Russia on Wednesday proposed to create the Association of Ethno-Gastronomic Tourism,  saying it would help strengthen cooperation between states and the private sector at the BRICS working group meeting.

Nikita Kondratiev, Director of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development made the announcement on the ministry’s website.

“The accession of new members to BRICS expands not only the geography but also the cultural diversity of the association.

Kondratiev noted that gastronomic travelling in the world had been developing very actively in recent years.

He stressed that such dynamics could  be associated with the growth of tourist spending, the increasing popularity of niche tours and travelers interest in eco-friendly food. (Tv Brics/NAN)

 German authorities have arrested three men on suspicion of planning arson and explosive attacks on railway freight transport in Germany on behalf of Russia, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The suspects are said to have told several persons allegedly commissioned by Russia that they were willing to carry out the acts of sabotage, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe said.

German intelligence services believe Russian actors are hiring people to carry out espionage and sabotage operations across the country.

The deployment of professional spies are being made increasingly difficult due to sanctions and increased vigilance amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Three German-Russian nationals were charged with spying for Moscow in December.The man at the centre of the indictment is said to have discussed sabotage operations on German soil with a Russian agent and agreed to carry out explosive and arson attacks on industrial sites and infrastructure used by the military.

According to prosecutors, this was an attempt to undermine the military aid provided by Germany to  Ukraine. (dpa/NAN)

Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.

The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage

The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace

He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)