US exports hit new record in June, lowering trade deficit

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — American exports set another record in June, narrowing the US trade gap for the third consecutive month, according to official data. Goods and services exports rose by $4.3 billion last month to $260.8 billion, topping the prior record set in May, while imports fell by…

Outgoing Italian PM pledges billions more inflation aid

 ROME, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Outgoing Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced a 17-billion-euro support package Thursday aimed largely at households and businesses to help mitigate the effect of rising prices. Draghi announced the package, which comes on top of 35 billion euros of measures unveiled in the past year,…

Four in critical condition after lightning strike near White House

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Four people — two men and two women — are in critical condition following a lightning strike near the White House on Thursday evening. D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services tweeted it had responded to Lafayette Park, located north of the White House, and was…

US Senate to begin debating Biden’s climate and health bill

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Senate this weekend will begin debating a major health and climate investment bill, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said, expressing confidence that it will be passed. The bill, a trimmed version of President Joe Biden’s campaign promise, earmarks nearly $370 billion for clean energy…

Iran nuclear talks restart, with US urging Tehran to take deal

 VIENNA, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Negotiators kicked off a fresh round of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme in Vienna on Thursday, seeking to salvage the agreement on Tehran’s atomic ambitions. Officials from world powers and Iran were meeting in the Austrian capital for the first time since March, when negotiations,…

UN chief, DRC president discuss UN troops exit

A crowd of Congolese demonstrators march during a protest against the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo MONUSCO in Goma KINSHASA, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, have held talks on calls…

Tanzania set to conduct census on 23rd August

DAR ES SALAAM, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is set to conduct a Population and Housing Census on Aug 23. This year’s exercise will be the Sixth Census to be held in the country. The Ministry of Finance and Planning through the National…

Outrage as Nigeria buys vehicles for Niger security

ABUJA, Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s government says it approved the purchase of vehicles worth over 1.4 billion naira ($3m) for its northern neighbour, Niger, to help improve security. It comes as Nigeria continues to struggle with rising insecurity as armed gangs step up attacks on communities and major roads,…

South Sudan extends transitional gov’t by 2 years

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir JUBA, Aug 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — South Sudan’s parties to the unity government on Thursday extended the transitional period by two years. President Salva Kiir said his regime is not extending the transitional period to stay in office but to prepare the country for an election…

Bolivia sees 2 new monkeypox cases, steps up control measures

LA PAZ, Aug 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Bolivia’s Health and Sports Ministry said two new cases of monkeypox were detected, raising the total cases to three and leading authorities to redouble efforts to control the spread of the virus. “As of Wednesday night, two new cases of monkeypox were confirmed so…