UN expert urges ‘global arms embargo’, sanctions on Myanmar

GENEVA, March 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council should impose a “global arms embargo” and targeted sanctions against Myanmar’s military, a top UN rights expert said, voicing alarm at the brutal repression of anti-coup protests. In a fresh report, Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights…

Covid-19: France tightens restrictions, steps up vaccine rollout

People wearing masks walk on the street in Paris PARIS, March 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — To contain the spread of new coronavirus variants in France, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced weekend lockdown in more areas, tougher rules against social mixing in high-risk regions and faster vaccination rollout. The northern department of…

Covid-19: Brazil’s daily death toll tops 1,600 for 3 consecutive days

Experts think Brazil’s second wave may be linked to a new variant of the coronavirus BRASILIA, March 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil on Thursday registered more than 1,600 COVID-19 deaths for the third day in a row, following a record daily count of 1,910 deaths on Wednesday. In the previous 24…

145 illegal migrants voluntarily deported from Libya: UN migration agency

A group of deportee illegal immigrants wait to board a plane during their deportation at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya TRIPOLI, March 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it has sent 145 illegal migrants voluntarily from Libya to their country Mali. “Amid COVID-19, stranded migrants…

Covid-19: More US states drop mask mandates amid increasing variant infections

WASHINGTON, March 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — More US states have announced plans to drop mask mandates amid still high baseline levels of new COVID-19 cases nationwide and increasing variant infections, drawing criticism from health experts. Governors of Texas and Mississippi announced on Tuesday that they would halt mask mandates and reopen…

US adds Myanmar ministries, commercial entities to blacklist

Anti-coup protesters take cover behind makeshift barricades in Mandalay WASHINGTON, March 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of Commerce on Thursday added Myanmar’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Home Affairs, and two commercial entities to its trade blacklist. The Commerce Department also announced more restrictive export control measures against Myanmar.…

Large ice congestion in Latvia river blown up to avert floods

Members of Latvian armed forces prepare to blow up a huge ice congestion in the River Gauja near the central Latvian municipality of Carnikava, Latvia RIGA, March 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Latvian armed forces blew up a huge ice congestion in one of the Baltic country’s largest rivers that had…

Curfew, market closure imposed in Nigerian town of abducted girls

Gunshots and chaos erupted during what should have been the joyous return of the 279 schoolgirls ABUJA, March 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in Nigeria’s Zamfara state have declared a curfew and shut market activities after violence marred the return of hundreds of kidnapped schoolgirls to their families, a state spokesman…

Ethiopia unrest: UN calls for investigation into possible war crimes in Tigray

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet GENEVA, March 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet called for an “objective and independent investigation” in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, after having “corroborated serious violations” likely to constitute “war crimes and crimes against…

Ghana: Supreme Court unanimously upholds 2020 election victory of Akufo-Addo

play videoFile photo of the Supreme Court sitting ACCRA, March 4 (NNN-GNA) — The Supreme Court of Ghana has upheld the re-election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president of Ghana. The decision means he was validly elected during the Dec 7, 2020, presidential elections.The verdict was read out Thursday by Chief…