128 killed in Chad during repression of protests: rights body

 N’DJAMENA, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A total of 128 people died in the violent repression of opposition protests in Chad last year, the country’s human rights commission (CNDH) said, decrying “human rights violations”. Opposition groups called the demonstrations, in the capital N’Djamena and other towns, last October to mark the…

Brazil storm death toll rises to 50

 SAO PAULO, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian authorities said that the death toll from floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in the country’s southeast had risen to at least 50, with emergency workers continuing to dig through the wreckage. “The more time passes, the less likely it is to…

US: Pakistani brothers released from Guantanamo and sent home

 WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Pakistani brothers, Abdul and Mohammed Rabbani, have been freed from the US military prison at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay after more than 20 years in detention and repatriated, the Pentagon said. Abdul Rabbani, who was born in 1967, is believed to have been one of…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: UN demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine

 UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations voted overwhelmingly to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine, marking the one-year anniversary of the war (Feb 24) with a call for a “just and lasting” peace. Ukraine earned strong backing in a nonbinding vote that saw…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: UN seeks justice for victims of Russia’s ‘senseless’ war

GENEVA, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN rights chief Volker Turk slammed the human cost of Russia’s “senseless” year-old war in Ukraine and urged greater efforts to ensure justice for victims. Turk said the civilian toll was “unbearable”, with his office verifying that at least 8,006 civilians had been killed and…

Djibouti votes for parliament amid opposition boycott

D’JIBOUTI, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Polls closed Friday in the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, where President Ismael Omar Geulleh’s ruling party faced a single opposition party in parliamentary elections. Djibouti main opposition parties, including the Movement for Democratic Renewal and Development (MRD) and the Republican Alliance for…

Brazil suspends beef exports to China over mad cow case

 BRASILIA, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil, the world’s biggest beef producer, suspended exports to China after detecting a case of mad cow disease, though experts believe it is the less-dangerous “atypical” variant, said Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro. Exports to China, Brazil’s biggest beef customer, are automatically suspended under a deal…

Update: Cyclone Freddy toll rises to four in Madagascar

   ANTANANARIVO, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from tropical Cyclone Freddy that lashed the eastern coast of Madagascar has risen to four, officials said on Wednesday.   The storm, which packed winds of around 130 kilometres per hour (80 miles per hour), affected 16,600 people, according to the…

Argentina ups security measures as number of avian flu cases grows

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s health authorities have decided to up their biosecurity measures following the increase in the number of avian flu cases detected nationwide, particularly in provinces bordering Uruguay, but also in Córdoba and Salta.  After declaring a sanitary emergency a few days ago, the National…

Canada: 17 suspected grave sites detected near former residential school in British Columbia

Flags mark where ground-penetrating radar recorded hits of what are believed to be 751 unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School OTTAWA, Feb 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Ground-penetrating radar has detected 17 suspected grave sites around the property of the former Alberni Indian Residential School in British Columbia, Canada,…