Covid-19: Dutch ‘end lockdown’ as measures eased

THE HAGUE, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Netherlands will reopen indoor restaurants, museums and cinemas in a major easing of coronavirus restrictions that Prime Minister Mark Rutte said marked the “end of the lockdown”. The relaxation of the strictest Dutch Covid measures since the pandemic began will take place on…

Covid-19: Eastern Europe has been hardest hit by covid – tally

PARIS, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The seven countries with the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in proportion to their overall population are in central and eastern Europe. With 307 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Hungary is the worst hit, followed by the Czech Republic with 281 deaths per 100,000, Bosnia-Herzegovina with…

Covid-19: US says it is considering vaccine passport

WASHINGTON, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it is seriously considering creating a vaccine passport for Americans traveling abroad. “We’re taking a very close look at that,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said of the idea of special documentation for vaccinated Americans who want to travel overseas, as…

Remains of 215 children found at closed Canada indigenous boarding school

OTTAWA, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The remains of 215 children have been discovered on the grounds of a former boarding school set up more than a century ago to assimilate Canada’s indigenous peoples, according to a local tribe. A specialist used ground-penetrating radar to confirm the remains of the students…

Covid-19: Ireland to reopen pubs and planes in coming weeks

DUBLIN, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ireland will lift restrictions on pubs, restaurants and international travel throughout June and July, the government said as it detailed plans to end the Republic’s last major pandemic curbs. “Our direction of travel is clear and is very positive,” prime minister Micheal Martin said in…

Boko Haram attacks Niger city of Diffa: officials

NIAMEY, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fierce fighting erupted between army troops and Boko Haram jihadists in Diffa, southeastern Niger, local authorities said, without providing details on casualties. Boko Haram elements attacked Diffa, which is close to the border with Nigeria, from the south around 3:00-4:00 pm, a senior local official…

Covid-19: Origins search ‘being poisoned by politics’ says WHO

GENEVA, May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization warned that efforts to uncover the Covid-19 pandemic’s origins were being hampered by politics, insisting scientists needed space to work on solving the mystery. “We would ask that we separate the science from the politics, and let us get on with…

Libya, Italy, Malta, EU discuss cooperation against illegal immigration

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi TRIPOLI, May 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush on Friday met with his Italian and Maltese counterparts and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement to discuss the cooperation against the illegal immigration. “Libya has been suffering from the illegal…

UN Security Council welcomes Somali agreement on elections; renews sanction against South Sudan

UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council welcomed Thursday’s agreement reached by the Somali federal government and federal member states leaders on elections, which may steer the country out of the political crisis. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council commended Somalia’s leaders for putting…

Presidents Putin, Lukashenko discuss Ryanair incident in Sochi

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi SOCHI (Russia), May 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi where the leaders discussed the aftermath of the Ryanair incident, the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin agreed with…