Japan Coast Guard aircraft makes crash landing in Oita; no casualties

TOKYO, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — A small plane of the Japan Coast Guard on Tuesday morning made an emergency landing in Japan’s coastal prefecture of Oita, with no casualties reported, according to local media. At around 10:00 a.m. local time, the aircraft crash-landed in a field in the prefecture’s city…

60 migrants arrive in Malta after being rescued

Rescued migrants wait to disembark in Marsaxlokk, Malta VALLETTA, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — Around 60 migrants were taken to Malta on Monday evening after being rescued from rough seas as they attempted to cross to Europe from Libya. Two groups of people were saved by merchant vessels in Malta’s search…

South Africa: President Ramaphosa signs Electoral Amendment Bill into law

PRETORIA, April 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Electoral Amendment Bill of 2022. The Bill provides for the amendment of the Electoral Act, 1992 (Act No. 73 of 1998) and gives effect to the Constitutional Court judgment that was handed down on 11…

US raid in Syria kills senior Daesh leader: Centcom

BEIRUT, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US helicopter raid on Monday killed a senior Daesh group leader in Syria suspected of plotting attacks in Europe and the Middle East, US Central Command said. “Early this morning, Apr 17, US Central Command forces killed Abd-al Hadi Mahmud al-Haji Ali, a senior…

Heatstroke kills 11 at India awards event

NEW DELHI, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven people died of heatstroke in India after an estimated 1 million spectators waited for hours in the sun at a government-sponsored awards ceremony, officials said. About 20 people were hospitalised and 300 felt ill at the event near the western city of Mumbai…

Heavy traffic expected at Singapore-Malaysia land checkpoints during upcoming Muslim Syawal Festivities weekend

SINGAPORE, April 18 (NNN-CNA) — Heavy traffic at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints is expected during the upcoming Muslim Syawal weekend, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). With Syawal festivities falling on Saturday, traffic is expected to be heavy from Thursday to next Monday. Travellers departing or entering by…

Tunisia police arrest head of opposition party Ennahdha

TUNIS, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rached Ghannouchi, one of the main opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied, has been arrested, his Ennahdha party said, the latest in a string of opposition figures held. Ghannouchi, 81, whose party was the largest in parliament before Saied dissolved the chamber in July 2021,…

Migrant NGO calls on Mexico to end pacts with US after ‘abuses’

HOUSTON, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Texas-based NGO called for Mexico to end all immigration agreements with the United States after documenting hundreds of cases of abuse which it said occurred amid a “militarization” of Mexican policy toward migrants. The Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), based in El Paso,…

Brazil rejects US criticism, defends ties with Russia

BRASÍLIA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil rejected US criticism that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda on the war in Ukraine. US national security spokesman John Kirby made the allegation after Lula, on a trip to China, said the United States is encouraging the…

Update Sudan crisis: EU Ambassador assaulted in Khartoum home

Fighting raged in Khartoum KHARTOUM, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU’s ambassador in Sudan, Aidan O’Hara, has been assaulted at his home in Khartoum, which is gripped by deadly fighting between rival forces. The Irish diplomat was not “seriously hurt”, Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin has confirmed. Martin described the…