Pentagon eyes F-35 sales to Greece, Romania and Poland: US officia

WASHINGTON, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is considering expanding sales of Lockheed Martin Corp-made F-35 fighter jets to five new nations including Romania, Greece and Poland as European allies bulk up their defences in the face of a strengthening Russia, a Pentagon official told Congress on Thursday. In…

UN head ‘shocked’ by suffering at migrant camp in Libya

TRIPOLI, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked” by the level of suffering of migrants at a detention centre in Tripoli which he visited during a Thursday visit to the Libyan capital. “I was very moved and shocked by the level of suffering and…

Argentine unions protest Macri’s austerity policies

BUENOS AIRES, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of demonstrators marched through the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Thursday to protest President Mauricio Macri’s austerity measures, turning up the heat on his government six months ahead of general elections. The protests come in a climate of social unrest in recession-hit Argentina,…

Turkish F-35 delivered to training base in Arizona, official says

WASHINGTON, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jet for Turkey arrived on Wednesday at a military training facility in Arizona, an Air Force official said, amid a dispute over Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defence system. Earlier this week, the United States halted delivery of…

Air conditioning system caused Brazil museum fire: Police

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The fire that devastated Brazil’s National Museum in September was caused by the air conditioning system and spread quickly because the building lacked the equipment to contain it, federal police said. Ricardo Saadi, chief of the federal police, made the announcement at a news…

Australia open to return of Daesh fighter’s orphaned children

CANBERRA, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was open to allowing the return of orphaned children of an Australian extremist in a Syrian refugee camp following their desperate plea for help. Morrison said his government was working with the Red Cross so the children could leave the…

Britain: PM Theresa May scrambles to avoid chaotic Brexit finale

LONDON, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s government redoubled its efforts on Thursday to win over the main opposition party in a last-gasp bid to avoid a chaotic exit from the European Union next week. The latest round of cross-party talks came after lawmakers tried to safeguard against a doomsday ending to…

Nearly 13 tonnes of pangolin scales worth S$52 million seized in Singapore

SINGAPORE, April 5 (NNN-CNA) — An illegal shipment carrying nearly 13 tonnes of pangolin scales, worth S$52.3 million, was intercepted and seized by Singapore authorities on Wednesday. It was the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally in five years, said the Singapore Customs and National Parks Board (NParks). Around 17,000…

EU condemns stripping of immunity from Venezuela’s Guaido

BRUSSELS, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU on Thursday condemned a decision to strip Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido of immunity from prosecution, calling it a “serious violation” of the constitution that undermined the chances of a peaceful solution to the country’s crisis. “The EU rejects the decision taken by…

Yemen’s Houthis deny U.N. access to Hodeidah mills for ‘safety reasons’: sources

ADEN, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Houthi rebels denied the United Nations access to a grain storage site in the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter said, hindering efforts to increase food aid to millions facing severe hunger. Hodeidah is the entry point for most of…