Security Council approves UN cease-fire monitoring component for Libya

Participants attend the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis, Nov 9, 2020 UNITED NATIONS, April 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to approve the UN secretary-general’s proposal on the composition and operational aspects of a cease-fire monitoring component of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).…

Raul Castro announces retirement as head of Communist Party of Cuba

Castro on Friday announced he is retiring as the head of the party HAVANA, April 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Raul Castro on Friday announced he is retiring as the head of the party. “As for me, my task…

US asks Brazil for ‘immediate’ action on Amazon

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro WASHINGTON, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States welcomed Brazil’s renewed promise to end illegal deforestation but urged immediate action to protect the Amazon, a major factor in global climate change. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime scourge of environmentalists, in a letter to President Joe…

Covid-19: Global death toll nears 3 million as India cases surge

PARIS, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The global coronavirus death toll was expected to reach three million on Saturday, as the race for immunisation continues and countries like India grapple with rising infections and new lockdowns. The virus that surfaced in late 2019 in central China and the ensuing pandemic has…

US, Japan show united front on China in Pres Biden’s first summit

WASHINGTON, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and Japan vowed to stand firm together against an assertive China and to step up cooperation on climate change and next-generation technology as President Joe Biden made his first summit a show of alliance unity. Waiting nearly three months for his first…

CIA planned to assassinate Raul Castro in 1960: declassified documents

WASHINGTON, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The CIA made its first known attempt to assassinate a leader of the Cuban revolution in 1960, offering $10,000 to a pilot flying Raul Castro from Prague to Havana to arrange an “accident,” according to declassified documents published Friday. Pilot Jose Raul Martinez, who had…

Covid-19: Canadian province of Ontario strengthens, prolongs lockdown

OTTAWA, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, has extended its lockdown and implemented stricter measures to fight Covid, closing domestic borders and barring unnecessary travel, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. The province of 14 million people registered 4,812 new cases — a record high — and 25…

Queen Elizabeth II bury her ‘strength and stay’ Prince Philip

WINDSOR (UK), April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Queen Elizabeth II bids a final farewell to her late husband, Prince Philip, on Saturday, at a funeral restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service. The ceremony from behind the stately walls of Windsor Castle, west of…

Covid-19: Greece lift one-week quarantine requirement for EU tourists; Iceland relaxes restrictions

On Thursday, the Greek health authority reported 3,089 new infections within 24 hours ATHENS, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greece plans to lift its one-week quarantine requirement For tourists from European Union countries from Monday.The prerequisite is that the tourists are either fully vaccinated or have a current, negative PCR test.…

Covid-19: All Cyprus government ministers vaccinated with AstraZeneca jab

So far, just under 21 per cent of the population in Cyprus has been vaccinated at least once NICOSIA, April 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — To allay people’s fears about possible side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, all ministers of the Cypriot government got publicly vaccinated with the controversial jab on Thursday.The…