US: 25 dead as tornadoes tear though Tennessee

WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tornadoes ripped through Tennessee early Tuesday, leaving at least 25 people dead, destroying buildings and toppling power lines. The twisters touched down shortly after midnight. Residents ran for their lives as their homes came down around them. Tens of thousands lost power to their homes,…

US Pres Trump, Taliban political chief speak as Afghan violence rises after partial truce collapses

US President , Donald Trump. WASHINGTON/KABUL, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump made the surprise announcement that he’d had a “very good” talk with the Taliban political chief on the Afghan peace process, despite an eruption of violence marring a brief calm in the country. The insurgents were…

EU leaders visit Greece as migrant stand-off with Turkey continues

Migrants in Greek custody at the border with Turkey on Tuesday ATHENS, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Top European officials are visiting Greece’s border with Turkey to assess the new crisis over refugees and migrants trying to enter the EU. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council chief Charles…

Somalia to re-establish financial relations with World Bank

Shillings and dollars. MOGADISHU, March 4 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors has moved toward normalizing its relations with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) after thirty years.This will open up opportunities for Somalia to access concessional financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA)…

Morocco confirms first case of Covid-19

RABAT, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco’s health ministry has confirmed the country’s first coronavirus case. The patient is a Moroccan man living in Italy, and he is receiving treatment at a hospital in Casablanca. His health condition is not critical, the ministry said in a statement. The case was confirmed…

South Africa slips into second recession in two years: Statistics Bureau

PRETORIA, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa slipped into recession in the final three months of 2019, the country’s statistics bureau said, the second contraction to hit the economy in as many years. It is the third recession the continent’s most industrialised economy has suffered since the end of apartheid…

Last Ebola patient in DR Congo leaves treatment centre

KINSHASA, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been discharged from a treatment centre in the eastern city of Beni, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. More than 2,300 people have been killed since the outbreak began in DR…

Covid-19: Tanzania’s president prefers foot greeting

President John Magufuli (R) exchanging a foot greeting with opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif DAR ES SALAAM, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s State House has shared a picture of President John Magufuli exchanging a foot greeting with opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, observing new measures by the health ministry…

IMF, World Bank: April meetings to be held in ‘virtual format’ due to Covid-19 threat

WASHINGTON, March 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The spring gathering of finance ministers and central bankers held in Washington in April will be shifted to a “virtual format” due to the coronavirus epidemic, the IMF and World Bank said. The twice-yearly meetings of the development lending institutions attract thousands of officials and…

Venezuelan Vice President highlights progress in national talks

CARACAS, March 4 (NNN-TELESUR) — Venezuela’s Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, highlighted the progress made by the National Dialogue Table, in view of the parliamentary elections scheduled for this year in the country. Through a message posted on the social network Twitter, Rodriguez said that the talks promoted by President Nicolas…