South Africa: Striking essential workers urged to return to work, failure subject to possible dismissal

PRETORIA, March 16 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Department of Health warned that any employee who fails to comply with  the court order interdicting the current strike action will be committing an act of misconduct which is subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal. This comes after the Labour Appeal Court…

Proudly South Africa gears up for Buy Local Summit

JOHANNESBURG, March 16 (NNN-SANEWS) — Proudly South African is gearing up to host the #BuyLocalSummit2023, which will take place on March 27-28 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The theme is ‘Growing the Economy and Creating Jobs through Localisation’. The Summit and Expo, which enters its 11th iteration this year, promises…

South Africa calls for appointment of first female UN Secretary General

MANAMA (Bahrain), March 16 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Parliamentary delegation to the Inter Parliamentary Union’s 146th Assembly in Bahrain has called for the appointment of the first-ever female Secretary General of the United Nations. If a female is elected, it would be the first time in the international body’s 75-year…

President explains SA priorities to new ambassadors

Prof Gamini Gunawardena of Sri Lanka presents his Letter of Credence to President Ramaphosa TSHWANE (South Africa), March 16 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has told new ambassadors from across the world that South Africa’s most immediate and pressing task is to stabilise the supply of electricity and to ensure…

Tropical Storm Freddy: Malawi hit by national tragedy – Pres Chakwera

Poorer areas in Malawi’s main city Blantyre have been hardest-hit by the storm  LILONGWE, March 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The devastation caused by a tropical storm that ripped through Malawi, killing 225 people is a “national tragedy”, the president has said. Lazarus Chakwera promised to intensify search and rescue operations, as…

Cyclone Yaku: Peru Government declares emergency in Lima’s landslide-affected southern districts

LIMA, March 16 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Council of Ministers approved declaring a state of emergency in several districts of southern Lima affected by landslides, Pres Dina Boluarte reported on Wednesday. She led a press conference following the Council of Ministers session held at the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) in Lima’s Chorrillos…

EU parliament urges tougher sanctions on Belarus

STRASBOURG (France), March  16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Parliament urged EU countries to impose new sanctions on Belarus over its crackdown on the opposition and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.        The 27-nation bloc has already hit Minsk with multiple rounds of sanctions over its domestic repression and role as a…

US Sec of State Blinken presses Ethiopia reconciliation, offers aid on post-war visit

ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Ethiopia to ensure accountability over the brutal Tigray conflict but voiced guarded optimism at preserving peace, on a trip that marked an easing of a wartime rift between the longtime allies. On the latest trip by a…

UK: Hundreds of thousands of workers strike in latest industrial action

LONDON, March 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Teachers, London Underground train drivers and civil servants joined striking doctors in a mass stoppage, just as Britain’s finance minister Jeremy Hunt unveiled his tax and spending plans. With hundreds of thousands of workers walking out on Wednesday, it was touted as the biggest single day…

UK unveils cost-of-living budget as mass strikes hit nation

LONDON, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s finance minister unveils a cost-of-living budget on Wednesday as the government seeks to keep a grip on public spending in the face of a fresh wave of strikes over pay. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivers his tax and spending plan to parliament,…