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…

Multiple emergencies declared as floods strike Brazil’s Amazon region

The country’s geological service has said 30.35 metres is plausible this year BRASILIA, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floodwaters have reached the centre of Manaus, a metropolis in Brazil’s Amazon region, reported news website G1, as the Rio Negro river hit a high of 29.72 metres, sending water through the streets.That’s…

Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis ‘horrific’, says World Health Organization chief

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Head of the World Health Organization GENEVA, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is “horrific”, the head of the World Health Organization said.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Tigray, said many people were dying of hunger and that rape was spreading too.“The…

Covid-19: Tanzania president advised to accept vaccines

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan DA4R ES SALAAM, My 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A special committee formed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to evaluate and monitor COVID-19 pandemic has advised the government to procure COVID-19 vaccines.Apart from the use of WHO listed vaccines, the committee came up with 19 recommendations to tackle the further…

Workers strike in Mali paralyses economic activities

oThe strike is being widely observed BAMAKO, May 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The National Workers’ Union of Mali (UNTM) has begun a four-day strike after negotiations with the government over wages, bonuses and allowances failed.A UNTM official says “the strike is being widely observed and the country is literally paralysed”.The strike…

Covid-19: US winning war on coronavirus as cases, deaths decrease – White House

WASHINGTON, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is seeing signs of victory in the “war” against the novel coronavirus, with a significant decrease in cases and deaths in all 50 states, officials from the White House COVID-19 Response Team said. “For the first time since the pandemic began, COVID-19…

EU’s trade in goods returns to near pre-pandemic levels

BRUSSELS, May 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — The trade in goods between the European Union (EU) and the rest of the world saw a surge in March 2021, and the first quarter (Q1) showed signs of recovery to pre-pandemic levels, according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical service. A Eurostat release on Tuesday…