Italy to be “almost independent” of Russian gas by 2023: minister

Italy’s Minister for Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani ROME, April 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — Italy “could start being almost totally independent” of Russian gas imports by the second half of 2023, Italian Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani said. That would be a rapid change for Italy, which imported more than 40 percent…

Covid-19: UK PM Johnson to be probed over “Partygate”

LONDON, April 22 (NNN-Xinhua) — British lawmakers approved an investigation into Prime Minister Boris Johnson over claims he misled the parliament about rules-busting parties in Downing Street during covid-19 lockdown, casting further doubts on his political future. A Labour-led motion called for the Committee of Privileges to examine allegations that…

Regional leaders hold security talks in Nairobi, Kenya

NAIROBI, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday hosted Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi for talks on the insecurity caused by militia groups in the region and especially eastern DR Congo.Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia donates wheat to ally Cuba as grains prices soar globally

HAVANA, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia donated nearly 20,000 tonnes of wheat to political ally Cuba, a welcome gift to the Caribbean island nation beginning to feel the pain of soaring global prices for grains following the war in Ukraine. Russian ambassador to Cuba Andrei Guskov said at a ceremony…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: US announces new $800 million military package for Ukraine as Russia slaps travel ban on US VP Kamala Harris

WASHINGTON, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden announced a new package of $800 million in military aid for Ukraine, saying it would help Kyiv’s forces in the fight against Russians forces in the Donbas region. Biden said the newest round of US support will include heavy artillery, dozens…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Over 7.7 million internally displaced in Ukraine – UN

  GENEVA, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 7.7 million people are estimated to have been internally displaced by Russia’s war in Ukraine, having fled their homes but stayed within the country, the United Nations said. The figure issued by the UN’s International Organization for Migration is up from the 7.1 million estimate that…

Cases of dengue on the rise in Brazil

BRASILIA, April 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian health authorities announced the number of probable cases of dengue fever nationwide had nearly doubled since the beginning of the year compared to the same period in 2021. According to an epidemiological bulletin released by the Health Ministry, almost 400,000 probable cases of dengue…

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry locks Pres Bolsonaro Russian trip documents under seal

BRASILIA, April 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazil’s Foreign Ministry has decided to place under the seal of secrecy all documents regarding President Jair Bolsonaro’s trip to Moscow in February this year, the Itamaraty Palace announced. The decision is valid for five years, meaning those records cannot be opened before Feb 21,…

US: South Carolina top court halts firing squad execution

South Carolina’s renovated Capital Punishment Facility, with the firing squad chair at left behind the covered electric chair COLUMBIA (South Carolina, US), April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The South Carolina Supreme Court halted the southern US state’s first-ever firing squad execution, which was slated to be carried out next week. Richard…

2 drunk soldiers kill 15 in eastern DR Congo; one arrested, the other shot dead

KINSHASA, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two soldiers have shot dead 15 people in separate attacks in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The victims, except for two military personnel, were almost all civilians. An official in South Kivu province said a drunk soldier on a boat on Lake…