UN extends peace monitoring mission in Colombia

UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday extending its mission to monitor Colombia’s peace process until the end of October, and to broaden its mandate. The decision will strengthen the Special Jurisdiction of Peace (JEP), a tribunal that was created in 2017…

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemns Israel as violence flares

RIYADH, May 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has condemned Israel and reiterated support for Palestinians, as fatal unrest escalates. The OIC “condemns in the strongest terms the repeated attacks by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people”, the pan-Islamic body based in the Saudi city of…

Covid-19: Virus-free Nauru vaccinates all its adults in ‘world record’ effort

KOROR (Palau), May 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The tiny Pacific nation of Nauru has congratulated itself for a “world record” Covid-19 vaccination drive which resulted in all its adult population receiving their first jab. The remote island nation, one of the few places in the world to remain virus-free, said the…

Death toll from Colombia protests climbs to 42: ombudsman

BOGOTA, May 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 42 people have been killed in near-daily protests against the government of Colombian President Ivan Duque since April 28, the country’s human rights ombudsman said. All but one — a member of the armed forces — were civilians, the ombudsman’s office said. The…

Covid-19: Canada’s Ontario province pauses AstraZeneca first-dose jabs

OTTAWA, May 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada’s most populous province of Ontario suspended use of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine as a first dose, citing new data showing increased risks of blood clotting. The move followed the province of Alberta’s announcement to also stop administering the vaccine over possible supply shortages. The…

About 70 migrants brought to Malta after rescue

Migrants are shipped to land by the Armed Forces of Malta, in Senglea, south of Malta VALLETTA, May 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — A group of around 70 migrants were brought to Malta after being rescued to the south of the island on Monday night following a distress call, a spokesperson from…

Covid-19: India’s death toll surpasses 250,000

Patients suffering from the coronavirus disease are seen inside the ICU ward at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi NEW DELHI, May 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — India’s COVID-19 death toll crossed the 250,000-mark, reaching 254,197, and the total tally surpassed 23 million on Wednesday, confirmed the federal health ministry. As many…

Foreign leaders arriving in Uganda for presidential inauguration ceremony

KAMPALA, May 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — Foreign leaders on Tuesday began arriving for the swearing-in ceremony of Uganda’s incumbent president Yoweri Museveni for another term. Museveni in a series of tweets welcomed the heads of state of Ghana, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia ahead of the Wednesday function…

UN chief calls for peace and stability in Myanmar

The Sule pagoda in downtown Yangon, the commercial hub of Myanmar UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for Myanmar’s return to peace and stability. A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar on Feb. 1 this year and the state power was…

Russia expels Romanian military diplomat in retaliation

MOSCOW, May 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it is expelling an assistant defense attache at the Romanian embassy in Moscow in tit-for-tat retaliation. The Romanian ambassador was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he received a note demanding this officer leave Russia within 72…