Belfast in turmoil as Brexit stokes tensions in Northern Ireland

BELFAST, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rioters waged a running battle with police in Belfast on Thursday night — tossing petrol bombs, setting fires and dodging jets from water cannon as a week of unrest showed no sign of letting up. Hundreds of boys and young men gathered from early evening…

China launches new satellite for space environment survey

TAIYUAN (China), April 9 (NNN-XINHUA) – China successfully sent an experiment satellite into planned orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province Friday. The satellite, the third of the Shiyan-6 series, was launched by a Long March-4B carrier rocket at 7:01 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will…

US blacklists Myanmar state-owned gems enterprise

Anti-coup protesters run from the military during a demonstration in Yangon WASHINGTON, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Myanmar state-owned gems enterprise in a bid to curtail the military junta’s ability to generate revenues, according to a statement. The move is the latest…

Covid-19: AstraZeneca woes grow as Australia, Philippines, African Union curb shots

LONDON, April 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australia and the Philippines limited use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, while the African Union dropped plans to buy the shot amid global shortages, dealing further blows to the company’s hopes to deliver a vaccine for the world. The vaccine – developed with Oxford…

Singapore, US to explore ways to revive air travel amid Covid-19, including vaccination certificates

SINGAPORE, April 9 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore and the United States will explore ways to revive international air travel safely amid COVID-19, including the use of vaccination certificates. Singapore’s Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung had an introductory virtual meeting with his US counterpart Pete Buttigieg on Thursday, during which they discussed several…

Covid-19: Indian firm refunds South Africa for undelivered AstraZeneca vaccine doses

South Africa’s Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize PRETORIA, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Serum Institute of India on Thursday refunded the South African government for vaccines Pretoria had ordered but which were undelivered.South African Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, said the Institute – which is the main supplier of the Oxford…

Deadly algae kill 4,200 tons of Chilean salmon

SANTIAGO, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 4,200 tons of salmon have fallen victim to killer algae in Chile, the South American country’s fisheries and aquaculture service said. It’s the latest mass mortality event recorded in the world’s second largest producer of salmon. It has been attributed to harmful algal…

US shooting: One dead, multiple victims wounded in Texas shooting

BRYAN (Texas, US), April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One person was dead and several in critical condition following a shooting at a business in Texas Thursday, just hours after US President Joe Biden called gun violence an “epidemic” and unveiled plans to tackle the crisis. The suspect was “in custody,” according…

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…