Over 150 civilians killed in DR Congo in two weeks: UN

  KINSHASA, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Attacks in the eastern DR Congo province of Ituri have left more than 150 civilians dead in the past two weeks, the United Nations said.    The province and its southern neighbour of North Kivu have been wracked by increasing violence between several militia groups…

Rwanda migrant deal now covers non-asylum seekers

KIGALI, April 19 (NNN-GNA) — An addendum to the memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom (UK) and Rwanda, signed last month when UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Kigali, will now see the transfer of people who have not claimed asylum in the UK to Kigali.The initial memorandum signed…

South Africa: Minister Gordhan appoints new SAA interim board

PRETORIA, April 19 (NNN-SANEWS) — Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced the appointment of an interim board of directors for national carrier, South African Airways (SAA). Former Tourism Minister Derek Hannekom has been appointed as interim non-executive director and chairperson of the carrier. Professor John Lamola – who was…

Truffle picker attacks: At least 26 killed in Syrian desert ambush

DAMASCUS, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 26 people searching for valuable truffles in the Syrian desert have been killed by the Daesh group, state media and activists say. Civilians and pro-government fighters were among the victims of the attack on Sunday in Hama province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights…

Poland, Ukraine agree to restart transit of grain, says Polish minister

WARSAW, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Grain transports from Ukraine via Poland will resume on Friday, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus has said, after two-day talks here with the Ukrainian side. The transports will be escorted and monitored by a specialized electronic system while passing through Poland to make sure “that…

US: Parking garage partially collapses in NYC, killing 1

NEW YORK, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A parking garage collapsed in lower Manhattan’s Financial District, killing one worker, injuring five and crushing cars as concrete floors fell on top of each other like a stack of pancakes, officials said. Bystander video showed cars hanging precariously from a buckled upper deck…

Gunfire sounds during ‘armistice’ on 4th day of Sudan battles

KHARTOUM, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Explosions shook Sudan’s capital on Tuesday evening despite claims of a ceasefire on the fourth day of fighting that has killed nearly 200. A weeks-long power struggle erupted into battles on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah…

China hospital fire in Beijing kills 21, says newspaper

Beijing’s Changfeng Hospital, where there has been a fatal fire BEIJING, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire in a Beijing hospital has killed 21 people, the state-run Beijing Daily said on Tuesday. Emergency response teams first received word just before 1pm that a fire had broken out at the Beijing…

Comoros slams France over migration clampdown

An influx of migrants on Mayotte has led to shantytowns MORONI, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros is urging France to step back from a looming operation that could see the forced return of illegal migrants from the neighbouring French island of Mayotte. Authorities in…

Pakistan court jails Chinese national charged with blasphemy

PESHAWAR (Pakistan), April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Pakistani court has ruled that a China national arrested on blasphemy charges be held in jail for two weeks, pending trial, a police officer said. Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, anyone convicted of blasphemy can be sentenced to death. The Chinese man, identified…