South Africa: Govt to implement 7.5% public sector wage increase through “significant trade-offs”

PRETORIA, April 3 (NNN-SANES) — South Africa’s National Treasury says it has noted the outcome of wage negotiations at the 2023 Public Sector Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). According to a statement, the majority of parties have agreed to a two-year agreement, which encompasses a 7.5% increase. This will result in…

Peru highlights strategic, comprehensive partnership with China

LIMA, April 3 (NNN-ANDINA) — On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between Peru and China, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted various aspects of it. The ministry stressed that the Asian country has been Peru’s first trading partner since 2014. Last year, the trade…

Peru, UK Defense Ministries sign Memorandum of Understanding

LIMA, April 3 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Peru and the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the scope of cooperation in the sphere of defense. The memorandum also has as purpose that cooperation will be…

Mexico: Prominent book fair president dead of apparent suicide

 GUADALAJARA (Mexico), April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The president and founder of the Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico, considered one of the world’s top literary events, was found dead Sunday of an apparent suicide. The body of Raul Padilla, 68, was found in his home in Guadalajara along with a…

DR Congo: Landslide in North Kivu kills 19; many still missing

 GOMA (DR Congo), April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A landslide killed at least 19 people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, residents and local officials in the region said. The disaster occurred in the late morning in the village of Bulwa, in North Kivu’s Masisi territory, according to…

Russia: Cafe bomb in St Petersburg kills military blogger

Vladlen Tatarsky  SAINT PETERSBURG (RUSSIA), April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An explosion in a St Petersburg cafe has killed prominent Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, Russia’s Interior Ministry has confirmed. At least 25 people were injured in the bomb blast at Street Food Bar No 1. Videos posted on social media…

Burkina Faso expels correspondents from French newspapers

Capt Ibrahim Traoré (C) took power last year PARIS, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Burkina Faso has expelled journalists from two leading French newspapers, in the latest move against France by Burkina Faso’s military junta. Sophie Douce of Le Monde and Agnès Faivre of Libération arrived in Paris after being given 24…

Ecuador declares emergency rule in major port to combat crime

QUITO, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador declared a state of emergency in the nation’s major port and other areas reeling from drug-related crime. The decree permits security forces to set up checkpoints and conduct warrantless searches of people and property. Speaking in a televised address to the nation, President Guillermo…

Mexico: Two die when hot-air balloon catches fire

MEXICO CITY, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people have died when a hot-air balloon flying over the famed Teotihuacan archeological site near Mexico City caught fire, the regional government said. “The passengers jumped from the balloon,” the government of the state of Mexico said in a statement, adding that a…

Mexico regains ancient statue known as ‘Earth monster’ from US

MEXICO CITY, April 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico has recovered from the United States a giant stone statue known as an “Earth monster” that dates to the Olmec civilization before the Christian era, authorities said. The elaborately carved statue weighs more than a ton and is nearly 1.8 meters tall and…