Covid-19: Paraguay eyes harsher measures as Easter restrictions yield results below expectations

ASUNCION, April 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Paraguay’s Health Ministry admitted further restrictions are under consideration after a strict lockdown and other measures imposed during the Easter weekend failed to yield the desired results regarding a slowdown in the spread of the covid-19 disease. The Ministry released an epidemiological update and warned…

Chile’s judiciary imposes first ever jail sentence on politician found guilty of corruption

SANTIAGO, April 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Former conservative Senator Jaime Orpis has been bestowed with the dubious honour of becoming Chile’s first-ever politician to be handed down a jail sentence for his involvement in acts of corruption. Orpis, of the ultra-conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI) party, of the current government coalition…

US shooting: Minnesota police promise not to detain, pepper-spray journalists covering protests

Protesters chant ‘No justice, No peace’ in front of the Brooklyn Center Police Department, as protests continue after former police officer Kim Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Minnesota police promised not to detain, threaten or rough up journalists covering protests over…

US imposes visa restrictions over Ugandan election

WASHINGTON, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is imposing visa restrictions on Ugandan officials who it accuses of undermining democracy. The announcement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken follows the arrests of hundreds of opposition supporters in Uganda. “There are consequences for interfering in the democratic process,” he…

Covid-19: Germany to mourn 80,000 pandemic victims at memorial

BERLIN, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany will hold a national memorial service on Sunday for its 80,000 victims of the coronavirus pandemic, sharing the pain of grieving families and those who died alone because of Covid curbs. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will join an ecumenical service in…

Five Nigerian troops killed in insurgent attack

KANO (Nigeria), April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five Nigerian soldiers were killed, four injured and dozens missing when Daesh-aligned militants attacked a military base in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Friday dislodged troops from a base in Kamuya village, 35 kilometres from…

Colombia rebel clash leaves 15 dead

BOGOTA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 14 guerrillas and one soldier were killed Saturday in clashes in southwest Colombia between the army and dissidents from the FARC ex-rebel force, which disarmed after signing a 2016 peace deal. “In military operations, 14 people were neutralized” in the town of Algeria,…

Covid-19: Canada has second case of rare blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccine

OTTAWA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada reported a second case of rare blood clots with low platelets after immunisation with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in a week, while it said it still recommended the use of the shot. The person who experienced the very rare event has been treated and is…

US racism: US Sikh group demands probe of possible hate bias in deadly Indianapolis FedEx rampage

People embrace after learning that their loved one was safe after a mass casualty shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis WASHINGTON, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Half of the eight workers shot to death at an Indianapolis FedEx facility by a former employee before he killed himself belonged to the…

COVID-19: France to impose quarantine on arrivals from four countries

France will impose a 10-day quarantine on arrivals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and South Africa over concerns about variants of the coronavirus PARIS, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France will impose a 10-day quarantine on arrivals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and South Africa over concerns about variants of the coronavirus, the…