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…

Covid-10: Kenya president forms task force after court orders China flight ban

A Kenya Airways staffer suspended for recording the arrival of a China Southern Airline plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday night. NAIROBI, March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Kenyan court on Friday issued an order banning flights to and from China over the Covid-19 virus. The court also…

Libya loses $2bn over oil production shutdown, export blockade

TRIPOLI, March 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s revenues are bleeding from a protracted blockade on oil exports. The National Oil Corporation said losses from the shutdown of major oil fields and terminals had surpassed $2bn on Tuesday. Oil production became the latest victim of a bitter conflict between two rival governments,…

Slovak PM concedes defeat in parliamentary election

 Igor Matovic claims victory after his exit polls showed his OLaNO party won 25.8% of the vote in Slovakia’s general election BRATISLAVA, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Slovak voters handed a resounding victory to the centre-right, anti-graft OLaNO opposition party in Saturday’s general election, dominated by an angry backlash over the…

2 dead, 16 missing in shipwreck in northern Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two people were killed and at least 16 others remained missing on Saturday after a shipwreck in northern Brazil. According to local authorities, some 60 to 70 people were traveling in the ship, which was sailing on the Amazon River from Amapa state…

President orders evacuation of South Africans from China

President Cyril Ramaphosa says they are sending a plane to fly home over 130 citizens from Wuhan PRETORIA, March 1 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the repatriation of South African citizens from Wuhan city in Hubei province, China. Cabinet decided on this course of action after due consideration…

Venezuela revamps PDVSA leadership after Pres Maduro launches restructuring

State oil firm PDVSA’s emblem is seen at a fuel station in Caracas CARACAS, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela has named new vice presidents for four units of state oil company PDVSA, as well as a new president for the unit that handles joint ventures with private oil companies, PDVSA…

Pope resumes individual official audiences, cancels group meetings

Pope Francis takes part in the penitential procession on Ash Wednesday in Rome, Italy VATICAN CITY, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pope Francis, who has been suffering from what the Vatican says is a “slight indisposition,” resumed official audiences with individuals in his residence on Saturday but three with groups were…

Thousands in Montenegro march against religion law

Believers gather in front of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica before a protest march against a new law on religious freedom and legal rights of religious organizations PODGORICA, March 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people, led by Serbian Orthodox Church clerics, marched peacefully through the Montenegrin…