Rio police face fury, calls for probe after bloody raid

Residents protest after a police operation against alleged drug traffickers RIO DE JANEIRO, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Brazil faced outraged protests and a UN call for an investigation Friday after a raid on a Rio de Janeiro favela left 25 people dead — some reportedly killed in cold…

UN releases $65 million to aid Ethiopia, most for conflict-hit Tigray

U.N. humanitarian office said the remaining $25 million will fund aid operations UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations announced it has released $65 million for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia, including $40 million for the crisis-hit Tigray region.The U.N. humanitarian office said the remaining $25 million will fund…

Nigeria: 14 passengers burnt to death as bus catches fire on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

Ibadan expressway LAGOS, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A serious auto crash on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has claimed the lives of 14 passengers.Three vehicles were said to be involved in the accident which happened on Thursday night.The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has confirmed the incident, noting that three people…

Covid-19: Ghana receives 350,000 doses of vaccine in boost to fight pandemic

Ghana launches COVID-19 vaccination campaign ACCRA, May 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Ghana on Friday took delivery of some 350,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine at the Kotoka International Airport, in a boost to the country’s fight against the pandemic. Receiving the vaccines on behalf of the government, Chief Director of the Ministry of…

Covid-19: Global deaths reach 3,258,595

PARIS, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The novel coronavirus has killed at least 3,258,595 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled on Friday. At least 155,981,070 cases of coronavirus have been registered. The vast majority have recovered, though some have…

Covid-19: WHO approves China’s Sinopharm vaccine

GENEVA, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization has approved the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use — the first Chinese jab to receive the WHO’s green light. The UN health agency signed off on the two-dose vaccine, which is already being deployed in dozens of countries around the…

More Nigerian students kidnapped in fresh attack

ABUJA, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An unknown number of university students have been kidnapped in the south-eastern Nigerian state of Abia.The group was abducted on Wednesday, the same day that 29 students seized last month in the north-western state of Kaduna were released, reportedly after the payment of a ransom.Authorities…

US shootings: In America, children return to school — but so do the guns

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Students in many US states are just returning to classrooms after months of remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic — but the move back has come with an unfortunate uptick in gun violence. From the first hours of Thursday, it felt like Groundhog Day…

US not planning to shoot down errant Chinese rocket: defense chief

WASHINGTON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US military has no plans to shoot down an out -of-control Chinese rocket now hurtling towards Earth, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “We have the capability to do a lot of things, but we don’t have a plan to shoot it down as we…

UK: Scottish and Welsh elections could determine future of British union

Citizens in Scotland and Wales will vote for the devolved parliaments from 6am to 9pm GMT on Thursday LONDON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Polling booths in Scotland and Wales closed on Thursday at the end of the polling day in the elections for the two regional parliaments. The results of the highly-anticipated elections could determine the…