IMF says inflation, debt pushing Nigeria, other African economies to the brink

IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Increasing inflation, debts and forex crisis are pushing Nigerian and other African economies to the brink, the International Monetary Fund has warned.IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, said the outlook for the global economy had “darkened significantly” since April.She warned that…

Mali detains 49 ‘mercenary’ Ivorian soldiers

Mali’s head of the military junta, Colonel Assimi Goita BAMAKO, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mali’s transition authorities said they were holding 49 Ivorian soldiers on suspicion of seeking to destabilise the country.The soldiers were detained on Sunday, shortly after arriving at the Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako, aboard a…

Italian president reject resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi

Prime Minister Mario Draghi ROME, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s president rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday after a day of political drama that threatened to bring down a national unity government that has been in office less than 18 months. Draghi, the former European Central…

Former finance minister Sunak cements lead in race to be Britain’s PM

LONDON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former finance minister Rishi Sunak cemented his lead over rivals to become Britain’s next prime minister in an increasingly bitter race to replace Boris Johnson. Sunak, whose exit from the Treasury last week was one of the first in a cascade of resignations that forced…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: US says no restrictions on farm equipment to Russia

WASHINGTON, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said that it would not bar the sale of farm equipment to Russia, again denying Moscow’s allegations that Western sanctions – not its invasion of Ukraine – are causing the global food crisis. The Treasury Department, in a legal form on sanctions exemptions, said…

Eight children trapped after Colombia landslide buries school: Officials

People help remove mud and debris after a landslide that buried a school in Tapardo, Colombia. Local media said 19 children were rescued alive and 3 died BOGOTA, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least eight children are believed trapped in northwest Colombia after a landslide buried a school on Thursday,…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian strikes kill 20 as Pres Zelensky urges ‘special tribunal’ for Moscow

 KYIV, July 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 20 people including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called “an open act of terrorism”. The midday attack on the city hundreds of kilometres from the frontlines and invading Russian troops came as EU officials convened in…

Heatwaves: Wildfires spread across Europe

MADRID, July  15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A heatwave spreading across Europe is fuelling wildfires in Portugal, France and Spain. Around 3,500 firefighters in Portugal are battling dozens of blazes, as temperatures break records in various parts of the country. The worst has been reported in Leiria, where 600 people were forced…

EU to seek cuts in heating, cooling of buildings to save gas

PRAGUE, July  15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Commission is expected next week to ask EU countries to reduce heating and cooling of public buildings and offices to cut demand for gas.  In order to better to withstand the drastic fall in Russian gas supplies, which could be cut off altogether, the commission is…

Swedish court jails ex-Iran official for life over 1988 executions

STOCKHOLM, July  15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Swedish court handed a life sentence to former Iranian prison official Hamid Noury for crimes committed during a 1988 purge of dissidents, in the first trial related to the mass executions.  Noury, 61, was convicted of a “serious crime against international law” and “murder”, the Stockholm district court…