asked about India's request, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here that "according to the one country two systems and basic law of the HKSAR, under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries," he said.

"If India makes relevant request to the HKSAR, we believe the HKSAR will follow the basic law and relevant laws and under relevant judicial agreements with India with the relevant issue," he said.

Modi, who is wanted in connection with the 12,700-crore scam at the Punjab National Bank, is reportedly in Hong Kong which is a specially-administered region of China.

Modi has his shop in Hong Kong besides in Beijing.&nbsp;

Modi, wanted in connection with the 12,700-crore Punjab National Bank scam, is reportedly in Hong Kong

China today said that Hong Kong can accede to India's request to arrest fugitive Indian diamond merchant Nirav Modi based on local laws and mutual judicial assistance agreements. India's Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told parliament last week that "the ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Republic of China." Asked about India's request, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here that "according to the one country two systems and basic law of the HKSAR, under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries," he said. "If India makes relevant request to the HKSAR, we believe the HKSAR will follow the basic law and relevant laws and under relevant judicial agreements with India with the relevant issue," he said. Modi, who is wanted in connection with the 12,700-crore scam at the Punjab National Bank, is reportedly in Hong Kong which is a specially-administered region of China. Modi has his shop in Hong Kong besides in Beijing.

Hong Kong can take a decision on Nirav Modi's arrest, says China

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