UK: Rwanda deportation flights to take off ‘come what may’ – PM Sunak

LONDON, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday promised to begin deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda in coming months as part of a plan to deter arrivals that has sparked controversy. “We are ready, plans are in place and these flights will go, come what may,”…

South Africa elections: IEC to begin printing election ballot papers

PRETORIA, April 22 (NNN-SANEWS0 — South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) has welcomed the Electoral Court ruling dismissing cases lodged by five political parties against the commission.  The five political parties – Operation Dudula, Arise South Africa, Cape Independence Party, Defenders of the People, and Independent South Africa National Civic Organisation…

Ethiopia land violence leaves thousands homeless: UN

ADDIS ABABA, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighting over disputed land along borders of Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions has displaced close to 29,000 people, the United Nations says. Fighting began last week between forces from the two regions in Raya Alamata district, which is claimed by both. Officials in Amhara…

About 15 million Sudanese in need of urgent health assistance

Patients in ward, medical facility in operation in Sudan KHARTOUM, April 22 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The ongoing war is Sudan has crippled the country’s health system. Seven-year-old Mohammed is homeless. He began showing symptoms of an enlarged spleen and severe anaemia at the age of two. The hospital in Khartoum where…

Portugal poised to celebrate 50 years of democracy

  LISBON, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portugal on Thursday marks 50 years since the Carnation Revolution, a military coup that ended its colonial wars in Africa and ushered in a democracy that has recently had a brush with the far right. On April 25, 1974, the oldest authoritarian regime in…

Italy: Rome celebrates 2,777th birthday with parade, events

People participate in the gladiator tournament at Circus Maximus in Rome ROME, April 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Italy’s capital celebrated the city’s 2,777th birthday Sunday, the annual retrospective of the city’s long history that in recent years has grown increasingly popular with tourists. On Sunday, the city erupted with concerts, exhibits,…

UN says heavy rains to affect about 770,000 people in Somalia

The Gu rains from April to June have started in most regions of the country MOGADISHU, April 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — The upcoming heavier normal Gu rains and floods in 22 districts of Somalia are expected to affect some 770,000 people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)…

UN chief welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan border agreement

UNITED NATIONS, April 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement on the delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said his spokesman. The secretary-general has been closely following the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and he welcomes Friday’s agreement between the respective State Commissions…

North Macedonia chooses president in election warm-up

  SKOPJE, April 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Macedonia on Wednesday holds the first round of a presidential election seen as a key test for political parties squabbling over the country’s stalled EU membership talks. The elections in the Balkan state, which changed its name in 2018 from Macedonia to settle…

Africa is at a turning point, but economic reforms must be sustained — IMF

WASHINGTON, April 22 (NNN-GNA) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Africa is at a turning point, having experienced a multiple of shocks that led to many economies into crisis in the past four years.“The region is at a turning point. With the right policy choices today, I am confident…