Egypt Releases 986 Prisoners Upon Presidential Pardon

CAIRO, May 4 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt released 986 prisoners upon a presidential pardon, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement, yesterday. The move, which marks Eid al-Fitr on Monday, came two weeks after the release of 3,273 inmates, by the presidential decree on the occasion of Sinai Liberation Day.…

Half Of German Municipalities Face Difficulties With High Energy Prices

BERLIN, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Around half of municipalities in Germany have difficulties coping with increased energy prices, according to a survey published by the state-owned promotional bank KfW yesterday. In Feb, consumer prices for electricity and various fossil fuels were up to 40 percent higher than the average, for…

BP Reports Soaring Profits Amid Calls For Windfall Tax

LONDON, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Oil giant BP, reported yesterday that, its underlying profit for the first quarter of this year saw a huge increase to 6.2 billion U.S. dollars, fueling discussions about a windfall tax on energy companies. The company’s profit was 2.6 billion dollars during the first three…

India’s PM Urges “Dialogue And Diplomacy” For Ukraine Crisis

COPENHAGEN, May 4 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, yesterday, urged diplomatic resolutions for the ongoing Ukraine crisis. “Dialogue and diplomacy should resolve the issue,” Modi told a joint press conference, after meeting with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen. Modi reiterated India’s position on the conflict, calling for an…

India’s Apr Trade Deficit Widens To 20.1 Billion USD

MUMBAI, May 4 (NNN-PTI) – India’s trade deficit for Apr widened to 20.1 billion U.S. dollars, from 15.3 billion dollars in the same month last year, official data showed yesterday. However, trade deficit declined marginally from 20.9 billion dollars, reported in the preceding month of March. During the month under…

Putin Approves Retaliatory Sanctions Over Russia-Ukraine Conflict

MOSCOW, May 4 (NNN-TASS) – Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree yesterday, on retaliatory sanctions against individuals and entities, in response to their “unfriendly actions” over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The measures will be taken in retaliation to “the unfriendly actions of the United States, foreign states and international organisations…

UN Chief Welcomes Evacuation Of Civilians From Azovstal Steel Plant In Mariupol, Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (NNN-XINHUA) – UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, yesterday, welcomed the safe evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine. “I am pleased that more than 100 civilians have successfully been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, in an operation successfully coordinated by…

10 Killed, Several Injured In Road Accidents In Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, May 3 (NNN-APP) – Ten people were killed and several others injured, in separate road accidents yesterday in Pakistan, local media reported. Seven people were burnt to death, after a vehicle fell into a dry canal, in Nawabshah district of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, local media said. The accident…

Spike In Postal Votes Could Delay Australian Election Results

CANBERRA, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A spike in postal votes could delay results from Australia’s general election, the electoral commission warned. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) today revealed, it received 1.54 million applications for postal votes, with 18 days until polling day, up from 1.5 million total in the 2019…

Sri Lanka To Amend Electricity Law To Fast-Track Procurement

COLOMBO, May 3 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka will amend its electricity law to remove impediments to procurement, Power and Energy Minister, Kanchana Wijesekera, said yesterday. “The law will be amended to remove impediments that delayed projects, and to shorten the procurement processes,” the minister said. The minister said that, he…