Human cases of bird flu ‘an enormous concern’: WHO

GENEVA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization voiced alarm Thursday at the growing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, who face an “extraordinarily high” mortality rate. “This remains I think an enormous concern,” the UN health agency’s chief scientist Jeremy Farrar told reporters in…

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni visits Tunisia to discuss migration

TUNIS, April 18 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was in Tunisia on Wednesday to reinforce cooperation between the two countries on migration. Meloni said several initiatives to support Tunisia’s economy were signed, especially focusing on energy and education sectors. “We want to work especially on regular flows, as…

Brazil: Dead men don’t sign IOUs

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — A Brazilian woman made the headlines Wednesday when she was arrested for bringing her uncle’s dead body on Tuesday to a bank in Rio de Janeiro to have him “sign” the pertinent documents to collect a R$ 17,000 (US$ 3,243) loan. Érika de…

Presidents of Brazil and Colombia to discuss bilateral agenda

BOGOTA, April 18 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will meet with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro to address issues on the bilateral agenda. Lula will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and also by a high-level delegation from his government, the Colombian…

Zambia requests international aid to alleviate drought

LUSAKA, April 18 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Zambian Government has requested international funds to alleviate the devastating drought that has hit the country lately. Authorities believe that some ten million people need humanitarian assistance urgently. President Hakainde Hichilema requested the international community for some 900 million dollars in aid in…

Brazil: 7 dead, 15 injured after bus crash while avoiding dogs crossing the road

BRASILIA, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — Seven people were killed and 15 others injured after a passenger bus crashed Wednesday morning in southeast Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, the local Military Highway Police said. The accident occurred on the MGC-120 regional highway between the municipalities of Sao Joao Evangelista and Sao Pedro…

Ecuador suspends 2 working days due to energy crisis

QUITO, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Ecuadorian government decreed the suspension of the working day on April 18 and 19 on a national scale in response to the energy crisis facing the South American country. The decision, which applies to the public and private sectors, was made by President Daniel…

Central African Republic: Many villagers killed, several wounded in latest raid on southern villages, says UN

UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — UN humanitarians said armed rebels raided a Central Africa Republic (CAR) village in southern Mbomou prefecture, killing 14 civilians, wounding several others, and setting homes on fire. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing local authorities, said that members of…

Croatia’s ruling party wins parliamentary elections

ZAGREB, April 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — The ruling center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), led by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, won most seats in the parliamentary elections on Wednesday, but failed to obtain enough seats to form a government independently. After over 90 percent of the votes have been counted, the…

Cuba and US hold migration talks

WASHINGTON, April 18 (NNN-ACN) — Representatives of Cuba and the United States of America held a round of migration talks in Washington D.C. which reviewed the meeting of bilateral accords in the field to guarantee a regular, safe and orderly migration flow between the two countries.The talks were presided over…