Covid-19: Australia plans to lift most virus restrictions by July

SYDNEY, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australia’s government on Friday unveiled a three-stage plan to get the economy back to a new “COVID-safe” normal by the end of July. Federal authorities have left details of the plan’s implementation up to the country’s diverse states and territories, meaning coronavirus restrictions will remain…

US Senate fails to override Trump veto on Iran war powers

WASHINGTON, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Senate failed to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a bipartisan measure that would have limited his power to attack Iran. Lawmakers voted 49-44 to support the resolution that passed Congress earlier this year, short of the two-thirds majority necessary to override the…

Covid-19: Russia overtakes Germany, France after record rise in cases

Grave diggers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry a coffin while burying a coronavirus disease victim on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg MOSCOW, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s coronavirus cases overtook French and German infections to become the fifth highest number in the world after a record daily rise. The…

Covid-19: Massive evacuation of Indians from 12 countries to begin

India will operate 64 flights over the next week NEW DELHI, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first of more than 60 flights repatriating thousands of Indians stranded overseas by the coronavirus lockdown is to arrive home on Thursday. Nearly 15,000 Indians are expected to return on special Air India flights from…

Kenya, Somalia and Rwanda hit by deadly flooding

People have been forced from their homes as rivers burst their banks  NAIROBI, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Flooding as a result of recent heavy rains has killed more than 260 people across East Africa. Kenya has been the hardest hit with the government recording 194 deaths. In Rwanda, 55 people…

VE Day: Berlin marks end of WW2 with unprecedented holiday

Friday is a one-off holiday that will only be marked in Berlin BERLIN, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Berliners have been given an unprecedented public holiday on Friday, to mark the end of World War Two but also liberation from Nazi rule. Not since reunification has a German city acknowledged May 8…

India gas leak: At least 11 dead after Visakhapatnam incident

 VISAKHAPATNAM (INDIA), May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) —At least 11 people have been killed by a massive gas leak at a chemical plant in southern India, with 800 others taken to hospital. The leak from the LG Polymers plant in the city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state came as people slept. Doctors say patients have…

Covid-19: Nigeria medics, WHO to probe rise in ‘strange deaths’

A spike in deaths was recently reported in Kano state ABUJA, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Nigeria are investigating a reported rise in deaths in the northern state of Jigawa. The state government has sent a five-person team to report back before the end of the week after…

Lesotho PM Thabane confirms resignation with no date

Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane MASERU, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thomas Thabane has reiterated his intention to retire by the end of July.This is in spite of the risk of prosecution for his alleged involvement in the murder of his wife from whom he…

Brazil to deploy army to fight Amazon deforestation, wildfires

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro authorized the army to fight Amazon wildfires and deforestation, amid warnings the world’s biggest rainforest is disappearing even faster than during record devastation last year. The far-right leader has faced criticism on the world stage for record-breaking wildfires in…