Amid COVID-19 pandemic, EU warns about outbreaks of bird flu

BRUSSELS, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — : European Union nations should step up surveillance against possible outbreaks of avian flu among wild and domestic birds, the EU said. The disease is highly contagious for birds, but risks of transmission to humans are considered low, EU health and food agencies said in…

As COVID-19 resurges, PM Johnson pleads with UK: Obey the rules

LONDON, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government defused a rebellion on Wednesday over its sweeping powers to introduce coronavirus restrictions, promising angry lawmakers more say over the introduction over any new national measures. Just hours after lower house Speaker Lindsay Hoyle accused the government of a “total…

US wildfires: Northern California death toll rises to 4 as crews scramble to beat winds

CALISTOGA (California, US), Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a wildfire raging in northern California’s Cascade foothills climbed to four on Wednesday as firefighters battling that blaze and another wreaking havoc in wine country near San Francisco braced to confront a new bout of high winds. Diminished winds…

US shooting: Court approves $800 mn settlement in Las Vegas mass shooting

LOS ANGELES, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US court approved an $800 million settlement for victims of America’s worst mass shooting — a rampage that left 58 dead and more than 800 wounded in Las Vegas. In the October 2017 massacre, a man named Stephen Paddock opened fire with high-powered…

Covid-19: Canada extends ban on international travelers as cases surge

OTTAWA, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada extended a ban on non-essential international entries until the end of October as the country was gripped by a surge in coronavirus cases. The extension comes amid a second wave of infections caused in part by the return to school or work of millions…

Covid-19: Spain govt inks deal for partial lockdown across capital

MADRID, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Spanish government said it had reached an agreement to impose a partial lockdown on the entire city of Madrid where coronavirus cases are spreading like wildfire. “This agreement has been approved by a broad majority,” said Health Minister Salvador Illa after consultations with Spain’s…

EU keeps up pressure on Venezuela to delay election

BRUSSELS, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union again urged Venezuela to delay a Dec 6 parliamentary poll, saying that “conditions now in place do not allow for fair, democratic, competitive elections”. Staffers from Brussels’ European External Action Service (EEAS) spent five days last week meeting figures from the government…

Covid-19: American Airlines says to start furloughing 19,000 workers

NEW YORK, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — American Airlines will begin furloughing 19,000 workers from Thursday, the company announced, as US officials have failed to reach a deal on fresh aid to the pandemic-hit air travel sector. US carriers that received billions in aid from Congress had promised to refrain from…

Spain seizes 30 tonnes of hashish hidden in sailing boats; 9 arrested

hashish seized from sailing boats MADRID, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spanish authorities have seized about 30 tonnes of hashish hidden in four sailing boats, in their biggest drug bust at sea, local authorities said on Wednesday. Spanish authorities have seized about 30 tonnes of hashish hidden in four sailing boats,…

Nigeria lifts Emirates airlines ban

Emirates was banned from operating in the country after the United Arab Emirates stopped issuing visa to Nigerians ABUJA, Oct 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria has lifted the ban it placed on the world’s biggest long-haul carrier operating flights into the country. Emirates was banned from operating in the country after the United…