Twin attacks in Burkina Faso kill 16

OUAGADOUGOU, May 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Attacks on a village andtroops in the north and east of Burkina Faso left 15 civilians and onesoldier dead, a regional governor said. A brutal resurgence of insurgent violence in the West Africancountry has forced more than 16,000 people from their homes in justthe last…

Spain says 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta, half sent back

Migrants climb the fence in the northern town of Fnideq in an attempt to cross the border from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, in North Africa MADRID, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain stepped up diplomatic pressure on Rabat as its prime minister flew into Ceuta, vowing to “restore…

Covid-19: After six months, French cafes, museums and cinemas reopen

PARIS, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French are expected to flock to restaurants, museums and cinemas when they reopen on Wednesday, but bad weather and social distancing may cast a pall over scenes of people toasting a return to semi-normality after months of Covid-19 curbs. Cafes and restaurants with terraces…

Iceland: First US-Russia meeting ahead of Biden-Putin summit

REYKJAVIK, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US and Russian foreign ministers are meeting in Iceland on Wednesday to gauge the enormous gulf between the rival powers and confirm a summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Statements preceding the face-to-face talks on the sidelines of the Arctic Council meeting…

Covid-19: Mexico aims to give population at least one vaccine dose by October

MEXICO CITY, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico aims to ensure its population has had at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by October before the onset of colder weather, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said. Mexico has so far distributed nearly 24 million vaccine doses to its population of 126 million,…

US pullout from Afghanistan at least 13% complete: Pentagon

A US airman walks past a row of Chinook helicopters at Kandahar airbase in southern Afghanistan WASHINGTON, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US withdrawal from Afghanistan is between 13 per cent and 20 per cent complete, the Pentagon’s Central Command said, as it pushes to beat a September deadline for…

US: Three Guantanamo prisoners approved for release

WASHINGTON, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three of the 40 prisoners still at the Guantanamo Bay US military prison have been approved for release, a lawyer for one said Tuesday, the first such approvals under the administration of President Joe Biden. The three included Pakistani Saifullah Paracha, who at 73 is…

Covid-19: Sudan bans travellers from India, imposes virus curbs

KHARTOUM, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan banned travellers arriving from India and imposed new coronavirus restrictions including closing schools, as coronavirus cases rise. “Entry will be prevented for all travellers arriving directly from India or through any other country after having visited India in the past 14 days,” said the…

US expands citizenship for children of surrogates

WASHINGTON, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States made it easier to pass citizenship to children born through surrogates or in-vitro fertilization, a move sought by the LGBTQ community after resistance under former president Donald Trump. Under new guidance by President Joe Biden’s administration, a child born overseas to a…

Covid-19: Austria, Italy relaxes restrictions

VIENNA/ROME, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Quarantine will no longer be required for many foreign visitors to AUSTRIA starting on Wednesday, according to Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein, providing they have a health certificate showing they aren’t carrying the coronavirus.“The infection numbers are going down in many countries, which is why we…