Bush backs Clinton

FORMER US president and longtime Republican George HW Bush was set to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the coming election, according to the niece of John F Kennedy, marking a switch in party allegiance.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend made the comments on Facebook, where she posted a photograph of herself with the 91-year-old Bush sr with the caption: “The President told me he is voting for Hillary!”

Townsend confirmed she had met himon Monday. “That’s what he said,” she said. – TeleSUR

Nigeria flood kills many

ABUJA: At least 18 people have been killed by a flood in Nigeria’s northern state of Jigawa, an official said yesterday.

A total of 6 637 houses were also destroyed as the flood tore through 19 local districts in the state, said Yusuf Sani, the co-ordinator of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency.

Some deaths were due to the collapse of the buildings, he said, adding that the government had agreed to compensate the victims for their loss. Last month, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency predicted flooding. – Xinhua

Aid suspended

ISTANBUL: The UN yesterday suspended all humanitarian aid convoys in Syria yesterday after a bombardment hit 18 aid trucks in northern Aleppo province the day before, killing aid workers and civilians in an act that the UN said could amount to a “war crime”.

The UN would reassess the security situation in the wake of Monday’s attack, spokesman Jens Laerke said in Geneva.

The US said it was still unclear if it was a Russian or a Syrian plane that had targetted. the convoy, but officials placed the blame on Moscow. – dpa

5million face hunger

NAIROBI: The number of Somalis who did not have enough to eat had risen to 5 million – or more than four out of 10 people – owing to poor rains, the UN said yesterday, with children at the greatest risk of illhealth and death.

The figure had increased by 300 000 since February, it said, amid ongoing conflict between the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab and Somalia’s AU-backed government. “The situation is of serious concern and comes as we already face drought, conflict and refugee returns from Kenya.” – Thomson Reuters Foundation