Covid-19: France won’t punish those with fake covid pass if they get vaccinated

French Pres Emmanuel Macron PARIS, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France will not punish people caught with a fake Covid certificate – the document used to show someone’s vaccination status, if they decide to get jabbed after all, according to a new instruction issued to health authorities.A procedure has also been…

Italy: Mafia boss brought back after 20 years on the run

Head of the Sicilian Mafia, Stidda was arrested in Spain in December 2021 ROME, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Investigators have brought one of the most wanted Mafia bosses in Italy back to the country, almost 20 years after his escape from prison.The head of the Sicilian Mafia, Stidda, landed at…

Bulgaria, North Macedonia re-establish March direct flight after 13 years

Combination photo of Bulgarian and North Macedonian flags SOFIA/SKOPJE, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bulgaria and North Macedonia re-established a flight connection, with the intention of advancing ties between the two Balkan countries.A first plane of the Bulgarian airline GullivAir, flew from Sofia to Skopje last Friday with the transport ministers…

Italy starts process to sell state-owned ITA Airways

ITA was officially launched last October as the successor of the insolvent Alitalia ROME, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Italian government presented a decree to start the sales process of the state-owned ITA Airways, Italian Finance Minister Daniele Franco said.He said that “the usual procedures will be followed,” meaning either…

Amnesty International accuses Tigrayan rebel fighters of gang-raping children in Ethiopia

Fighters affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front ADDIS ABABA, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighters affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been accused of committing atrocities including gang rape and assault in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, according to a new Amnesty International report. The Amnesty report, released on…

Kenya, Ethiopia to jointly fight terror at common borders

A road sign in Moyale near the Kenya-Ethiopia border ADDIS ABABA, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia and Kenya have reached an agreement to jointly fight terror threats along their common borders, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported.They signed an agreement to start the joint operation within a month to curb…

Covid-19: Tanzania seeks EU funds for coronavirus vaccines manufacture

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania plans to start manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines in a move aimed at cutting the cost of importing them.President Samia Suluhu has asked the European Union to consider funding the plan as the country seeks to become a major exporter…

Ghana-India gold refinery estimated at US$20m to start operations in June

Managing Director of PMMC, Nana Akwasi Awuah ACCRA, Feb 17 (NNN-GNA) — A newly constructed gold refinery aimed at adding value to Ghana’s gold resource is set to be operationalised by the end of the second quarter of the year.The project which commenced in 2018 at an estimated cost of…

Ghana, Nigeria deepen economic relations

Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC LAGOS, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 business owners from Ghana and Nigeria converge in Lagos, Nigeria to deliberate on how to deepen the longstanding economic relations between the two countries.The maiden ‘2022 CEO Forum’ would create a two-day platform to…

Ukraine tension: US sees ‘no meaningful pullback’ by Russian forces, threat ‘real’

  WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States had seen no evidence of a significant Russian withdrawal of its military forces from Ukraine’s borders, despite Moscow’s claim.   “Unfortunately there’s a difference between Russia says, and what it does and what we’re seeing…