Italian PM’s coalition wins regional elections

ROME, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition on Monday secured victory in regional elections, cementing her position almost four months after taking office. In the northern region of Lombardy, Italy’s economic powerhouse that includes Milan, Attilio Fontana was easily re-elected president with the coalition’s support.…

Mexico hails ‘heroic’ rescue dog that died in Turkiye

MEXICO CITY, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico paid tribute to a military rescue dog that died while searching for survivors buried under the rubble of the earthquake in Turkiye. Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval announced the death of the German shepherd called Proteo at President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s daily…

US criticizes China’s laser lights use against Philippines Coast Guard ship

    WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States criticized China’s reported use of military-grade laser light against a Philippine coast guard vessel in the disputed South China Sea last week, which left the ship’s crew temporarily blinded. State Department Ned Price said the Chinese coastguard’s “conduct was provocative and unsafe,…

Panic grips Tanzania in mock plane crash drill

Firefighters extinguish fire during the mock plane crash drill at the Kahama airport in Tanzania DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 14 (NNN-GNA) — Panic gripped Kahama airport in Tanzania’s Shinyanga region over a private plane crash said to have killed at least 10 passengers in what turned out to be an…

South Sudan abandons US dollar for local currency

People jostle to exchange their old Sudanese Dinars into new Sudanese pounds in 2007 JUBA, Feb 14 (NNN-GNA) — South Sudan’s government has suspended the use of the US dollar and instead directed all transactions be executed in the local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP), in a move feared…

South Africa agro-processing companies to showcase products in Dubai

PRETORIA, Feb 14 (NNN-SANEWS) — A business delegation comprising 16 South African agro-processing companies, including the South African Fruit and Vegetables Canners Export Council (SAFVEC), will showcase their products at the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Feb 20-24. The companies’ participation has been funded by the…

South Africa warns of possible flooding

PRETORIA, Feb 14 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that persistent and heavy downpours are expected to continue, especially over the lowveld and along the escarpment areas of both Limpopo and Mpumalanga. “These areas have seen significant rainfall amounts the last few days and further severe…

Peru: Pres Boluarte says “We will engage in frontal fight against terrorism and drug trafficking”

aLIMA, Feb 14 (NNN-ANDINA) — Pres Dina Boluarte affirmed that her Government has ordered a frontal and decisive fight against terrorism and drug trafficking in the Valley of Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (Vraem) and across the country. “We will not allow more deaths and violence. We want peace, we want…

Nigeria election: Military denies coup plot claim ahead of Feb 25 poll

 ABUJA, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Nigerian military has denied a claim by the governing party that it is planning to disrupt the upcoming presidential election. An official from the APC party had said that generals had last week held a secret meeting with the rival PDP presidential candidate Atiku…

US military shoots down another flying object over Lake Huron – the 4th in North America

 WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has shot down another unidentified flying object in the fourth military operation of its kind this month. President Joe Biden ordered it to be downed near Lake Huron, close to the Canadian border, on Sunday afternoon. The object could have interfered with commercial…