Covid-19: Brazil sees record-high ICU occupancy

BRASILIA, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Occupancy levels at Brazil’s intensive care units (ICU) have surpassed 90 percent in 21 of the country’s 26 regional capitals, the highest rates since the country’s first COVID-19 case was announced. Regional daily “Folha de Sao Paulo” said that ICUs in four state capitals, namely…

Covid-19: Italy reports over 17,000 new cases, 487 deaths

ROME, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Italy on Thursday reported 17,221 new coronavirus cases, bringing the number of active infections to 544,330, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health. Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported that another 487 COVID-19 patients have died from the virus, taking…

Covid-19: Over 10 mln vaccinated in France

PARIS, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 10 million people have received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose in France, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced, pledging to quickly expand the vaccination rollout. “We are a week ahead of the target I had set. It’s a very good performance. France vaccinates a…

EU condemns violence in Northern Ireland

Police vehicles are seen behind a bus burning on the Shankill Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland BRUSSELS, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The European Commission strongly condemned the violence in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the acts of violence that have…

At least 9 dead in southern Peru bus crash

LIMA, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured in Peru after an inter-provincial bus skidded off the road in the southern region of Ayacucho, local media reported. The bus, which was heading to the southern city of Cusco from Lima, skidded and overturned…

Arab League to help Lebanon overcome obstacles facing cabinet formation

BEIRUT, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Arab League (AL) Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said that the AL will help with negotiations among Lebanese political parties to end the governmental deadlock, a statement by Lebanon’s Presidency reported. “I have expressed the readiness of the Arab League to assist in negotiations among…

Covid-19: Pakistani PM urges D-8 members to push back against vaccine nationalism

Prime Minister Imran Khan ISLAMABAD, April 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that members of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation should push back against vaccine nationalism and undue export restrictions to let COVID-19 vaccine reach equally to all countries of the world. Addressing the 10th D-8…

UN calls for countries to sign ban on anti-personnel mines

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants all the world’s countries to sign a treaty banning anti-mines UNITED NATIONS, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on countries that have not done so to sign an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines.The accord, which went into effect in 1999, bans…

West Africa faces worsening food crisis – Experts

Nearly 20 million people face a food crisis in West Africa ABUJA, April 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Nearly 20 million people face a food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel region as the vast area is torn by conflicts and the coronavirus pandemic, experts warned.The situation could worsen between June…

Remains of a dozen expats killed in Mozambique hotel attack found

MAPUTO, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Mozambique government has called for international support after the most serious terror attack since the start of the Daesh insurgency four years ago.The remains of a dozen expats were discovered outside the Amarula Hotel in Mozambique as they attempted to flee militants who surrounded…