Russia-Ukraine conflict: French, Russian defence ministers hold telephone talks

  PARIS, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The defence ministers of France and Russia on Wednesday held rare phone talks, their first such contact since October 2022, discussing the attack in Moscow claimed by Daesh and Russia’s war against Ukraine, Paris said. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that France had…

Peru president’s cabinet wins confidence vote amid Rolexgate scandal

President Boluarte, who holds low approval ratings, is being investigated for suspected illegal enrichment and failing to declare her luxury timepieces (JOSH EDELSON) LIMA, April 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru’s Congress on Wednesday granted a crucial vote of confidence to President Dina Boluarte‘s new cabinet, allowing it to proceed in office amid…

Slovaks elect president as rivals spar over Ukraine

 BRATISLAVA, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A pro-Western former top diplomat and a Ukraine-sceptic backed by the ruling populists will face off in a presidential election on Saturday that could possibly halt Slovakia’s shift towards Russia. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become a fixture of the electoral campaign in Slovakia, a…

Argentine to focus on eliminating mosquito to combat record dengue outbreak

BUENOS AIRES, April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Argentina’s government on Tuesday blamed a record outbreak of dengue fever on “lack of prevention last year,” and confirmed the country’s strategy will be to combat the disease-carrying mosquito instead of resorting to a vaccine. The Ministry of Health said in a statement it…

Venezuela expels over 10,000 illegal miners from nature reserves

CARACAS, April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Venezuelan authorities have expelled more than 10,000 illegal miners from nature reserves in the south of the country, the head of the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, Domingo Hernandez Larez, said on Tuesday. “More than 10,000 illegal miners have been evacuated…

Sudan crisis: 12 killed, 30 wounded in drone attack during iftar meal in northern state

KHARTOUM, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A drone attack killed 12 people and injured 30 on Tuesday in Atbara in northeast Sudan, a city that had until now been spared the country’s brutal warfare, a medic and witnesses said. Much of Sudan has been gripped for nearly a year by a…

Sudanese gov’t suspends operation of 3 major Arab news channels

Sudan’s Acting Information Minister Graham Abdel-Qadir  PORT SUDAN, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s government announced on Tuesday the suspension of Al Arabiya News channel, Al Hadath TV, and Sky News Arabia’s operations within the country, citing a lack of “professional standards and transparency” in their media coverage. Acting Information Minister…

Senegal’s new president names Ousmane Sonko as PM

DAKAR, April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Newly-elected Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has appointed Ousmane Sonko, leader of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party, as prime minister, an official of the presidency announced Tuesday. Sonko, 49, is the current mayor of Ziguinchor and the leader…

Czech Republic reports nearly 5,300 whooping cough cases this year; 2 elderly persons died

PRAGUE, April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Nearly 5,300 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported in the Czech Republic so far this year, according to data from the Czech State Health Institute (SZU). In its epidemiological situation report published on Tuesday, the SZU said 1,044 cases of whooping cough…

Portuguese new government sworn in

LISBON, April 3 (NNN-XINHUA) — Luis Montenegro, president of Portugal’s Social Democratic Party (PSD), officially took office as prime minister on Tuesday, following the legislative elections held on March 10. Seventeen ministers were also sworn in to form the 24th Constitutional government of Portugal at a ceremony held at the…