Covid-19: Portugal extends emergency until end of April

LISBON, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portugal’s parliament extended a state of emergency for 15 days as health experts warned that a gradual relaxation of strict lockdown rules now underway could soon lead to a significant jump in coronavirus cases. The state of emergency grants the government powers to take emergency measures…

Botswana bans poultry imports from South Africa after avian flu outbreak

GABORONE, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana has banned the importation of poultry and poultry products from South Africa after an outbreak of avian influenza was detected on a chicken farm in South Africa, the agriculture ministry said. South Africa said on Tuesday that around 300 birds died of avian flu…

UN warns that impact of Caribbean volcano could affect other islands

UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The humanitarian and economic crisis unleashed by the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent will last months and could extend to nearby islands, a UN official warned. “It is a crisis that will require a humanitarian response but…

US shooting: Former Minnesota officer charged with second-degree manslaughter over shooting of black motorist

Kim Potter, a former Brooklyn Center, Minn., police officer who is charged with killing 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte Wright in a shooting BROOKLYN CENTER (Minnesota, US), April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A white former suburban Minneapolis police officer was charged on Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter for killing 20-year-old black motorist Daunte Wright in…

Germany, United States call on Russia to pull back troops from Ukrainian border

BERLIN, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Joe Biden called on Russia to pull back troops from the Ukrainian border to de-escalate the situation in the region, a German government spokesman said. The United States and NATO allies have been alarmed by the large buildup of Russian…

Pres Biden declares ‘It’s time to end the forever war’ as US withdrawal from Afghanistan to begin on May 1

Pres Joe Biden walks through Arlington National cemetery to honour fallen veterans of Afghan conflict in Arlington, Virginia WASHINGTON, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden announced it’s “time to end” America’s longest war with the unconditional withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, where they have spent two decades in a bloody,…

One dead, 12 missing after ship capsizes off southern US coast

HOUSTON, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One crew member was pronounced dead and 12 are missing after a vessel capsized in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Wednesday. In a press conference, Coast Guard Capt. Will Watson provided updates on the search and rescue following the…

Greece, Libya to discuss delimitation of maritime zones: PM

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (L) poses with visiting President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohammad Menfi at Greek Prime Minister’s Office in Athens ATHENS, April 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Greece and Libya’s new leadership agreed to discuss the delimitation of their maritime zones, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during…

UN: Deeply disturbing rise in civilian casualties in Afghanistan

The conflict across Afghanistan has left 573 civilians dead UNITED NATIONS, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In spite of ongoing peace talks between the warring sides in Afghanistan, the number of civilian casualties has significantly increased in the first quarter, a report by the UN’s Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) said.The…

Majority of Germans approve of Soeder seeking to replace Merkel

BERLIN, April 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A majority of German citizens approve of Bavarian premier Markus Soeder’s bid to lead the conservative CDU/CSU governing bloc into the federal election later this year.Both Armin Laschet from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Soeder from the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) are…