US shootings: Pres Biden tackles ‘ghost guns’ and firearms violence

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden will unveil measures on Thursday aimed at curbing rampant US gun violence, especially seeking to prevent the spread of untraceable “ghost guns,” White House officials said. Biden has come under pressure from his Democratic party to tackle the bloodshed, most recently highlighted…

Covid-19: Brazil tops 340,000 total deaths

BRASILIA, April 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazil reported on Wednesday 3,829 COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing its total to 340,776, said the Ministry of Health. The ministry said that there were also 92,625 new COVID-19 infections in the same period of time, for an accumulated total of 13,193,205.…

US Pres Biden resumes Palestinian aid, urges two-state solution

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden restored aid to the Palestinians to a tune of $235 million, drawing a rebuke by ally Israel, as he promised to press for a two-state solution. In his sharpest break on the conflict yet from the staunchly pro-Israel Donald Trump, Biden…

Covid-19: Argentina announces curfew as coronavirus cases rise

BUENOS AIRES, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez announced a three-week nighttime curfew after a second consecutive day of record coronavirus infections. The curfew will enter into force on Friday and apply from midnight to 06:00 am every day until April 30, he said in a message recorded…

Ethiopia to go on filling Nile mega-dam despite impasse: Minister

The Nile Dam Project ADDIS ABABA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia said it would not be deterred from impounding water at its Nile mega-dam, despite a persistent impasse with downstream countries worried about their water supply.The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been a source of tension in the Nile River…

Protests erupt in Benin as Pres Talon seeks reelection

Protests broke out in Benin in another day of tensions COTONOU, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Protests broke out in Benin as opposition demonstrators burned property of pro-government deputies and blockaded roads, days before President Patrice Talon faces an election.Tensions have erupted in several towns around the West African country since…

ICC-acquitted ex-president Gbagbo ‘free to return’ to Ivory Coast, says President Ouattara

Gbagbo was Ivory Coast’s president from 2000 to 2010 ABIDJAN, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara said his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo and his youth leader Charles Ble Goude are “free to return to Ivory Coast when they want” after they were definitively acquitted of crimes against humanity.Ouattara’s…

Mozambique: Militant fighters ‘driven out’ of Palma, says Pres Nyusi

Two women walking around tent structures in a temporary settlement center in Palma MAPUTO, April 8 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi said that jihadists have been “chased” out of the city of Palma, two weeks after armed groups launched a bloody attack on the northern port city.“The terrorists have…

Dutch cargo ship transporting smaller vessels adrift off Norway, crew airlifted

A search and rescue team hoists a crew member from Dutch cargo ship Eemslift Hendrika during an evacuation in stormy weather OSLO, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Dutch cargo ship was adrift in the Norwegian Sea after all of its crew members were airlifted, with some having to jump into…

Talks to save Iran nuclear deal get off to good start

VIENNA, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran, Russia and the United States reacted positively Tuesday to the opening exchanges in a first day of talks in Vienna aimed at rescuing an international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme. US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of…