Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian, Belarusian athletes can no longer compete in Beijing Winter Paralympics – IPC

The IPC backtracked on its original decision, which allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals BONN (GERMANY), March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be able to compete at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Thursday, following Russia’s invasion of…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Italy’s Eni to pull out of Russia-Turkey pipeline amid Ukraine crisis

ROME, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian oil giant Eni said it would withdraw from the Blue Stream gas pipeline linking Russia to Turkey, in which it has a 50 percent stake. “Eni intends to sell its stake” in Blue Stream, a company spokesman said, following moves by rivals BP and…

UN voices concern over Libya parliament vote on new Prime Minister

Libyan interim Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha, newly named by the Libyan parliament, UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations voiced concern on Thursday over reports that a vote in Libya’s parliament to install a new government, a move that may trigger new fighting or a return to territorial…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Pres Buhari approves US$8.5 million to evacuate 5,000 Nigerians from Ukraine

Many African students say they have spent days getting to Ukrainian ABUJA, March 3 (NNN-NAN) — President Muhammadu Buhari has approved $8.5 million for the immediate evacuation of about 5,000 Nigerians caught in the Russia – Ukraine war. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that majority of the affected Nigerian citizens…

Covid-19: Brazil’s Rio city officials about to lift mandatory face masks indoors

RO DE JANEIRO, March 3 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Rio de Janeiro local authorities are considering the possibility of scrapping the mandatory use of facemasks given the decreasing number of COVID-19 infections reported over the past few weeks. The City’s Special Committee to Combat COVID-19, known as the City Hall Scientific Committee,…

Argentine president says IMF deal being fine-tuned

BUENOS AIRES, March 3 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine President Alberto Fernández said his country was still fine-tuning details of an agreement with The International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the repayment of a US $ 44 bn loan taken during the Mauricio Macri administration. Fernández’s remarks came during the traditional opening of…

Five Sudanese footballers drown in the Nile

Boats sail along the Nile river in Aswan in Upper Egypt, some 920km south of the capital Cairo KHARTOUM, March 3 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Five Sudanese footballers died when their boat sank in the Nile, north of the capital Khartoum, official news agency, Sudanese News Agency reported. It said the players,…

Russia, Ukraine ceasefire talks Thursday on Belarus-Poland border

MOSCOW, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia and Ukraine will discuss a ceasefire at upcoming talks on the border between Poland and Belarus on Thursday, Moscow’s chief negotiator said, nearly one week into Russia’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.    “The Ukrainian delegation has already left Kiev. We expect them to be…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Ukraine government officially admits racist treatment of Africans amid Russian war

KIEV, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Barely a week into the evolving refugee crisis that has hit the country, the Ukrainian government has publicly acknowledged that African immigrants seeking to flee the violence have faced racist treatment amid social media and diplomatic backlash and fightback.Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Russia’s invasion had…

Seven military personnel dead as Romania chopper crashes while on SAR mission for missing fighter jet

BUCHAREST, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven military personnel died after their helicopter crashed on Wednesday in eastern Romania near the Black Sea while searching for a missing fighter jet and its pilot, officials said.   The IAR 330-Puma helicopter crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, 11 kilometres from the…