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WASHINGTON, May 16. /TASS/: Russian national Maria Butina jailed in the United States has filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals against the District of Columbia Circuit’s verdict, sentencing her to an 18-month prison term, according to her appeal.

"I, the above named appellant, hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from the above-stated judgment," the document says.

The statement says that the Russian woman is currently held at Oklahoma’s Grady County Jail.

CAIRO, May 15 (Xinhua): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attended on Wednesday the opening of Rod al-Farag Axis Bridge, the widest suspension bridge in the world, state-run Nile TV reported.

"Egypt is seeking to carry out public projects in the shortest possible time to save money and effort," al-Sisi said in his address at the inauguration ceremony.

The construction of the bridge was implemented by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority (AFEA) in cooperation with a number of national companies.

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (APP): International Day of Families observed May 15 to promote the importance of a healthy and well-balanced family with the theme of this year is “Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG13”.

Talking to private news channel Expert Haroon Ahmed said in connection with this particular day that the purpose to observe the day is to provide an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting them.

15 May 2019; DW: Nigerian middle and upper classes increasingly speak English with their children. Linguists and writers worry about the survival of native languages, especially in the south.

ISLAMABAD, May 13 (APP): The Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing Monday hosted a special investiture ceremony wherein Vice Foreign Minister of China Kong Xuanyou was conferred Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam, the civil award of Pakistan.

Ambassador of Pakistan in China Masood Khalid conferred the award, on behalf of the President of Pakistan, in recognition of Kong Xuanyou’s services towards Pakistan and further strengthening of Pakistan-China relations, said a press release received here.

WINDHOEK, May 13 (Xinhua): When there is a prolonged dry spell, the sea of withered amber crops becomes a common sight in the northern part of Namibia.

Every day before the sun was up, Liina Mupopya from Oshana region in northern Namibia came to observe her pearl millet field. However, the sight of withered crops disheartened her.

"The rain is delayed and some crops become withered. Some have not even germinated," said Mupoya.

Namibia had been experiencing droughts since 2013, affecting about 60 percent of the households dependent on crop farming and agriculture.

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua): Beijing's Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, has recently launched a large-scale restoration project to repair broken cultural relics that had been unearthed, according to China Central Television.

Six pieces of porcelain are part of the first batch of cultural relics to be repaired, including two bowls used during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/: Sweden’s prosecution authority plans to request the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from Great Britain in relation to the 2010 sexual assault and rape case, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Sweden's state prosecutor.

According to the news agency, British investigators are expected to make a decision on Assange’s extradition. Reuters said they planned to summon the WikiLeaks founder once again for questioning.

The Swedish prosecution authority earlier decided to revisit the sexual assault investigation into Assange.

OTTAWA, May 12 (Xinhua): Two Canadian women who were jailed in self-declared republic Somaliland for two months after being accused of drinking alcohol arrived in Toronto on Sunday morning, according to CBC.

The two women were arrested in the city of Hargeisa after being accused of consuming alcohol, which is illegal in Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia.

According to their lawyer, the pair signed confessions "under duress," hoping to avoid being detained. They were sentenced to two and a half months in jail and 40 lashes.

WELLINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua): New Zealand dairy company Fonterra has sold its ice cream company Tip Top for 380 million New Zealand dollars to British dairy giant Froneri.

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell confirmed the sale, saying it was a bittersweet moment for Fonterra. "Fonterra received a number of quality bids for Tip Top, we have secured a good price for our farmers and unit holders," Hurrell said.

It is understood that Fonterra had signed an agreement with the new owner to supply milk which ensured Fonterra farmers would continue to contribute to Tip Top.