Afghan chief executive supports delegation for Taliban talks

KABUL, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah welcomed Kabul’s decision on Sunday to send a delegation to meet with the Taliban, saying he hoped they would present a “unified position” for the Afghan people. In an ongoing push to find a way out of the country’s 17-year-old…

Malawi’s president launches re-election campaign

LILONGWE, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika launched his Democratic Progressive Party’s manifesto and election campaign on Sunday, ahead of next month’s elections where he will seek a second and final term in office. Mutharika, who has been in power since 2014, will face tough opposition, including from…

Gaza animals find new home following deaths at zoo

GAZA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five lions, five monkeys, four ostriches, three peacocks, two wolves and a hyena departed Gaza for Jordan on Sunday, after being rescued from a Gaza zoo where many animals died of starvation and lack of care. The animal welfare group Four Paws international carried out…

Independent march in Havana believed first for communist-run Cuba

HAVANA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of Cubans marched peacefully through Havana calling for an end to animal cruelty on Sunday in what organisers believe was the first independent march authorised by the one-party state. Accompanied by their pets, the activists carried placards calling for an animal protection law and…

Thousands rally in Brazil to protest Lula’s first year in prison

CURITIBA (Brazil), April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several thousand supporters of former Brazilian president Lula Inacio da Silva rallied on Sunday outside the prison where he has now been held for a year, as they demanded his release and chanted slogans against current leader Jair Bolsonaro. In a letter read by…

Russia blocks UN Libya statement singling out Haftar’s forces

UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia on Sunday blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have called on forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar to halt their advance on Tripoli, diplomats said. Moscow insisted that the formal statement urge all Libyan forces to stop fighting, but the…

Update: Kidnapped US tourist, safari guide freed in Uganda after ransom paid

Picture for illustration purpose only. Photo courtesy of Pixalbay/Freeimages KAMPALA, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US tourist and a safari guide kidnapped by gunmen in a Ugandan national park have been recovered safe and sound after a ransom was paid for their release, a safari firm said. The pair were…

Australia’s opposition Labour on track to win election: Polls

Australian Labor Party opposition leader Shorten. Photo courtesy of Wikepedia MELBOURNE, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Australia’s opposition Labour is the favourite to win a national election expected in May, two polls showed on Monday, but its lead has narrowed over the conservative coalition government which announced income tax cuts in…

‘Both sides’ must compromise in cross-party Brexit talks: British PM Theresa May

LONDON, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Theresa May has conceded that concluding a Brexit deal with the main opposition will need “compromise on both sides” as she faced criticism for being inflexible. The embattled leader opened negotiations this week with the Labour Party in a bid to end…

Maritime dispute: Singapore, Malaysia suspend overlapping port limit claims

SINGAPORE, April 8 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore and Malaysia have both suspended their overlapping port limit claims, as part of measures to ease tensions in a maritime dispute between the two neighbours. The mutual suspension took place at 12.01am on Monday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said. Malaysia and Singapore have…