Russian FM says Russia-China ties continue to be strengthened

MOSCOW, April 2 (NNN-XINHUA) — Russia-China relations have beenqualitatively strengthened and continue to be further cemented, RussianForeign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Bilateral ties are built on a clear-cut and objective foundation ofoverlapping interests, Lavrov told the Great Game talk show on Russian TV. The “strategic interaction and multifaceted partnership” between…

Covid-19: EU squabbles over 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine

BRUSSELS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU nations fell out over howto divide up 10 million extra doses of coronavirus vaccine with Austria,Slovenia and the Czech Republic refusing to help five struggling countries. A deal was agreed late in the day to distribute nearly three million dosesto “those most in need”,…

World powers, Iran to discuss US return to nuclear deal

BRUSSELS, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World powers and Iran will meet byvideoconference Friday to discuss the possible return of the United States tothe Iran nuclear deal, in a development welcomed by Washington. Representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom andIran — the countries still party to the agreement…

Former president of Ivory Coast free after ICC confirms acquittal

Former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo THE HAGUE, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After a trial lasting roughly a decade, the former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, is a free man, the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed in a ruling.Gbagbo was acquitted of all charges in 2019 – even…

DR Congo to host tripartite talks on controversial Ethiopia dam

File photo showing a part of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project KINSHASA, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will meet in Kinshasa from Saturday April 3 for talks on the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, Democratic Republic of the…

Africa’s latest woman Foreign Affairs minister is Tanzania’s Liberata Mulamula

Liberata Mulamula taking her oath as a Member of Parliament DAR ES SALAAM, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Career diplomat Liberata Mulamula was appointed as Tanzania new foreign minister replacing Prof Palamagamba Kabudi who now takes over as minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.Mulamula 65, was sworn-in on Thursday April 1,…

Violence against journalists: Uganda police, army top list again – Report

Uganda police and army have perennially ranked top of the aggressors list KAMPALA, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has again been listed in the first position of perpetrators of violence against journalists, according to a Press Freedom Index Report 2020 by Human Rights Network for Journalists…

Egypt must upgrade Suez Canal quickly to avoid future disruption – shipping sources

The Ever Given giant container ship blocked the Suez Canal for six days CAIRO, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s Suez Canal must move quickly to upgrade its technical infrastructure if it is to avoid future shipping disruption, shipping industry sources said, as the major trade route tries to bounce back…

Global trade to grow a bit faster at 8% this year – WTO

World Trade Organisation Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala GENEVA, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International trade is set to grow a bit faster this year than previously predicted, the World Trade Organization said.The volume of global trade contracted by 5.3% in 2020, less than expected as the pandemic hit.According to WTO Managing…

Covid-19: Russia registers ‘world’s first’ Covid vaccine for animals

MOSCOW, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia announced it hadregistered what it said was the world’s first coronavirus vaccine foranimals, describing the step as important to disrupting mutations. It said mass production of the vaccine could begin in April. The agriculture oversight agency Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement thatthe vaccine called…