White House says US not discussing boycott of Beijing Olympics

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US is not discussing a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to alleged human rights abuses, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “Our position on the 2022 Olympics has not changed. We have not discussed and are not discussing any joint…

US pledges Iraq troop withdrawal but without timeline

WASHINGTON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States committed to move all remaining combat forces from Iraq, although the two sides did not set a timeline in what would be the second withdrawal since the 2003 invasion. The first “strategic dialogue” with Iraq under US President Joe Biden’s administration comes…

Covid-19: Poland extends partial lockdown as health care system pushed to limits

WARSAW, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Poland will extend its partial lockdown until April 18, as the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching the health care system to its limit, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The partial lockdown was set to expire on April 10 under the original plan.…

Covid-19: Chile puts off landmark elections over coronavirus concerns

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera SANTIAGO, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera announced that the landmark elections on this weekend for councillors, mayors and, for the first time ever, regional governors and members of a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution, will be postponed until May 15-16 due…

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…