Brazil reports record number of killings by police in Rio state

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state killed a record number of people in the first quarter of the year, an average of five per day, officials said. However, the overall number of homicides in the state popular with tourists dropped sharply. The…

Portugal PM threatens to resign if parliament passes teachers pay hike

LISBON, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa threatened to resign on Friday after his leftist allies abandoned the government in a parliamentary vote that could undermine efforts to balance the budget by raising teachers’ salaries retroactively. Late on Thursday, a broad alliance of lawmakers sitting on a…

Former Argentine army chief on trial for torture

BUENOS AIRES, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Argentine army chief went on trial Friday for the kidnapping and torture of a father and son during the South American country’s military dictatorship. Cesar Milani, commander in chief of the army between 2013 and 2015 during the presidency of Cristina Kirchner,…

Trump, Putin discuss possible new nuclear accord: White House

WASHINGTON, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for more than an hour on Friday, discussing the possibility of a new nuclear accord, North Korean denuclearization, Ukraine and the political situation in Venezuela, the White House said. “Had a long and very good conversation…

Boeing 737 skids into Florida river with 136 on board, no fatalities

JACKSONVILLE (Florida, US), May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Boeing 737 commercial jet with 136 people on board slid into the St John’s River near Jacksonville, Florida after landing on Friday, a spokesman for Naval Air Station Jacksonville said. The mayor of Jacksonville said on Twitter that everyone on board the flight…

Pres Buhari’s relative kidnapped in Nigeria

ABUJA, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police say gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler in Daura who is distantly related to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.Musa Umar was seized on Wednesday evening from in front of his house by abductors who fired shots into the air, Katsina state Police Spokesman Gambo Isa…

Gambia signs oil exploration deal with BP for A1 block

BANJUL, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gambia’s government said it had signed a contract with BP to explore oil and gas off its coast. Minister of Petroleum and Energy Fafa Sanyang said BP would first carry out an environmental impact assessment at the A1 offshore block. “After all that they will work…

Venezuela crisis: Spain vows to protect opposition figure at embassy

Leopoldo López MADRID/CARACAS, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain has said it will not allow Venezuelan authorities to enter its embassy in Caracas and arrest a leading opposition figure, Leopoldo López.López sought refuge there on Tuesday after appearing with opposition leader Juan Guaidó to call for a rebellion to oust President…

Six killed by rebels in eastern DR Congo, many feared abducted

KINSHASA, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed rebels have attacked a village in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo killing six people, and there are fears that dozens of others were abducted.A DR Congo military spokesman blamed Wednesday’s attack in Ituri Province’s Tshabi village on the Allied Democratic Front…

Sudan army rejects civilian majority in ruling council

KHARTOUM, May 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A top official in Sudan’s military council said it will not allow civilians a majority on the supreme council set to rule the country during a transitional period.Lt Gen Salah Abdelkhalek said that the most they would accept would be an equal split with civilians.Protesters…