Covid-19: Police clash with French islanders fearing virus among tourists

SAINT-DENIS DE LA REUNION (Reunion Island), March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police used tear gas on protesting residents of France’s Indian Ocean territory Reunion Island on Sunday who tried to block passengers of a cruise ship turned away from nearby Madagascar for fear there may be people infected with the coronavirus on board. The…

US ramps up preparations for coronavirus as conferences, flights cancelled

Stock markets plunged last week, with an index of global stocks setting its largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis, and more than $5 trillion wiped off the value of stocks worldwide. WASHINGTON, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States will start screening travellers for coronavirus and ramp up…

DR Congo leader to appoint Israel envoy, vows closer ties

Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi WASHINGTON, March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo said he would appoint an ambassador to Israel after a two-decade gap, inviting the Jewish state to build a close relationship.Addressing on Sunday the influential pro-Israel US lobby AIPAC, President Felix…

Argentine president asks for “orderly” resolution of debt crisis

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva (centre) said she discussed plans “to secure a sustainable and orderly resolution” to Argentina’s debt situation on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Saudi Arabia. BUENOS AIRES, March 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentine President Alberto Fernandez called for an “orderly” resolution of the country’s debt…

Dominican Republic confirms 1st case of COVID-19

SANTO DOMINGO, March 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Dominican Republic has registered its first case of the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19, Public Health Minister Rafael Sanchez Cardenas said. The official said that the confirmation of the case and the isolation of the patient had been based on epidemiological and laboratory…

Russia pledges continued efforts to fight against terrorists in Syria

Debris are seen in the Maarat al-Numan city, Idlib Province, Syria MOSCOW, March 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — The fight against terrorists in Syria will continue, Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya-1 television channel, TASS news agency reported on Sunday. Peskov noted that Russian military facilities in Syria…

Britain to drive “hard bargain” with US in post-Brexit trade talks: PM Johnson

Boris Johnson and Donald Trump met at August 2019 G7 summit in France LONDON, March 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Britain and the United States are set to begin transatlantic trade talks, the Department for International Trade (DIT) announced Monday. The British government published its negotiating objectives for the post-Brexit free trade…

Greece decides to guard borders to maximum level after preventing over 10,000 migrants

A boat full of refugees from Turkey approaches the port of Thermi, on the island of Lesvos, Greece, on March 1 MYTILENE (Greece), March 2 (NNN-Xinhua) — Greece decided to increase the level of deterrence at its borders to the maximum, as the country is facing a forthcoming increased refugee…

Italy prepares deficit hike to help economy cope with coronavirus

Minister of Finance Roberto Gualtieri  ROME, March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy will introduce this week measures worth 3.6 billion euros to help the economy withstand the largest outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said. In a Sunday interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Gualtieri said this amounted to…

Sudan fires scores of diplomats allegedly linked to ousted Bashir

KHARTOUM, March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan has fired scores of diplomats for alleged links to the administration of toppled President Omar al-Bashir, a legal committee said. The Empowerment Removal Committee was formed under a law introduced in November to dismantle the system built by Bashir, who was ousted in April…