Indonesia Re-Imposes Visa-Free For ASEAN Nationals

JAKARTA, Apr 6 (NNN-ANTARA) – The Indonesian government has re-imposed a visa-free visit policy, for citizens of fellow ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights said yesterday. “With this new policy, foreigners from nine other ASEAN countries are able to enter…

France Reports Over 200,000 COVID-19 Cases As Presidential Elections Approach

PARIS, Apr 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – France reported yesterday, 203,021 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, as the country prepares for the presidential elections on Sunday. According to the French public health agency, 23,010 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised, with 1,552 in intensive care. The agency also reported 140…

U.S. Fed Official Says Getting Inflation Down Is “Of Paramount Importance”

WASHINGTON, Apr 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – U.S. Federal Reserve Governor, Lael Brainard, said, it is “of paramount importance” to get inflation down, noting that the central bank is “prepared to take stronger action,” if inflation indicators show such action is warranted. “Currently, inflation is much too high and is subject to…

Trade Sanctions Against Russia Drives Up Canadian Export Values: Statistics

OTTAWA, Apr 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The various trade sanctions against Russia, indirectly drove up Canadian export values, with higher demand and substantial price increases, Statistics Canada said yesterday, publishing trade data in Feb, with crude oil contributing the most to the export growth. According to Statistics Canada data, total trade…

Ukraine’s National Guard Retakes Control Of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

KIEV, Apr 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The National Guard of Ukraine said yesterday, its divisions have arrived at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) site, and taken control of the facility’s security. “The major task of the national guardsmen on the Chernobyl NPP site is ensuring security and defence of its…

EU Expels “A Number Of” Russian Diplomats

BRUSSELS, Apr 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The European Union (EU) has declared a number of Russian diplomats working in Brussels “persona non grata,” and ordered them to leave the host nation, Belgium, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said yesterday. “Today (yesterday), I decided to designate persona non grata to…

Putin-Zelensky Meeting Possible Only After Treaty Ready: Kremlin

MOSCOW, Apr 6 (NNN-TASS) – A meeting between Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky is possible, only after a peace treaty is ready, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said yesterday. “Nothing has changed for us. We do not reject the possibility of such a meeting for our president,”…

Brazil Host In-Person Latin America Travel Trade Fair

SAO PAULO, Apr 6 (NNN-CMA) – Brazil is set to host the world’s leading business to business (B2B) travel fair, the World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America 2022, until Apr 7 (tomorrow), in the city of Sao Paulo, organisers said Monday. WTM Latin America, which was last held in person…

Saudi Arabia Uses Mobile App To Facilitate Pilgrimage During Ramadan

RIYADH, Apr 6 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia will use a mobile application, to facilitate visitors’ pilgrimage to Mecca, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said yesterday. Travellers observing Umrah, a form of minor pilgrimage to Mecca, can book their Umrah ritual via the…

News Analysis: Gulf States’ Help Likely Averts Egypt’s Emerging Economic Crisis

by Marwa Yahya CAIRO, Apr 6 (NNN-XINHUA) – Gulf Arab states pledged up to 22 billion U.S. dollars, to help Egypt make a balance in global foreign exchange markets, and compensate foreign investments fleeing from the Egyptian treasury markets, on the heels of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. “This is a difficult…