Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro promises to sign decree suspending tax on diesel to prevent truckers strike

BRASILIA, March 3 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he would suspend a tax on diesel fuel, to try and placate truckers, but the government would instead hike taxes on banks to offset lost revenue. In a video posted to social media, Bolsonaro said the decree would suspend both…

Nigeria: Pres Buhari bans mining, imposes ‘no-fly-zone’ on restive Zamfara state

Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria ABUJA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara State be declared a no fly-zone.The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of National Security Council at the Presidential Villa,…

Ebola infects 28 people, kills 11 in Guinea, DRC

ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The African countries of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reported 28 Ebola virus cases and 11 deaths so far, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. The DRC reported 11 cases and four deaths; while…

Canada: Toronto van attacker faces verdict in killing of 10 bystanders; uses autism as his defence

TORONTO (Canada), March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Canadian man who killed 10 people by ploughing a van into pedestrians in Toronto will learn whether his actions were criminal or owed to an autism spectrum disorder when a judge delivers her verdict on Wednesday. Alek Minassian pleaded “not criminally responsible” due…

US: At least 13 dead after SUV, truck collide in California

At least 13 people were killed when an SUV collided with a large truck near the US-Mexico border LOS ANGELES, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 13 people were killed in southern California when a vehicle packed with passengers collided with a large truck in a “chaotic scene” close to…

Miss Panama to accept transgender women from 2021

PANAMA CITY, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Miss Panama organization announced that starting this year, the pageant would include transgender women “who have completed all their legal and medical procedures” in its competition. The contest, which is responsible for choosing the country’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant, said the…

Covid-19: Africa virus fight boosted as jabs reach Nigeria, Angola, Kenya

ABUJA, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Millions of coronavirus shots from the global Covax scheme have arrived in Nigeria, Angola and Kenya, as African countries ramp up their vaccine rollouts. Richer countries have surged ahead with vaccinations but many poorer countries are still awaiting deliveries, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO)…

US to impose anti-dumping tax on 18 countries

WASHINGTON, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of Commerce is preparing to tax aluminum sheet exporters from 18 countries after determining they had benefited from subsidies and dumping. The US International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent body, mustapprove the final decision by April 15 to impose anti-dumping orcountervailing duties,…

US: Pres Biden suffers first cabinet defeat; signals Senate hazards ahead

WASHINGTON, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden suffered his first cabinet defeat Tuesday as he pulled an ill-fated nomination, the clearest signal yet that immensely powerful moderates in the deadlocked Senate can imperil his administration’s ambitious agenda. Biden was forced to abandon his push to make Neera Tanden…

Update: 7 students plummet to death at Bolivia university; 5 seriously injured

LA PAZ, March 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least seven students died and five were seriously injured when they fell from the fourth floor of a university building in Bolivia after a metal railing gave way Tuesday, the government said. Footage of the incident shows students crammed into a narrow passageway…